Yes, they are," Nick agreed wholeheartedly, exhaling and tightening his embrace on

both girls.

As Ashley closed her eyes, Nick and Mia shared a meaningful glance, Nick nodding
imperceptibly as Mia quickly blinked and tilted her head in approval. Ashley had
aced her final test, a somewhat redundant one but still significant in the long
run. As much as they were into raw unrestrained sex, neither Nick nor Mia could
ever give up snuggles. Having just confirmed that Ashley was all about cuddling too
was the ultimate sign of her being the one for both of them.

Relaxed and happy as they enjoyed the silence, Nick, Mia and Ashley quickly gave in
to sweet exhaustion. Their breathing calmed and their eyelids got heavier while
their snuggled bodies still clung tightly to each other in a three-way hug. They
were all on the verge of sleep when Ashley groggily yawned: "Mmhh nighty night...
Love you, guys..."

"Love you too, honey," Mia whispered softly, kissing Ashley on the cheek and making
her purr as she drifted off.

"Love you, Ash. Nighty night," Nick echoed, holding the blonde's slim body tighter
to his lanky frame.

After a few moments, as he reached toward the nightstand to put down his glasses
and turn off the bedside lamp, Nick turned his head to look at Mia one last time
before sleep. When his unfocused gaze met hers, Mia was beaming at him, her lips
moving slowly as she silently mouthed something.

Nick didn't need his glasses to read Mia's lips. He knew what she was saying, or
rather not-quite-saying, the way she had done countless times before over the
years, never actually voicing the words. But it didn't matter. He knew she meant
them and he was willing to wait as long as it took for her to spell them out loud.
As he watched Mia's lips moving, he could almost hear her say it: 'I love you,
baby.'

As he had done ever since that day long gone when he had agreed not to openly utter
the words until she was ready to do it first, Nick silently mouthed back his
heartfelt reply: 'I love you, Mia.'

Nick watched Mia smile one of her tender, rare smiles as she rested her head on his
chest. The vision of a long stray lock of Mia's black hair mingled with Ashley's
blonde pixie haircut was the last image that Nick's blurry eyes registered before
he turned off the light. Warmed by Mia's soft curvy body on one side and by
Ashley's slender cuddled-up frame on the other, Nick fell asleep within seconds, a
fluffy peaceful sensation humming inside him.