“What time are you meeting Richard today?” Bryce asks me from his side of the kitchen island.

“One o’clock,” I answer, before taking a bite of my toast.

“Where? I’ll drop you off, pick you up.”

“You can come if you want. I’m sure Richard would love to meet you.”

Bryce considers me a moment. “You sure? I don’t want to intrude.”

“Intrude? What’s going on?” Hudson asks, stepping into the room. Max follows behind. Both look equally gorgeous with their messed-up hair and sleepy smiles.

“Bryce is dropping me off to meet Richard for lunch. I just asked if he wants to come too. You’re all welcome to join me,” I say, my cheeks colouring a little. Even though Richard is not my dad and they’re not my boyfriends, it feels like I am asking them to meet my father for the first time. It’s an odd feeling.

“Totally. I’m up for it,” Max says, giving me a hug before pouring himself a cup of coffee. “I’d like to thank the man who’s looked out for you these last few years. He sounds like a good bloke.”

“He is,” I say. “Hudson, Bryce, would you like to come too?” I look at them both. Hudson looks undecided. Bryce nods his head.

“Of course, but I hope he’s open minded.”

“Open-minded?” I ask, frowning.

“Yes, meeting all three of your boyfriends.”

I choke on my tea. “Boyfriends?” I squeak.

“What would you call us then?” Bryce asks. “I mean, frankly, you can call me whatever you like, but I guess that’s the acceptable terminology.”

Noticing the look on my face, Bryce walks around the island, stopping in front of me. “Louisa, you’re my girlfriend. You are the only woman I want to spend my time with, it’s as simple as that, really.”

“I…” My heart does a stupid flip-flop and I find that I’ve lost all control of my faculties. Did Bryce just say that I’m his girlfriend? That Max and Hudson are my boyfriends too?

“I can get down on one knee if that’s what it will take for me to show you I mean it…” he says, about to bend down.

“One knee? No, shit, don’t do that,” I say, feeling both panicked and stupidly happy at the same time.

He laughs. “Okay, perhaps that’s a bit too much right now.”

Right now? Oh, my giddy heart. I shake my head from the rogue thought of being their wife, which of course is entirely against the law and would make me a bigamist.

Bryce holds his hands out to me. “This is me. Louisa, I am offering myself to you. Will you be my girlfriend?” he asks. There is a hint of trepidation in his voice and I find my own throat constricting. There really is only one answer.

“Yes,” I say. Bryce pulls me into his arms and I find myself melting into his touch. His heart beats wildly, I can hear it pounding beneath my ear.

“Hey, put Louisa down,” Max says with a light laugh. “There’s something I want to say too.”

“Go ahead, bro,” Bryce says, stepping back.

Max grins at me. His smile is infectious. I can’t help but smile back.

“Icy, you are a fucking miracle. I want nothing more than to call you my girlfriend. Our girlfriend. Bryce and Hud are my family. I want you to be my family too. Will you be my girlfriend?” Max asks.

“Hmm,” I say, tapping my finger against my cheek.

For a second, Max’s face drops.

“Of course I will,” I respond with a delighted laugh.

“Well, thank fuck for that,” he says, sweeping me into his arms and spinning me around. I laugh joyfully, happiness welling inside my chest. Max places me on my feet, twines his hands in my hair and kisses me tenderly. When he pulls away I am all sorts of giddy. I grab hold of the kitchen island to steady myself.

Stepping away, Max gives Hudson a look. I turn to him. He watches us all with interest. There is a light in his eyes. I can tell he is happy for his brothers, happy at their happiness, if that makes sense. Yet, there is also fear there. Christ knows I feel that fear too. This is new to me, this feeling of belonging.

“Louisa,” Hudson says, chewing on his lip. He looks to his brothers for reassurance.

“Go on mate, you can do this,” Bryce says. I glance at Bryce and Max, who are looking at Hudson with nothing but love. It warms my heart.

Hudson draws in a breath. “Fuck, why is this so damn hard?” He draws a hand over his chin. I can’t help but notice it’s shaking.

“I’m a complicated man, Louisa. I am moody, sullen, a real prick a lot of the time. There is a lot of shit in here,” he says, tapping his head. “Bryce and Max will attest to that. They know me better than anyone, but once you’re in here,” he says, moving his finger from his head to his chest, “that’s where you’ll stay.”

I gulp. This is hard for Hudson. These words, they don’t come easy and that makes them all the more special. I feel special.

“I drank myself to oblivion because it hurt when you left. Max is right, you are a fucking miracle, Louisa. You are ours now. We are yours, I am yours. Will you be mine?”

