“It’s not serendipitous,” Andrew snorts. “May is your month and you picked that book.”
Kim winks at Nicholas before shrugging. “Maybe I just want to learn more about hockey.”
“Trust me, Mom, you’re not going to learn the rules of hockey from a romance book.”
“Tried that already and failed?” She asks with a knowing grin.
Andrew blushes and Nicholas files this information away for later. He knows Andrew loves his romance books but didn’t realize he read hockey ones. If Andrew wants hockey romance, he’s going to get it directly from Nicholas, not a book.
“I’ll let you two lovebirds have a few minutes alone but don’t be too long. Me and Alec are organizing a friendly family game of Pictionary.”
“Don’t let Mom fool you,” Andrew tells him. “There isnothingfriendly about a King family game of Pictionary. They play teams and it’s cutthroat.”
“Don’t scare him, Andrew. We’re not that bad.”
“I’m not afraid of a little competition, princess,” Nicholas murmurs, kissing the side of Andrew’s neck. “You gonna be on my team?”
“I’ll always be on your team,” Andrew confirms.
“Oh good,” Kim says. “I’m going to go get everything ready.”
With that Kim departs, leaving Nicholas and Andrew alone.
Andrew tips his head back to rest on Nicholas's shoulders. “Thank you.”
“For what?”
“For everything. For being here. I know my family is a lot but they’re important to me, and I want you with me always, if you want to be.”
“I’m not going anywhere, ever.”
“You sure you’re ready for this?”
Andrew doesn’t specify if he means their impending Pictionary game or a future with him and the Kings, but the answer to both is one and the same. Nicholas is so fucking ready for this, for a forever with Andrew.
Linking their fingers he kisses Andrew’s cheek and holds him close.
“I’m ready, princess.”
EPILOGUE
“Remindme why the fuck I’m letting you help?” Nicholas gripes, sorely tempted to throw something at Charlie if he doesn’t stop talking. He’s been at the house for three hours and talked for almost all of them. Then again, so have Jason and Alec, with a fair bit of Eden’s sharp tongue sprinkled in.
The only people not driving Nicholas up the wall are Theo and Emerson, but that’s probably because neither of them talk much unless it’s to Jason or Alec. Not that they get a chance with their yapping boyfriends.
“You’re letting us help because you love me,” Charlie says, draping an arm around Nicholas’s shoulder.
“No.”
“You love all of us,” Alec pipes up from his place at the stove.
Nicholas grumbles, knowing better than to say anything rude to Alec. Partly because he’s cooking Andrew’s favorite foods for after and also because that half-pint has grown on Nicholas. Not that he’s going to ever admit it. Alec’s ego doesn’t need to know that Nicholas does, in fact, see him as his little brother. A very loud, often annoying, needy little brother but one just the same.
“He didn’t say no,” Charlie astutely observes. “He loves us.”
“Fuck off, Charlie.”
“I don’t think I will. And you don’t want me to. Youneedme.”
