Threeyearslater
I straighten out the bow tie around Braeden’s neck as I struggle to keep the tears at bay. I swear to god, why the hell am I so emotional right now? It’s just a damn school dance. My vision is blurry while Braeden smiles at me, trying not to roll his eyes.
“Cal! Lock in, bro. Why are you getting all weepy?” he says.
“I have no idea what you mean by ‘lock in.’”
He chuckles at me. “Bro, it means you need to focus. Please don’t cry when my boyfriend gets here.”
Ugh, I’ll never get used to the slang. Seth’s kids have started talking the same way. It’s like listening to an entirely different language.
“No promises.”
“It’s just prom.”
“And then you’ll graduate. I haven’t had you long enough, dammit. Soon, you’ll be off on your own without me.”
Despite the horrible slang, Braeden has grown into an amazing young man. At eighteen, he’s nearly as tall as me, and he’s really filled out. Once he met his boyfriend last year, he spent four days a week working out. On the weekends, he runs with me. His hair is a little darker, and it’s wavy, spilling over his ears.
“Uhm, I’m still living here throughcollege. Tulane is practically down the street from us.”
“Yeah, but you’ll spend less and less time with me, and eventually you’ll go to graduate school, move away, and get married. It’s depressing.”
He huffs a laugh, grabs my wrists, and rests his forehead against mine. “I love you, too, Cal. You’ve been amazing. I realize it wasn’t always easy on you, or us, but I’ve had a happy life here.”
God, now I’m going to fucking bawl my eyes out, but I choke it back so I don’t embarrass him.
“It’s been an amazing four years,” I agree. “We’ve had our ups and downs, but I wouldn’t have it any other way.” My eyes water again, and I take a step back, or else the dam is going to burst. “Your parents would be so proud, Brae. As proud as I am.”
Now it’s his turn for his eyes to water. “Ugh, don’t makemecry now.” He sniffs, straightens his shoulders, and takes a deep breath, pushing back the emotions. “I’d like to think they would. I still miss them every day, and I wish they could be here right now, but I’m also grateful that you are, and that you never gave up on me.”
I yank him into a hug. “Never. I’d never do that.”
Someone is ringing the doorbell. That must be Chance.
Braeden rushes off to answer the door, while Seth comes up behind me and wraps his arms around my waist. “You okay?” he asks.
“Yes… Not really. Damn, these milestones.”
He laughs and kisses my neck before standing next to me as Braeden leads Chance inside to the living room, holding each other’s hands. I wrap my arm around Seth’s shoulder and kiss his temple.
“Kids will be nice to them, right?” I ask him quietly, as if he holds all the answers. “They won’t pick on two boys dancing at prom, I hope.”
“I think they’ll be okay. They’reopen at school, and Chance is on the baseball team and does fine. Besides, together, they should be able to handle anything that’s thrown at them.”
All the other kids come rushing down the stairs to see the boys off before the dance. Emily is the first to hug Braeden and Chance. They’re so sweet to her. She’s still a handful at seven years old, but she’s a good kid. Her hair isn’t as blond as it used to be, darkening like her brothers’ hair, but she still likes the pompoms on her head.
Harrison is now the same age Braeden was when he came into my life. He started high school this past fall, and he goes to school with Braeden. Harrison has grown into a confident and intelligent young man. He loves to read, is part of a math club, and plays tennis.
Sawyer is now ten and in the fifth grade. He’s not as shy as he used to be, but he’s still pretty introverted. He and I have become strangely close over the years despite having completely different personalities. I’ve been teaching him how to cook, which has created a strong bond between us. We make dinner together almost every night now.
He’s the only child who comes up and hugs me. Sawyer is very sweet and empathetic.
“Hey, kiddo,” I say and pat him on the back.
The kids are all mine now, too. After Seth and I got married, we went through the legal process that allowed me to adopt them.
The two boys enter the living room, and Chance rushes up to us and shakes our hands. “Hey, Mr. Cal and Mr. Seth.”
