“Thank you for a wonderful evening,” he said to his sister, kissing the side of her face.
She hugged him back and wiggled out of his arms, “I’m not used to furry beard kisses.”
He and Chad exchanged hugs next. Their parents had already left for the evening. Their dad struggled staying out too late, and their mom wanted him somewhere familiar before bed. Chad climbed into the driver’s seat and Justine hesitated, glancing at Wyatt’s motorcycle.
John kept his expression carefully neutral, sliding his hands into his pockets and smiling, waiting. Justine was more intuitive and upfront with her feelings than John. He supposed it was a second child thing. And more than once this evening, she watched Wyatt—and John. Granted, Samuels was also in the mix, but she for some reason paid him absolutely zero attention.
“So, have you figured it out yet?” He asked gently.
Her eyes, surprised, shot to his. He was never the one to bring things up. He blamed this entirely on Wyatt, who somehow, in the span of a month, had reopened the closed door around his heart that he had been so scared of.
Justine glanced uncertainly at the bike again and then at him. “He’s young.”
John’s smile deepened, and he nodded, “That he is.”
She stiffened, “I don’t…” she exhaled, uncertain. “I don’t want you to get hurt again.”
“Unfortunately, we all do. Something I’m working on accepting. It must be a Donnelly trait.”
Justine’s expression softened. “You really love him, don’t you?”
“I do,” he replied firmly.
She sighed, “We were cursed by being raised by romantics.”
He chuckled, “or blessed.”
“Yeah, whatever. Well, if he shows up to Christmas, I suppose it’ll be official.”
John swallowed. The image of Wyatt in his parents' kitchen, in his childhood home, stirred something inside him. “We’ll see.”
“God—really?”
He raised his hands in a defensive gesture. Justine always bristled when he used his doctor voice on her. “Sorry, you’re right. Truth is, I haven’t asked him yet.”
“Will you?”
“Yes.”
“Good. I like him. I caught him dueling with Olive in the backyard with those stupid plastic whipping toys Chad bought her. She needs someone who’ll keep her on her toes. We’re all too soft with her.”
Something inside him warmed, loving that Justine so graciously accepted John’s sexuality, and also Wyatt being in his life. It meant a lot to him.
“I liked Samuels, too. He’s got a fat chip on his shoulder, though. That man needs a woman who will…”
John cringed and shook his head, “He’s not into women, J.”
Justine’s eyes widened. “Him too?! Your nurses must hate life with all these hot gay doctors walking around.”
A burst of laughter rumbled from his chest.
“Or love it?” She said, considering it. “Lawson, especially. Jesus, that kid has an ass you can bounce a quarter—”
“Goodnight,sister.”
“Okay, okay. Goodnight,brother.”
He waved them goodbye and made sure they got out of the gate before heading back inside to find Samuels and Wyatt cleaning up the kitchen and dining room.
