“You don’t,” Ethan assured him. “But I came to check out your new house with you.”
Theo stopped bouncing. “That means that we won’t be roommates anymore.”
“It’s okay.” Ethan patted Theo’s shoulders. “We’re something better than roommates now.”
“Friends?” Theo offered.
“We’ve always been friends. We will always be friends. But now we’re family,” Ethan declared.
“Family?” Theo turned toward Evian. “We are!”
Evian nodded. “I am very happy that you’re home safe and sound. Even if your disappearing act did allow me to meet my mate.”
“Wow,” Theo drawled.
“And who is this cutie?” Ethan asked, chucking Aurelia gently under the chin.
“This is Aurelia. She’s our family’s brownie.” He waved Wylder forward. “And Bo. He’s a gnome now but when I met him, he was a giant troll. Like so big.”
“Sounds like you had quite the adventure,” Ethan commented.
“I guess I did. I’ll tell you about it later.” Theo looked back to the house in front of them.
“Now.” Ethan threw an arm around Theo’s shoulder. “What’s this that I hear about you being worried about moving into this gorgeous house?”
“Oh!” Then leaned into his friend. “I was scared if we didn’t room together, then we wouldn’t still be friends. But now we’re family!”
“And I’m moving in with Evian just down the street. We can still walk to class together,” Ethan suggested.
“I told you that Ethan would be fine with it.” Wylder nudged Theo’s shoulder.
Dario allowed the boys to have a moment. Joining Evian and Alek, he nodded toward the house. “Thanks for grabbing the keys for us.”
“No problem,” Evian replied. “My friend said to take your time. They know who you are. They’re willing to make any construction changes that you might want. It’s a new build so there shouldn’t be much needed.”
“We can change what we want,” Alek said. “We do have a brownie and Aurelia’s magic will benefit our household.”
“I can’t believe Theo came back with a brownie and a troll,” Evian stated. “Dad didn’t even start adding to the family this quick.”
“Theo is a natural at it,” Dario remarked. “And don’t forget that you’re now added into our little family. Theo and Ethan are the best of friends.”
“Yeah,” Evian agreed. “I was having trouble talking Ethan into moving in with me until I told him about the house. He didn’t want to leave Theo behind to handle living on his own.”
“Come on,” Wylder urged. “Let’s check out the inside.”
“I would like to be placed in the garden, right over there,” Bo said. “There is much to check out.”
Wylder jogged over to place Bo where he wanted as Wylder carried Aurelia toward the front door.
Mitch was keeping a close eye on Wylder so Dario followed behind Theo and Ethan as Alek and Evian brought up the rear. Dario wanted to see the look on Theo’s face when the doors were opened.
“I’ve got this.” Evian sauntered to the front door with a smile on his face.
Of course Evian had been there to walk Dario through the house before Theo had been taken when their biggest concern had been where they would live. Now that seemed like the last thing they should be worried about but Dario still wanted all of his mates in one place.
He didn’t know how he would handle Theo returning to campus when Dario wouldn’t be there to watch over him. Although Wylder, Ethan, and Josh would be with Dario’s boy.
Evian unlocked the door and pushed the double doors open and bowed dramatically.
