Our Love Story

It was time.

I rise from my bed, wrapping a satin robe around my shoulders and stepping onto the patio outside my room. The sky is dark and the moon is heavy. But soon the night will turn to dawn, and I want to watch the new day come. I need to be reminded that each morning there is a new start. Another chance.

I thought after the day I had, that I would be broken but I don’t feel broken. I want Noah and Ethan to choose me, choose this life but I don’t want to force anyone. And I know my happiness and fulfillment can’t depend on their love.

Whatever happens next, I know I love myself. I love the woman I have grown to be.

A year ago, I would never have believed I could be this strong, this sure. I would have been terrified to take on motherhood without any guarantees, but I am no longer held back by that fear.

Harlow’s words earlier today helped to remind me of the strength that I have harnessed. If she saw it in me, then surely, I can see it in myself.

Ethan slides open the porch door and when I see his silhouette, I’m not in the least bit surprised. Of course, he is here, in the middle of the night. This is when he and I have all our best talks.

But this time it is different. He ended things with me today and I spent all day in bed because of it.

I want to yell at him, curse him, fight him, but then I see his eyes and I know he has beaten himself up enough for both of us.

His eyes fill with tears, his shoulders shake. “I’m so fucking sorry, Chloe,” he says. “Forgive me. Forgive me for being so fucking blind.”

I press my fingers to my lips, wanting to believe his apology.

“I know that I haven’t been there the way you need but I swear to you, Chloe, I will never walk away again.”

“Shhh,” I say, wrapping my arms around him.

Do I need to forgive him? No.

But I am choosing to believe Ethan’s best intentions.

“I was so fucking scared. So scared of failing you, Chloe. I thought leaving would be easier but I couldn’t walk away from this. From you. Our baby. This life.”

His voice cracks during his confession and I know that for better or worse, he is mine. My man, my lover, my mess, and my hero. He is part of a whole and without him, I can’t have the rest.

The package deal wasn’t just the baby and me.

It was this whole relationship, all five of us. I mean all six of us.

“Good,” I tell him, pulling back so I can look in his wounded eyes. Eyes that have seen more pain than one man should have seen in a lifetime. “But you know, I wasn’t going to let you break up with me.”

His chin quivers, a smirk trying to break through. “Dammit, Chloe. I love you.”

“I love you more, Ethan.”

“Even if I’m a fucking fool?”

“Even if.”

“And you aren’t scared I’m gonna be a shitty dad?” He looks so transparent, an open book. “I don’t even know how to change a diaper.”

“Diapers are the easy part. It’s the not giving up when it’s hard that is tricky.”

“I’m not going anywhere, Chloe, I promise.”

“Good. Because neither am I.”

He kisses me then. It’s soft and tender. A new start neither of us probably deserve. Why should we be so damn lucky to have found a love like this? Who are we, beside two lost souls?

Then I look through the glass doors and see Enzo and Mason sitting up in bed, having had woken, watching us.

We’re not just two lost souls, after all.

We’re not alone. And thank God, because what a mess we would be.

Mason and Enzo join us on the porch, and in the moonlight, we hold one another, tight.

We are not letting go.

Together we watch as the sun rises, the past behind us, the future ours for the taking.

I lean my head against Mason’s chest, Enzo holding one hand, Ethan the other.

All is perfect in paradise.

Except for one thing.

Noah isn’t here.

And I’m terrified that after he revealed his fears today, he might never be.Chapter 56NOAHI toss and turn, with reason.

I fucked everything up yesterday and now all I can hope is that I can do this competition without failing this too.

The beach is crowded, tents and stages are everywhere. My parents are here and so is Leo, Enzo’s dad. And even though Chloe is avoiding me, I know that she’s here too, cheering us on all day but also making sure we’re everywhere we need to be. Registration and the morning events went without a hitch with her in control.

I’m so proud of her, taking command as our manager. And she is good at it too. In fact, the way she has taken charge is sexy as hell. The scared and timid virgin I met in Jamaica is long gone. She has been replaced with a woman so capable in her own right, so comfortable in her own skin. Damn, it gets my cock hard just thinking about how badass she is.