Before Luke could respond, Eli’s voice carried across the yard: “Uncle Luke! Can you help? The capes keep falling off Captain America!”
“Go,” Noah said softly, bumping Luke’s hip with his own. “I’ve got this covered.”
Luke found himself moving before he could overthink it, drawn by Eli’s expectant face and the way Noah’s touch lingered even after he stepped away. He was vaguely aware of his mother’s pleased expression, of Rachel nudging Megan and pointing, of the way the other parents had stopped giving their easy intimacy second glances.
“See?” Eli demonstrated his dilemma with the party game. “The tape’s not sticky enough.”
“We can fix that.” Luke crouched, examining the setup. “What if we try…?”
They worked together, Eli’s small hands surprisingly steady as they adjusted the adhesive. Around them, the party flowed in waves of laughter and conversation.
“There,” Luke said finally, testing the modified game. “Try it now.”
Eli’s triumphant grin was pure sunshine. “Thanks! You really can fix anything!”
The words hit Luke somewhere beneath his ribs, warm and terrifying. Because Eli said it with such certainty, such faith. Like Luke’s ability to solve problems was as fundamental as gravity.
“Uncle Luke?” Livy appeared beside them, clutching her new Captain America lunchbox. “Can we do presents soon? Please?”
“That’s up to your mom, princess.” Luke ruffled her hair, earning a dramatic eye roll that was pure Megan. “But maybe we should do cake first?”
“Yes!” Both kids bounced with renewed energy. “Cake!”
Luke watched them dart off to lobby Megan for sugar, something tight and warm building in his chest. He’d been to countless birthday parties here, watched his nieces and nephews grow up in this backyard, but something about today felt different. More.
“Quite the fan club you’ve got there.” Noah’s voice was soft as he joined Luke under the pergola. He handed Luke a fresh beer,their fingers brushing. “Thanks for helping with the game. I know Eli can be…”
“Perfect,” Luke finished without thinking. Heat crept up his neck as Noah’s eyes widened slightly. “I mean, he’s a great kid. You’ve done an amazing job with him.”
“He definitely has.” His father’s voice made them both jump. Jim settled into a nearby chair, gesturing at where Eli was helping Livy organize her gifts. “And it’s interesting how that boy fits in with the family like he’s supposed to be a part of them.”
Luke choked on his beer. Noah’s hand found the small of his back, steadying him, and the casual intimacy of it nearly undid him. Around them, the party continued—kids shouting and playing, adults mingling with easy familiarity. But all Luke could focus on was the warmth of Noah’s touch, the way his father smiled knowingly, the simple rightness of this moment.
“Cake time!” Megan called, and the backyard erupted in excited squeals.
Luke hurried over to help. While it wasn’t an expectation, Megan was going to need all hands on deck for this. He caught Noah’s eye across the crowd of amped-up children, sharing a smile that felt like a secret. Like a promise for later. The entire crowd joined in for one of the worst renditions of “Happy Birthday to You” Luke had ever heard.
“Make a wish!” the kids chorused as Livy bent over her candles.
Luke watched his niece scrunch her face in concentration, somehow knowing exactly what she’d wish for. She and Eli had been scheming all afternoon, their whispered conversations punctuated by glances at the adults around them.
Sure enough, after the candles were blown out and the cake was passed around, Livy announced, “I wished for more cousins to play with! Like Eli! And maybe Aunt Rachel and Uncle Archer can have a baby.”
“Honey,” Megan started, but Livy was on a roll.
“Eli’s sort of family already, right? Since Uncle Luke is gonna marry his dad?”
Luke’s heart hammered against his ribs as he felt every adult eye turn toward them. Noah had frozen mid-bite, his fork halfway to his mouth.
“He is?” Eli looked at his dad, his face scrunched up in confusion. Luke’s heart sank when Eli glared at him, his hands balled into fists at his sides. “I don’t think you’re right about that. Boys don’t get married.”
“My Uncle Ryan married a boy,” Livy pointed out. “And my mom said Uncle Luke is gonna find a boy to marry too. And now he and your dad can get married.”
The two of them had the attention of everyone in the backyard at that point. The parents murmured among themselves, and the kids seemed like they were trying to figure out what in the world was going on.
“Hey, no one’s getting married, buddy,” Noah assured him as he crouched behind the kids. He glanced up at Luke, who was clueless as to how to handle this situation. “Livy’s just excited that Luke and I are spending time together, which means the two of you get to see each other more since Luke is Ms. Megan’s brother.”
“You promise?” Eli looked like he was on the verge of tears. This definitely wasn’t how Luke expected him to take the news that he and Noah were interested in each other as more than friends. Luke wasn’t an idiot. If Eli wasn’t on board with them as a couple, that was the end of things.
