The breakroom is quiet, except for the low hum of the vending machine and the soft drip of coffee brewing in the pot. I sit at the small, round table, my hands wrapped around a warm cup of coffee, letting the steam rise up to my face. It's a moment of peace in the middle of a long shift, and I'm grateful for it. I've been making a conscious effort to find a better work-life balance lately, to not let myself get swallowed up by the hospital and its never-ending demands. It's not easy, but I'm getting better at it.

I sip my coffee, savoring the rich, slightly bitter taste, and let my mind wander. Things have been...good, really good. I'm not volunteering for as many extra shifts now, and I actually have time to breathe, to think, to spend with the people who matter to me. It's a strange feeling, having time for myself, for Declan and Elias. I've always been the type to throw myself into work, to lose myself in it, but now I'm learning that there's more to life than just the hospital. There's more to me.

And Declan and Elias—they're making it easier to see that. We're finding our rhythm, figuring out how to navigate this unconventional relationship we've stumbled into. It's not always smooth sailing, but there's something about it that feels right, that feels like we're all on the same page, even when we're not.

It's not what I expected—any of this. But maybe that's the best part. I didn't plan for it, didn't see it coming, and yet here we are, making it work, creating something that's ours. And I'm happy. Really, truly happy in a way that I haven't been in a long time. Maybe ever.

I'm pulled from my thoughts by the sound of the door opening. I look up to see Adrian walking in, his usual calm demeanor in place as he heads straight for the coffee pot. I can't help but notice how often I've been seeing him lately, more than usual, it seems. It's like he's always around, showing up in places I didn't expect him to be. Like the funeral.

He pours himself a cup of coffee, the scent filling the room as he stirs in a bit of sugar. Then he turns to me, his expression thoughtful, almost hesitant, which is strange coming from Adrian. He's always so composed, so sure of himself.

"I know it's none of my business," he starts, and I can see the way he pauses, like he's weighing his words carefully. "But I just had to ask..."

He trails off, and I raise an eyebrow, waiting for him to continue. There's something different about him today, something almost...vulnerable, which is not a word I would typically associate with Adrian.

"What's up with you and the cop and that redheaded guy I saw at the funeral?" he finally asks, his tone casual, but there's an edge to it, like he's not sure how I'm going to react.

I blink, taken aback by the question. He's right—it's none of his business. But then again, why wouldn't I tell him? Why wouldn't I tell anyone? I'm not hiding Declan and Elias, and I'm certainly not ashamed of our relationship. It's just...different. And maybe that's what makes people curious.

"Well," I say, choosing my words carefully, "the cop is Declan, and he's my boyfriend. And the redhead is Elias, and he's also my boyfriend."

Adrian is silent for a moment, just standing there with his coffee in hand. His expression doesn't change much, but I can see the gears turning in his head, trying to process what I just said.

"Oh. Neat," he finally says, and there's something about the way he says it that makes me want to laugh. But I don't. Instead, I just nod, letting the awkward silence hang between us for a moment.

"Yeah," I say thoughtfully, "it is."

Another pause, this one even more awkward than the last. I can feel the tension in the room, like there's something else he wants to say, but he's not sure how to go about it. I take another sip of my coffee, letting the warmth seep into me, grounding me.

"I was going to invite you to this gala my father is part of," Adrian says suddenly, and I look up at him, surprised. "But that seems like it might be off the table. If it was ever on the table to begin with."

I frown, confused by what he's saying. Why would having two boyfriends mean I can't go to a gala? The two things seem completely unrelated, and I can't figure out why he'd think one would affect the other.

"Why would it be off the table?" I ask, genuinely curious. "I'm sure I could get one of my boyfriends to go with me."

Adrian hesitates, and that's when it clicks for me. He wasn't just inviting me to a gala—he was trying to ask me out. And I was too wrapped up in my own thoughts to even notice.

"I was going to ask you as my date," he says, and I can hear the embarrassment in his voice, even though he's trying to play it off like it's no big deal.

I feel a flush of warmth spread through me, a mix of surprise and something else. Is this a romantic invitation, or just a friendly one? And more importantly, how do I feel about it?

"Adrian," I start, but he cuts me off.

"Forget it," he says quickly, waving his hand dismissively. "I was being stupid. Just...forget about it."

He turns to leave, but I reach out, stopping him before he can go.

