Trouble : Boston Bolts Hockey

“Not going to lie, Fitz. I didn’t see this coming,” Brooks mumbles. We’re seated by the fire. Beckett, Liv, and Declan disappeared into the kitchen with our moms a few minutes ago, and Mel is busy talking music with Millie. The rest of us are hanging out in the living room, drinks in hand, relaxing.

Sara giggles. “Lennox called it.”

The pink-haired beauty shimmies her shoulders. “What can I say? It’s my special power.”

“Not even I expected it, so I’d say you’ve got a real talent.” I actually can’t believe I’m sitting here right now with my guys and their significant others, discussing my relationship status. Never in a million years did I see things turning out the way they have. Declan and Mel telling me they love me last night is a fucking dream come true. A dream I never want to wake up from.

“You’re happy, though?” Brooks prods.

I grin. I can’t help it. Whenever I think of the two people who have stolen my heart, I can do nothing but smile. “I’m living my literal dream.” I catch Mel’s attention across the room, and my heart sputters. “Love you,” I mouth.

She bites her lip, catching her smile between her teeth.

Today feels easy. I’m not surprised, if I’m honest. The guys in this room—and the women who have stolen their hearts—are some of the best people I’ve ever known. Judgment isn’t something that concerned me when it came to them. But I know life won’t always be like this. That we’ll encounter people who won’t understand how it’s possible to have two soulmates. Who will not only find our love improbable, but will be ugly toward us because of it. I know that’s why Declan struggled with coming to terms with it as well. I’ll do my damndest to protect him, and her, from the ugly. I’ll remember these moments, seated with my best friends, my girl within view, my boyfriend close by.

“I’m going to see if they need help in the kitchen,” I say, standing, itching to get my eyes on Declan.

From beside me, Gavin chuckles. He’s got a squirming Vivi in his arms. She’s dying to get down and run around with all her cousins. “Can never be close enough, right?”

He says it knowingly, his eyes drifting to Millie. I always thought it was a little over the top, how his gaze never strayed too far from his wife. Now I get it. If they’re within reach, I want to be near them. If they’re a phone call away, I want to be on that phone. For a man who never allowed himself to grow attached to anyone for fear of losing another important person, I’m all-in now. Gavin is on my heels as I pass Millie and Mel, dropping a kiss to Mel’s neck, interrupting her conversation. “I’m going to see if I can help in the kitchen. Need anything before I disappear for a few?”

Mel spins in my arms, wrapping hers around my neck, and tips her face up. “Just a kiss.”

I grant her wish, pressing my lips to hers. “You having a good time?”

Mel bites down on her plump lip. “The best.”

I nuzzle into her neck and squeeze her tight. “Good. I’ll be back.” I nip her lips once more before leaving her with Millie and Gavin, who now has one arm around his wife as Vivi has catapulted herself into Millie’s arms.

In the kitchen, I find Declan standing over Beckett. And I mean literally standing over him, arms folded across his chest, a haughty look on his face. “You ready to give up?”

Beckett is holding a cutting fork in one hand and an electric carving knife in the other, and when I round the island, I see he’s got a turkey laid out in front of him. He revs the cutter and shakes his head. “I’ve got this.”

“You have to cut it at an angle,” Dec growls.

Beckett’s jaw ticks, and he glares over his shoulder. “I said I’ve got this.”

“Beckett,” Liv says softly. “Why don’t you let my brother cut the turkey? You can help me get the kids settled.”

Declan’s lips pull up in a sinister smile. “Yeah, Becks. Why don’t you do that?”

I fail at holding in my snort. These two men are exactly the same person. Controlling assholes one minute, then throwing their heart around to make their loved ones happy in the next. There’s literally not a thing either one of these guys wouldn’t do for any of the people in this house. And yet they don’t see how similar they are.

As soon as Liv sees me, she deflates in relief. Help me, she mouths.

“Actually,” I say, finally making my presence known, “I need Dec for a second.”

My boyfriend’s eyes snare me. He’s not happy that he’s being dragged away from his dick-measuring contest with his favorite brother-in-law. When I hold out my hand, though, his eyes soften, and he sighs. “Make sure he cuts it at an angle,” he grumbles before heading in my direction.

