Our foyer is full of flowers.
Roses, of course—dozens of them. Also bouquets of wildflowers, and several other arrangements. They cover every available surface in the entry of our new home.
I pull the card from the nearest vase and read it. “Happy Anniversary, Ava. We love you.”
The past year of my life has seen a lot of changes, and a lot of firsts. But today is the date we’ve chosen to celebrate our official anniversary, a year from when my best beloveds and I became a team, committed to continuing on our journey of discovery together.
Some of the roses are scented, and I hold them close, inhaling their heavenly fragrance. Then I distribute the vases throughout the house, so every room has at least one.
I’ve just finished when I hear the front door. “Honey?” Erik calls. “Are you home?”
“In the kitchen!”
Moments later, he’s there with me, wrapping me in his arms as we share a kiss. “Thank you for the flowers,” I say when I can speak. “They’re beautiful.”
“Oh, good.” He looks around and spots the bouquet I’ve left on the island, a colorful mixture of mums, asters, sedums, pansies, and ornamental grasses. “There should be more.”
“There are lots more. I’ve already placed them around the house.”
“Right, good.” He smiles at me and checks the time on his phone. “We’d better get going; Gray’s waiting for us.”
“What about Brax?”
“He needed to stop by his mom’s. He’ll meet us there.” Erik leads me out to his car. Once we’re underway, he asks, “How were your classes?”
“Everything’s good. I think I’ll be able to transfer this fall.” I’m about to say more when my stomach gurgles.
He glances at me. “I guess you didn’t have time to eat. Sorry, I should have checked.”
“It’s okay. I’ll be fine.” My stomach isn’t sure it agrees, but I’m sure there will be something edible before too long. My men are very good at feeding me.
It takes us about half an hour to reach our destination. Brax is waiting by his truck, and scoops me up for a hug and kiss when we reach him. “Happy anniversary, darlin’.”
“Happy anniversary. The flowers are beautiful.”
“Glad you like them.” He sets me down, and the three of us walk to where Gray is leaning against the side of a helicopter.
He’s spent the last several months completing all the requirements to become a chopper pilot. He’s freelance, taking tourists up for sightseeing trips and flying photographers to their destinations. He’s in touch with the local network of pilots, and occasionally he’ll spend a few days on call for emergencies like search and rescue missions.
It’s challenging enough to satisfy him, but still lets him set his own hours. Of course, I tease him that he uses his helicopter for secret agent jobs.
He hugs me when we reach him as if it’s been longer than just a few hours since he last saw me. “Happy anniversary, love.” His mouth finds mine, and I can almost feel the willpower he exerts to end our kiss after only a few moments.
If there were any way he could safely do it, Gray would treat me to the new experience of having sex in a helicopter, but even he hasn’t figured out how to do that while he’s flying. He may have to settle for sending me soaring in a less literal sense while the bird is on the ground.
“Climb aboard,” he says, and we all take our seats inside the aircraft. Gray runs through his final pre-flight checks, and a few minutes later we climb into the air.
He takes us over the city, spread out below us in the springtime desert. Of course, in the daylight, we can’t see the lights of the Strip, but Gray has promised he’ll take us on a night flight sometime soon.
Our path takes us over Hoover Dam, and then Lake Mead, before we get where we’re going about forty-five minutes later. “Lady and gentlemen, the Grand Canyon,” Gray announces.
I gasp. Despite living this close, I’ve never been, and seeing photos hasn’t prepared me for how vast it is. We traverse the rim before Gray takes us carefully down inside.
Eventually, we settle on a secluded bluff thousands of feet below the rim. Gray’s brought champagne and a picnic basket with us, and we nibble on crackers, cheese, and fruit before he pours us each a flute of the bubbly. “To us, and many more happy years together,” he toasts.
“To us,” we echo, and clink glasses before we drink. Brax and Erik finish their flutes over the next several minutes, but Gray and I only have a sip each before we re-board the helicopter. I pass our mostly-full glasses on for the other men to polish off. I love champagne, but it does have a tendency to go to my head.
By the time we get back to Vegas, dusk has fallen. Gray sets us down at the heliport, and we head back to our house, which we only moved into a few weeks ago. It has everything we need in a desert-friendly design, including a master bedroom with an enormous, custom-built bed, and enough extra bedrooms to host our own convention.
Not really, but it does feel a little large to me right now. We wanted the extra space, though, and we all had a lot of input into the architect’s final design. The kitchen is also state of the art, and designed to the men’s exacting specifications. My primary job in the kitchen will be to eat whatever they make and fix the occasional sandwich, and we’re all okay with that division of labor.
Once we’re all inside, Gray checks the time and says, “Okay, everybody change. We need to leave soon.”
I blink. “We’re going somewhere else?”
“Out for dinner, of course.” He gives me a tempting smile. “You can wear one of your new outfits, if you like.”
My men love spoiling me. Erik gives me thoughtful gifts on a regular basis, usually items that I can use for relaxation and pampering. Brax indulges me with massages, surprise outings, and cozy movie nights with delicious themed food. Gray can’t resist buying beautiful clothes that he knows will look good on me. He’s never been wrong, so I now have stylish wear for every occasion.
We go up to our bedroom, and I start pulling dresses out of my walk-in closet. I have my own, and the men share a second, larger one. “Which dress should I wear?”
All three of them are eyeing me instead of my wardrobe.
“I’ll be able to decide better if you take off everything you’re wearing,” Gray says.
I smirk at him. “I thought you said we needed to hurry.”
“We do, but we can hurry before we hurry.” He folds his arms, an I dare you gleam in his eyes.
I fight back a laugh and fold my arms in turn. “We can, but I’d rather you choose which dress you’d like to get me out of later, when we can take our time.”
His lips twitch. “All right, love, you win.” The this time is understood.
After I put on the snug black dress with the plunging neckline that they choose, I hurry with my makeup, and then we all drive together to the restaurant. I’m not surprised to see that Gray has gotten us a reservation at Oria, one of the most popular dinner spots in the city that opened late last year. He probably didn’t even have to pull strings this time; knowing him, he made this reservation months ago.
The men are dressed up, too. The four of us must make quite a sight as we enter the restaurant, because heads turn to look at us. I smile, remembering the woman who was once afraid of being seen out with a man, let alone three of them.
I’m so glad I’ve left her behind and grown into someone who’s proud to be seen with the men she loves, and doesn’t give two figs what anyone thinks.
The food is delicious—the place deserves its reputation—and there’s more champagne, plus a decadent chocolate dessert for us to share. “To Ava,” Brax toasts this time. “Who makes our lives complete.”
I can still blush. “To the men I love,” I say in return, “who have given me a more beautiful life than I ever thought possible.”
We all clink glasses, and I take one tiny sip before I set my glass down. Erik notices and frowns a little. “Are you feeling all right, Ava?” Usually I can drink a whole flute before I get too tipsy.
“Yes, I feel wonderful.” I reach into my clutch for three cards, which I distribute to the men. They open the envelopes, pull out the cards, open them … and then drop them in unison to stare at me.
“You’re pregnant?” Brax whispers. “We’re gonna have a baby?”
“At least one. Who knows?” I grin at them. “Happy anniversary, daddies.”
And for the first time in my life, I see three men simultaneously on the verge of tears. My babies are going to be so deeply loved. I can’t wait.
Gray lifts his glass. “To the good life,” he says, never taking his eyes from me.
“To the good life.”
Everyone has their own definition of perfection, and mine is right here, right now. And every moment to come with my wonderful men.
©2024 Stephanie Brother
