“I am…in a committed relationship with Maverick, Mason, Dominic, Luc, Alec and Jace,” Rory tells him, then inhales. “If you were going to know about my relationship with Jace, then you should know that too.” Rory smiles gently, her eyes shifting across to all of us.
“You sure, Sunshine?” I ask, wanting to get up and go to her.
“Yeah,” Rory looks between us. “I am.”
“Well, I think this is amazing,” Helen announces.
“I wouldn’t go that far,” Devon intercepts, finally getting to his feet.
“Really?” Rory questions Jace’s mum. She’s quiet when she speaks, vulnerability in her voice. Helen must see the same thing I do.
“Oh, baby, of course!” Helen hugs Rory tightly. “You are free to love whomever you want. The boys are good kids.”
Luc grumbles like being called ‘good’ is insulting. Or maybe it was the kid part.
“Oh, hush you.” Helen scolds. “I’m more scared of Abraxas than I am of you.” Helen refers to Dom’s German Shepard.
Rory laughs freely as Luc sulks.
“Dad?” Jace crosses his arms, prepared for a fight when Devon still hasn’t said anything. Rory places her hand on his arm. Maverick stands behind them.
Devon looks at them. He focuses on Jace. “You’re my boy, son,” he tells him and Jace nods. “But she’s my daughter.”
“Bear,” Rory murmurs, tearing up again.
“…So don’t hurt her,” Devon finishes. “And don’t fuck this up. That goes for all of you.” Devon meets every single one of us with a steely glare we’ve never seen before.
Rory blinks multiple times. “Wait, really?” She blurts out loud.
Devon chuckles. “You were always a smart kid, little one. I doubt that’s any different after three years. You know what you’re doing.” His eyes soften. It’s clear to everyone in this room that Devon has a soft spot for Jace but an even softer, more protective spot for Rory.
Tears fill Rory’s eyes but they don’t go anywhere this time.
“Love you, little one.” Devon gently pulls Rory into his arms.
“Love you too, Bear,” Rory mumbles into his chest.
“Besides, my boy’s been in love with you ever since you met,” Devon tells her.
Rory smiles at Jace as Devon hugs her. She mouths ‘I love you’ and he says it back, a peaceful smile taking residence on both their faces.
“Hey!” Mason calls out. “Does this mean I’ve officially met the parents of my girlfriend for the first time?”
Luc smacks the back of Mase’s head. “Do you want to live past eighteen, dumbass?”
Before I can jump in, the doctor gets there first.
“Hey! You’re still in a hospital and he was just in a car accident!” Flynn says exasperated. It’s nice to know someone was keeping them in line while I was out.
“Honestly, I kinda forgot you were here,” Luc says, guiltily shrugging.
“I figured.” Flynn comes back over and asks me what my pain level is. My arm aches but I turn down the drowsy stuff. I need a clear head.
Rory sits on the edge of the bed and I pat the space beside me. I wince when the movement jolts my arm. I breathe through it. I can only take short breaths because of my lung otherwise it hurts like hell.
“You okay?” Dom asks, concerned. I just nod, keeping my arm as still as possible.
I lean my head on Rory’s shoulder, yawning.