My mom intercepts me before he can make it to my side, and Declan stops short of taking my hand. “Ah, it’s so good to see both my boys for Christmas,” she says, taking my outstretched hand and then reaching for Dec’s.

“I honestly never thought I’d see the day,” Declan’s mother says, joining us at the edge of the kitchen.

Dec’s gaze bounces back toward where Beckett is carving the turkey. It’s taking everything in him not to tell him he’s doing it wrong. Or maybe he’s just trying to avoid this conversation.

“We spend every Christmas with you,” I remind them. Since before my dad died, actually. I don’t remember a holiday without the Everharts.ConTEent bel0ngs to Nôv(e)lD/rama(.)Org .

“You know that’s not what we mean,” my mother chides with a smile.

I pull her into my chest and kiss her forehead. “Yeah, Ma, I know what you mean. But it’s new, so let’s not get ahead of ourselves.”

Declan pulls his focus from the turkey and zeroes in on me, his brows pulled together and his lips turned down. For once, I can read every emotion on his face. He’s not hiding anything.

And he’s not happy that I told them not to get ahead of themselves.

I’m not even sure why I said it. I guess because this is all too perfect. It’s hard not to hold my breath and wait for Declan to pull back. To pull away. To tell me he’s not actually ready.

Instead, the man steps closer. “Get ahead of yourselves, because we’re not going anywhere. Cade, Melina, and me. Enjoy it. I know I am.”

“Oh, Declan,” his mom says, grasping his upper arms and pulling him into her chest. “It’s so good to see you so happy. So open.”

My mother looks up at me, but I can’t seem to look away from Declan. He’s hugging his mother, a warmth about him that I’ve rarely seen. They talk in low voices, but I can tell it’s all good things. That it’s a healing moment for them both. That Declan’s acceptance of who he is has also opened him up to love in general, to accepting it and showing it more freely.

Could it really be this easy? He’s making it so easy. My heart practically sits in a puddle on the floor for him.

Conversation continues around us, and I watch, quietly enjoying this moment. When Liv tells us dinner’s ready, I hang back, still kind of struck by the beauty that I just witnessed. I take a few beats and then head out, ready to enjoy dinner with my family. But I’m stopped by Declan’s back. He’s leaning against the wall, his gaze forward, blocking my path. I step up behind him, trying to figure out what he’s looking at, when I realize that Mel is holding Vivi, feeding her with a bottle.

“She’s beautiful, huh?” I murmur, dropping my chin to his shoulder.

Dec’s breath comes out in a whoosh. “Most beautiful woman I’ve ever seen. I’m so in love with her.”

I smile and give his hip a gentle squeeze. “Me too.”

He spins in my arms and meets my gaze. “I’m so in love with you,” he says softly, like he’s being gentle with his admission, even though it’s not the first time he’s told me this. Though somehow, this seems like more. Like he’s trying to say something else. “Is this too much for you?”

Now it’s my turn to frown. “Why would this be too much? This is literally my dream, Dec. You have been my dream for longer than I can even say. And Mel? Hell, I feel like I’m walking around in a fog because I’m so damn happy.”

Declan’s lips pull up in a delicious grin. “Good. I just—” He reaches for my face, but before he makes contact, he stops, his hand hovering in the air. Like he’s second-guessing the idea of kissing in front of our families.

I wish he would, though. I hate that it feels so easy to kiss Mel and not as simple to kiss Dec. “I wasn’t sure how you felt about the long-term implications of what my mother said.”

Ah, so that’s what this is about. He thinks I’m going to run.

With one hand, I grip his hip, and with my other, I caress his cheek. And then I get closer. “I want all the long term. I want every holiday, every weekend, every moment I can get with you and Mel by my side. I want messy and imperfect. I want this.” I press my lips to his, not giving him a moment to overthink it. Declan doesn’t pull back. He doesn’t take it further either. He just allows our lips to connect softly. And then he pulls back a bit, wearing a rare smile.

“What about marriage? And kids?” Dec asks, one brow arching in challenge.

I clutch his arms and spin him so we can both stare at our girl again. “What do you think, Dec? I think she’d look beautiful pregnant.” I lean in close to his ear, adding in a whisper, “And you as a daddy? Sign me up.”