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Isaiah laughed at Darren mimicking his mother. “I thought you said your dad was sending the message.”
“He is, but Mom’s got that mama bear mentality. She loves me. She knows how much you mean to me. She’s going to make sure nothing happens to you, because that would make me sad.”
He made a stupid sad face, and Isaiah snorted. “That’s the most ridiculous sad face I’ve ever seen.”
“That’s because I can’t even pretend to be sad when I’m with you.” He tried to steal another kiss, and Isaiah playfully ducked away from it. Darren tried again, and Isaiah laughed, rolling inch by inch toward the edge of the bed.
Darren caught him by the waist before he toppled off and pulled him close. “So, will you spend the day with us?”
“Yes.”
“What?”
“I’d love to spend the day with you and your parents. I’ll sit with them at the game Friday, and I’ll go to dinner with you.” He pressed his lips against Darren’s. “I’ll go anywhere, so long as you’re there.”
Darren grinned. “How about we save water and time and shower together?”
“Rather optimistic of you.”
“You did say you’d go anywhere, so long as I’m there.”
He wiggled his eyebrows and suggestively cocked his hips against Isaiah’s, then rolled Isaiah onto his back, nipped a kiss, and leapt off the bed. “I’m going to shower.”
Almost immediately, footsteps thumped behind him.
A pair of hands snaked around his waist and unfastened the button of his pants. He leaned his head back. Isaiah didn’t disappoint him and grabbed Darren’s earlobe with his teeth.
“Anywhere, so long as you’re there.”
Epilogue
Isaiah
The crowd for the Gage Scholar fundraiser was far bigger than he expected.
Together, Darren and he had worked hard to sell every seat of Harrison Hall. They even had a wait list.
Darren stood off to the side of the foyer, chatting with some of the musicians.
God, he looked ridiculously adorable in his tuxedo. A look he could totally get used to. Although next time he’d make them dress up like Mummers. Just like Darren had scrawled on his notes all those months ago . . .
Darren must have felt Isaiah staring, because he flashed him a world-stopping smile. A smile only Isaiah was privy to.
Tingles raced through his body. Isaiah smiled secretly back.
Darren excused himself from the group and sidled up to him.
“I think it’s better if you stay on the other side of the hall,” Isaiah joked. “I have a wicked urge to strip you of that zoot suit.”
“Hold that thought until after the show? Now, don’t kill me, but—”
Darren’s gaze flickered over Isaiah’s shoulder, and Isaiah jerked around.
His mother was threading down a crowded aisle, waving at him.
And—Ian and Isabelle, too.
“No fucking way.”
“They had to be here,” Darren said from behind. “Merry early Christmas.”
“Oh my God.” He spun and kissed Darren quickly before rushing to meet his family. Mom looked stunning in an evening dress, and Ian was wearing a tuxedo.
“Oh my God, Isabelle,” Isaiah gushed. “Look at you. You look amazing!”
“Do you like it?” She preened in the pretty white-and-blue dress that made her look so much older than thirteen.
“I love it.” He spun his finger. “Turn around and let me see it all.”
His sister happily did as asked under their mother’s amused gaze.
“You look good, bro,” Ian said, clapping their hands together before a shoulder bump. He’d grown and was maybe even a half-inch taller than Isaiah now. “But you still need a haircut.”
“I can’t believe you’re all here.” He turned and motioned for Darren to join them.
Darren walked over and hugged Isaiah’s mother. “You look wonderful, Mrs. Nettles. I’m so glad you could make it.”
“You are too kind, Darren. Thank you and your parents for making it possible for us to be here.”
Darren smiled. “Well, my mother wouldn’t stop nagging about meeting you. So—”
“Darren!” Peg laughed, startling her son. She beamed and looked every bit like the heiress she was. Freeing her arm from her husband’s, she gave Isaiah’s mother a warm hug.
Isaiah was on cloud nine right now.
Darren’s father stepped closer. “Josh Gage. Wonderful to meet you.”
As his mother introduced his siblings to Mr. and Mrs. Gage, Isaiah stepped back, drawing Darren with him.
Isaiah bubbled as he met Darren’s dimpled grin. He whispered, “I love you so much.”
Darren stuttered, a flush creeping up his throat. He crushed their lips together, hand gently knotting in Isaiah’s hair. He pulled back just enough to speak, their noses bumping. “I love you, too.”
Isaiah beamed and kissed Darren again, and again, and again—until Ian pointedly cleared his throat.
Isaiah and Darren pulled back slowly, grinning.
Ian stepped closer, and Darren backed toward his parents, smiling.
“Darren really loves you, huh?” his brother said. “I hope I find a girl to look at me like that one day.”
Isaiah blinked. “Who are you and what did you do with my brother?”
“Shut up.” Ian punched Isaiah’s shoulder. “Mom has gotten all teary a million times since Mrs. Gage called to set this up. She kept talking about how wonderful it was that you found someone who loves you. I have to say, it’s weirdly cool watching you two.”
