“You won’t have to. You belong with us.”
Nash looks at me, eyes similar to my own—something I never noticed before—and says, “I love you too…and thank you…for everything. Can we go home now?”
“Yes. We absolutely can.”
We gather his things, find the janitor and thank him, then head out.
Colton pulls him into a tight hug the second he sees him, telling him he’s glad he’s safe, and how much Nash means to him. My brother wipes his eyes again, fresh tears glittering there.
Colton drives us home, and I sit in the back with Nash, needing to be close to him. I send a group text to everyone looking that we’re on our way home with him, and also let the officers and caseworker know he’s home and safe. He’s going to have to talk to them all tomorrow, assuring them he’s safe at home and he didn’t leave because of the care he’s getting.
The second we get back to the apartment, Sadie is in his arms, holding him, the two of them crying. Nash apologizes for leaving and promises never to do it again.
The family stays for supper, I think all of us just needing to be close, and then they leave around eight, just the four of us remaining.
I don’t want to let Nash out of my sight. I’m afraid if I blink, he’ll be gone again.
“I have an idea,” Colton says.
“What’s that?” I ask.
“What if we have like…a big sleepover in the living room. We make popcorn and watch movies all night and just…fall asleep out here.”
“I’ve never had a sleepover before,” Sadie says.
“Me, Mom, and Kota used to do this all the time when I was a kid. It’s fun. We can even make a fort,” Colton adds,rubbing his hands together.
“That might be a little too far,” Nash teases.
“Forts are fun. Have you ever made one?”
Nash shakes his head.
“That’s it. We’re making a fort!” Colton shoves to his feet. I couldn’t love him any more than I do right now.
“I’ve never made a fort either,” I tell him.
“Baby, I am the best fort maker you’ll ever see.” He takes my hand and pulls me to my feet. “We need sheets and blankets. Lots of them.”
And that’s exactly what we do, turn the living room into a giant fort, make beds and popcorn and watch movies. Sadie is the first to fall asleep, followed by Nash.
“Thank you,” I whisper to Colton. “For everything. For loving me, for loving them, for giving me a family and, well, all the other dirty things you give me too.”
He grins. “I’ll give you anything you want, anything you need forever if you’ll let me. I’ll be your Sir, your boyfriend, your partner, your best friend. We’re in this together now, for as long as you’ll have me.”
“Until the day I die.”
“I’m not your dirty little secret anymore? You still have me that way in your phone—as DLS.”
My heart drops. “Shit. I’m so fucking sorry. I’ll change that right now. I don’t ever want you to be my secret again.”
A year ago, I never would have expected him, or any of this, for this to be my life, and I’m so fucking thankful it is. That I found Colton, that he’s mine, and I’ll always get to have this life, with him by my side.
“Kiss me,” he orders.
And I do, I kiss my Sir with everything I have in me, then cuddle in his arms and go to sleep.
EPILOGUE
