Damon kisses the top of my head, and my dad averts his gaze just as I drop the last bomb.
“I’m glad you feel that way, because I asked him to marry me.”
Chapter 37
Damon
For a very brief second, I feel bad for Patrick. I’m sure he feels like Liam is getting the happily ever after that he himself should have had, even though it’s my brother Patrick wants, and not me. Or maybe he’s just realizing that with Liam and me married, he’ll never be able to cut my brother and me totally out of his life. For every family get-together, he’ll see the face of the one who got away. Hell, depending on the holiday, he’ll have to actually be in thepresenceof the one who got away.
But then I remember that Patrick lied, cost me a year without my twin, and almost killed Taylor in his selfish quest to get him back.
My almost-sympathy vanishes immediately, and using the arm still slung across his chest, I pull Liam into me a little tighter.
Patrick blows out a breath and swallows hard, clearly trying to keep his emotions under control as we wait for his response.
Finally, it comes.
“I won’t waste my breath telling you that you’re too young and you should wait. Hell, being bisexual opens up a lot of new doors, and there’s no way you two experienced them all in the last two weeks.” I bristle, ready to argue, until he continues,cutting his eyes to me even as he speaks to Liam. “But Damon is your safe place. He has been since the day you met. And I know you’re that for him as well. It would bring me a lot of joy to watch you two get married. I can’t imagine either of you finding anyone else who would love you as completely as you love each other.”
Liam stands and moves out of my grip to hug his dad.
Although I’m not quite ready to embrace my soon-to-be father-in-law, I’m glad he and Liam are making amends…for Li’s sake.
“Thanks, Dad.”
Pulling back, Patrick rubs the back of his neck.
“Have you two set a date?”
“We were thinking sometime next winter,” Liam answers, while I stay quiet and keep an eye out for any sign that Patrick isn’t being sincere. May the Lord be with him if he tries to keep Liam and me apart. “There’s this chapel on the mountain that we thought would be perfect.” As he says this, Liam moves back into my embrace and wraps an arm around my waist, looking into my eyes.
Needing to be closer to him, to taste him, to remember this is real, I close the distance between us, bringing my lips to Liam’s.
A throat clears as Li brings his hand up to cup my face, reminding us we aren’t alone.
The grin on Liam’s face widens as he takes my hand and starts pulling me toward the front door.
“Well, we came straight from the airport and still need to unpack and head over to the Landry’s, so we should get going,” Liam says. “Thanks for being so cool about this.”
Patrick nods with a tight smile.
“Of course, son.”
“And Dad?” Liam pauses before stepping over the threshold. “No more secrets. I can handle the truth no matter what it looks like.”
“Understood.”
With that, Liam beams, and I know he feels like his whole world is right again. Even I can’t hide my smile when he tells his dad he’ll call him later this week and tell him all about his new life plan.
“I can’t wait,” Patrick replies. “Oh, and Damon?” I make eye contact to let him know I’m listening, but I’m still searching for my voice when it comes to Patrick Miller. “You’ve always been a part of this family, but I’m glad it’ll be official.”
“Me too.”
After that, Li and I climb into my SUV and head for my condo. About halfway there, Liam lets out a sudden burst of laughter, startling me so badly I almost run off the road.
“Christ, Li! What the hell?”
Still trying to catch his breath, he wheezes, “Do y-you know w-what I just th-thought?”
