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Ending the call, I placed the phone back on the table, the weight in the room heavy. The guys looked at me with admiration and concern.
Mason cleared his throat. “You okay?”
I nodded. “Better than okay. That was a long time coming.”
Bodhi leaned back, one eyebrow raised. “I bet that felt really good—being able to turn him down after what he put you through.”
I exhaled. “It seems that everyone wants me back today. Believe it or not, I got a call from my old boss at the restaurant, too. He offered me my old job back. I guess his niece that he hired didn’t have the talents that she claimed to have.”
Liam blinked in surprise. “Why didn’t you mention this earlier?”
I shrugged. “I hadn’t really processed it. And honestly, I’ve been so immersed in... well, this.” I motioned around the room at each of their faces. “Everything here felt so much more important.”
“And?” Mason prodded gently.
“And I turned them down,” I said decisively. “I know I can get enough freelance work, which offers more freedom and control. And maybe I will even try to write the romance novels I’ve always thought about writing.”
Bodhi squeezed my hand. “That’s our Zoey. Doesn’t let anyone fence her in.”
“Unless it’s a chocolate fence. I’d happily let that fence me in,” I quipped.
“I offered to buy you a chocolate factory,” Mason said. “The offer still stands.”
I gave him an appreciative kiss on the lips.
Liam raised his mug of hot cocoa in a toast. “To new beginnings and the freedom to choose them.”
We clinked our mugs, the mood lightening. I took a deep breath, letting the steam from my mug curl around my face as memories of the past weeks flashed in my mind. Each memory, each stolen glance and whispered secret made me realize just how deeply my feelings had developed.
A few weeks ago, I wouldn’t have imagined being in this situation, feeling so intensely for not one but three men. The emotions were overwhelming, a whirlwind that I found hard to decipher.
Every moment I spent with them only intensified my feelings. And yet, the fear of what the future might hold for us kept me silent.
Taking a sip of the cocoa, I felt the comforting heat slide down my throat, bolstering my resolve. Still, apprehension gnawed at the edges of my mind. The risk was huge. Sharing my true feelings meant being vulnerable, putting my heart out there with the possibility of it being shattered.
But wasn’t that what love was? A leap of faith?
“Speaking of choices,” I began, looking at each of them. “Being here with you three... it’s been incredible. I’ve never been happier. And I think... I think I might be falling in love with you. All three of you. This has been on my mind for a while, but I didn’t want to say anything in case it was too soon… and maybe you don’t feel the same way.”
The room became still after my confession, each of their faces revealing a play of emotions. Mason’s eyes shone with intensity, Bodhi let out a deep breath he seemed to have been holding, and Liam’s hand clenched around his mug, his gaze unwavering.
Each face told its own story—Mason’s eyes, deep pools of sincerity; Bodhi’s visage showing surprise with a hint of mischief; and Liam, always so self-assured, seemed for a moment at a loss for words.
Mason’s gaze was steady and intense, and he broke the silence. “Zoey, from the start, I knew there was something about you. Now, I know it’s love.”
Bodhi took a deep breath, then said, “The moment you walked into the room, everything changed. I love you.”
Liam’s tone was firm. “From our first glance, you had me. No backing out now.”
Mason’s words had me blinking back tears, Bodhi’s confidence added a flutter in my stomach, and Liam’s assertiveness pulled a smile onto my lips.
Taking a moment to find my voice, I asked, “So, is this it? Are we really going to keep this going when we get back to Florida?”
Mason’s voice was steady. “Absolutely. This isn’t just a vacation fling for me.”
Bodhi nodded in agreement. “This doesn’t end here. It’s been a hell of a ride, but know this—I’m all in.”
“We’ve started something special, Zo. I don’t want this to end. You’re stuck with me,” Liam added with a determined look in his eyes.
