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Illi adjusted her sweater, February in Jersey was sadly still too cold to wear some of her cuter outfits, but she’d managed to throw something together for today’s date. She never expected herself to be the kind of girl going on a stereotypical Valentine’s day date, but Ray wanted the three of them to go out together to celebrate nearly half a year of being together and Illi wasn’t about to turn that down.
She paired one of her favorite black velvet dresses with sheer tights and a purple sweater - adding some matching makeup to top it all off. She knew that her boyfriends would find her beautiful no matter what she wore - they made that abundantly clear each time they saw her no matter if she was dressed up or wearing sweats and a t-shirt - but she liked putting in the extra effort to dress up for her men.
Ray was swinging by to pick her up in a few minutes, a fact that made her heart flutter in her chest as she reapplied her lip gloss. Mikey was already out, he’d gotten a new job as a server and was more or less forced into working the holiday. He wasn’t too upset about it though, so Illi wasn’t going to worry. He knew she was going out with her boyfriends, and he was fine as long as she “Didn’t bring them back here afterwards”. Which was fine by her - if they were going to go back to anyone’s place after their date it would be Frank’s.
She doesn’t have to wait long until she hears a knock on the door, opening it to find both Frank and Ray waiting for her on the porch. They’ve even dressed up for the occasion. They wear matching black button-ups - Illi is pretty sure that Ray dressed both of them judging by the fact that Frank is still wearing the same ripped black jeans that he always does - but she finds it cute regardless.
“Aww, you guys look so cute.” She comments, she’s so happy that she can just say stuff like that now that they’re all dating.
Frank gives her a wide, shit-eating grin. “You’re even prettier. You know I love that dress.” The velvet dress she’d chosen for today hugged her hips and waist in a way that she - and her boyfriends - loved, a fact that Illi knew full well and had taken into account when she was choosing her outfit for their date. “Ray does too, even if he’s being too much of a gentleman to say it.”
Ray rolls his eyes at their boyfriend’s antics, “Of course I think she’s beautiful.” He says, “But I was hoping that you could act civilized enough to give our girl a good date.” Ray pointed out, a slight whine to his voice. Illi knew that today was important to him, he was more of a romantic than he liked to admit and he got a starry-eyed look in his eyes when he talked about the three of them going out for Valentine’s day. Illi was just glad that he wanted to take all three of them out at all. She knew that they weren’t the most conventional couple - especially for the area they lived - but Ray and Frank weren’t embarrassed to take Illi out or go out as all three of them. They didn’t need to worry about what other people thought, because the three of them and the people that were important to them were happy.
“Thanks Ray.” Illi smiled sweetly at him, “Thank you for planning today.”
Ray flushed bright red, “It’s really nothing, I love both of you and wanted to show you.”
“Aw, such a sweetie.” Frank teased, “Our gentleman.” that just makes Ray flush further. He’s so cute, Illi and Frank have figured out by now that Ray is very easy to tease. It doesn’t take much to have him flushing like a tomato. He’s so sweet, Illi loves that about him.
“Frank!” Ray whined.
“Be nice to him.” Illi chided Frank, taking a bit of pity on her taller boyfriend. “Let’s let Ray take us on our date.” Her boys nod, and she lets them lead her to the car. The one downside of being a couple of three was the fact that no matter who was driving, someone would always have to sit in the back. Luckily for Illi, the boys usually swapped out, citing that “Ladies shouldn’t sit in the back,” something that never failed to make Illi feel giddy. Today, like most days, she slides into the passenger seat and Frank takes the back. It won’t be more than 10 minutes until they reach their location - a local diner that the three of them liked to haunt.
They chat easily on the way there, and once they park, Frank goes ahead and opens the door for her. Illi feels so loved, her boys are good at making her feel that way. They treat her like a woman, like she’s something special and fragile. Ray joins Frank quickly, standing by her other side as the three of them walk into the diner and to the hosts stand. They get a few weird looks from the workers for being a group of three rather than the typical couples that sit at the booths around them. A few months ago, Illi might have felt embarrassed, but with Frank and Ray on either side of her she feels invincible. People can think whatever they want, she knows that their relationship is sound.
Ray pulls her chair out for her, making Illi feel even more special. She sits across from her boyfriends, feeling so loved with the way they both look at her like she’s the most beautiful woman in the world. They order their food and drinks, and then have plenty of time to talk to each other as they wait for their meals to come.
“How are your classes going?” Illi asked Ray. She liked to keep up on his coursework, she was really proud of him for sticking with classes. He was getting close to graduating, she couldn’t wait to sit with Frank while they watched their boyfriend walk across the stage.
“Good, you guys should come up to campus and visit me at some point.” Ray said, “I think you’d like it there.”
“Yeah, that would be nice.” Illi smiled at him.
“Speaking of school, have you finished up with your portfolio?” Frank asked, “Your art is so good, those schools you’re applying to would be stupid not to let you in.” Illi looks down, biting her lip. She’d let it slip to her boyfriends that she regretted not following through with art school and that she missed going to classes. She wasn’t sure that she would actually enroll anywhere, but she knew that she at least wanted to take some classes and work on her skills. Of course, that meant that her boyfriends were currently her biggest supporters and constantly asking how the search for schools were going.
