Bonus Scene

BONUS SCENE

BELLAMY POV

Christmas with the Bellports

“Fa-la-la-la-la La-la-la-laaaaaa,” Jake screeches. He’s standing in front of the fireplace, his normal spot when he wants to put on a show.

I can remember four-year-old him doing the same exact thing many, many years ago. He’s never really grown much since. In size and personality.

Granted, it’s easy for me to say considering I tower over him and because I’m his big brother. It’s my right to give him shit.

Speaking of, I toss a handful of popcorn at him as I go, “Boooo! Next act!”

Maddox and Leon scowl at me from their spots on the other couch. Their expressions are so much alike, I can’t help but smile back at them.

How my brother wrangled two of the most intense rivals in hockey into becoming his boyfriends is still a mystery to me. Then again, anytime Jake Bellport has made up his mind about something, he’s found a way to make it happen.

“Enough, Bellamy. For goodness’ sake, you’re acting like Jake,” Mama chastises.

Finn giggles from where he’s tucked against my side. I bend down to whisper low enough so only he can hear. “What’s the laughter for, little one?”

He shivers at the name, much like he does nearly every time I say it. We’ve been together for long enough now he should be used to it.

I love how he’s not though. It makes me feel like we’re still this new, precious couple that life hasn’t touched yet. Plus, I love knowing I have an effect on him.

Jake bows, not once bothered by the popcorn shower or the booing. “Thank you for your opinions. Please feel free to come back to next year’s annual performance.”

There’s the sound of clapping to his awkward speech. Of course, it’s coming from Timothy, Jake’s assistant. His arrival with Coach Swift, or Luke as he said I should call him, was an interesting development.

I’m not around the arena much, so I can’t say what their deal was before now, but it’s obvious they’re together. Christmas spirit or not, you don’t touch a man like that unless you’re fucking him.

Not to be crude or anything.

Dammit.

I’ve been spending too much time with Aries.

Thinking of the asshole and his lack of filter, I grab a pillow and chuck it at him. He’s passed out on the floor near the other couch, his soft snores are background noise to the rest of the festivities.

We’ve already eaten and opened the presents Mama got everyone. Since then, it’s been a relaxing evening in the less formal living room.

The gang is all here: Maddox, Leon, and Jake; Bishop and Atlas; Aries and Raymond; Luke and Timothy; Mama and Dad; my little one and me. Only Royce is missing, though that’s only because they didn’t feel well after dinner. I think they didn’t want to be the only single person around, but I can’t say for sure.

If Carmen had come with her husband tonight instead of tomorrow, then at least they could have played with baby Lee. Though, he’s getting big enough calling him that won’t hold too much longer.

Oddly enough, everyone outside of my parents is involved in a Daddy lifestyle. If my parents are the slightest bit kinky, I have no clue. And I really, really don’t want to know.

Some things are just too much for a child to know.

But still, it’s funny to me that we’ve all formed this group of sorts. We’re all part athlete, part Daddy. What are the odds we’d all be connected like this?

I’m sure it's rather low if someone did a study or survey or whatever.

“What are you thinking about, Daddy?” Finn cuddles closer to me, his body one step away from straddling my lap.

I push the thoughts away, lest these sweats start tenting and showing my parents just how much I want my boy. Now is not the time!

“About how lucky we are to have this group of friends and family. I never thought life would look like this,” I admit.

“To good friendship,” Luke says from where he’s seated on the floor beside the couch we’re laid out on. He lifts his glass into the air, proposing yet another toast.

“To love,” Maddox add.

“To happiness.” That comes from Leon.

Mama rounds us off by declaring, “To family — both those connected by blood and others by choice.”

She’s always been the wisest of us.

This family may not all be biological, but they’re mine, nonetheless.

They’re ours.

Just the way it was always meant to be.