Cindy’s eyes soften as our gazes meet again. “And he loves you.” She slowly stirs the mixture on the stove, a contemplative look crossing her face. “When you find love so special, so true, you hold on to it as long as you can.”
I clear my throat awkwardly. “I’ll hold on to him as long as he’ll let me.”
Cindy just keeps stirring the pot, obviously not feeling the need to reply to me. With a nod of her head, she sends me back over to the table, and I stand by Beau, curving my palm around the nape of his neck. He aims a sweet smile up at me and rests his hand at the small of my back again.
Beau keeps his conversation with Colby going, but his thumb dips into the waist of my pants, carefully swiping at the warm skin he finds. The weight of his touch brings the comfort it always does, easing the bubbling nerves inside me that started simmering the moment we walked into the house.
Eli cocks his head, gaze knowing. “You love him?” Eli mouths at me.
I nod rapidly, then use my fingers to cover my smiling lips. Eli grins at me as he takes Colby’s hand in his own. Colby looks down at Eli with a tender smile, eyes only for his boyfriend.
Colby wraps his arm around the back of Eli’s chair. “How’s life treating you in Clay Springs so far, Trevor?”
Beau’s hand squeezes my hip tightly. I flick him an easy smile. “Good. Slow and sweet, two things I never knew I needed.”
“I heard you’ve been going on runs with Eli.”
I snort. “I’ve been going on runs and Eli tries to keep up.”
“I’m trying to focus on cardiovascular health,” Eli argues, a hint of a whine in his voice.
A curious smirk tilts up Colby’s lips. “Aiming to run a marathon?”
Eli rolls his eyes affectionately. “Aiming to run something.”
“Everything shaping up for the fall festival?” Colby asks once he can tear his gaze away from a blushing Eli.
Beau shrugs, face completely calm despite the nerves I know lie beneath. The man is a duck, calm on the surface, violently paddling under the water. “Mostly. It’s always fine.”
Colby’s eyes drill in on Beau, studying him. I wonder if Colby can see what I see too. I’ve wondered the past few weeks just how deeply his family looks at him. Can they read his tells like I can? Or do they just take him at his word. Colby seemingly takes Beau at his word though, which shocks me into speaking.
“This is the first one since your dad,” I point out softly. “Are you sure you’re fine? Do you need extra help?”
Colby’s eyes widen at my words, but Beau’s gaze softens on me. I run my hand up and down his back, hoping to encourage him into sharing the reality of his situation. Beau clears his throat uncomfortably, then runs his left hand roughly along his trimmed beard.
“It’s a little rougher than I expected. If you could help opening weekend, Colby, that’d be great.”
Beau’s words are heavy, laced with vulnerability. Love for him swirls inside me, until I feel like it could pour out of me, and right into him. Colby looks from me, then to Beau, his fingers tapping on the table. The restless tapping has Eli laying his hand over Colby’s, steadying whatever emotion gripped Colby.
“Sure, Beau. Anything you ask. You know that’s how it is.”
Beau smiles, but it doesn’t meet his eyes. “I know.”
Andy’s eyes meet mine and a grateful smile graces her lips. I nod at her, knowing that Beau never would’ve said a word without my nudging. He has a long way to go with asking for help, but I know that I’ll get him there when he learns it’s safe, it’s okay to trust that other people want to help him. Especially the loving family surrounding this table. Maybe they took himfor granted for years, but now that I’m here, that’s going to change. Beau deserves to be supported.
I chance a look towards Cindy in the kitchen to find her gaze firm on me. A small thankful smile tilts her lips at the corners and tears rim the edges of her eyes. I try to smile at her in case she’s upset, but the tremble of my smile feels shaky even to myself. She nods just slightly once, before turning back around to finish with dinner.
Maybe in some way we all needed one another. I needed this family, and Beau needed me to learn to ask for help. I’ve never been much for destiny or fate, but if it exists, then I think maybe the universe had a hand in leading me here to Beau, to these people. Belonging is the word that comes to mind. For the first time in my life, I belong somewhere. Not just somewhere, but with Beau.
While Cindy plates the food, I finally take a seat beside Beau. A smile bursts out of me when his hand rests firmly on my thigh, warm and comforting. The guys chat about the farm, catching up on things that I don’t understand yet, but I know one day I will. Andy has her head in her phone, a frown marring her face.
“Everything okay, Andy?” Cindy asks as she sets a plate of food down in front of her.
“Actually,” Andy says around a grimace. “I’ve got to go. Harper.”
Beau, Colby, and Cindy all quickly tense, eyes firm on Andy.
“He’s okay?” Colby follows up.
