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“Thank you, it’s good to meet you both. You can set those on the counter and make yourselves comfortable.”

“So, Joey and Patrick mentioned you’re planning the LGBTQIA+ gala on New Year’s Eve,” Kieran starts, immediately diving right into the topic.

“Yes. My best friend, Tara, works for their organization and she’s now the head of People Operations so she hired me to put it together this year.”

“That’s awesome. I had a great time when I went a few years ago,” Kieran responds.

“Tara is actually the mutual friend whose trip we went on when we first started our vacation rule with Scotty,” I add, just so Scotty knows how much I told them about us.

Scotty’s cheeks darken. “Oh my god, I can’t believe you told them that!”

“What? Jace and Kieran are our best friends. Just because Joey happens to be related to him doesn’t mean we need to pretend to be virgins. One day we welcomed a strange kid into our home and⁠—”

“Not strange! We’ve been over this,” Jace interrupts.

“Yeah, you can think that all you want.”

“How about we focus on you instead, huh? Save my and Kieran’s life for another day.”

“Sure, sure,” I agree.

“So, cupcake, anyone?” Kieran offers, breaking the tension by holding up the box.

“I’ll take one,” Joey confirms, and we all settle in. There’s easy conversation and no judgment. Not that I was worried, but it’s still nice to see them all getting along so well right off the bat.

Joey’s sitting close to Scotty on the couch, their thighs pressed together. I’m on Scotty’s other side, my arm stretched along the back of the couch behind him. We look like what we are—a unit.

The conversation flows easily, moving from topic to topic. Jace tells us about his latest project at work, Kieran shares a funny story about their cat, and Scotty gradually relaxes, his natural charm and humor coming through. At one point, he makes a joke that has everyone laughing, and I catch Joey’s eye over Scotty’s head. He’s smiling, and I know he’s thinking the same thing I am: it feels right all being here together. This is exactly how it should be.

When Jace and Kieran finally leave a couple of hours later, promising to have us all over for dinner soon, Scotty closes the door and leans against it, letting out a long breath.

“That went well,” he says, sounding almost surprised.

“Of course it did,” I respond as I walk over to him. “You’re amazing. We knew they’d like you.”

“They really did,” Joey agrees, joining us. “And they’re going to love having you around for family stuff.”

Scotty’s eyes get a bit misty again. “Family stuff. With me. I can’t believe this is real.”

“It’s real,” I promise, cupping his face in my hands.

“Yes it is,” Scotty says, and then he’s kissing me, deep and sweet and full of promise. When we break apart, he turns to Joey and kisses him with the same intensity.

“So, want to show us your bedroom?” I tease, and Scotty hums his agreement before even ending his kiss with Joey.

29

“What do you need from us tonight?” Joey asks as the three of us enter my bedroom.

“Anything, everything,” I answer automatically because somehow they managed to show up and quiet every single one of my concerns, and all I want to do now is lose myself to the pleasure that I know they’re promising. “I took my time getting ready earlier when I was putting off leaving, so I’m up for anything. Honestly, I wish I could take you both at the same time, but realistically I know I’ll need to work up to that, and I do not have the patience to attempt it right now.”

Joey’s eyes darken. “Fuck, would you actually want to do that?”

“Absolutely. Eventually. But right now, all I know is that I want us all in a lot less clothes.”

“Ask, and you shall receive, sweetheart.” Patrick immediately pulls his shirt off before pushing his pants and boxers down in one quick move. “It’s been an emotional night, though, how about you let us worship you a little? Would you want to be in the middle?”

I nod but then glance to Joey. “If that works for you?”