"Wait," I say, and he pauses, looking back at me with a guarded expression. "I'd love to go. But obviously, I'd have to talk to my boyfriends first."

He nods, and there's something in his eyes that I can't quite read. It's like he's trying to figure out what this means, trying to navigate the complicated web we've found ourselves in.

"That's fair," he says finally, and then he's gone, leaving me alone in the breakroom with my thoughts.

I sit there for a moment, staring at the door he just walked through, trying to make sense of what just happened. Adrian wants to take me to a gala. As his date. And for some reason, that thought makes my heart skip a beat.

***

"Wait, who is this guy?" Elias asks, his tone curious but with an edge of something else I can't quite place. Maybe it's protectiveness, or maybe it's just surprise.

I glance over at him, seeing the way his brow furrows slightly as he looks at me, then at Declan, who's leaning back against the arm of the couch, arms crossed over his chest.

"Adrian," I start, but Declan cuts in.

"I know him, or at least I've seen him around the hospital." His voice calm, but I can tell he's processing, thinking things through in that way he always does. "Surgeon, right? Tall, dark hair?"

I nod, feeling a little off-balance with the way the two of them are looking at me, waiting for me to explain. I sit back on the couch, tucking my legs beneath me, trying to find the right words.

"Yeah, that's him. He's, uh, he's a coworker," I begin, feeling the weight of their gazes on me. "He, um, he asked me to go to a gala with him. As his date."

Declan's eyes narrow just slightly, not in anger, but more like he's trying to figure out a puzzle. "Does he know about us?" he asks, his voice steady.

"Yes," I reply, my voice a little quieter than I intended. "I told him about you two."

Elias and Declan exchange a look, that silent communication they've developed between them that never fails to make me feel a little out of the loop. It's strange, really. If you'd asked me a few weeks ago who would be more in sync, I never would've guessed it'd be them. But here they are, talking without words, something passing between them that I can't quite decipher.

I can't help but let out a soft laugh, shaking my head. It's weird, but it's also...kind of nice. They're on the same page, even when I'm not, and I suppose that's a good thing. Still, I wish they'd stop doing that so much. It's like they forget I'm here sometimes.

"Okay, so do you like him?" Declan asks after a moment, his blue eyes back on me, piercing in that way that makes me feel like he's looking right into my soul.

I blink, a little taken aback by the directness of the question. "I... I don't know," I admit, because honestly, I'm not sure what I feel. "I mean, he's a good guy, I guess. We work together, but I've never really thought of him like that. Not until recently, anyway."

"What are his intentions?" Elias asks, leaning forward slightly, his tone serious.

I frown, thinking it over. "I'm not sure," I say slowly. "He invited me as his date, but I don't know if it's like... a romantic thing or if it's just, you know, a friend thing."

Elias and Declan exchange another glance, and I fight the urge to roll my eyes. There they go again, having a whole conversation without me.

"And what do you want to happen with him?" Declan's voice is softer this time, more understanding.

"I don't know," I admit, feeling a little overwhelmed by the questions, by the way they're both looking at me like they're trying to figure out what's best for me. "I guess... I guess I just want to see what happens. I'm not sure if I'm interested in him that way, but I don't want to shut it down before I even know if there's something there."

They both look at me for a long moment, then back at each other. I'm not sure if I'll ever get used to that, the way they can just... know what the other is thinking.

Finally, Declan speaks. "You can go," he says, and I can hear the weight of the decision in his voice. "Nothing's off the table, but if something does happen between you two, we want to meet him. Before anything more serious happens."

"Yeah," Elias adds, nodding in agreement. "We just want to make sure he's someone we can trust, someone who's going to treat you right."

I feel a wave of relief wash over me, their concern touching me in a way I didn't expect. "That's... that's reasonable," I say, nodding. "I can do that."

But as the conversation comes to a close, and I sit there with them, my mind drifts back to Adrian. Do I even like him like that? He's always been a coworker, someone I pass in the halls, someone I work with but never really got to know. We're not even friends, not really. But lately... there's been something different about him. He's been showing up more, being more present in my life, and I can't help but wonder what's behind that cold, detached exterior he usually wears like armor.

Is there more to Adrian than I've seen? And if there is... do I want to find out?

As Declan and Elias start discussing what movie to watch, my thoughts remain tangled, looping back to Adrian. There's so much I don't know, and that both excites and terrifies me. But for now, I push those thoughts aside, focusing on the two men who have already carved out a place in my life, in my heart.