Elias's place is where we decided to meet for this talk with Adrian. Out of all of our places, Elias's is the most spacious. Mine and Declan's places are cozy, but cramming four people into my tiny living room or Declan's small bachelor pad just didn't seem like the best idea. So, Elias offered up his place, and here we are.

As I step inside, I can't help but notice how spotless everything is. Elias has clearly gone all out, deep cleaning and organizing everything to perfection. There's not a speck of dust in sight, not a single item out of place. Even the couch pillows are fluffed and arranged just so. It's not like his place is usually messy, but this is a new level of clean. I wonder if he's as nervous as I am.

Declan is already here, lounging on the couch with a beer in hand, looking as comfortable as ever. But I can tell he's been exchanging those looks with Elias when they think I'm not paying attention. Are they worried? Excited? If I had to guess, they're probably making sure they're on the same page about tonight. It's not every day you sit down with your girlfriend and discuss adding a new person to your relationship.

My stomach twists with a mix of excitement and nerves. I like Adrian—a lot—but this is all so new and uncertain. What if it doesn't work out? What if things get awkward or tense?

The sound of a car pulling up outside draws my attention, and I feel my heart skip a beat. Adrian's here. I take a deep breath, smoothing down my clothes as I head toward the door. When I open it, I'm struck by how different Adrian looks. He's dressed casually—jeans and a simple button-down shirt, nothing like the polished, professional image I'm used to seeing at the hospital. It's...nice. He looks relaxed, or at least as relaxed as he can be for something like this.

"Hey," I greet him with a smile, stepping aside to let him in. "You know Declan from the hospital, and this is Elias."

Adrian nods, shaking Declan's hand first. "Yeah, we've crossed paths a few times."

"Good to see you again, man," Declan says, his voice friendly but firm. Then Adrian turns to Elias, and they shake hands as well.

"Nice to meet you," Elias says, and I can tell he's sizing Adrian up. But it's not in a confrontational way, more like he's just trying to get a read on the guy.

"Nice to meet you too," Adrian replies, his tone polite but with a hint of reservation.

We all settle into the living room, and I can feel the tension in the air, like we're all bracing ourselves for something big. Which, I guess, we are. I take a deep breath, trying to steady my nerves as I sit between Declan and Elias on the couch, with Adrian taking the armchair across from us.

There's a moment of silence, the kind that feels heavy with anticipation. Then Elias breaks the ice, leaning forward with his hands clasped together. "So, I guess the first thing we should talk about is what you're looking for, Adrian. How do you see yourself fitting in with us?"

Adrian clears his throat, glancing around at each of us before he speaks. "Honestly, this is all new to me. I've never been in a situation like this before, and I'm still trying to figure out what I want. But I do know that I like Valarie—a lot. And I'd like to see where things go with all of you."

I feel a warmth spread through me at his words, and I give him an encouraging smile. It's good to hear that he's open to this, that he's willing to explore whatever this could be.

"That's fair," Elias says, nodding in agreement. "We're all figuring this out as we go. The most important thing is that we're all on the same page and that we're honest with each other."

"What about boundaries?" Declan asks, leaning forward slightly. His tone is calm, but I can see the seriousness in his eyes. "Is there anything you're not comfortable with?"

Adrian pauses, thinking it over before he answers. "I don't think I'd be comfortable with any group sex. At least, not right away. I've never done anything like that before, and I'm not sure how I'd feel about it."

Elias gives a small nod, his expression thoughtful. "That's okay. We're not here to push you into anything you're not comfortable with. We've all had to figure out our own boundaries, and if that's a boundary for you, we respect it. But if you ever change your mind, just let us know."

Adrian relaxes a little, the tension easing out of his shoulders. I'm glad Elias is being so open and accepting—it makes this whole thing feel less daunting, more like we're all on the same team.

"There's one thing we should mention," Declan adds, glancing at me before continuing. "Valarie isn't on birth control, so we always use condoms. It's a group decision to stick with that unless Valarie decides otherwise."

"Absolutely," Adrian says quickly. "I have no issue with that. I think it's a smart decision."

The conversation flows more easily after that, the initial tension giving way to a more comfortable rhythm. We talk about what we're all looking for in this, how we see things going.

Declan shifts beside me, his hand resting on my knee as he looks at Adrian. "We're in this for the long haul, Adrian. This isn't just a casual thing for us. We want to build something solid, something that lasts. Are you on board with that?"

Adrian hesitates for a moment, clearly weighing his words. "I think I am. But, like I said, I've never done anything like this before. I'm still figuring it out."

"That's fair," Elias replies, his tone reassuring. "It's new for all of us, but we've found our rhythm. We're ready to make room for you, Adrian, but we need to know that you're serious about this. That you're in it with us."

There's a quiet moment as we all absorb the weight of what's being said. This is big—huge, really. It's not just about adding another person into the mix; it's about changing our dynamic, evolving it into something new. But as I look around at the faces of these men, at the people who have become so important to me, I realize that I'm ready for this. I'm ready to see where this goes, to take this leap with them.

