“I would like to declare I called it first,” Lex exclaims, crossing his arms smugly. He pulls out his phone and starts scrolling. “Day two of Thatcher working at VSE. And I quote: ‘My boss is unfairly hot when he frowns. It’s distracting.’ Week four: ‘He almost smiled at me today. ALMOST.I’m making progress.’ Week two: ‘He laughed at something I said. It was more of a snort, but it counts. I’m breaking through his walls.’”
“Okay, that’s enough,” Thatcher lunges toward Lex, but I grab him by the waist and pull him back against me before he takes the bedsheets with him.
“Week three,” Lex continues gleefully. “‘He brought ME coffee today. Remembered exactly how I take it. I think the grumpy ice king is melting and I’m going to take full credit.’”
“I will murder you in your sleep,” Thatcher threatens.
“Week three and three-quarters,” Lex adds with a wicked grin. “‘He touched my back when we were leaving a meeting. Just for a second. I’ve been thinking about it for three hours.’”
“Please,” Adam scoffs. “I knew something was up when Thatcher sketched Pierce’s—and I quote—‘sexy hands’ during family dinner.’”
“Sexy hands?” I raise an eyebrow at Thatcher, who buries his face in my shoulder.
“I hate everyone in this room,” he mumbles against my skin.
“You’re both wrong,” Noah says with the confidence of someone holding a winning hand. “I knew something happened between them at my wedding.”
Thatcher’s head snaps up. “What?”
“I saw you walk away with two champagne glasses in the same direction I’d noticed Pierce go before we started dancing.” Noah’s smile is insufferably smug. “You had that look on your face. The one you get when you’re about to do something chaotic.”
“Wait.” Thatcher stares at his cousin. “Is that why you got me the job at VSE?”
Noah shrugs. “I waited six months for one of you to saysomething. Eventually, I figured maybe you never exchanged names, or maybe nothing even happened.”
“Oh, something happened all right,” Thatcher says proudly, sitting up straighter. “Something definitely happened.”
“We don’t need details,” Lex says quickly.
“Speak for yourself,” Adam chimes in. “I want all the details.”
“I have all the details,” Alli says with a face that’s the definition of smug.
I try to look annoyed about the intrusion, but secretly, warmth blooms in my chest. This is what family looks like: chaotic, inappropriate, and full of love. Something I never had with my own family.
Thatcher, however, is not amused. “I hate all of you,” he declares. “I just got my boyfriend back, and you’re already interrupting.”
“Boyfriend?” Alli clutches her chest dramatically. “It’s official!”
Thatcher groans, but I can see the happiness beneath his frustration. He turns to me, a calculating look in his eyes.
“Does anyone have a key to your place?”
“No,” I say, confused by the sudden change in topic.
“Good.” Thatcher nods decisively. “I’m moving in.”
The room goes silent. Thatcher’s eyes widen as he realizes what he just said.
“I mean—that came out wrong—I didn’t mean to just invite myself?—”
I wrap my arms around his waist and pull him against my chest, silencing his rambling with a kiss. When I pull back, I’m smiling.
“I would love for you to move in with me,” I say. “On one condition.”
“What?”
“You help me redecorate. Bring some color to the place.”
