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“Sure. I like dogs. Never had one because I didn’t trust myself to handle the responsibility, but yeah. Bring Dog back.”
“Okay. Thanks.”
Wyatt’s heart trilled. “If you want to go get Dog, I’m going to shower after Ramie and then go back to bed. In between what I’m sure will be a lot of phone calls this afternoon. If the cops haven’t already picked up Jared, they probably will soon. It’s going to be a long day.” And he probably had missed calls and messages on his phone, which he really didn’t want to look at yet.
“I bet.” Jackson kissed his temple. “Be back in a while. Lock the door behind me.”
“Yes, sir.”
Wyatt did exactly that, then stood at the living room window and watched Jackson walk to his truck. Get in and drive away. The creaking of floorboards told him Ramie was behind him before her arm went around his waist. “You’re lucky to have him,” she said softly.
“I know. I’m lucky he’s still here and I didn’t totally fuck everything up with my lies. I think I love him.”
“Then tell him. When things are a little less stressful, tell him your truth. All he can do is give you his truth in return.”
“Yeah.”
One day soon, Wyatt would say the words to Jackson he’d only ever said to relatives. Words that he’d never felt so acutely in his heart and soul about another person. Words that would either cement their relationship or tear them apart for good.
Please, God, don’t let me fuck this up.
As soon as he got home, Brand took a shower. Partly to wake him up and partly to clear his head a little bit about everything that had happened, not just last night, but ever since his conversation with Wyatt on Monday. He still couldn’t comprehend the complete way his world had shifted since finding out Wyatt was his son. He shouldn’t be as surprised as he was. Brand had noticed something about Wyatt the day they met, a familiarity he couldn’t put his finger on, and not just from Wyatt’s flaming red hair.
Maybe he had known, deep down, but old hurt had kept him from examining those feelings until they were dropped right in his lap.
Hugo was, as expected, on the couch when Brand emerged from the bathroom in his robe. Hugo thought his preference to wear a robe from the bathroom to the bedroom to get dressed was fussy and adorable, but that living space was chilly in winter, damn it. No sense in being cold indoors when he spent plenty of time cold outdoors.
“So you had a busy night,” Hugo drawled.
“More than you can imagine.” He dropped down next to Hugo and kissed his boyfriend. “I’m just glad we all got through it safe and mostly sound. Told Wyatt to take it easy for a few days before he thinks of coming back to work.”
“Good call. He’s probably stubborn enough to try and come back with a broken nose. God knows he’s worked through all kinds of other injuries.”
“He probably gets that stubbornness from me.”
Hugo’s eyes widened. “What?”
“I got the test results last night while everything was happening. Ramie encouraged me to look, so I’d know if I was praying for my employee or my son. We’re a match, Hugo.”
“Wow.” Hugo pulled him into a tight hug that released the last of Brand’s anxiety over this. More than telling his parents and siblings that his kid had been under his nose for nearly two months, he’d stressed about Hugo’s feelings over it. Granted, it wasn’t as serious a commitment as if Wyatt had been a small child they had to raise; Wyatt was a grown man with dreams, aspirations, and a lot of raw talent that needed to be honed.
Still, Brand needed to know his partner was okay with this whole insta-kid situation.
“I take it he knows, too,” Hugo asked as he sat back, hands still gripping Brand’s tight.
“Yeah, I told him. Ramie and Jackson know, and now you, but no one else. Wyatt and I need a little time to process it before we bring the whole family in on things.”
“I understand and completely agree. You need to tell other people in your own time. This is big news.”
“It is, and I am so grateful that you’re with me on this.”
“Of course I am. Even if some mystery ex dropped an infant in our laps and said ‘here, he’s yours,’ and left, I’d be with you. I have never been more grateful to be part of a family than I am to be part of yours, Brand Woods. No matter what gets dumped in our laps, I’m with you.”
“I hope you mean that.” Brand reached for a jeans pocket that wasn’t there, because his jeans were on the bed. He’d been carrying the ring around with him ever since his individual chats with Jackson and Ramie two weeks ago, and now seemed like the perfect time to offer it to Hugo. “Come with me.”
Brand stood and pulled Hugo up. Led him to their bedroom and nudged Hugo until he sat on the bed. The spark in his eyes suggested Hugo anticipated sexy times—and Brand was on board with that in a little while—but it wasn’t the first thing on Brand’s mind. He got the ring out of his jeans, went to one knee in front of Hugo, and held it out. Hugo’s lips parted and his cheeks pinked up.
“I’ve been waiting for the right time to give you this,” Brand said, grateful neither his voice nor his hand was trembling. “I know it’s not even been a year, but in some ways it’s been ten years. I wanna commit to our life together, Hugo Turner. It doesn’t have to happen tomorrow or even five years from now, but I love you. Will you marry me?”
