He finally got the cork out. The floor creaked, and he noticed Liam approaching with a puzzled smile on his face. “You look nervous,” Liam said in his familiar, raspy voice. “I was a little surprised we needed a formal dinner to find out the boys are dating, considering the Gala. But Layne also mentioned seeing Branson upset last night.” He left the leading comment there.
Kell was a master of picking his words carefully. “Bransonwasupset, but he’s working it out, and I believe things will be fine soon.”
“I’m glad. You’ve never had to worry about Branson before. He’s always been the stable kid.”
“Trust me, I know.” More than he’d ever admit. Hehadworried about the twins more, once they were born, simply because they were twins. They’d been major news, novelties, things to be gawked at for the first few years of their lives. The media attention had never gone fully away, despite dimming for a long time, and then coming back full-force when Emory was kidnapped two-and-a-half years ago.
Maybe it was because Kell had worried so much for Branson while he was gone, taken from Kell and given to unknown (at the time) people to raise. He’d worried himself sick for his baby boy, and he’d cried joyous tears when Branson was returned three months later. Branson and Ronin had been his entire life for so long, until the twins were born. He loved all three of his children equally…but maybe he hadn’t given Branson the direct attention he deserved these last few years.
That was going to change.
“I’m really glad you and Isa could come for supper,” Kell said. “It’s been too long since we’ve had you both over.”
“Well, you do have a full house right now,” Liam replied with a soft chuckle. “So, I won’t hold it against you.”
“Thank you.” Kell returned his friend’s smile. “Can you grab some wine glasses from the second cabinet on the left?”
Between them, they carried six glasses, the wine, and some serving utensils into the dining room, where everyone else had settled around the table. Food was served, as were requested drinks, until everyone had a full plate, full glass, and they began to eat. Predictably, Branson liberally sprinkled his serving of pasta with red pepper flakes. Isa engaged Ronin in idle chatter about local news, while casting Tarius frequent, curious glances.
Kell’s own anxiety was rumbling through his gut, unhappy that he was eating such a heavy meal, but the shells were delicious. He balanced the pasta and cheese with a heaping helping of salad, mixed with small sips of the delectable red wine. Drinking the gift was only polite, but he wanted a clear head when the boys started talking.
About twenty minutes of eating and conversing passed before Liam put his fork down on his mostly-empty plate and said, “Okay, this specific sextet has never had a meal together until now, so before I absolutely burst from curiosity, what’s going on? Tarius?”
Tarius and Branson were seated on one side of the long table, Liam and Isa opposite them. From his spot captaining one end, Kell clearly saw the long, meaningful look Tarius and Branson exchanged, before they both took turns meeting Isa, Liam, and even Kell’s eyes.
“Even though we just came out as a couple last night,” Tarius said, “Branson and I have been seeing each other for a few months. We’ve been falling in love and creating a relationshipthat makes us both happy, so please don’t think we’re jumping blindly into this.”
Kell’s heart pounded in his ears.
“Jumping into what, son?” Isa asked.
Tarius met his sire’s gaze. “We’re getting married. As soon as possible.”
Kell squawked.
Branson had been a nervous wreck from the moment he climbed into Tarius’s car to pick up dinner. It hit him like a cold hammer to the solar plexus, making it hard to breathe, and he wasn’t sure where the anxiety was coming from. He’d never been scared to speak to his omegin, not a day in his life. He’d never once wondered if this was the choice he made that Dad vehemently disagreed with. If he’d lose Dad’s blind trust in him.
His nerves were why Tarius parked and went inside to get the food, and why Tarius carried the bag up the driveway to the front porch. A porch Branson had crossed thousands of times, to a door he’d entered and exited just as often. But never as an engaged man. Never as a man with not two, butthreebiological brothers.
Everything was different tonight.
Thank goddess, Dad didn’t press right away, and he politely kept his distance by taking care of the food. A bit of Branson’s heart tore off and followed his omegin into the dining room. He’d never received such a cool greeting from the man before, but Branson had asked for space. No, he’d demanded space.
Dad was respecting his wishes, even though it had to be eating him up inside—like it was starting to eat at Branson. For all Branson had been furious at the man last night, seeing himagain? He couldn’t stay mad. He didn’t like being mad at anyone, especially not his parents.
He didn’t get a chance to speak privately with Dad before the meal started, and he knew he wouldn’t get a chance for a while now. Not after Tarius stated, “We’re getting married. As soon as possible.”
Dad released a high-pitched noise. Branson looked to his left, into Dad’s wide, shocked eyes.
“Married?” Isa repeated.
“Congratulations!” Liam squealed, the least shocked of the trio hearing this news for the first time. He wiggled in his chair. “Oh goddess, this is exciting.”
“What’s this ‘as soon as possible’ business?” Isa shook his head, the elderly alpha perfectly flabbergasted. “I know you’re in your forties, Tarius, but there’s hardly a rush.”
“Actually, sir, there is,” Branson said, finally finding his voice. Dad’s shock had shifted into a shrewd squint, as if he was already puzzling things out, because he knew about Jeuel and the custody papers. “And the rush has to do with something I’ve learned in the last twenty-four-hours, and it’s a bit shocking.”
Liam’s excitement melted into concern. “You aren’t sick, are you, Branson?”
