TWICE THE TRAUMA, THRICE THE THERAPY

CHAPTERTHIRTEEN

The apartment was quiet, save for the soft hum of the air conditioning and the distant sounds of the city outside.

Inside, however, there was a different kind of stillness, one filled with unspoken tension and the weight of feelings that had been kept carefully hidden for too long.

Demetria sat on the couch, her legs tucked beneath her, her fingers absentmindedly tracing the rim of the teacup in front of her. The steam from the hot liquid curled lazily into the air, but her mind wasn’t on the tea. It was on the men who had slowly become the center of her world.

Gideon, David and Peter. Three men, each unique in their way, each drawing her closer without even trying. And tonight, she felt like she was at a crossroads, uncertain of where this journey was leading, but knowing that she couldn't ignore the pull between them any longer.

Gideon, with his calm and steady presence, was the first to break the silence. His eyes were soft, always watching her with a tenderness that made her feel both safe and vulnerable. David was brimming with intensity, his every move purposeful, as if he could move mountains with just the strength of his emotions. And Peter.. Peter was the wild card, unpredictable, but his energy had always felt like a fire that was both exhilarating and comforting, wrapped up in a way she couldn't quite explain.

She loved them all. But how could she love them like this? She couldn’t keep pretending that nothing had shifted between them. The connection she shared with each of them was undeniable, and the closeness between them was something she couldn’t hide anymore.

Besides, looking at the relationship between their father and her mother, they could one day become siblings.

Her mother had told her that she was taking things slow and nothing was assured but they were still dating.

Demetria, however, was unable to deny that she had started to develop sentiments that went beyond friendship and would be appalling if they were her brothers.

A soft knock on the door interrupted her thoughts. She knew who it was. It was Gideon, who always seemed to know when she was lost in her head, always ready to pull her back to the present.

“Demi?” His voice was a low murmur through the door, gentle but full of concern.

She opened the door, her heart skipping at the sight of him. Gideon stood in the doorway, his usual quiet calm masking the unspoken understanding between them. His brown eyes were thoughtful, filled with that familiar warmth she had come to depend on.

“I know it’s been... a lot lately,” he said softly, stepping inside without waiting for an invitation.

Demetria didn’t speak right away. Instead, she nodded, stepping aside for him to enter. She knew what this was. He wasn’t here to just chat. Gideon was the type to get straight to the heart of things, and the way he was looking at her told her that this moment was no different.

David followed close behind, his presence just as commanding. The intensity in his eyes was evident, but there was something softer there tonight, something that made Demetria feel even more vulnerable than usual. He didn’t say anything at first, just stepped in and took a seat next to her on the couch, his proximity making her feel both protected and completely seen.

The last to arrive, Peter brought with him an enthusiasm that permeated the entire space. His smile was playful, but his eyes were serious when they met hers.

“You two going to keep staring at each other, or can we talk about this now?” Peter’s voice was playful, but the words were edged with something else, a need for clarity, for honesty.

The female felt her breath catch as the three men gathered around her, as if they were forming a protective circle. She knew this was the moment, the moment when everything that had been building for weeks, months, would finally have to be addressed.

She shifted on the couch, the warmth of their closeness almost overwhelming. “I don’t know what to say,” she whispered, her voice thick with emotion. “I don’t know how to explain what I feel, or even what this all means anymore.”

The eldest triplet was the first to reach out, his hand gently brushing hers. His touch was tender, careful, like he was afraid of breaking something fragile between them. “You don’t have to explain anything, baby,” he said softly, his voice steady, comforting. “You don’t owe us answers. We just need to know what’s in your heart.”

Her pulse quickened at his words. His touch was grounding, the warmth of his hand sending a wave of reassurance through her. She could feel his sincerity, the depth of his emotions without him needing to say more. He was the rock, always there, always steady.

David’s gaze never left her face. He moved a little closer, his shoulder brushing against hers. “It’s okay to be scared, love,” he said, his voice low but soft. “We’re all here. No matter what happens, we’ll face it together.”

She swallowed hard, her emotions rising to the surface. David had always known how to make her feel safe, seen in a way no one else ever had. The way he looked at her now, with so much understanding, was both comforting and disorienting. He wanted her to open up, to let go of the walls she’d built, but part of her was terrified of what would happen once she did.

Peter, sensing her hesitation, leaned in slightly, his energy shifting as he softened his usual playful edge. He placed his hand gently on her knee, his touch warm and reassuring. “You don’t have to carry this alone, Demi,” he said, his voice hushed, almost reverent. “We’ve all felt this shift. But you don’t have to figure it out by yourself.”

The way Peter spoke was different than usual. He was always the one to push boundaries, to challenge her, but tonight, his voice was laced with tenderness. The touch of his hand on her knee was comforting in its simplicity, yet it felt like an invitation, a silent promise that she could trust them all with whatever it was that was weighing on her heart.

The young female felt the emotions flood her, a mix of relief and uncertainty. She wanted to tell them how she felt, how much they all meant to her but the words wouldn’t come. She didn’t know how to explain the intricate web of love she felt for them.

Gideon reached for her hand, his fingers entwining with hers, and David’s hand brushed against her arm, his touch grounding, a reminder of his unwavering presence. Peter’s hand remained on her knee, a steady weight that anchored her in place.

In that moment, Demetria felt a warmth spread through her chest. It wasn’t just physical closeness, it was the bond between them, the understanding, the quiet affection. It was the way their touch made her feel safe, the way their words made her feel seen. It wasn’t just about love. It was about connection, and trust, and knowing that, no matter how complicated the path ahead was, they would face it together.

She closed her eyes, taking a deep breath, and when she spoke, her voice was barely above a whisper. “I don’t know where this is going. But I know I don’t want to lose what we have.”

Gideon’s thumb brushed across her hand, his gesture tender and steady. “You won’t,” he said quietly, his voice full of conviction.

David’s hand slid to her shoulder, his touch warm and reassuring. “We won’t let you go, Demi. Not now, not ever.”

And Peter, with his usual intensity, added softly, “We’re in this together. All of us.”

For a long moment, none of them spoke. The only sounds in the room were the soft rhythms of their breathing, the steady pulse of their hearts in sync. And for that moment, Demetria felt something she hadn’t allowed herself to feel in a long time...hope.

"One more thing," she added.

"Yeah?" They looked at her expectantly.

"What about our parents? They're dating."

David waved dismissively, "They are going to break up soon, your mother is too good for our father," and she chuckled.

They didn’t have all the answers. They didn’t know what the future held. But they had each other, and that was enough.