Page 89 of The Key Holder

Melissa pulled me into a tight hug. "You know, Ford," she whispered, "you always needed someone to look at you like you were the only person in the world. It looks like you finally found them." Her gaze shifted to Dylan, who was talking to Brian. “Take care of him," she added, her eyes twinkling.

Brian gave me a hearty slap on the back, as Dylan shared a private moment with his mother. He leaned in conspiratorially, his grin widening. “So you like your women like fine wine, but I guess your men gotta be baked fresh like bread, huh, bro?"

I chuckled, shaking my head. “Something like that.”

“You always had a thing for the younger crowd.”

“How would you know?” I challenged, raising an eyebrow.

“Oh, I don’t know. Brayden, Emory, Tad.” He counted them off on his fingers.

I forgot about Tad. “Do you have a hidden camera in my apartment or something?” I asked, half-joking, half-horrified.

“I’m your big brother, you know. It’s like I care about your life or something.”

I decided to change the subject. “Do I wanna know how you and Melissa got together?”

“She needed some help with her plumbing, so I-”

“I don’t need you to finish,” I cut him off. “I’ve seen the porn.”

Brian threw his head back and roared with laughter. “It was pretty much like that, actually.”

“Wonderful,” I muttered, pinching the bridge of my nose.

“You’re one to talk.” He motioned to Dylan. “How’d this happen?”

“I’ll leave it to your imagination.”

“Did he drop the soap?”

“Over and over and over,” I said, teasing.

“Whoa, sorry I asked.” Brian laughed, throwing his hands up in mock surrender. “I’m happy for you though.”

“It’s funny,” I mused, looking between him and Melissa. “I never thought to suggest you date her, but I think you make a good match.”

“Thanks, little bro. That means a lot, coming from you.” He gave my shoulder another firm squeeze. “I’m glad we stopped by.”

“Me too,” I said, giving him one last hug. It felt good, seeing them happy, but it felt even better knowing that Dylan and I no longer had to hide.

As we watched Melissa and Brian's car disappear into the woods, the lingering doubts I had about us seemed to retreat into the shadows. What I thought was going to be a complicated family reunion turned into a surprising blessing. We were free to approach the future together, unburdened with guilt or worry.

Once they were gone, Dylan turned to me, his cheeks dimpled. "I'm surprised they were so cool with it."

I wrapped an arm around Dylan's waist and pulled him close. "Maybe they're just more open-minded than we gave them credit for?"

"Yeah," Dylan reflected, "it's not like we're the first stepson and stepdad to get together, right? That sounds weird when I say it out loud."

"What? Is there like a support group for it now?” I squeezed Dylan playfully.

"Hey!" Dylan protested, "I'm serious. It just...it felt so monumental, and then they were just...okay with it." He rested his forehead against my chest. "I'm surprised you were so cool with them, actually. Especially your ex-wife."

I sighed, resting my chin on Dylan's head, the solid warmth of his body a comforting presence. "There was a time when I loved your mother—as a partner—but it became more of a friendship towards the end. We both knew it, but neither of us acknowledged it. That’s why there was no real bitterness over the divorce. The feelings just...faded. And honestly," I confessed, "seeing her happy with Brian, and knowing how comfortable they are with us, just reinforced that it was the right path for everyone."

Dylan nodded, rubbing against my chest. The only sounds were the rustle of the leaves and the steady rhythm of our breathing. He seemed happy about the turn of events, but distracted, maybe even worried about something. I had noticed over the last few days, but said nothing. Shifting slightly, enough to see his face, I could tell his mind was somewhere else. My brow furrowed. “What is it?” I asked, pulling us inside, back to the living room. “You can tell me anything.”

Dylan hesitated, then looked up at me, a mix of emotions swirled in his eyes. "It's the cage."