Hudson doesn’t move, so I go to him. “I think I always have been,” I say gently, laying my hand on his chest. I move in close as he wraps his arms around me. Behind me, Max and Bryce step close as Hudson pulls my head to his chest. Then I feel the warmth of them all as they surround me. For the first time in my life I feel loved.

* * *

Bryce sits up front with Hudson, Max and I are in the back. We are about five minutes away from Café Rouge in Brixton. Despite the happiness I feel, I am nervous. This budding relationship I have with them is not the norm. Loving more than one person, being with them all in a relationship isn’t something many people will accept. But for me, for someone who had no love growing up, to be wanted by three incredible men, it’s perfect. Why does it matter? We’re not hurting anyone. Love is love, right?

“Here we are, you jump out and I’ll go park the beast,” Bryce says. “I’ll see you in a few.”

Hudson jumps out of the car and opens the door for me.

“Thanks,” I say, taking his hand.

Max joins us on the pavement. “Let’s meet Richard then.” He places his hand on my lower back and steers me to the entrance.

I spot Richard immediately. He gets up, smiling broadly.

“Louisa, love, how are you?”

When I get to him, he pulls me into a hug. “I’ve been so worried about you. Are you okay?”

“I’m fine now. I’m sorry for worrying you, but I’ve been in good hands.”

“So which one of you do I need to thank for taking care of Louisa?” he asks, looking between Hudson and Max.

“You can thank them both, and Bryce, once he’s parked the car,” I say, taking a seat.

“Well then, thank you for taking care of Louisa,” Richard says, shaking both Hudson and Max’s hands. They take a seat, and an awkward silence descends as Richard looks between us.

“So, I’ve been thinking. This man, the one who attacked you, I think you should inform the police, Louisa. He can’t get away with it,” Richard says.

“I agree,” Bryce says as he approaches the table. He holds his hand out to Richard, who takes it. “I’m Bryce Freed, it’s good to meet you.” He sits down next to me and takes my hand in his. Richard frowns as he looks between Bryce and Hudson, who are sitting either side of me. Hudson has his arm resting on the chair behind me, his fingers stroking my shoulder absentmindedly.

“We have notified the police,” Max says, drawing Richard’s attention away.

“You have?” I ask. They hadn’t mentioned it to me.

“Yes. This guy, he hurt you. He needs locking up,” Hudson confirms.

“Good. I’m glad.” Richard takes a sip of his drink, considering me over the rim. “When are you going back home?”

I am prevented from answering by the waitress, who takes our order. She moves away, but not before she gives an admiring glance at all three of my men. I feel both proud and territorial.

“I’m not sure…” I start.

“Louisa is moving in with us,” Hudson says, looking at me.

“I am?”

“Yes,” Bryce adds. “You are.”

“What about Nish?” I ask.

“We’ll sort something out for Nish, okay?” Max says.

“Never mind Nish, is this something you want, Louisa?” Richard asks. He’s not a stupid man, he knows there is something unusual about the four of us. “Which one of you will take responsibility for Louisa?”

“I do,” they all say in unison. I would laugh if the moment wasn’t so tense.

Richard sits back in his chair, regarding us all. “Louisa is like a daughter to me. For a while, when her mum was better, we were a family. I loved Lorna, I love Louisa and I will not see her hurt. She has been through too much in her life…”

“Richard,” I start, but find the words won’t come.

He leans across the table and takes my hand, squeezing it gently. “You may not be mine by blood, but you are my daughter, Louisa. I will always look out for you.” Richard looks at each of them in turn. “Whatever it is you think you’re doing, then consider this. You break Louisa’s heart, I break your legs.”

“That’s entirely fair,” Bryce says amiably.

“Am I right in thinking you are all taking responsibility for Louisa?”

“Yes, sir,” Max answers. “I know it may seem out of the ordinary, but I swear to you this is not a game for any of us. We will all take care of Louisa.”

“This is what you want?” Richard asks me.

“Yes, it is. They are good men, Richard. I should know, I’ve experienced enough bad men to know the difference,” I say softly. Hudson grips my shoulder. I can feel all three men staring at me. There are secrets in my past that I’m yet to tell them about. Richard catches my eye. He knows. He understands what I am saying.

“Then I will support you. Your happiness is all I care about.” A smile breaks out over his face. “Well, now I’ve done the protective father bit, why don’t we get to know each other a little better?” And with that, the atmosphere relaxes. We talk, laugh and eat, enjoying each other’s company. As they chat, I take a moment to look out of the window. Across the street I notice a man leaning against a post box. He sees me staring and gives me a little wave. It’s Smithy.

“Louisa, you want a pudding?” Richard asks. I glance at him and shake my head. When I look back out of the window, Smithy is nowhere to be seen. Perhaps he was never there to begin with, at least that’s what I tell myself.