“I’m working on it.” She said lamely, “I don’t even know if I’m going to apply yet.”
Frank rolled his eyes, “You really should, you love art.”
“You’ve wanted this for years.” Ray reminded her, “even back when we were in school you wanted to go to school for art and make comics, remember?”
Illi nodded, this was what she wanted for so long, but she wasn’t sure she could even do it at this point. School would be expensive, and it would be hard for her to juggle school and her current part-time job. Her boss was kind enough to assure her that he would arrange her hours around her school - even if that meant giving her short after-school shifts and longer weekend hours. But there was still so much that Illi wasn’t sure about. What if she put in all the work of getting through school and then wasn’t able to land a job doing what she wanted? She didn’t want to fail and disappoint all the people that had so much faith in her. Mikey, her boyfriends, Ray’s parents and her late aunt were all rooting for her to pursue her art dreams, but she was scared to make the jump to actually pursue schooling.
“I know, I’m just nervous.” she admitted, “What if I flunk out? Or graduate and don’t break into the industry?”
“Illi,” Ray’s gaze softens as he looks at her, “You’re so talented, and you care about this so much. You’re not going to flunk out.”
“Yeah.” Frank agreed, “And it doesn’t make sense to worry about not breaking into the industry just yet. First of all, I’m sure that you will once they see how absolutely awesome your stories are, and second, if they can’t see that then fuck them. You can start your own comic studio or self-publish or something. You know that the two of us will have your back no matter what you choose.”
Illi feels better after hearing his words. She’s not sure that she’s ready to make that leap just yet, but she knows that once she does her boyfriends will have her back. “I know. I love you guys so much.” she says, “Just…I’m not sure that I’m ready yet.”
Ray reaches across the table to take her hand, Frank quickly follows suit, “We love you too Illi, and we’ve got your back whenever you decide you’re ready.”
“You two are the best thing to happen to me.” Frank admitted, his usual joking tone gone as he looked at both Illi and Ray genuinely. “I honestly don’t know where I would be without the two of you.”
Illi nods at his words, she feels the same way. “I didn’t think I could be happy here when Mikey and I came back. I thought I would hate it, but now that I’ve met you, I don’t think I could be this happy anywhere else.”
“I’m so glad that you came back, Illi.” Ray smiles at her, “and I’m glad that you stuck around,” he jokes, looking at Frank then, “Even when I was too dense to pick up on your hints.”
“I think it was fate that we met each other.” Frank said decisively, “It was fate that I met you Ray, and fate that Illi came back. I think the three of us were meant to be.”
Illi laughs, but nods along. She was never really one to believe in fate, but she thinks that for Frank she could get behind the idea of the three of them being some predetermined plan by the universe.
“Yeah, fate.” she smiles, “I like the sound of that.”
It’s soon after that their food comes, and the three of them dig in. Frank steals off of both of their plates - as he usually does - and Illi would have it no other way. It’s not their first day, far from it actually, but it’s her first Valentine’s day with not just one, but two boyfriends and she feels all floaty and happy all through the dinner. They even splurge and order desserts and by the time the check comes, Frank and Ray pool their cash to pay off the bill. Illi offers to chip in - she is a part of this couple after all - but her boyfriends wave her off.
“Let us pay.” Frank insists, 'It's like, the boyfriend’s job to pay for dinner.” Illi rolls her eyes and holds her tongue - another day she would remind him that she absolutely didn’t want to follow traditional gender roles - but today she was just going to enjoy being spoiled by her boyfriends. After the bill is settled, she lets them lead her to the car and lets Ray open the door for her. She feels so spoiled.
“So, Frank’s place?” Ray asks, though he doesn’t really have to. The plan was always to end up at Frank’s place tonight, he’d already told his roommates that he’d have his lovers over and that they either had to get used to it or find somewhere else to sleep. Luckily, both guys were going to a party tonight and probably wouldn’t be home.
“Hell yeah, let’s keep this party going.” Frank cheered from the back seat. Illi giggles at his words. She feels even happier once they get to Frank’s place and she’s able to flop back on his bed. As much as she’d liked going out with her boyfriends, she thinks that her favorite moments with them are the ones when it’s just the three of them.
Frank’s bed is a tiny little twin bed, definitely not large enough for all three of them but they make it work. Illi usually ends up either on Ray’s chest or with Frank laying on top of her when all three of them spend the night over at his apartment. He really ought to get a bigger bed, but just hadn’t gotten around to it yet. Ray lays down beside Illi, then grunts at Frank practically throws himself on top of Ray, laying face down on his chest. His arms loop around the smaller man though, wrapping around his waist while one finds his hair.
“Love you.” Frank grumbles into his chest. “Illi too. I’m the luckiest man in the world.”
Illi giggles, rolling over enough that her chest is flush to Ray’s side. “I think I’m luckier.” She teases, ruffling Frank’s hair and making his head turn before she leaned in to kiss Ray’s lips. He smiles into it, soft and sweet as always. She would have kept going if Frank didn’t start kicking up a fuss about being left out - which might have been her intentions all along. She takes pity on him though, parting with Ray onto to immediately jump into kissing Frank too.
They have the rest of the night to be in love with each other, and she’s sure that they’ll have fun with that. But right now, Illi really does feel like the luckiest girl in the world.