Chapter 40

Olivia

Van's words hit me like a freight train. My heart stops, then races like it's trying to win a marathon. I can't handle it if he wants to end this. I won't handle it. I send a silent prayer upwards, begging whoever might be listening not to let this be the moment the other shoe drops.

"I was hesitant about this whole thing," Van admits, his voice wavering. "I'm still not totally sure how it's going to work long-term."

I feel tears pricking at the corners of my eyes, threatening to spill over. My breath catches in my throat, and my mind races with the implications of his words. But then he looks at me, his eyes softening.

"But I want to keep trying. Stay with you, no matter how that looks. I love you."

His confession washes over me, and the tears finally break free. "I love you," I manage to say. "Always have, always will. I want this to work, and as long as we keep talking and stay open, it can and will work. I know it will."

Kipp and Grady exchange a glance before Kipp speaks. "This is it for us as well. It's up to you and Van. What do you want?"

I smile through my tears, overwhelmed by the love and support in the room. "I want this so bad. I want all of you. I love you. Each of you. Different, but the same. It's hard to put into words, but I want to be with all of you."

Van nods, his face showing a mix of relief and determination. "It will be a learning curve, and I can't guarantee there won't be jealousy, but we can work through it."

Grady and Kipp surprise the hell out of me. "We should look for a place for us all to live. No point in staying in three different places. It will put us all to the test and we'll know for sure if we can work as a family unit."

"What about your house?" I ask Kipp.

"It's just a house," he responds with a shrug. "We can sell it, rent it. I don't care. I just want to be where you are."

Van, ever the cautious one, blushes slightly. "Can we do a trial for a few months? I'd hate to give up our places, and God forbid something happens."

"I agree. While I don't want to doom or have negative thoughts about us, I'd rather be safe than sorry." I smile softly.

They nod in agreement, and Kipp smiles warmly. "You can stay with us at our place since it is the biggest and we have room for each of you to keep your stuff."

One week later, we're moving into Kipp and Grady's house. Their place is beautiful, so I have no complaints and it has enough space for all of us to have our own rooms and still come together comfortably in the common areas. Boxes are strewn everywhere, and the house buzzes with the chaotic energy of a new beginning.

Van carries a box labeled 'Books', his eyes scanning the room as he finds a spot to set it down before he grabs another labeled with his name and disappears. I watch him, my heart swelling with love and gratitude. Despite his initial reservations, he's here, making this commitment with us.

Kipp is in the kitchen, organizing the pantry with military precision. "Can you believe this is happening?" he asks Grady, who's busy assembling a bookshelf at the kitchen table.

"I know," Grady replies with a grin. "It feels surreal, but in a good way."

I head to the bedroom I've claimed as mine, even though I plan to sleep with them in one of the rooms they're in each night. I have no desire or plans to sleep alone. I'm unpacking clothes and trying to make the space feel like home; even though, for me, it's going to be more like a huge walk-in closet and storage. The walls are a neutral color, but I've already started thinking about how I can personalize it with art and photos of us.

I stumble upon a plant packed in a box with some other little knick-knacks and grab it, carrying it to Van's room. "I brought this for your room," I say, smiling. "I thought it might add some life."

"Perfect," he says, taking the plant from me and placing it on the windowsill. "It's beautiful, just like you."

I blush and step closer, wrapping my arms around his waist. "I'm so happy we're doing this," I murmur against his shoulder.

"Me too," he replies, holding me tight.

The day passes in a blur of unpacking and arranging, and by the time evening falls, we're all exhausted but content. We gather in the living room, the last of the boxes pushed to the side, and order takeout to celebrate our first night together.

We're doing this. We're really doing this.

Later, as we settle into bed, Van pulls me close. "I'm proud of us," he whispers, his breath warm against my ear.

"Me too," I whisper back. "I love you, Van. So much."

"I love you too," he says, his voice thick with emotion. "We're going to make this work. I know we are."

