Quin blinked. “I suppose so.”
“You miss having a pack to run with.”
“Not as much when I can run with you. And we’ll train Mabel up to be comfortable enough to come with us as well.”
“We’re going to have forever. Not to put too fine a point on it, but your family will only be around for a lifetime. I have no real ties here. I’m not opposed to it.”
Quin turned to face him head on. “Seriously?”
Kit shrugged one shoulder. “We also haven’t spoken about it, but I assume we’re moving in together. I can buy us a place.”
“Oh my god, I can’t believe I proposed to you before asking you to move in with me.”
“Half my stuff’s at yours, including my plants. If that doesn’t say moved in, I don’t know what does.”
Rake pushed off the wall. “Glad to be of help.” He wandered off towards DJ and Shaun.
“He just finessed us into having that conversation, didn’t he?” Quin asked.
Kit rested his head on Quin’s shoulder. “I think so.”
They sat and watched the others play in the water, Shaun and DJ both daring each other to go in deeper, and Rake throwing sticks for Mabel in the shallows. Once they were done with mucking around, they came up to meet them at the wall.
Shaun approached, holding a hand out. “Come on,” he said. “You need a cliche engagement pic. Gimme your phone.”
Kit rolled his eyes but handed over his phone.
“Lights!” Shaun called. DJ and Rake dutifully got their phones out too and put their flashlights on, contributing their part to the impromptu photoshoot.
“I’m gonna look washed out,” Kit said, shielding his eyes.
“You’re a vampire, it’ll be on brand,” Shaun said. “Now, show me the ring.”
Quin tucked Kit in closer to him. With an almighty sigh, Kit held up his left hand in the classic pose and turned to face Quin. “Just so you know, I’m doing this under duress.”
“I can tell,” Quin said, poking at Kit’s pouty lip. “Push it out more, there you go. That’s aproperpout.” Kit snapped his teeth at Quin’s finger.
“Ouch,” he said.
“I didn’t touch you.”
“It’s sore. You need to kiss it better.”
Kit gave Quin’s finger a quick peck. “Happy now?”
“A kiss from you always makes me happy.”
“Ugh, you’re such a sap,” Kit said, though he was hiding a smile. Quin could tell.
“Mabel, come here,” Quin said. She’d been lying down near Rake, but bounded up and over to them. Quin leaned down and picked her up, placing her over both their laps. Shaun took more photos, the flash going off multiple times before Mabel grew bored with staying still and slipped away to inspect something she’d spotted down the beach, DJ running after her.
“Let’s see them, then,” Kit said.
Shaun handed the phone over. “I think some are decent.”
Kit held it so Quin could watch as he scrolled through the photos. The ones with Mabel were cute, her tongue lolling out in a smile. But Quin was more focused on Kit. The photos caught his sharp angles in a way that emphasised his high cheekbones and defined jawline. Even in the ones where his eyes flashed with the light’s reflection, he was captivating. Kit kept flicking through, until he got to the first few where it had just been the two of them, Kit’s hand up to show off the ring.
“Go to that last one,” Quin said when Kit swiped. He went back, and Quin took a deep breath. They were in the middle of bickering, but the expression on Quin’s face radiated love andaffection. Kit was looking at Quin in the same way, a fond smile playing on his plush lips.
