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I said, “It wasn’t like we hung out or I said hey…did you know I love your best friend.” But I had to admit, I was curious about what had gone down in the studio. “He basically showed up at the center and grumbled something about a surprise party, and I told him you already know we’re hanging out for your birthday, and then he grumbled something about it being Kai’s idea that I should come earlier, and got my phone number for Kai.”
There was no doubt in my mind that Marcus still had concerns about me, and that didn’t bother me at all. I liked that protecting Corbin meant so much to him, but I also wasn’t going to back down or not give him shit.
“Baby…” Kai said to him.
“What? I did what you asked and he’s here, isn’t he? Everything worked out,” Marcus countered, and everyone laughed.
“So, there was a discussion about Corbin being in love?” Sebastian asked. “We miss all the good stuff being banished to the living room.”
“We want all the Beach Bum secrets! Poddies unite!” Kai cheered.
“I still think it sounds like someone is going to the bathroom,” Elliott said.
All three of them had been great to me since I arrived. They made me feel at home, and again, it was nice to be around people who cared about Corbin so much. I loved the family they’d created, and now, despite the strong bond between the Beach Bums, their significant others were completely accepted as well.
“Shut up, Elliott,” Kai said, then looked at me. “You’re a Poddy now too.”
“Um…thank you?” Elliott was right. It did sound like someone was going to the bathroom.
“I don’t think I like your tone.” Kai let go of Marcus’s hand and crossed his arms.
I chuckled. I could see why Corbin loved these people so much. They were great.
“Can we get to the celebrating-me part now?” Corbin asked.
“Yes, baby. We can.” I nuzzled his throat, and he moaned.
“Wow…this is so weird,” Declan said.
“Good weird,” Parker added.
Marcus turned on music, songs I recognized as ones Corbin listened to, so I assumed it was some kind of Corbin playlist.
Everyone mingled, talking and joking, telling stories about each other and laughing. While I wasn’t a part of their tales, I didn’t feel left out. Corbin couldn’t have surrounded himself with a better group of guys. At one point, he got me and Parker talking about the romance-books drive we’d discussed the first time he came to the center, so Parker and I made plans to organize that.
“I’ll get us a plate.” I kissed Corbin’s cheek while he was telling Sebastian all the things he hoped would happen in Sebastian’s upcoming show.
I made a plate for myself and one for Corbin, not putting a ton on his but making sure to select the things I knew he ate the most. While I got some of the pork in the crockpot, Corbin’s was a wrap and mostly fruit.
I felt Marcus’s gaze on me the whole time, studying me, and I couldn’t help wondering if I was passing whatever test he had for me.
When I got back to Corbin, I gave him his plate. He thanked me, then continued talking, without eating. Mine was finished when Sebastian excused himself, and I picked up a strawberry and held it up to him. He took a bite of it out of my fingertips, then said, “Mmm, this is kinda hot.”
It was Corbin who picked up the next strawberry, holding part of it in his mouth. I leaned forward and bit a chunk, then licked the juice that ran down his skin.
“Get a room, you two,” Declan teased.
Corbin finished the rest of his food without me.
“Did you make everything?” Corbin asked Kai.
“Of course.”
“Kai loves to cook. He started culinary school this month.” Corbin gave his attention to me as we all discussed Kai’s plans.
“Are you excited for the wedding?” I asked Parker and Elliott.
“Oh my God, yes. You’re invited,” Parker said. “I know we’re already married, but I’ve been looking forward to this day my whole life. We have so many plans!”
“And my perfect boy always gets what he wants,” Elliott said before kissing Parker.
“My husband is the best,” Parker added.
He told me a little about the ceremony in June and how they were planning a honeymoon in Hawaii afterward.
We hung out for a while before Kai brought out a projector. “I’ve been collecting photos with the help of Elliott and Sebastian, and we made this for you guys.”
They turned the lights down, and the slideshow began to play. It was the Beach Bums when they were kids, photos before school dances, and playing in the water, laughing and wrestling, and just being happy. There was one where Marcus carried Corbin on his back, and one where they’d buried Parker in the sand. They went up through the ages, middle school, high school, young adulthood, until recently. The last one was a photo of all four of them, along with Elliott, Sebastian, Kai, and…me.
