“Fuck, baby.” I look up at him, making sure he can see my eyes. “This will always be your home, Easton. My parents will always be there for you. I will, too. You’re not alone. You never were.”
“I know,” he rasps, giving me a sad smile. “I just hate that I ruined it.”
“Enough.” I get up on my elbow and look down at him. “We can’t change the past, but we can change the future. You have me. I’m not going anywhere. I’m not letting you go. I love you so fucking much, Easton. You’re mine, you hear me.Mine.And I take care of what's mine. My family is your family. That's just how it is.”
He closes his eyes, taking a shaky breath. “Fuck.” His chest shakes as he tries so hard not to cry again.
“I’m so fucking proud of you, Easton,” I rasp. “For standing up to him. For accepting who you are. For allowing me in, letting me love you. I want you to see your worth. That you deserve the world. You deserve love and happiness. Your parents? They’re just sad, broken people. And they tried to make you the same, but you’re so fucking strong. You got out. You took control of your life. And that’s so fucking amazing.”
“I couldn’t have done it without you. Without Taylor.”
“And we’re going to be there for you through everything.”
“I’m scared, Bennett. I’m scared of the future. Of losing you.”
“You’re never going to lose me. The future is going to be fucking bright. I’m going wherever you are.”
“What about hockey?” he asks, brows furrowing.
“I never wanted to go pro. I’ll join a farm team in whatever state you sign to.”
“Really?”
“Of course. This is your dream. And I’m gonna be right there next to you, watching you thrive, grow, and be so fucking happy.”
“I love you,” he rasps.
“I fucking love you.”
There’s a knock at my door the next morning. Careful not to wake Easton, I creep over to answer it.
It’s my mom. She smiles up at me, a sad smile mixed with worry.
“How is he?”
“The best he can be. But I got him. He’s gonna be okay.”
She smiles wider. “I know you do.”
“He’s my boyfriend,” I tell her, not able to keep it in any longer. “I know we have a complicated past, but–”
She holds up her hand. “Easton is part of this family. That never changed. We will welcome him with open arms. You won’t get a fight from us.”
My chest clenches, and I pull her into my arms. “Could you tell everyone else? And ask them not to make it a big deal?”
“Of course.”
“I love you.” I kiss the top of her head.
“I love you, too. Both of you. Now, come eat. It’s Christmas. And I want to spend it with my boys. All of them.”
Pulling back, I smile, feeling a lot better, like a weight is lifted off my shoulders.
“We’ll be there in a bit.”
She nods, leaving me. I close the door and go back to Easton, finding him awake, lying there with his eyes cracked open.
“Everything okay?” he asks, voice still thick with sleep.
