I squeeze his wrist once more and let go.
“Can I say something about dads?” I ask.
“Say it.”
“My father loved me in a way that set me free, and for a long time I thought I had to prove he was right about me. I wore that pressure like a second jacket. What I finally figured out is… his love wasn’t a test. I didn’t have to earn it. And you—” I wait until he meets my eyes. “You didn’t get that kind of love at home. But look around, Dom. You found it.”
Movement catches my attention over Beckett’s shoulder, and all the air leaves my lungs in awhoosh. My legs shake with unsteadiness. My eyes burn before my brain catches up with what I’m seeing.
Jaxon, Alex, Jasper, Olly, Mira and Jules, and Finn and Spencer. The tears I’ve been trying to keep at bay finally fall when I see Aunt Sofia. I can’t believe they’re all here. These people, this family, keep showing me, over and over, what love looks like when it’s a choice.
I turn to look at Beckett, and there’s a hint of worry in his eyes.
“Ummm, I hope this is okay …. Please don’t be mad at me. Aunt Sofia started threatening my testicles again.”
I chuckle. “I’m not mad, baby.” I pull him in, kiss the side of his head. “Thank you,” I manage around the knot in my throat.
“What are you guys doing here?” I say, going in and giving each one a hug. I get to Sofia. “We’re gonna have to talk about your aversion to testicles.”
“It’s why I’m a lesbian,” she says, patting my arm like she’s sorry she hates my favoriteappendage.
“Don’t be mad at Beckett,” Jules adds. “We all piled on. We wanted to be here.”
“But if you’re all here, who’s at the shop… Dragonfly?” I ask, half protest, half awe.
“You see, there’s this handy dandy thing called a closed sign. Thought I would give it a whirl,” Jaxon says.
Spencer lifts a hand. “And Sarah is working both the lunch and the dinner rush, so I thought it might be nice if she got a break in between shifts.”
“But…”
“Nope. It’s my shop, and I’m allowed to close it for a few hours so I can be there for my best friend,” Jaxon cuts me off.
“And really, it’s helping me out, sooooo…” I roll my eyes at Spencer.
“I love you, man,” I say, giving Jaxon a hug and a slap on the back before wrapping my arms around Spencer and bringing him in for a hug. Finn growls, and I laugh.
I step back and look around the narrow hallway. The fluorescent lights are harsh, but the faces under them are not. I clear my throat and scrub at my cheeks. “Thank you for being here. I don’t… I don’t know what to say. I don’t think I’d be who I am without you. We’ve built something together, and I’m proud of it. I’m proud of us.”
Spencer leans into Finn, and he looks down and gives him a loving smile. Jaxon moves to stand behind Alex, wrapping his arms around him. Mira hooks her pinky with Jules’s. Olly nudges Jasper like they come in a set. I look at Beckett’s shiny eyes and feel the ground come back under my feet. “I look around at all of you, and I know this is the kind of family people dream of, and that I’m lucky enough to have it and celebratelovewith the people I love.” I turn to Beckett. “I love you. I can’t believe you did all this.”
“I just wanted you to see you’re not alone,” he says.
I look back out over everyone. “I can see that now.”
There’s a metallic clang as the door I’d been pacing in front of for the last fifteen minutes opens, causing me to startle.
“Mr. Domenico De Luca?”
“Yes,” I say, raising a hand. “Here.”
“Perfect. The board will see you now.”
Beckett’s fingers find mine, a quick squeeze that says more than a speech. “We’ll be right here when you’re done,” Jaxon calls. I nod and then follow the worker into the room.
The room is colder than the hall. There’s no color, it’s just a yellow-stained floor and dirty walls. It reminds me of a fifth-grade classroom, but with more bars. I’m ushered in front of a podium.
I feel a light touch against the back of my hand as Beckett moves to sit behind me. Across the table are two men and a woman, pens poised, faces neutral.
