From Mine to Ours

36: No More Comparisons

A/N: The POVs in this story switch around quite a bit, which I do tend to usually avoid, so this probably won't happen again in this story. I struggled with this chapter and it's definitely noticeable, but I thought it would be a more fun read if you got more perspectives rather than them simply telling the story. <3

This is exactly what we needed. Exactly what we were looking for.

My head leans back, basking in the heat beating down on us on this hot summer day. A tiny yelp rushes out of my mouth as a child runs straight past us to run after a seagull trying to steal food on the beach.

I can't help but smile at the sight, my face heating up due to the heat instead of embarrassment for once. Ive taken to walking barefoot ever since we step foot on the beach a few minutes ago and ever since, I don't think I stopped smiling.

"Someone looks happy," Asher's hand tugs me back into him by the waist.

"That would be an understatement..." my head falls onto his shoulder as we walk side-by-side, the smile on my face only growing wider as we watch the other pair take pictures, but never letting each other's interlocked hands go for even a second.

"You know..." his sweet and quieter than usual voice brings my attention back to him. "A while ago, I never would've I'd be standing here, watching them like this," the hand around my waist tightens and my eyes automatically go to his face.

"What do you mean?"

He hums, his eyes looking past me to watch the ever so distant horizon. "Being in a relationship like this, Noah, isn't all sunshine an rainbows..."

I feel my heart rate spike a bit, the nerves I've managed to suppress ever since I've agreed to officially be with them coming back in full swing. Well, perhaps more accurate would be those same nerves that have always been there since the day we met are making themselves known all over again at his words.

"Noah, do you think Lucas could come over again today?"

'He may as well live here.' Is what I want to say, but alas, a simple "sure" is the only thing he'll hear from me.

Lucas has been making himself at home for over week. Ever since I told them we could try this throuple thing out, I feel like all I've been seeing is them laughing, cuddling or flirting. And the one time I haven't seen any of that this past week is when I'm sleeping...

I could be wrong, but I feel like I shouldn't be feeling this way. Feeling like a constant third wheel in my own relationship. Instead of thinking of how excited I am to be going home after a long day of who knows what like usual, now all I think is if I should do another lap around the neighbourhood. Where I would normally snuggle on the couch with a hot cup of tea, all I manage to do is either hide away in my room or try to convince the other two to do something, anything, with me for once.

If this is what a relationship between three people feels like, then I pity everyone else in the same position as me.

This is not for me.

But, I have to try... for Ty.

"Noah?" I blink myself out of my haze, my focus going to the source of the voice who is now standing right in front of me with furrowed brows. "Let's go in the water?"

His smile brightens when I nod and before I know it, we're stripping out of our shirts and running down the sand, weaving our way between the scattered beach-goers and enjoying the water rushing between our toes.

Asher and I, being the more playful and energetic of the bunch usually, end up splashing each other with water. Our arms reaching out to catch the other's elbow to keep each other from falling. Our laughter joins the melodies of everyone else finding their own joy on this bright new day. The small fish avoid being stepped on, as if it were a daily game to them, swimming their way between and around our ankles.