Page 220 of Tech Bros

Maybe it was a little sneaky to ask everyone to dress up, invite them to dinner, and then throw a contract signing at them, but hey—we needed the witnesses, and it’s a special occasion. Who better to spend it with than the people who were with us through it all?

Isaac reaches into his jacket pocket. “I have a gift for you two.”

My stomach swoops as he stands and pulls out two small, velvet ring boxes. One is black, the other is gray. I get the gray one.

The platinum band looks like two welded into one. Deacon had Millie design them, and they’re beautiful. This is my first time seeing one of them, though, and the sight of it takes my breath away. “Where’s yours?” I ask Isaac.

Jake holds up a box. “Ringbearer. Right here.”

I grin. “Cute.”

“This is sonotromantic,” Calyx complains. “Everyone up from the table. Let’s at least do this right.”

Sam coughs to hide a laugh, but one by one, we all get up and meet in the living room where there’s room for all of us to stand awkwardly without a plan. Millie, however, who doesn’t knowthe meaning of awkward, steps into the center of the group, waving her hands frantically at Deacon, me, and Isaac to join her.

She’s in a pink, sequined gown that stops mid-thigh. Her hair is electric blue and piled high on top of her head.

Incongruous ballet flats without a hint of a shimmer are on her feet, and I have to admit, she looks awesome. Bailey can’t take her eyes off her, which still makes me want to cackle.

But then Deacon takes my hand, and I feel a small zap of awareness in my brain.

“Jake, come here,” Millie says, waving him over. I feel a little bad for him. He’s never met our former neighbor and this is a hell of an introduction.

Still, he seems to know what to do, taking the ring boxes from me and Deacon while awaiting further instructions.

Millie clears her throat primly. She looks at Isaac. “Okay. Do you, Isaac Sullivan, take Deacon and Evan to be your partners in Polytech and polyamory forevermore?”

I’m pretty sure I hear Ryan snort, but at least someone claps. Probably Calyx.

“I do,” Isaac says with a harsh and unfamiliar blush on his face. I swear to God, this may be the first time he’s ever realized how funny his company name is.

Jake hands me Isaac’s ring. I turn to my former boss, current lover, and new partner. I put his hand in Deacon’s, then slide the ring on his finger.

He takes a deep breath as he stares down at it, then he gives each of us a look with watery eyes. Softie. I love him so fucking much. “I love you,” I say.

“We both do,” Deacon says in that sideways way he’s perfected.

A tear slides down Isaac’s cheek. “I’m the luckiest man in the world.”

Oh, God, I’m gonna cry, too.

“Not so fast. We have two more to go,” Millie cuts in. “Evan!”

I startle and turn to her. “Do you take Isaac Sullivan and Deacon Forester to be your poly partner?”

I smile. “I do.” After Isaac takes my hand and Deacon puts a ring on it, our circle tightens.

“Deacon,” Millie says. “Are you sure you wanna do this?”

Deacon laughs. “I am.”

“In that case, tell them.”

Deacon glares at her. But then he turns back to me and Isaac. Quietly, he says, “I take both of you to be my partners. Forever.”

Once Isaac gets the ring on his finger, we all clasp hands.

“Kiss!” Someone, I think Malcolm, shouts.

Isaac arches a brow at each of us in turn. “Wanna show ‘em how it’s done?”

Our kiss travels between the three of us and back again, organic and unplanned, but reminding me how well we fit. How perfectly we work. How meant to be this was from the start. A wolf whistle sounds followed by a round of applause.

Millie enfolds us in a group hug with a little squeal. “Congrats, hotties! And don’t worry. I have the perfect playlist for this.”

THE END