The next evening, we're all sitting on the back porch, the sky painted in hues of pink and orange as the sun sets.

"This feels right," I announce, leaning my head on Kipp's shoulder. "Like we were meant to find each other and create this life together."

He nods. "We're building something beautiful," he says. "Something worth fighting for."

Van, sitting across from us, smiles. "And fight for it, we will."

Grady raises his glass, a mischievous glint in his eye. "To us," he declares. "To love, and to the incredible journey we're on."

We all raise our glasses, the sound of them clinking together ringing like a promise in the air.

Our first trial month flies by in a whirlwind of everyday life: shared meals, stolen kisses, late-night conversations, and the occasional argument. Each day brings us closer, strengthens our bonds, and solidifies our commitment to making this work.

We've developed routines that work for us, balancing our individual needs with our collective ones. Communication remains our strongest tool, and we continue to navigate any bumps in the road with honesty and compassion.

Grady and Kipp, ever the pragmatic ones, start looking at real estate listings, dreaming aloud about the kind of home we could all buy together. The idea of owning a place that's truly ours excites me, and we spend many nights discussing our future home, the garden we want to plant, and how we would decorate it to reflect all of our personalities.

My pictures begin to fill the walls, transforming the house into a colorful, vibrant space that feels uniquely ours. Each one filled with passion and emotion, serving as a daily reminder of the love that binds us together.

We're all gathered in the living room after dinner; Van and Grady are working on a puzzle, and I'm curled up with a book. Kipp sits beside me, his hand gently squeezing mine.

Van clears his throat, drawing our attention. "I've been thinking," he starts, his tone serious yet filled with hope. "I know we agreed on a three-month trial, but… I don't need more time. I'm all in. I don't want it to end. I want this forever."

Tears spring to my eyes as I look around at the faces of the people I love most in the world. "Forever sounds perfect." My heart swells with love and pride, knowing that we've all reached a point of unwavering commitment.

"This is everything I've ever wanted," he says softly, his eyes filled with love.

"Me too," I reply. "We're building something amazing here."

The once-clouded uncertainty in Van's eyes is replaced with a confidence that makes my heart soar. Seeing him so invested and happy reassures me we made the right decision.

"I think we need to celebrate. So I did a thing." He looks around at us, rubbing his hands against his pants.

"What?" Grady asks.

"I rented a cabin in the mountains, where we can disconnect from the world and just be together. A little weekend getaway. We deserve it."

"When?" I wiggle in my seat, excited at the prospect of a weekend with my men.

"We leave Friday afternoon."

My eyes widen. "Shit! That's soon." I turn to look at Kipp. "Can you get time off that soon?" I look to Grady. "Can you?"

"Yeah, baby. We own the company, we can leave whenever. I like this plan. A weekend away will be good for you, especially Ollie. You've been stressing about work and money, so maybe this will give you some clarity and peace."

"I guess," I murmur.

"I checked your calendar, Livvy. I didn't see anything for this weekend. Did I mess up?" Van asks and I hear the worry in his tone.

"I don't have anything scheduled for this weekend since next weekend I'm doing a full two days of family portraits," I assure him.

I hate that I made him second guess his gift, but Kipp bringing up my work has my mind reeling again.

I've been trying to stay local and do things around here instead of destination weddings or traveling.

I think what happened last time still has me nervous that if I leave, shit will fall apart. So I've been doing a ton of senior sessions and family photos. I'm stressed about not making as much as I did, but the guys aren't concerned.

Grady changes the subject and takes the attention off of me. "You say the mountains, but where exactly are we headed?"

"A secluded spot nestled deep in the Smoky Mountains. Supposed to have amazing views and a hot tub. I know our girl loves a good soak."

"I can't wait to hike those trails," Grady exclaims, his eyes sparkling with anticipation.

"And I'm looking forward to just relaxing in the hot tub," I add, "Naked."

Van nods, his smile widening. "It's going to be perfect."