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chapter 22
Sam
Brekkie was always going to be weird, what with Scottie finding out about Ally and us. But I had no idea how strange it’d be until we sat down. Ma had her arms crossed over her chest and one eyebrow raised. Nan took one look at us and cackled. The others’ gazes were bouncing between us, smiling like they were all in on a secret.
“What?” Ally finally demanded.
Nan grinned wickedly “Well? Do you need something to take the sting out of the beard burn the three of you have?” My cheeks flushed hot and I touched my hand to it before I could think twice. “Yeah, right there, Sam.” If I’d been red before, I was beetroot by that stage. Mortified was an understatement.
Macca snorted and I shot him a look, only for Scottie to laugh harder. The others around the table grinned, and I knew that there was no hiding our secret. Before I could open my mouth, Jono cleared his throat, and all eyes turned to him. “I’ll say the same thing I said to all of youse when we found out about Scottie and Pete—if anyone has a problem with you three being together, then you can leave right now.”
“Back then it was only me who had the problem.” Craig’s tone was serious. He looked around the table, and I saw Ally reach for him, resting her hand on his thigh. “I was running. From myself, mostly. So, um… I understand that you might be thinking I’m a hypocrite—” Craig reached over Ally’s shoulders and clasped mine, before continuing— “and you’d be right. But Sam and Ally stood by me a long time while I worked it out for myself. Phoenix said something last night and it woke me up. I finally saw what I had in front of me and just so we’re clear, I’m with Ally and Sam. I hope no one has a problem with us because of me, but if you do, I’ll understand.”
My heart leapt, somersaulting in my chest as a kaleidoscope of butterflies took flight in my belly. I couldn’t help the grin that split my face and barely bit back the excited giggle. I wanted to reach over and kiss him until he forgot his name, but I settled for kissing the hand he still had resting on my shoulder, nuzzling into him. That he’d admitted our relationship to Ally’s family—our family—meant the world. Never in a million years did I expect that he’d advertise we were together. I’d hoped one day it’d just be a badly kept secret, but this acknowledgement, this confirmation from his lips was everything.
“I won’t,” Ma said bluntly, dragging me back to the conversation, my thoughts jolting back to the rest of Craig’s comment. “We’re a family here. We stand by each other, no matter what. Craig, you needed to accept yourself as much as you needed to see that what Scottie and Pete have is a blessing. Sometimes that’s not easy to do. We’re thrilled you’ve found your way to each other.”
“Cheers to that.” Nan lifted her teacup into the air.
“Hear! hear!” Scottie raised his mug too. “I’m happy for you guys. But no screwing around where I can walk in on you again.” He shuddered exaggeratedly and added, “I don’t ever want to see my sister naked,” before grinning wickedly at us.
Ally threw the crust of the toast she’d been eating at him. “Try knocking next time! And I wasn’t naked!”
“Do I need to fight you for my lady’s honour?” Craig asked. Ally paused mid-chew and looked to him. He choked out a laugh and pulled her forward, kissing her forehead. “I know you don’t need anyone. I was just offering.”
She swallowed her mouthful before turning to me. “Well? What about you? Are you set on defending my honour too?”
“Oh, hell no. I’ll hold your beer while you sort it out.”
“Better.” She nodded and turned to Scottie who was still sniggering. Ally rolled her eyes but became serious. “Thank you, everyone. We appreciate the support. We know we’re not exactly conventional but it’s real. We love each other.”
“Love is for sharing. You three have got a little more to go round,” Phoenix added from his spot next to Macca.
“Thanks, mate. For everything.” I could never thank Phoenix enough. What he’d done with a simple conversation had revolutionized my world. He’d been pivotal in giving me everything I’d ever dreamed of.
“I’m glad I could help in that small way, but really it was all Craig, not me.”
I would be forever grateful to Phoenix. As if she knew exactly what was running through my head, Ally squeezed my hand and I held tight never wanting to let go. To let either of them go. And now, thanks to Phoenix making an innocent assumption which finally opened Craig’s eyes, I didn’t have to.
“So, talk to us, boss. What needs doing?”
When Scottie launched into his plans for the day’s work, I sat back and enjoyed my family surrounding me. It’d been a while since I’d spoken with Ma and Dad as well as Craig’s parents. I wondered, not for the first time since getting together with Ally, whether we should clue them into what was between us. I’d been hesitant before, especially because one woman sharing two men wasn’t exactly “normal,” as Craig had said, but I was heartened by Ma’s, Nan’s, and Jono’s reactions after announcing that we were together.
Loading up the ute after brekkie, I broached the subject with Craig and Ally. “What do you think about visiting the parentals? Or maybe even just letting them know we’re together?”
“I’d love to meet your folks.” Ally smiled and laid a hand on my forearm. “And I’ll respect whatever you and Craig decide on whether you’ll tell them about the two of you.” I nodded and she left the shed, going out to grab some supplies from the smaller one.
“Whaddya think?” I sat down on a hay bale.
He shrugged, but I could see straight through the feigned calm. “I dunno how they’ll take it. They’ll either be shocked as shit, ropable, or be expecting it. S’pose the question is whether you’d be prepared to walk away if they don’t approve—”
“There’s no chance in hell I’d be walking away.” I stood and moved to him. “I wouldn’t give you and Ally up just to satisfy them.”
“Good thing too.” He smiled, pushing me back down and bracketed my legs with his own. He cupped my face in his warm hands and leaned down, pressing a soft, lingering kiss to my lips. “I was talking about walking away from them. Would you rather keep them in the dark in case they don’t agree? Because, Sam, I’m not giving you up.”
“If they don’t like our relationship, it’s their loss. They’ll be the ones giving up the chance to meet our lady and one day their grandkids.” He kissed me again, slowly and thoroughly until I couldn’t bear to have a sliver of distance between us. Pulling him onto my lap, I palmed his arse cheeks and tasted his lips again, never wanting to stop.
“Can we just text them?” He pulled back a fraction while he rocked against my hardening dick. “That way we can just stay in bed.”
