Claimed Girl

For a second, everything froze.

Josh was still kneeling, still holding the ring, still staring at me like he wasn’t sure he heard me correctly. Jake made this tiny choking sound beside him, the kind he always made right before he burst into tears. Mike’s grin was already forming, slow and smug, like he’d been waiting for this moment since birth. Drew blinked once, stunned in a quiet, adorable way. Patrick… Patrick just watched me with that calm, unreadable expression that somehow made the moment feel even bigger.

“I said yes,” I whispered, because no one was breathing.

Jake exploded. “She said YES!”

He grabbed my hand with both of his, staring at the ring like it held all the secrets of the universe. Josh finally exhaled, shoulders dropping as he stood and took my face in both hands.

“Say it again,” he murmured, voice low and warm. “Just so I know I’m not dreaming.”

My heart flipped. “Yes.”

Josh kissed me, soft and certain, and my knees legitimately wobbled.

Jake wiped his eyes. “Oh my god, this is the best day of my life.”

“You say that every time she kisses one of us,” Mike said, leaning an elbow on Josh’s shoulder. “But yeah… this one wins.”

I laughed, but my voice shook a little, and suddenly the room felt too bright. Too loud. Too everything.

Josh noticed instantly. “Baby girl, breathe.”

“I am breathing,” I said, even though I wasn’t totally convinced.

“You’re about to fall over,” Mike said helpfully.

“I’m not—”

Jake scooped me under the arms and plopped me onto the couch. “Now you’re not.”

“I didn’t need help sitting,” I muttered.

“Yes, you did,” Josh said, sitting beside me and brushing his thumb over my cheek.

Patrick moved closer, leaning one shoulder against the wall. He didn’t crowd me like the others. Just watched. Calm. Steady. The way he always did when everything felt too loud.

“You’re overwhelmed,” he said simply.

“Well… yeah,” I breathed. “I just agreed to marry five men.”

Jake gasped. “You said it again.”

Mike laughed. “It really doesn’t get old.”

Drew took the spot on my other side and gently pulled my hand into his. “Princess, you okay?”

“I think so,” I said, which wasn’t totally reassuring.

Josh squeezed my knee. “You don’t have to pretend. We can sit here as long as you need.”

“I’m fine,” I insisted.

Jake leaned his head on my shoulder. “She’s lying.”

“I am not lying!”

Drew raised an eyebrow. “You say that every time you’re about to cry.”

“I am NOT about to cry,” I said—right before my eyes got suspiciously teary.

Jake’s lip wobbled. “Oh no, she’s doing it again.”

“I’m not doing anything!” I laughed watery and ridiculous.

Mike handed me a tissue from literally nowhere. “Here.”

“Where did that even come from?” I asked.

“I’m prepared,” Mike said. “Jake’s been crying for the last ten minutes.”

“I HAVE NOT,” Jake shouted, blotting his face with his sleeve.

Josh pressed a kiss to my temple. “It’s okay to be emotional. Big moment.”

“I know,” I whispered. “It’s just… a lot.”

“Good lot or bad lot?” Drew asked.

“Good lot,” I said quickly.

Jake brightened. “See? Good!”

Mike flopped onto the arm of the couch. “We should feed her before she actually passes out.”

“I’m not going to pass out,” I said again.

Josh stood. “I already ordered food, just in case.”

Jake squinted at him. “Did you order everything again?”

“Yes,” Josh said.

Jake clapped. “Best fiancé ever.”

“Oh my god,” I whispered. “That’s a real word now.”

“What? Fiancé?” Mike teased. “Get used to it.”

“I’m trying,” I said.

Patrick finally pushed off the wall and came closer. He wasn’t smiling, but something warm flickered across his eyes as he slid two fingers under my chin.

“You made the right choice,” he said quietly. “And we’re not going anywhere.”

His voice hit me harder than Josh’s kiss.

I tried to swallow the lump in my throat. “I know.”

Jake suddenly snapped his fingers. “We need a picture.”

“No,” I said instantly.

“Yes,” he countered, already reaching for his phone.

“Jake—no—don’t—”

Flash.

He gasped dramatically. “Emmy, look! It’s perfect!”

I groaned as he shoved the phone into my face. The picture was chaotic—Jake’s eyes suspiciously shiny, Mike smirking like a menace, Drew smiling softly, Josh looking like he was about to pull me into his lap again, and Patrick… God. Patrick looked like he had already claimed me three different ways without touching me.

I swallowed. “Okay… it is cute.”

“Told you,” Jake said proudly.

Josh sat beside me again and tugged me closer. “Baby girl, you’re shaking.”

“I’m fine,” I repeated.

“You’re lying again,” Drew said.

“I am not—” I started, then paused. “…okay, maybe a little.”

Jake leaned into my side. “Happy shaking or terrified shaking?”

“Happy,” I said honestly.

Mike nudged my foot. “Good. Because if it were terrified, we’d have to redo the whole proposal, and I don’t think Jake can emotionally handle that.”

Jake gasped. “I absolutely cannot.”

Josh pressed another kiss to my temple. “You did good.”

“I didn’t do anything,” I said.

“You said yes,” he murmured. “That’s everything.”

The room went quiet—not heavy, not awkward. Just warm. Safe. The kind of quiet that felt like a blanket.

I looked around at the five of them—Jake leaning into me, Drew steady at my side, Mike smirking like he knew all my secrets, Josh with his arm around me, Patrick watching me like he saw the truth before I ever said it.

My heart settled.

My breath steadied.

My entire world realigned.

“I love you guys,” I whispered.

Jake immediately burst into tears. “SOMEONE GET THE CAMERA—”

“No!” I yelped, laughing.

Josh tightened his arm around me. “Too late, baby girl. You’re stuck with us now.”

“Good,” I whispered, letting my head rest against him. “I want to be.”

And I did.

God, I really did.