Page 131 of Forged

Neomi flops down on the couch. They haven’t been here since that first night, but she seems comfortable in my space. My chest tightens at that thought.

Lars sets a bottle of wine on the island. “Sorry, I wrapped things up at the estate and we figured we would just head over.”

I shake my head. “No worries. I’m happy you’re here.”

Neomi looks over the back of the couch. “You look stressed. Rough day?”

“A little, things were busy.” I smile at Lars.

Lars comes to my side, running his fingers through my hair. “Well, I brought wine, if you would like a glass. And we don’t have to go out for dinner, we could stay in.”

I pull him into me, wrapping my arms around him. The weight of him against me instantly slows my pulse.

“I don’t have ingredients for a full meal, and you don’t care for takeout.”

He leans back to look into my eyes. “For you, I’d suffer.”

I laugh as Neomi rises from the sofa to join us. She curls into my side, head on my chest. I can’t hide the happy hum that rattles from my chest with the two of them wrapped around me. I want this. I wantus.

Suddenly, the emotion hits me. The war that’s been raging under my skin surfaces. One side is fighting for love and the other is fighting for the mission. I can’t do this any longer. I can’t stand the thought of putting either of them in danger or detonating a legal and financial bomb in the middle of a family that I want to be part of, that I want to stay with.

I love them.

I pull them tighter against me and place my lips on Neomi's hair.

“I’m falling in love with you. Both of you,” the words spill from my mouth.

They both look at me. Lars grins and Neomi’s eyes shimmer. Their expressions cause a thread of fear through me. Maybe that I’ve said too much.

I shake my head. “I know it’s so soon, and I’m not even sure if that’s something either of you want to hear. I just?—”

Lars’ lips are on mine before I can speak another word. It’s gentle and warm. I feel the sting burning behind my eyes.

“It’s not too soon, Gabriel. We feel the same way. And yes, we want to hear it.”

Neomi’s hand threads through the hair at the base of my neck. “Gabriel, would you consider staying in Chicago? We want you here. We want you to stay.”

I nod slowly, my hand coming up to cover hers where it still rests in my hair. The question settles deep, pressing against every instinct I’ve relied on for years.

Staying means choosing my happiness. It could mean a family, a place to call home. Staying means burning the bridge before I even see what’s on the other side. But when I see the way Lars’ eyes fill with adoration, and the way Neomi leans into me withher gentle sighs, I want them to belong to me, and I want to be theirs.

The answer doesn’t feel complicated anymore.

“I want to stay,” I whisper.

Neomi’s breath catches, her fingers tightening in my shirt as she looks up at me, searching my face like she needs to make sure I mean it.

Lars doesn’t speak right away. His gaze locked onto mine, something sharp and assessing flickering there before it softens.

“You’re sure?” he asks.

I nod. “I wouldn’t say it if I weren’t.”

That’s the truth, even if it costs me everything else.

Neomi exhales, relief breaking across her face as she presses closer, her arms wrapping around my waist. “Okay,” she says softly, “this makes me so happy.”

Lars leans in, his hand settling on the back of my neck. “Fuck, Gabriel, I didn't realize how much I needed to hear that until this moment.”