Page 56 of Pucking Tangled

FIFTY-FIVE

Mia

Mia was warm, wrapped in the comfort of too many limbs and tangled sheets.

Luca’s arm curved around her waist, heavy and protective.

Casey’s fingers were curled in the hem of her sleep shirt, that she changed into before they all went to bed the night before.

Owen was stretched behind her, one leg pressed along hers, breath steady against the back of her neck.

And Waylon—predictably sprawled—had one hand resting on her bare ankle, the other thrown across Luca’s thigh like gravity didn’t apply to him the same way it did everyone else.

This was what it meant to wake up in love—with four people—everyday.

Maybe for someone else it would have felt overwhelming. But this only felt like peace. Mia blinked slowly, her thoughts wandering. Maybe it was the way Luca’s palm subconsciously smoothed over her stomach, like he already imagined more there than just soft skin and breath.

“I’ve been thinking,” she whispered .

Owen made a low sound, the kind that said he was listening even if his eyes were still closed. Waylon groaned softly and rolled closer.

She felt like four heartbeats pick up around her. Luca stirred behind her, his lips brushing the top of her shoulder.

“Please tell me this isn’t about your internship right now,” he mumbled. “I’m still emotionally fragile from all the cuddling.”

Mia smiled against the pillow. “It kind of is. But also... not just that.”

“What is it?” Casey murmured.

She hesitated. “Do you ever think about what this looks like… years from now?” Mia paused for a beat then continued. “Like… careers? Kids? Cities?” she prompted. “Not a plan, just…thoughts. Hopes.”

Luca laughed.

“Why are you laughing?” she asked.

“You want to tell her, Waylon?” Luca cracked open one eye.

Waylon propped himself up on one elbow, squinting through his bedhead. “I’ve thought about it.”

“I think we all have,” Casey admitted.

“Are you ready to start trying, right now?” Waylon asked, seemingly all too eager to make her motherhood dreams come true.

Casey chuckled. “I think she means eventually.”

“I mean one day,” Mia said, her voice barely above a breath. “Years from now. When we’ve figured things out, when we have more room. But I think… I want to be a mom.”

“You’d be an amazing mom,” Luca said gently, his hand still resting on her belly.

“You’d be the kind who makes forts and reads bedtime stories in funny voices,” Casey added, nuzzling into her side.

“Not to be dramatic,” Waylon said, stretching his arms over his head, “but I’d personally die for the privilege of being the chaotic father figure who teaches our future kid to swear creatively and appreciate his momma.”

Mia laughed, blinking away the sudden sting in her eyes. “So… it’s not crazy? The idea of raising a kid— together ?”

Owen answered first. “We’d have to figure out what that means. What it looks like. But no, it’s not crazy.”

“I think about it sometimes,” Luca said. “When it’s really quiet. I picture a house with muddy floors and someone calling all of us dad.”

“We’ve built our whole damn relationship from scratch. We’ll build our future that way too,” Waylon said, rubbing her shin. “Along with a tree house and skateboard ramps in the backyard.”

“I don’t want it right now,” she said. “But someday…yeah. I want all of that. With all of you . ”

“I’d teach them how to play hide and seek in the dark,” Casey smiled. “Prank wars. Fort-building with couch cushions and zero adult supervision.”

“You would,” Mia snorted, thinking back to some of the things they did together growing up.

“Can I be the one who brings our kid to career day and completely derails it?” Waylon asked.

“You’re gonna be the one who teaches them to skateboard and then cries when they fall,” Casey shot back.

“I don’t know what kind of parent I’d be,” Luca admitted. “But I know they’ll be loved and that I want to try, with you.”

“You’d be patient,” Owen said. “And gentle. ”

“And fiercely protective,” Waylon added.

Luca ducked his head, and Mia squeezed his hand.

“What about marriage?” she asked quietly.

Waylon rubbed circles on the bottom of her foot. “I’m pretty sure that’s illegal for couples like us. In all 50 states.”

Owen cleared his throat. “Waylon’s right. We can’t all marry you legally…but we could have a ceremony. Something just for us. Something that means something.”

“I mean,” Casey started, “not that I’ve thought about it a lot , but I’ve definitely pictured walking down an aisle and seeing you at the end of it.”

Waylon sighed dramatically. “I have zero desire for tuxedos, but I would absolutely cry if I saw you in white.”

“I’d want that,” Luca said. “No matter how unconventional. I’d want to stand in front of you and promise forever.”

Mia swiped stray tears from her face. “Annnnd now you’ve gone and made me cry again.”

“We’re serious. Always have been. We’re in this for the long haul, Mia,” Casey reminded her.

Mia pressed her face into the pillow for a moment to collect herself, then turned back to look at all of them. “Okay. Since we’re being honest… I’ve made my decision about the internship.” She blew out a breath.

“I’m going to take the legal counsel review internship with the Barn Raisers. I think it will be a great fit for where I want to go. It gets my foot in the door and I’ll figure out the rest from there.”

They didn’t cheer. They didn’t shout. They just smiled—all of them. Quiet, wide, real smiles that said more than any celebration ever could.

“You sure?” Owen asked.

Mia nodded. “I’ve never been more sure of anything. ”

“We’re proud of you.” Waylon moved so that he could kiss her now. “And we love you.”

“I love you all too.”

Someday, there would be more to figure out—taxes and babysitters, legal contracts and who got up in the middle of the night for feedings.

But right now, this was more than enough.

It was everything.