Sorcha’s answering grin was telling. “Most people have questions. Ones that I would never deign to answer because it’s none of their business. But in your case, I’ve heard some things from Jordie and Ked that make me think I might be able to provide some insight.” He put his mug down. “And since it’s you, I don’t mind.”
“What did they say?”
“Nothing specific. It’s more the way they speak about their family in passing. It sounds a lot like ours.”
Assa laid his head in his palms. “A lot like yours, except for the fact that we aretwofamilies. Wes, Valentin, and I are partners. Zinn and Calder are partners. We meld in many ways, but not…”
Sorcha grinned again. “You don’t need to elaborate. I understand.”
“Is it alright if I ask how you came to be a polycule of five? You weren’t always, right?”
“It’s okay,” Sorcha said, patting his knee. “It was Teal and Ronan for a long time, then they added Niall. Then Niall had Jax. Then they had me. Then we all had each other, with lots of stops in between.”
“So it took a while?”
“The connections were there. But fanning the sparks into flames required time and the right circumstances.” Sorcha tittered. “Jax was especially stubborn. Still is.”
Assa swallowed. “I just don’t know how to tell for sure. And I’m terrified to mess up what we have now.”
“A legitimate concern. What I can tell you is that with my men, we’re not just lovers and fathers. We’re five friends. Five supporters. Five confidantes. Five co-conspirators.”
Assa nodded pensively, realization dawning. He, Wes, Valentin, Calder, and Zinn were all of those things, other than lovers of course. “It’s been a long time since we’ve beenthe three of usandthe two of them. We’ve beenthe five of usfor a while.”
“At least you understand that much,” Sorcha said sagely. “You’ll figure the rest out. And if you’re destined for a bigger love, if the stars have decided that these men areyourmen, you are very lucky indeed.”
Chapter Fifty-Four
Zinn
Assa invited Zinn over to hang out, since Valentin had to close The Cracked Heart and Wes was working late at the university.
Zinn and Ryde ended up in the corner of the den that doubled as an art studio, staring at the easel.
Zinn had been helping Ryde experiment with mixed media. At first glance, the marker and watercolor piece looked like a simple farm scene, but the cartoonish faces of the animals, along with the neon color palette, made it pop.
“Do you think it’s done, Daddy Z?” Ryde asked.
“That’s one of the hardest questions for an artist to answer. Only you can say.”
“I think it’s done.”
“Alright. We’ll leave it overnight and then you can do the setting spray tomorrow.”
Ryde looked at Assa. “What do you think, Pop?”
Assa glanced up from the floor where he was cheering on Lachie, who was up on his hands and knees, rocking back and forth.
“Obviously, I’m biased, but I think it’s beautiful. Very intense,” Assa said definitively. He stood up to look closer. “What were you thinking about when you made it?”
Ryde started going into detail about the color and the linework as Assa listened.
Zinn sat down next to Lachie, who had abandoned his attempts to crawl and was resting on his belly. He would be asleep soon. Zinn picked him up and put him in the portable crib. With so many family members, the baby was a pro at falling asleep in rooms where other people were talking.
Zinn heard the front door open and shut. A moment later, Wes peeked into the den. For a split second, apprehension invaded his features. He moved past the doorway before Zinn could wave him into the room.
“I think it’s time for you to take a shower and get ready for bed,” Assa said to Ryde. “I’ll be up to read to you in fifteen minutes.”
“Did you see that Wes came home?” Zinn asked after Ryde left. “I think he’s in the kitchen.”
