Page 131 of Dickathlon

“Merry Christmas!”

“Not so loud, you’ll wake the kids.”

“Well, it’s a surprise, what are we supposed to do? Whisper it?”

Every adult in the family had jumped out from behind everywhere to greet us.

“You didn’t have to stay up for us!” I said, greeting my mom with a big hug.

“Yeah, we did, bro. We’re technically still celebrating Christmas Eve because none of us have fallen asleep,” Pierce explained.

“Except Dad!” Owen added.

“Well, yeah, except Dad,” Pierce agreed.

“It was only for a minute, you two.” He turned to me and Declan. “Apparently, watching A Christmas Story for the thirty-second time wasn’t as stimulating as the previous thirty-one times, I guess.”

“Come in, come in. Put the bags down and give us a hug,” my mom said, waving her arms at Declan.

“Ty loves me!” Declan half-shouted to the room.

I spun on my heel in surprise as the room went silent. Declan looked mortified yet super proud, somehow, at the same time. I walked over to him, raising my eyebrows expectantly.

“Well, it’s true,” Declan continued. “He said it, and then I said it back. Just…wanted to let everyone know. That we love each other.”

Jeez, this tall, hunky slab of muscle was adorable sometimes. I tilted my head up, silently asking for a kiss and promptly received one, and a bonus cheek stroke.

“Yeah! About time!” Travis yelled from behind my parents.

“I knew it.”

“I could tell last Christmas. Didn’t I tell you, Owen?”

Looked like Rene and Christa were pleased.

“You did, honey. You were right.” Owen slapped me on the back. “So, will there be wedding bells any time soon?”

“Don’t be crass, son,” my mom scolded him as I did my best to stare at a random orange on the island.

“Yeah, bro. Don’t push your heteronormative narrative on their queer relationship.”

“Alright, who’s been giving Pierce books?” I asked with a grin. It was hard for any of my brothers to surprise me after so many years, but that was out of left field.

“I don’t need books, Tyler. I have Google, thank you very much.”

“I’m not opposed to a future with this one,” Declan started to explain, as I abruptly and completely focused my attention on the words leaving his mouth, “but he did just say the L word like four hours ago, so, you know, we don’t want to rush that next step. I’d like to enjoy being in love for a little bit. If that works for him.”

“Oh, yes. That works. Very much works. Enjoy away!”

“You two are too cute.” I could tell my mom was thrilled.

“Congratulations!” Kyle said, holding his beer up.

This brought a fresh round of well wishes and hugs. Declan was inundated by my family. My mom even did the classic grab both cheeks and give him a kiss on the forehead thing. I knew they liked him from the last visit, but this one hit different.

It felt like Declan belonged here. With us. With me.

And even though Declan playfully brushed it off, I knew he was the one I was going to spend the rest of my life with. I had a sneaking suspicion he knew the same thing.