She pats my cheek like a menace and then waves to the guys in a mock salute. Mikey stares after her longer than necessary. Dean elbows him. “Stop drooling,” he mutters.
“I wasn’t,” Mikey sputters, then cuffs Dean in the shoulder. “Shut up.”
Dean smirks. Hayden shakes his head. Cherry mumbles something about needing a drink. And me? I’m already exhausted and desperately amused. We head for the hotel elevator - me, Dean, Mikey, Hayden, Cherry, and the moment the doors close, I feel Dean shift toward me. It’s subtle; not enough to draw attention, just enough so his arm brushes mine.
Warm. Steady. Familiar. My pulse stumbles. We’re not telling anyone yet. But that doesn’t stop my body from responding like we’re still back in Charlotte, skin on skin, breathless and undone. Not now, but later, and until then, we have to play normal. Whatever that means for us.
We ride up in silence, then walk the carpeted hallway toward the suite we’ve been summoned to. Luc and Lily invited us all to dinner, and honestly, it’s really a nice gesture. We usually only sit down together in diners, and even then, we’re spread out between tables.
Dean shoots me a look as we knock. A silent question; are you ready? I exhale and nod.
Yeah. I am so ready.
Luc answers the door, and spreads his arms out wide with flourish announcing: “Welcome to Thanksgiving: Rock Band Edition! Come on in.” The whole scene feels loud and warm and real, like a found family wrapped in mismatched glitter as we all parade inside.
“Luc, it’s July.” Lily laughs, then directs her attention to us. “Ignore him. He hasn’t slept in three days.”
“Traitor,” Luc whispers against her hair.
Marie has Larkin on her lap, who is playing with a spoon, banging it loudly on the wooden surface in front of her. The guys immediately go to the bar to grab drinks. Mikey plants himself closest to Larkin, and begins to dig into food already laid out on the table.
Dean steps behind me, brushing his fingers over my lower back. “Wow. It’s like no one here has ever heard of volume control.”
Hayden and Cherry make up plates and go sit on one of the sofas. Dean and I sit across from each other at the table, and even though we’re trying to be discreet, we keep sneaking glances at one another.
I watch the scene around me with fascination. Mikey letting Larkin do whatever her little heart desires, from smashing food in his hair, to smacking his fingers with spoons. Lily and Luc whispering sweet secrets to each other. Marie gunning for grandmother of the century. She makes a comment about us having more family dinners, and I realize with her words, that this is what they are.
They may be loud, dysfunctional, absolutely chaotic, but they are without a doubt a family. And one that I have come to adore, much to my surprise. Dean moves and comes to sit beside me. And he’s close, close enough our knees touch under the table. My heart absolutely betrays me. Maybe we’re doing fine at pretending. Right?
Until Mikey breaks the spell, when he points a fry in our direction and asks pointedly, “Are you two still a secret? Or can we quit acting like you aren’t a thing?”
Cherry chokes. Hayden drops his fork. Lily gives a small gasp-laugh combo. Luc stares like he’s watching a documentary unfold. Dean’s knee presses against mine, slow and deliberate.
“Would it matter?” Dean asks casually, sipping his drink.
“Yeah, it would,” Mikey continues, waving the fry, “you two with all the snarling and glaring and weird sexual tension makes me want to hit something.” He chuffs. “Just do it already and put us all out of our misery.”
I clear my throat. “We’re getting along better now.”
“Better?” Lily pushes. “Or, something more than that?” Her eyes are knowing. Warm.
Dean looks at me. Really looks. And something in his gaze cracks open. This is the moment. We know it’s time.
“Fuck it. We’re together,” Dean confirms, his voice a little wobbly.
The room goes silent except for Larkin squealing at a spoon. Lily brightens instantly. “Oh! I knew it. I felt it. I could practically taste it.”
“Please don’t talk about tasting things,” Dean mutters.
Luc grins. “About damn time.”
Marie clasps her hands like a proud grandmother watching a Hallmark plot unfold.
Hayden nods approvingly. “Called it.”
Cherry smirks. “You owe me twenty, Hayden.”
Mikey stands so fast his chair screeches. “We are NOT getting another bus for these two!” He faces Cherry, his expression entirely serious.
