Page 38 of Overdue Feelings
They didn’t make me ask twice. Zae grunted behind me, hips jerking once, twice, and then he spilled into me. Ares followed right after, holding me down with both hands as he let go inside me. We collapsed on the bed, breathless, covered in sweat and rose petals. This was our life, our love, and I wouldn’t change a damn thing about it.
A Year Later.
Ares’s grandma’s house looked better than it did when we were kids. The porch was painted the same soft blue it used to be, and we had restored the garden to its vibrant self. Love had moved back in, and Ares had even opened a small pediatrics clinic in the garage to help the low income kids in the community. I knew his grandmother was smiling down proud of him.
“You sure about this?” Creek asked, walking behind me, holding Ares’s grand opening gift in her hands. Her fingers were fidgeting with the ribbon. I could feel her nerves like they were mine.
“I am.” I nodded. “You getting cold feet?”
“Nah, I’m ready.” She smiled, and I stepped closer and kissed the side of her forehead.
“Good, ’cause this been inevitable since third grade.”
She exhaled a laugh, and we stepped off our front porch and walked across the street to Ares’s house. We walked through the yard into the back where Sweet Pediatrics was located. Ares opened the door before we even knocked.
“Y’all late,” he said, stepping aside to let us enter.
“Blame Creek.” I shook my head, referring to how long she’d taken to get dressed.
“We brought you a grand opening gift,” Creek said, handing him the gift bag. Inside was the friendship bracelet Creek had made us both in the fifth grade, attached to a 14K gold one. His eyes lit up.
“You tryna make me cry in front of all these people?”
“I think you’ve earned the right to wear it again. Put it on,” she said.
He didn’t waste any time sliding the bracelet on his wrist.
“Y’all ready to do this?” He looked between both of us. I glanced at the people from the community that were inside. I recognized most of them as neighbors, staff from the school, and a couple of elders. Of course Gigi and Zee were here.
“I’m ready.” Creek nodded.
“I been ready. How you want to do this?” I asked.
Ares smiled, and without warning, he pulled Creek close and kissed her right there in front of everybody. We’d been quiet since the board meeting—careful, discreet. Out of respect for the job. For the kids. For the peace we were still figuring out how to hold between us. But now? Now that neither Ares nor I worked for the school anymore, there was nothing left to hide. He had the clinic, and I was the new sports director at the rec center.
“Like that, huh?” I shrugged, stepping behind her and putting my hand on her lower back. I pressed a kiss to hershoulder right after. The room fell so quiet you could hear a pin drop.
“We got something to share,” he said, voice calm but clear. “We’re a package deal now.”
“Well actually…” Creek lifted her finger like we were at church. “We never officially asked you.”
Ares was caught off guard. “Asked me what?”
Creek pulled a ring box out of her pocket and popped it open. Inside were three solid gold bands with three initials engraved inside—one ring for all of us.
“To be our third… I guess,” Creek said. “We’ve been navigating this thing for a year, but I think we should make it official.”
“Y’all already know I’m all in,” Ares said, slipping the ring on his finger.
The three of us exchanged a look before sliding our rings into place—simple, solid, and ours.
“We’re in a polyamorous relationship,” I said, turning to face the room. “Ares and I are both in love and in a relationship with Creek.”
A few folks clapped. Someone hollered, “It’s about time!” I think it was Gigi, but that was it. There were no questions, no judgment. Just quiet acceptance and knowing smiles from people who’d seen our love grow before we ever named it.
It felt good to officially come out of hiding. Not that we hid it well, but still. This felt like peace.
“Hurry up, I want to show you my office,” I said, grinning like a damn fool as I waited at the end of the hallway. My heart thudded every time I saw her, but tonight? It felt different. It felt real.
