I had stolen Zander back from my dad when Sammy insisted on dancing a dance with G’pa. I had vetoed the whole maypole idea, to Dusty’s disappointment, but the backyard just wasn’t big enough. We had decided against any official dances as well, since neither Dusty nor Josiah had family, and after my mother’s last hate-filled letter, I had no intention of letting her anywhere near my family anytime soon.

Dad had followed through on filing for divorce, which had further solidified his place in our little family. And I had seen Dad casting interested looks at Mrs. St. John throughout the reception. I wasn’t sure how I felt about that. Dad absolutely deserved to be happy. It was just weird to think of your father dating.

Beyond the family issue, the three of us hadn’t been able to decide on how to have a three-way dance that didn’t involve line dancing or looking like a scene from Fiddler on the Roof. I’ll admit, that was mostly my hang-up, but neither of the guys pushed the issue. It just hadn’t been something any of us felt strongly about.

The ceremony had been everything I had hoped for, though. I had been hesitant about using Kai’s recommendation for a priestess, but she was amazing.

We had done the traditional cutting of the cake, Dusty shoving his piece messily into Josiah’s mouth while I fed them each a bite daintily. Dusty had been more behaved giving me my bite. I was a little sad that I wasn’t going to get the traditional honeymoon this time around, but there was no way any of us were leaving Zander behind for that long. That was okay, though. I had a lifetime to run away with my two guys. Especially if we could convince Josiah that Zander needed a younger sibling.

Dad came back to claim Zander after their dance, and Sammy chased after Shultz, his floppy ears nearly tripping him. He wasn’t a fan of the elaborate collar she and Dusty had bought him. Bella was on Sam’s heels, and I glanced up to see Bella’s dad, Ethan, walking toward me with an indulgent grin at the two girls’ antics.

I was cracking up, remembering Josiah’s indignation at Dusty’s refusal to call the pup anything but shits. The dog had at least double the bowel movements of any dog I’d ever seen. A fact that made me suspicious that he was being snuck food from the table, definitely against the rules.

Dusty had been calling our pets Shits and Giggles for months now, despite Josiah’s groans and side-eyes. I was staying out of that one, but I had to admit that it was pretty damn funny.

“Should I ask what’s so funny, or just offer you my congratulations?” Ethan greeted me with a friendly smile.

We shook hands. “Thank you, and no, unless you want to hear about the long-running near argument between my mates about Dusty constantly call our pets Shits and Giggles…”

“All this makes me want to get married again,” Ethan said with a laugh.

“You haven’t sworn off the whole institution?”

Ethan had approached me one day when I had been picking Sam up from a sleepover, because Sam had mentioned Dusty’s and my divorce, for some reason. I’d been a little defensive explaining it to him, but in return he had opened up about his hellish divorce. His ex had been a real piece of work, but it all boiled down to the ex had no interest in being a father, and that had been that.

“I kinda wish I was, but I’m a romantic at heart.” Ethan’s smile was a little sheepish.

“Nothing wrong with that.”

Ethan shrugged, sipping on his champagne. “It sure would make life a lot easier if I liked being alone.”

I nodded. “I can’t imagine life without help. Especially with a child.” It was absolutely more than that, but that was the least of it. Living with Dusty and Josiah was like living in a rock tumbler. It was tumultuous, it was sometimes painful, but they bumped against my rough edges, chipping them, smoothing them, and at the end, we all came out better than we started.

“So, I hear you’re working less?”

I nodded. With as young as Zander was, I couldn’t deal with being gone for days at a time. Maybe that would change as he grew older, but if I had my way, Josiah would be pregnant as much as possible. He didn’t quite appreciate that sentiment, but there was nothing that made me happier than seeing my omega bright and glowing with pregnancy. Unless it was watching him play with Zander. Each new day was better than the last. Every day was my new favorite day.

Dusty was sneaking to the cake table for at least his third helping. Josiah was on the opposite side of the yard, his eyes darting as Kai spoke animatedly to him and Larry about something that required much waving of arms.

“I need to rescue Josiah from Kai and Dusty from himself,” I told Ethan. The reality was that I had been apart from my men for too long, with the preparations for the day and the guests to greet.

Ethan laughed. “Why not divide and conquer? You go get Dusty, and I’ll tell Josiah that you all need him.”

“Thanks, man.”

Dusty’s eyes flew open in guilt as I approached.

“It’s my handfasting, I get a pass.”

I kissed his nose. “Yes, you do. But I think it’s time for us to all slip away.”

“Where is Josiah?” Dusty peered around.

I nodded toward our omega. “Ethan is saving him from Kai. He should be headed over here in a moment.”

Sure enough, Josiah started looking around the yard, and finding us, bid his farewell to the other men, and headed our direction.

“If Kai tells me one more time about using amber beads for teething, I’m going to scream.”

“How about we just get out of here instead?” I asked.

“It’s not too soon?” Josiah asked.

It’s only too soon if you’re not ready to leave.”

I pulled Josiah into a backwards hug and he leaned against me. “I am so ready. My feet are killing me. It’s almost as bad as when I was pregnant.”

I pressed my lips to Josiah’s head, and then frowned. “Josiah, have you been taking your suppressants?”

Josiah shook his head. “I shouldn’t have to until I’m done breastfeeding.”

I shared a look with Dusty. “I don’t think that’s quite accurate, Josiah. Everything I read said most people shouldn’t have to worry, but that it wasn’t guaranteed. And you’re feeling a little warm.”

“No. I can’t—”

Dusty kissed Josiah’s forehead and inhaled deeply. “It’s a good thing we got a hotel room for tonight, at least.”

Josiah groaned in frustration, but I smiled a little. We would stop at the drugstore and pick up some condoms, just in case he wanted them. But it seemed rather perfect that the thing that brought us from acquaintances to lovers was the same thing that sealed our vows.

We took a moment to find my dad. He was planning on staying the night with the animals and kids, and he shooed us off with his blessing. As Dusty and Josiah slipped into the house, I turned for one last look. Until Josiah, it had pretty much been Dusty and meOur friends had floated away after college, and we both had acquaintances from work, but that was about as far as it went.

Now? Our yard and our lives were filled with so many people who loved and cared for us. Sam and Bella danced happily with Giggles curled unhappily against Sam’s chest. Dad was talking with Mrs. St. John. Kai had moved on to... bless our greenery? His arms were stretched over the shrubs lining the fence. I shook my head. Ethan had stayed to talk with Larry, and Sam’s teacher friend had joined them. Everyone was talking happily. Ethan looked up to salute me goodbye, and I took that as my signal to leave.

It was nice to know that our friends and family would handle everything while we took care of our omega. I’d never had that kind of support before. I hadn’t thought I needed it, though. Josiah coming into our lives had disrupted the status quo. I’d thought I was fine, standing on my own with Dusty back then, but really, I’d been standing on stilts in sand. The first wave of adversity would have knocked me over. Now, I had a solid foundation. Together, we would stand firm against any waves of trouble.

Like the priestess had said, the three of our separate strands formed one strong cord. Separately, we were individual ribbons, but now our lives had braided and entwined to form one unbreakable unit. Indeed, the amount of love between us was obvious to any who looked, the connection stronger than any chain with a bond that, I had to agree, would glue us all together for the rest of our time on this earth.