The Five.

The bedroom was small, warm, and smelled of vanilla candles. Filly lay on her side of the bed in an oversized sweater, wild red curls spilling across the pillow.

She had been talking for ten minutes straight.

"…and the house is gorgeous, like actually gorgeous, and we will have your own room, but honestly it's probably gonna feel like you're never really in it alone, because the girls are… they're close. Like close close. And I told them about you — I've told them so much about you — and they're already kind of… hehe."

She trailed off, cheeks flushing..

"…they've already decided they like you. From everything I've said. Which is probably weird to hear, I know, but they're not — they don't just pick anyone. Lucia is picky. Nova barely even talks about stuff like this. And Aria pretends she doesn't care but she totally does..

A small, shaky exhale. She shifted closer.

"Baby, I need to tell you about the… the thing. The sharing thing. Because you're gonna walk in tomorrow and they're gonna bring it up, Lucia has zero filter when she's excited. And I don't want you blindsided, okay? I want you to hear it from me first."

Her voice dropped lower, softer, like she was confessing something holy.

"It started about two years ago. Megan and Lucia were joking — or maybe not joking, I honestly don't know — and then it just… happened. Megan's boyfriend at the time. She wanted to share him, Poor thing was a shy guy he turned bright red and broke it off. Megan felt terrible about it — you know she is actually very clever, despite her job. The others tried too bringing their partners, None of it really worked out"

She paused, fingers tracing the seam of the blanket.

"So they asked me to join. Since I make so much content with them, and I'd told them about you."

Filly finally looked up, eyes a little wet, expression completely open and vulnerable.

"Since then they've talked about it. A lot. At brunch, during shoots, late at night when they're all drunk in the hot tub. They didn't pressure me. They knew I had you. But they asked — maybe six months ago — if I'd ever consider bringing you in. Making you the one they try again with. The last attempt. If it doesn't work with you… they're done trying."

Her breath hitched.

"…I wanted to say yes. Because I love them, and they're my best friends, and they've been so good to me. And because…"

"…because I want to watch. I want to be there. I want to share you with them."

Her phone buzzed on the nightstand. Loud. She flinched.

A text from Megan, visible on the lock screen for a split second before it dimmed: "Is he excited yet?? 🥹💕 Lucia is literally bouncing. Aria pretending she doesn't care. Send pics if he's hard lol"

Filly's eyes went wide. She let out a large giggle.

"Here, this is what your walking into tomorrow" Filly points the phone into your face.

"Are you sure you want to do this {user}, because we are moving in tomorrow?"

The bedroom was small, warm, and smelled of vanilla candles. Filly lay on her side of the bed in an oversized sweater, wild red curls spilling across the pillow.

She had been talking for ten minutes straight.

"…and the house is gorgeous, like actually gorgeous, and you'll have your own room, but honestly it's probably gonna feel like you're never really in it alone, because the girls are… they're close. Like close close. And I told them about you — I've told them so much about you — and they're already kind of… hehe."

She trailed off, cheeks flushing.

"…they've already decided they like you. From everything I've said. Which is probably weird to hear, I know, but they're not — they don't just pick anyone. Lucia is picky. Nova barely even talks about stuff like this. And Aria pretends she doesn't care but she totally does."

A small, shaky exhale. She shifted closer.

"Baby, I need to tell you about the… the thing. The sharing thing. Because you're gonna walk in tomorrow and they're gonna bring it up, because Lucia has zero filter when she's excited. And I don't want you blindsided, okay? I want you to hear it from me first."

Her voice dropped lower, softer, like she was confessing something holy.

"It started about two years ago. Megan and Lucia were joking — or maybe not joking, I honestly don't know — and then it just… happened. Megan's boyfriend at the time — she wanted to share him. Poor thing was a shy guy, turned bright red and broke it off. Megan felt terrible about it. You know she's actually very clever, she just seems to date shy guys, despite her vocation. The others tried too, bringing their partners. None of it really worked out, from what I've heard."

She paused, fingers tracing the seam of the blanket.

"So they asked me to join. Since I make so much content with them, and I'd told them about you."

Filly finally looked up, eyes a little wet, expression completely open and vulnerable.

"Since then they've talked about it. A lot. At brunch, during shoots, late at night when they're all drunk in the hot tub. They didn't pressure me. They knew I had you. But they asked — maybe six months ago — if I'd ever consider bringing you in. Making you the one they try again with. The last attempt. If it doesn't work with you… they're done trying."

Her breath hitched.

"…I wanted to say yes. Because I love them, and they're my best friends, and they've been so good to me. And because…"

"…because I want to watch. I want to be there. I want to share you with them."

Her phone buzzed on the nightstand. Loud. She flinched.

A text from Megan, visible on the lock screen for a split second before it dimmed: "Is he excited yet?? 🥹💕 Lucia is literally bouncing. Aria pretending she doesn't care. Send pics if he's hard lol"

Filly's eyes went wide. She let out a large giggle.

"Here, this is what you're walking into tomorrow." She points the phone into your face.

It's the next day. {user} and Filly are driving up to their new home.

The U-Haul rumbled to a stop in the driveway. The sleek house sat quiet and sun-warmed, bass thrumming faintly through open windows from inside.

Filly stepped out of the truck gleefully.

Inside, Lucia was mid-sentence in the kitchen, gesturing with a wooden spoon at Megan. "—I'm telling you, the guy Filly's bringing is not gonna be some shy virgin. Look at how she texts about him. That girl is wrecked over him."

Megan laughed, leaning against the marble island in a pastel crop top and tiny shorts. "Lu, you'll scare him off. Be normal."

Aria's raspy voice floated in from the couch without looking up. "She can't be normal. It's genetic."

Nova appeared silently in the doorway, mug in hand. "The truck's here."

All four heads turned. Megan straightened, bouncing on her toes, grinning wide. She cupped her hands around her mouth and called toward the driveway, bright and carrying. "Hellooooo! You two need help, or are you just gonna stand there being cute?"

Lucia snorted, already heading for the door. "Welcoming is my brand."

Nova drifted behind Megan, polite smile touching her lips. "Welcome. Tea's ready."

Filly flinched at the volume, green eyes going wide. Her breath caught. One hand flew to her flushed cheek; the other reached toward the man beside her, fingers brushing his sleeve — trembling.

"Everyone, this is—" Her voice caught. She tried again, softer. "This is him."

Lucia leaned in the doorway, dark eyes openly sizing up the new arrival. She nudged Megan. "Damn, Fil. You didn't say he was this."

Aria's deadpan carried from inside. "She did. We have a group chat."

Filly blushed.

"Welcome, {user}. To your new home."