novelraw Chapter 190: Future Plans
Chapter 190: Future Plans
Mia couldn’t stop smiling.
She didn’t even want to try.
Afternoon sunlight spilled in through Sarah’s big living room windows, golden and soft, bathing everything in a warmth that felt almost orchestrated - like even the sun was rooting for them. She lay curled sideways on the couch, her head resting on Marisol’s lap, legs stretched across Sarah’s thighs. All three girls were tangled like cats sunbathing on a windowsill, content and languid, touching without effort or hesitation.
Bharath had stepped out for a walk twenty minutes ago.
He’d kissed them all goodbye - forehead for Marisol, temple for Sarah, a soft peck on Mia’s cheek - and said he needed a little time to clear his head.
She didn’t blame him.
They’d upended everything in a single morning - their rhythms, their definitions, their boundaries. The look in his eyes before he left had said it all: He loved them. All of them. But love still needed a framework.
And honestly? She was glad he was thinking about it.
It meant he cared.
But Mia… she wasn’t worried. Not anymore.
She ran her fingers idly along Marisol’s wrist, tracing her veins, then let her other hand drift down Sarah’s thigh until it rested just above the knee. Touch was so easy between them. It felt like they’d always been connected - like the electric kiss that morning had fused them in some secret way she hadn’t known was possible.
Her heart was full. No other word would do.
She had never been this happy. Not with friends. Not with guys. Not even in moments of solo victory. Not even - surprising herself as she thought about it - with her mom and Marisol from before.
This was belonging
.She glanced up at her sister, catching her eye. “You’re really okay with this?” she asked softly.
Marisol looked down, smiling warmly. “More than okay.”
Sarah chuckled. “Girl, we’ve been waiting for you to catch up.”
Mia laughed - not out of disbelief, but because the honesty in that sentence rang so true.
“I think I get it now,” she murmured. “Why this works. Why it’s not… chaotic.”
“It’s not perfect,” Marisol said, gently brushing a hand through Mia’s hair. “But it is real. And that’s what makes it work.”
Mia looked over at Sarah. “Were you scared when you first joined them?”
Sarah tilted her head. “Terrified.”
“Of what?”
“Of ruining something beautiful,” she admitted. “Of being the third wheel. Of feeling like an extra when they already had this deep thing going.”
“And now?” Mia asked.
Sarah smiled. “Now I know that Bharath’s love multiplies. It doesn’t divide.”
That hit Mia right in the chest.
She let out a shaky breath. “That’s how I feel. Like… I didn’t take something from you. I found something with you.”
Marisol squeezed her hand. “Exactly.”
They fell quiet for a moment, the weight of everything resting lightly on their limbs - warm, affectionate, but not without its edges.
“I want this to last,” Mia said quietly. “Forever.”
“It can,” Marisol said. “But only if we stay honest.”
Sarah nodded. “And stay clean.”
Mia blinked. “Clean?”
“Emotionally,” Sarah clarified. “No jealousy. No silent sulking. No ‘what ifs’ that turn into resentment.”
Marisol adjusted her posture and gently nudged Mia upright, motioning for her to sit properly now. “This is a family now. And families get poisoned when people hold back. Or compare. Or pretend things are fine when they’re not. We learned it the hard way a couple of times already.”
Mia nodded slowly. “You think I could… mess that up?”
“I think anyone could,” Marisol said gently. “That’s why we talk. That’s why we will talk. Often.”
Sarah added, “You’re already ahead of where I was. You’re talking now.”
Mia swallowed. “I know I like attention. I’ve always liked being the center of things. And I love Bharath. But I also… love you two. I want this to be more than sex or teasing or even the emotional high I felt this morning. I want this to work.”
“That means boundaries,” Marisol said. “Especially now.”
Mia nodded. “School.”
“Yes,” Marisol said, firm now. “You’re finishing high school. No compromises.”
Sarah leaned forward. “You’re brilliant, Mia. And Bharath wants to teach
you, not just flirt.”Mia flushed. “I know. I’ll behave.”
“Behaving doesn’t mean being boring,” Marisol said with a smirk. “It just means… prioritizing your future.”
Mia curled her knees up, suddenly more serious. “So… what does that mean? Can I keep sleeping over?”
“Yes,” Marisol said. “But not too often. Mom already has one daughter practically living off campus. We push too hard, and she’ll start digging.”
“I’ll spend weekends at home,” Mia offered. “Make her feel seen. Help out around the house. Take her shopping.”
“Perfect,” Sarah said.
“And when Thanksgiving comes?” Mia asked, heart fluttering.
The girls exchanged a glance.
“We tell her about me,” Sarah said. “Not about you. Not yet.”
Mia looked down. “So for now…”
“You’re our secret,” Marisol said gently. “But not in a bad way. In a protected way.”
Mia let out a breath she hadn’t realized she was holding.
“That makes sense.”
They all leaned back again, the couch a soft cradle of their bond.
“I want us to have more talks like this,” Mia said. “Not just when there’s a crisis.”
“Agreed,” Sarah said.
Marisol smiled. “Maybe that’s our tradition.”
Mia laughed. “Serious family meetings. Always naked. Always cuddling Bharath.”
Sarah snorted. “Productivity goes up by at least 200% when his arms are full.”
“Or when he’s trying not to react to someone grinding on him in tiny thongs,” Mia added cheekily.
They all burst out laughing.