“Almost three! And I kind of jumped the gun when I said marriage. We will eventually, but… the adoption is the only thing we’re focused on right now.”
Beckett was still in a state of shock. “Are yousureabout this, though?”
“Beck,” Preston said softly.
“What?” he asked, glancing at his fiancé.
Preston gave a “be nice” look that made me chuckle. He really was Beckett’s equal.Just like Rey is mine.
“Yes, I’m sure. More sure of this than I’ve ever been about anything.”
Beckett and I stared at each other for about a minute, reading each other as only best friends could. We had a decade of learning what made each other tick and protecting each other’s deepest vulnerabilities, so he knew I wouldn’t have even considered this unless I was certain I’d found two people I was willing to fight to the death for. In a span of just a few seconds, Beckett could see just how much Rey and Harrison had changed me.
“Well, okay then,” he breathed. “I guess I owe you an apology. I didn’t mean to be an ass. You just shocked the hell out of me.” Beckett came around the island to give me a hug. “I’m happy for you,” he said low in my ear. “I’ve always thought you deserved this.”
If it had been anyone else, the words would have bounced off me, but Beckett’s honesty went straight to the deepest part of me.
“You too, man,” I said, too raw to look in his eyes when I pulled back.
After a minute, Preston asked, “So you’ve already applied to adopt, then?”
“Yeah. South Carolina is pretty lax in their laws about gay couples adopting, but since we’re not married, it’s just easier for one of us to adopt him as a single father for now, and since my background check was already done for the temporary custody—”
“Wait, temporary custody?” Beckett asked.
“Oh, he’s been staying with us while his foster dad is in the hospital. Blessing in disguise, I guess, since it jump-started the process faster for us.”
“Wow, it’s all happening pretty fast,” Preston added.
I heaved a sigh. “Yeah, it is.”
“So, who’s the kid?” Preston asked.
I took a deep breath and glanced between them. “His name is Harrison. Rey met him through the clinic.”
Preston cocked his head to the side. “Are you talking about Harrison White? A little blond kiddo?”
I nodded. “Yeah, you know him?”
“It’s more that I knowofhim. I remember when his parents were arrested. It was a huge thing around here,” he said. “Poor kid. It brought back a lot of memories for me when that happened.”
Beckett moved across the kitchen and wrapped an arm around Preston’s waist, kissing him on the temple. Preston gave him a sad smile. I had no doubt they were both thinking about their own time in foster care and the heartbreaking journey they each went through.
“So tell us a little about them,” Preston said after a long moment of silence. “What is it about Rey that makes your eyes light up that way?”
“Shut up,” I barked.
Beckett laughed. “He’s right though. I don’t think I’veeverseen you like this. You’re like… glowing. Isn’t he glowing?” he asked Preston.
“Yeah, he is. It’s kind of cute actually.”
I huffed in annoyance just as my phone rang in my pocket. When I pulled it out, I saw it was Rey.
“Hey, babe, what’s up?” I said, answering.
“Are you still at Beckett’s?”
“Yeah, why?”
