Chris turned off the water and crossed the small bathroom to stand next to Luke, taking his hand into his own. “Please,” he begged.
“How about it, Winter?” Chris asked. “You want to move back home and give us a try?”
“More than anything,” she agreed. She let Luke pull her into his body and the three of them stood like that for what felt like an eternity. Her crazy, mixed-up, lonely world had gone from boring and predictable to a crazy roller coaster ride in just a week. She was finally with two men who made her heart feel complete and she’d never forget the Christmas offer from her best friend that changed her whole life and gave her the gift that would keep on giving—times two.
Epilogue
Five months later
They had settled into Luke’s place and all in all, the three of them had found a little rhythm that worked. Luke owned the building adjacent to his shop and turned the loft into a great apartment and Winter couldn’t imagine the three of them living anywhere else. They had room to grow and that was good news because she was pregnant. She just hoped that both Luke and Chris thought it was good news too when she told them tonight. She had just finished up with a client and she had just enough time to get back to the loft before Chris’s plane landed.
On New Year's Day, the three of them sat down and came up with a plan for their future together. Chris and she had to go back to Los Angeles and give Bixby’s notice. It would be wrong not to show up to work after the holiday and they had to pack up and sublease their apartments. Moving home wasn’t something they’d be able to do in just a few days.
Luke came out to visit them a few weekends and after three weeks, the guys helped her move to Luke’s loft and Chris promised to follow shortly. Being a VP at the department store, he couldn’t just up and leave them without a replacement. When he turned in his resignation, Bixby’s made him an offer he couldn’t refuse and he called her and Chris to talk about it. They all agreed that if he wanted to take the offer, he should but she was worried that his travel schedule might be too much for their new relationship. Chris was allowed to telecommute but twice a month, he had to fly to Los Angeles for on-site meetings. Plus, he had to visit the department store’s other sites nationwide, so he was traveling quite a bit. But, that was the beauty of a poly relationship—when Chris was gone, she had Luke to lean on and vice versa. It worked for them and that was all that mattered.
Chris had been gone for most of the week and she decided to wait until he was home before telling the guys that they were going to be daddies. It didn’t feel right telling him over the phone and this way, they could properly celebrate. “Hey sexy,” Luke said, winking at her as she dropped her bags on the kitchen counter. “Our guy just called to say that he landed and will be home in fifteen minutes.”
“Good,” she said. Winter wrapped her arms around Luke’s neck and pulled him down for a kiss. “Missed you,” she whispered against his lips.
“You too,” he said. “Want to tell me what seems to have you tied up in knots?” he asked.
“Not yet—but soon,” she promised. “It’s a good thing though, I hope.” She wanted them to think that a baby was a good addition to their little family but they were just starting together and they might not be ready for this kid. That didn’t matter now though because, in just seven months, he or she would be there.
Winter started prepping dinner when Chris came barreling through the door much like he always did—a smile on his handsome face and a bouquet for her. “Hey Baby,” he said.
“Hey yourself,” she said, giving him a quick kiss. “You’re just in time for make your own pizza night.”
“Great,” he breathed. “Hey Babe,” he said, pulling Luke in for a kiss. “Let me wash up and then I’ll help.” Winter nodded and watched Chris as he washed his hands in the kitchen sink. She wasn’t quite sure what the protocol was for telling not one but two guys that they were going to be fathers. Maybe she was supposed to wait until they had some dinner or a few beers or something but she just couldn’t seem to hold it in any longer.
Winter wiped her floury hands on a towel and tossed it onto the counter. “I’m pregnant,” she said. There—it was out. She just said it, no fanfare or niceties—it was just out in the open for them both to take in.
“What?” Luke asked. He had been putting pepperoni on a pizza and stopped to look at her as if she had lost her mind.
“Don’t look at me like that, Luke,” she sobbed.
“Baby,” Chris crooned, pulling her against his body. “He didn’t mean anything by it.”
Luke was standing on the other side of them and shook his head, “Chris is right,” he said. “I just wasn’t sure that I heard you correctly. You’re pregnant?” he asked.
Winter nodded. “I was afraid to tell you,” she admitted. “I mean, if you aren’t happy about the news, I’m not sure what I’d do. Half my family still isn’t speaking to me because of our relationship and I’m betting they won’t be too happy about this baby,” she said, cupping her non-existent bump.
“Well, I’m thrilled about the baby and I know that my family will be too,” Luke said, he pulled her against his body and she cuddled into his side.
“Really?” she asked.
“Absolutely,” he reassured.
“I know that things are rocky with my parents and yours, Honey,” Chris said. “But I’m excited about this baby,” he said, covering his hand over hers. Luke did the same and they stood like that, the three of them—well, now four.
“How long have you known?” Luke asked.
“Just a few days,” she said. “I wanted Chris to be here for the announcement.”
“Thanks for that, Honey,” Chris said. “I have a little announcement of my own. I’ve given my notice at Bixby’s,” he said.
“What?” Winter asked. “You love that job and you just got a promotion and raise.”
“I know,” Chris said. “But I’ve decided that the commute isn’t something I want to continue doing and well, now I have good reason to feel that way. But, I found something better here in San Francisco,” he said.
“That’s great, Chris,” Luke said.
“Yeah—it’s a little start-up company but they can pay me well and I’m getting in on the ground level.” Chris wrapped his arms around Luke, squishing Winter in the middle. “So, it looks like you two will be stuck with me being home more often.” That sounded perfect to Winter.
“Good,” Luke agreed. “That means you’ll be changing your fair share of dirty diapers,” he teased. Chris made a face and she giggled.
“When is the baby due?” Chris asked. Winter made a face and Chris groaned.
“Yeah—according to the doctor, I’m due on Christmas,” she said.
Luke chuckled, “Well, remembering everyone’s birthday is going to be pretty damn easy for me,” he teased.
“This past Christmas has been the gift that keeps on giving, Baby,” Chris teased.