She shrugs and suddenly looks so small. “I don’t know. Maybe it would be easier to move out.”

“Don’t,” my voice croaks out before I realize I’d even opened my mouth. “Don’t go. We can work this out.”

My mind is flashing a neon stop sign at the back of my eyelids. I’m moving into dangerous territory here.

If I want something too much, then I’m bound to screw it up. And I want this. More than I can say. “You and Fletch...you said the L word last night. If you want me to bow out, I will, but don’t go.”

“Fuck you, Shane,” Fletch says. “Just because you won’t say it doesn’t mean you don’t feel it.” He rolls his neck like he’s getting ready for a workout. “Penelope, you belong with us. The three of us belong together. I don’t care what the rest of the world thinks. I don’t even care what Shane says. We are a unit. We’re a family. And it only works with the three of us. But we can’t make the decision for you. You have to want to stay. We’ll face whatever we have to together, but you have to choose this. Us.”

The little wheels in her head start turning. You can see them if you look close enough. “Why? Why do you guys want me? I mean, I know that both of you can get any girl you want—one that doesn’t rip your family or friendship apart.”

“Nobody is ripping my friendship with Fletcher apart. You add a new dimension to it for sure—but if anything, you made it stronger.”

Wait. I said that. Out loud. And I didn’t burst into flames or anything.

“My family will come around, Pen. Jenna’s always been hotheaded, you just never had it directed at you before.”

She bites her lip. “And your political ambitions? You think it’s going to go over very well when they dig around your college years and find out you were polyamorous?”

Fletch pulls her down to the couch and sits down so we’re all in the spots from the night of the hand job. “I plan to still be polyamorous if and when I run for office, so there will be nothing for anyone to dig for. You guys will be right there at my side already.”

Whoa. Pen and I look at each other. Dude just declared long-term long-term.

“The two of you look surprised, so let me make it as clear as I can. I love you. Both.” I think my heart just skipped a beat. “And I don’t know exactly what our future looks like other than we will be together for it. When we were together last night, I knew it meant forever and I won’t change my mind.”