Lauren finally made the trip she had been dreading. It was time to pick up the last of her boxes and get them out of her parents' house. After her father's recent heart attack, her mother insisted she bring Josh along. She was afraid her father would try to lift something he shouldn't.

"What's that?" Josh asked as they sorted through the items in her bedroom, placing each one into a moving box. She pulled out a leather case.

"It's a state quarter collection. I started it as a kid," Lauren said, opening the case. "I didn't finish it because I lost interest after a few years."

"I used to do that too. It was a fun fad," he shared.

"I remember how excited I was to get each new one. Then I'd forget about it when the next one came out. But I was glad to have them all."

"Me too. I had my favorites. My top five," he laughed. "Connecticut looks cool."

"When I was in middle school, I started seeing relationships differently. I rarely got upset when one ended because a new one came along. Like my quarter collection," she said. "Okay, that's a weird metaphor, but true. I didn't get attached."

"Kind of like 'Thank u, next.' Gotta love Ariana Grande," he joked.

"That song is healing and prescriptive actually. Our soulmates, to use your term, are collected during our lives, and we appreciate them later as we look back on what they brought to us." Lauren sighed. It was really a beautiful concept, she thought.

"That's one way to look at it," Josh agreed.

"So our relationships with our respective middle-aged hotties would be there, in our versions of 'thank u, next'."

"I suppose so. Do you stay friends with all your exes? I mean, is that even realistic?" He sighed, sticking his hands in his pockets.

"Yeah, pretty much. You don't have to cut out those past loves, just change how you see them. None of my relationships ended that badly."

"There's an idea. Maybe I will try that. Changing how I see people. Sounds like something Liza told me once about how we won't always be the same people to each other, but we can be in each other's life."

"I agree. It doesn't have to be all or nothing. Don't limit yourself."

They finished packing up Lauren's boxes and said goodbye to her parents. On the way home, Josh remained quiet. He smiled as Lauren slept in the seat next to him. She was opening his mind to new ideas everyday.

…..

The next day, Lauren knew she had to have a conversation with Liza. She always honored her female friendships first, and didn't want an unpleasant situation at work.

"Do you have a minute?" Lauren asked. Liza nodded and they sat down in her office.

"This is really hard because I want to honor girl code," Lauren started to explain. This was going to be a difficult topic.

"What is it?" Liza asked.

"I really want a baby. And Josh is willing to help me. But that means we would need to -"

"I know," she interrupted. "And I'm okay with that. Really. I want you both to be happy. I wouldn't stand in the way of that. He and I don't have that kind of relationship anymore."

"There's something else," Lauren said cautiously. "I sort of have feelings for him."

Liza laughed, "I thought that was the case. You two have been inseparable. I've seen that you go out to lunch with him nearly every day. I'm glad he works so close now some days, when he's at his new studio. "

"Thanks for your blessing. This means a lot." Lauren hugged her fiercely. "You know I wouldn't pursue him if you weren't over."

"No problem. Anytime you want to talk, I'm here."

"Anything you want to talk about now?" Lauren asked. "You know I'm here for you too, diva."

"Not really. Maybe check back in a few weeks," she said. Lauren knew that Charles was returning from his trip soon. They had discussed it in the morning meeting.

"I've got you girl. I know who's on your mind. If he's distant when he gets back, I'll get you dressed to the nines and we'll show him who's boss."

"Thanks for being a friend."

Lauren left work that day feeling pleased. Maybe she could have everything she wanted in life. She just had to stay true to herself.

…

After her conversation at work, Lauren sought Josh out. He was quietly reading the books she found for him, stories of polyamorous families. It took him a few seconds to break out of his intense concentration.

"Finding anything that speaks to you?" Lauren asked.

"I've been thinking. Remember when Maggie's friend Malkie asked me for a donation, to help with her pregnancy? You helped me have that vision. I knew that it needed to be with someone I loved, if I had a family. But maybe I was picturing the wrong person, and the wrong circumstances," Josh shared.

"Really? What?" Lauren asked in disbelief.

"Because I know now that Liza's never going to want that. And if she doesn't, then that vision was wrong. Maybe it was you the whole time. The one who helped me have the vision of my life, my family in the first place." His eyes were teary and he had a serious look.

"Okay, Romeo. I'm not all that. We are important to each other. Maybe we even love each other, in our way," Lauren said gently.

"No, it's more than that. I've overlooked one of the most important influences in my life while chasing something that never really existed. My grandma always said 'water seeks its own level.' And now I understand that phrase. It means Liza and I are not alike, we don't seek the same things. We don't have the same mind. Not like you and I do."

Lauren laughed, grabbing him by the hand. "Well then, what are we waiting for, show me what you've got."

Lauren thought it might be weird being with Josh that night, but it wasn't. They were so well matched that it was one of the best nights she had ever spent with a guy. Their matched levels of experience and curiosity were everything she had been hoping to find.

As they committed to trying this arrangement, they grew closer over the months they spent together. "I never thought I'd say this, but I love you," Lauren told him.

"I love you, too. As one of your many loves. If that's cool with you. I'm just trying to fit in," Josh said.

"And as of now, you are my primary partner. If you accept that designation," she said in a serious tone.

"I do. I can't completely commit to being poly myself, but I see the benefits and why that works for you."

"As long as you understand, that's all I wanted. My goal is to educate those who misunderstand us. Speaking of that, I started my life coach training."

"You're going to be great," he reassured her. "As both a mother and a life coach."

Lauren felt content to be heard and to make this step toward becoming a parent with him. She knew that no matter what happened, they would be in each other's lives forever. "I accept you as a soulmate on my journey," she told him. Josh agreed that they were meant to be for however long the universe wanted them together.