The drive over was quick. When we were in front of the house, I felt nervous.
“It’ll be fine,” he promised as he took my hand and led me into the house.
They were all in the kitchen, I faltered as Matt saw me and grinned, alerting the others to our presence.
Theo spun and laughed out loud. “Thank God! Although I didn’t expect you to come out of the bedroom so soon,” he joked. I flushed scarlet.
Corey was smiling as she ate some fruit, she winked at me and I blushed more. My eyes flicked to Connor. He was staring at our joined hands.
“Connor…” I started. His eyes met mine. They switched to his brother.
“I love her Con,” Colton said simply, “I’ve always been in love with her.” Colton shrugged as he admitted it but his grip on my hand was tight and firm. My heart clenched, I squeezed his hand.
“And you?” Connor looked at me.
I nodded, “I love him too.” An answering squeeze. “Although I would really have liked to say it to Colton, rather than tell you first,” I scowled at Connor.
Connor nodded as he accepted that.
“All the time?” He asked me. I shook my head.
“No,” I glanced quickly at Colton, “I don’t know when it happened, but it wasn’t when we were together Connor,” I answered truthfully. Connor’s face showed his relief.
Then he grinned. That Connor Dawson grin we all knew so well.
“Dad’s going to be so fucking pissed. He does not like you Ari,” he chuckled. I narrowed my eyes at him.
“He’ll get used to her, she’s not going anywhere,” Colton said as he pulled me into him. I looked up at him and he dropped a kiss. I took it and then looked at Connor. He grinned at me and the relief I felt was overwhelming.
“It’s fine,” he nodded like he was just realising it, “you look great together,” he admitted. “You look…right.” He placed his own hand on Corey’s shoulder. She smiled up at him, as she linked her fingers through his.
“It’s good to have you home Ari,” Connor said to me. My heart felt like bursting. I looked at Matt and Theo who both grinned at me. We moved further into the kitchen, Matt hugged me and dropped a kiss on my head as he always did. Colton tugged me back beside him and flushed at Matt’s low chuckle.
“Hey Ari, guess what? It’s going to snow next week,” Theo declared as he poured a beer.
“Thank God,” Matt muttered as he reached over to take the beer, “this stupid heat was making us all act crazy.”
We laughed and as we did, I felt the tension that had been hanging over all of us for different reasons, finally dissipate. With extreme happiness, I looked around the kitchen, taking them all in. These guys,my family.
I looked up at Colton, he had been watching me and now he smiled slowly. “I love you,” he whispered.
I reached up and kissed him softly.
“I love you too.”
~The End~