Adrian's gaze meets mine, and there's a sincerity in his eyes that makes my heart ache a little. "I am," he says, his voice steady. "I'm not going to lie—I'm nervous about it. But I wouldn't be here if I didn't think it was worth trying."

There's a moment of silence as we all absorb his words. It's clear that this is a big step for all of us, and there's no denying the weight of what we're committing to. But there's also a sense of hope, of possibility, that makes it feel worth the risk.

Elias speaks up again, his tone gentle but firm. "We're all here because we care about Valarie, and we want to make her happy. That's the most important thing. But we also need to take care of ourselves and each other. If any of us start to feel uncomfortable or if something isn't working, we need to be able to talk about it openly and honestly."

Adrian nods, his expression serious. "Agreed. Communication is key."

I feel a rush of relief wash over me as I listen to them talk. This is all so new and uncertain, but it feels like we're heading in the right direction. I can't help but smile as I look around at the three men in my life, each of them so different, yet all of them willing to make this work.

After a few more minutes of discussing boundaries and expectations, we all seem to settle into a comfortable rhythm.

Elias leans back on the couch, a small smile playing on his lips. "Well, I think we've covered the important stuff. Now, it's just a matter of seeing how things go."

Declan nods in agreement. "Yeah, let's take it one step at a time and see where it leads."

Adrian looks around at all of us, a mix of determination and uncertainty in his eyes. "I'm in," he says, his voice steady. "Let's give this a shot."

And just like that, the conversation shifts from serious discussions to something more light-hearted. We start talking about random things, sharing stories and jokes, and the atmosphere becomes more relaxed. It feels like the first step toward something new, something that could be really special.

Elias stretches his arms behind his head with that lazy, confident grin of his. "Now that we've got the serious stuff out of the way," he says, "it's time to talk about something else—boys' nights."

"Boys' night?" Adrian asks, raising an eyebrow as he leans forward slightly in his seat. He looks intrigued, but also a little confused. I can't blame him; the concept probably seems a bit out of left field after our heavy discussion.

"Yeah, boys' night," Declan chimes in, nodding. "It's something we've been doing for a little while now. Basically, when Valarie's working or wants some time with her friends—or just needs some alone time—we take the opportunity to hang out. It's a way for us to build our own friendship, separate from what we have with Valarie."

I sit back and watch as they explain the whole thing to Adrian. There's something endearing about seeing them so eager to make this work, to find ways to bond beyond just our relationship. It makes my heart swell a little, knowing they're putting in the effort not just for me, but for each other.

"It's important," Elias continues, his tone more serious now. "This whole thing only works if we all get along, you know? And it's hard to build those friendships when we're all together with Valarie because, let's be honest, we're a little obsessed with her."

My cheeks flush at that, and I can't help but smile at the admission. They're right, though. When we're all together, the focus tends to be on me, and as much as I love that attention, I know they need to connect with each other too.

Adrian seems to be considering their words carefully. After a moment, he nods. "That makes sense," he says. "I agree that it's important for us to get along outside of being with Valarie. I'm up for it."

"Great," Declan says, grinning. "We're not saying you have to come to every single boys' night, but we'd really like it if you did. It's a chance for us to just be guys, you know? Relax, shoot the shit, maybe watch a game or something."

"Or play some video games," Elias adds with a smirk. "Declan likes to pretend he's not into them, but he gets competitive when he loses."

I laugh softly, imagining Declan getting all worked up over a game. It's moments like these that remind me just how much I care about the men in this room. They're all so different, yet they've found a way to make this work. And I can't help but think about our future—how this dynamic might evolve, what it might look like a year from now, or even five years from now.

As they continue talking, my thoughts drift. I wonder when we'll have the conversation about the future, about what we want long-term. I've caught myself daydreaming about it lately—what it would be like to share a home, to build a life together. The idea of it both excites and terrifies me.

There's so much to consider, so many unknowns. But one thing I know for sure is that I can't imagine my life without them now. Declan with his steady presence, always there to ground me. Elias with his playful energy, always finding a way to make me smile. And now Adrian, who's still a bit of a mystery but who I'm starting to see more clearly with each passing day.

I glance over at Adrian, who's smiling at something Elias just said. He's fitting in better than I expected, and I'm relieved to see it. There was a part of me that worried he might feel out of place or that he might struggle to find common ground with Declan and Elias. But here he is, agreeing to join them for boys' nights, willing to put in the effort to make this work.

My heart swells with affection for all of them. I can't believe how lucky I am to have found not just one, but three incredible men who are willing to navigate this uncharted territory with me. The thought of building a future with them fills me with a warmth that I can't quite describe.

But with that warmth comes a tinge of anxiety. What if it doesn't work out? What if things get complicated, messy? What if we're not as compatible as we think? I push those thoughts aside, reminding myself that we're all in this together. We'll figure it out, one step at a time.

Elias says something that makes all of us laugh, and I'm brought back to the present. The tension from earlier has completely dissolved, replaced with an easy camaraderie that feels natural. I find myself relaxing into the moment, letting go of the worries and just enjoying being with them.