Page 160 of End Game

Across the room, Griffin laughs at something Holden says. Ethan is leaning against the counter beside them, listening.

Carter has Dex by the wrist, examining one of his tattoos while Micah explains something.

Jeremiah is speaking to Ronan again, both of them serious enough that I have no doubt they’re discussing something technical.

And for the first time since any of this started, I don’t feel like we’re the only people in the world who know what this feels like.

Not exactly.

Their relationships aren’t ours.

Their problems aren’t ours.

Their solutions won’t necessarily work for us.

But they understand the vocabulary without needing a glossary.

They understand that Griffin being my husband doesn’t mean he’s the only person I love.

They understand that Micah touching Dex doesn’t threaten anything I have with either of them.

Nobody here is trying to figure out who is secretly jealous, who is getting shortchanged, or which relationship is the “real” one.

Nobody is waiting for the punch line.

They’re just people.

Our people, maybe.

Friends.

I feel Alexis’s shoulder bump mine again and smile.

A month ago, I would have said the five people in our house were enough. And maybe they are.

But having people outside of it who understand?

People we can talk to when the people we love are the ones driving us fucking insane?

Yeah—I think we need that too

Dex’s laugh explodes from the other side of the kitchen.

Carter immediately follows it.

Micah groans.

I look at Alexis.

She looks at me.

“Although,” I say, “putting those two together may have been a tactical error.”

Alexis watches Carter and Dex for a moment. “Probably.”

“We could separate them.”

“We could.”