Chapter Twenty-Four

CHAPTER TWENTY-FOUR

Vince

V ince's heart was beating faster than maybe it had in his whole life. Things had already fallen into place for him, each block, each puzzle piece fitting together to show him exactly what he wanted, but this moment, hearing Colby say how he felt about him, right there in front of his whole family, cemented that.

Of course, he hated the fear Colby had felt, all those negative feelings building up until Colby exploded, but he thought they would all be better for it. What mattered most for him was Colby.

Vince pressed his forehead against Colby's. He knew they had a room full of people around them, but somehow it was only the two of them.

"You really want this? Want me? Even though I'm such a mess?" Colby asked.

"Baby, I don't think you know what a mess is. You have some things to sort out, but all of us do. We'll get it done together."

Colby nodded, kissed him again, then pulled back. They had more to discuss, but Vince knew this wasn't the time.

He took Colby's hand, offering support to his boyfriend, his partner, the man he loved. He could see the trepidation in Colby's family but didn't doubt it came from love, and maybe some guilt that they'd played into Colby's insecurities. When you came from a family that loved this big, it made sense he would feel lost when he thought he couldn't experience those same things.

"Son." Charles used his crutches to limp over to him, Colby's mom by his side. "We love you, no matter what. We're sorry we made you feel like you don't have a choice in your own life, if we ever made you feel like you can't come to us. I might not be real good with words, but the most important thing in my life will always be my family—whoever they love or don't love, whatever they want or don't want."

Colby let go of Vince's hand. "Thank you." He wrapped his father in his arms, the two of them hugging. Vince took a step back to give them space. He wanted them to be able to sort through their feelings, but also wanted Colby to know he was there for him if Colby needed him.

When they pulled back, Colby's mom added, "I knew it."

Colby chuckled. "Yeah, you did. Before me, even." He signaled Vince closer. "I'm sorry I didn't tell you both how I was feeling. I just didn't want to let you down."

"Colby Covington, you could never let us down. We're so proud of you," his mom replied.

His dad chimed in. "And I can't wait to taste this beer you're talking about."

"He's good," Vince added.

"Of course he is. He's a Covington." Dennis approached, and Vince felt Colby tense sightly.

"Sorry for putting all that pressure on you. I just… I love you, and I realize I can come on strong. But ultimately, I thought I was doing the right thing."

Jesus, they were a great family. Vince wanted his aunt and uncle out here to meet them, wanted them to see the life he was creating with the man he loved…with the man who loved him.

"I know." Colby nodded.

"Whatever you want or don't want, whatever you need, we'll figure it out." Dennis squeezed his shoulder.

Colby nodded again and swiped at a stray tear. Vince knew how much these moments meant to him.

"We'll hammer out details later." Vicki hugged her son, then Vince. "Welcome to the family, though I feel like you were already part of it."

Emotion clogged Vince's throat. "Thank you. Me too."

They stepped back, everyone making their way into the kitchen except Roe and Holden. "Welcome to the cool kids club," Roe said with a smile.

Vince and Colby chuckled.

"Seriously, though. I'm sorry if I ever contributed to the way you feel, or if you ever felt like you couldn't come to me with this. I'm your big brother—your queer big brother. I should have been there for you." Roe held so much emotion in his gaze.

"I wasn't struggling with my sexuality, Roe. I never realized I'm bi until Vince. The biggest thing was not understanding my feelings, or lack thereof. I didn't have a name for it, didn't know I was demiromantic, and now so much makes sense. It's not your fault. Sometimes things aren't anyone's fault. They just happen."

Roe nodded, and Holden wrapped an arm around him. "You can't do or know everything, darlin'."

But that was just like Roe.

"You made a good choice." Roe motioned toward Vince.

"The best," Holden added. "Congratulations." Holden hugged Vince, and Vince couldn't help thinking about how things had changed. Meeting Holden for a hookup, dating, realizing they were better as best friends. All the drama with Gregory. If none of it happened, he wouldn't be here, in this moment, hugging his best friend, with the man he loved by his side and family around them.

"I love you," Vince told Holden.

"I love you too."

Holden pulled back, and Roe gave Vince a hug too, before they slipped away, giving Vince and Colby some space. They wrapped their arms around each other, breathed each other in. "I mean, I feel like I made a pretty solid choice too," Vince teased.

"Only solid?" Colby played right back. "You're the only choice I could ever want, the only right choice I could ever make."

Vince let go of Colby to clutch his heart. "Goddamn. You win. That was really fucking good. My boyfriend is the best."

They laughed together, then leaned in and kissed.

The back door pushed open, Sean and Wyatt coming in. "Whoa! What did we miss?" Sean asked.

"I already knew. I saw them kissing behind the barn one time," Wyatt added, the rest of the family coming into the room and laughing. "Happy coming out, Uncle Colby. Is dinner done?"

And that was that. These kids gave Vince a whole lot of hope for the future.

The other kids came in, and they all congregated in the dining room. Dinner was a loud, joyous affair like it always was at Covington Acres.

Colby mentioned how they wanted to go to California and see Vince's aunt and uncle, and everyone assured them the farm would be fine. They'd hire extra help or whatever it was they had to do. The details could be figured out another day.

"We'd love to have them out here sometime too," Vicki said.

"Yes, ma'am. I know they'd love that," Vince replied.

Charles cleared his throat. "There's absolutely no obligation with what I'm about to say. It's your life, and the two of you need to do what's best for you, but from what I've seen, you love this farm, Vince, and you're good at it. Even if Colby decides it's not what he wants, you always have a place at Covington Acres. You're family, and that means the main operations are still family run."

Not for the first time that day, Vince felt too much emotion to speak. He wanted that, wanted it more than almost anything. "Thank you. That means a lot to me. I'd like that."

Colby put a hand on Vince's thigh. "I think everything is going to turn out just the way it should."

Vince leaned over and kissed him. Yeah, he thought so too.

They finished dinner on much lighter topics. There was lots of wedding talk for the big day that was so close now.

There were more hugs and kisses when it was time to say goodbye. When they got back into Colby's truck, Vince couldn't stop looking at him, couldn't believe his luck.

"What?" Colby tossed a playful glance his way.

"Just admiring how hot my boyfriend is."

Colby chuckled. "Not as hot as mine."

"I was proud of you today."

"Thank you. I'm proud of me too. I'm just glad you felt the same. This day could have ended a whole lot differently if you hadn't."

Vince chuckled. "I've known for a while. I just had to get over my shit. I called Gregory the other day."

Colby whipped his head in his direction.

"Watch the road, baby. I just… I needed to officially let go of him and all my feelings. Tell him what he did to me, tell him out loud that it was him and not me. For a while I thought I didn't deserve something better."

"You do. Christ, you do."

"I sorted through that. Stopped letting him play tricks on me. I told him that not only did I know I deserve better, but that I found it…that I felt sorry for him, but that I really hope his new relationship works out and that he doesn't do to him what he did to me. I hope he's happy because I will be." He'd just needed to let go, and now he had and could move on.

"Jesus, sweetheart. Talk about being proud of me. I'm proud of you. That's incredible."

"Eh, I'm good, I guess. Also, I like that."

"Like what?"

"You calling me sweetheart."