Page 139 of Thoroughly Pucked

“Open it,” Ledger says, a bit stiffly, as if this is uncomfortable for him.

Curious, I undo the bow with excited fingers. But when I open the box, I don’t know what to make of the treats.

There are five pieces, each in the shape of a number.

I do the math. It’s the date of the football game lastmonth. “It’s when we got back together,” I say, pleased I figured it out.

Dev shakes his head. “Yes, it’s the date of the football game, but it’s also the code to my home.”

Ledger leans closer to me, holding my gaze. “Yourcode.”

My heart flutters. “I love it.”

Dev shakes his head again. “Aubrey. It’s a permanent code. We want you to live with us. I want us all to live together. Move in with me,” he says, eyes locked with mine, full of vulnerability and hope. “Ledger will move in too. We can all be together with you. And Puck Fitzgibbons, as well.”

My heart stops. The hair on my arms stands on end.

I knew this was coming. I knew it was coming a month ago, yet it’s still more thrilling than I’d expected. Maybe I didn’t entirely believe it would happen. After last summer and all the expectations I placed on myself, all the expectations I took on, right or wrong, I’ve been reluctant to put more on us.

But Dev and Ledger exceeded all my dreams with their offer. “You do?” I want to be sure I’m not imagining this.

“Yes. I want us to be together. I want to cook for you. And walk the dog with you in the morning. And see you after games, and when you come home from work. I want to hear about your clients, and your boss, and your book club.”

Ledger reaches for my hand with a smile that says he has something to add. “I want the same. Because I love you, honey.”

My throat catches.

Dev reaches for my other hand. “I love you so damn much.”

Here, where we began, I’m between my two men, starting a whole new chapter before I expected to. But I have zero doubts. I’m ready. There is no second guessing. No voices in my head telling me to run away. All I want is to stay.

“I love you,” I say to Dev, then to Ledger, “and I love you.”

I take off my hoodie. I’m wearing a tank top. My right arm is bare.

Dev’s eyes widen. “That’s gorgeous.”

“I got a new tattoo,” I whisper, and I’m a little giddy for them to check out the dainty, delicate script on my shoulder.

Dev traces the air near my ink with his finger, as if he’s outlining each of the five letters. “Baby,” he says to me reverently, his tone telling me how he feels.

I shift to Ledger, showing it off to my other man. He drops an air kiss to each word.

A commitment to them.

All in.

EPILOGUE

TAKING TURNS

Aubrey

A week later, I move in. I sublease my little apartment to another stylist who wants to stay close to the salon.

It’s like it was meant to be. I move my books and candles and lotions and potions and more hair products than anyone else in the city owns—count ’em—and a few pieces of furniture and all my clothes.

Doesn’t take me long to settle in. I hang up my clothes by color, and I organize Puck Fitzgibbons’ jackets in the mudroom the same way.