Chapter Thirty-Seven

Leo

I should have been more excited to get home and see what had been done to the guesthouse. The fact that Maverick had done that for Andy, for us, warmed my heart. But I was too worried about Andy. He seemed so withdrawn. Exhaustion and depression had sunk deep into his bones and didn't seem to want to let go. He said nothing on the flight home, instead he clung to my hand and pretended to be asleep. I knew he was faking, so I occasionally kissed his cheek and whispered how much I loved him.

Once we arrived at the Olson home, it was hard to not notice all the cars in the driveway. Killian and Matthias were playing in the front yard with their son, Archer, while Dean and Beau lounged on the grass next to them.

"Did you forget to mention you were having a party?" Andy asked his father, who simply winked. He turned to me. "Ricky, did you know anything about this?"

I climbed from the car. "Come on." There were balloons strung up outside the house and all over the front porch.

"What's happening?" Andy followed me out of the car but wouldn't budge when I tugged on his hand. "I'm not really in a social kind of mood right now. Can we just go up to my room?"

Maverick clapped his hands like an excited child. "I think you left something in the guesthouse, kiddo. You should go check it out."

"What?" Andy's brows dipped. "I can assure you that... Oh." His hazel eyes grew round when he saw the rows of streamers and more balloons decorating the guesthouse. "What is all this?" he whispered.

Maverick rushed over to us. "If you hate it, we can change it. Your father and I just thought it would be nice for you to come home to your own place. You don't have to move in here if you don't want to. You can find your own house or keep your room. We're not saying we want you to leave, but we love you, and we know you're old enough to make your own decisions."

Andy's Adam's apple bobbed as he swallowed. "You did all of this for us?"

"Yeah, kiddo, we did. Because we love you both so much and want to help you in any way that we can," Maverick told him.

Andy wrapped his arms around his father. "Thank you, Dad. You really didn't need to do anything, and I appreciate it so much." He reached his hand toward me, and I moved in to hug both of them.

"I would do anything for you, Andrew. You know that," Maverick said. "Now, the two of you go and check out what we had done. If there's something you don't like, we'll have it changed immediately."

Andy and I walked along the path to the guesthouse, which I guess we should start thinking of as our house now. Back by the pool, waving and laughing, were Dean, Beau, Tommy, and Blake. We stopped at the door, and Andy gave me a smile, scooped me up bridal style, and carried me inside. I giggled happily as he shut the door behind him and placed me back on my feet.

The first thing I noticed was that all the furniture was different. The old couch was replaced with a modern, slate-gray-colored sofa with plush cushions and oversized pillows. The curtains were removed over the floor to ceiling windows, allowing the sunlight to stream into the room. The walls were painted a soft cream that gave everything a homey feel. I loved it.

I grabbed Andy's hand and dragged him toward the master bedroom. Inside was a king-sized bed covered in my pink comforter and what looked like one of Seth's paintings hanging on the wall.

"This is amazing."

"It's so beautiful."

I spun around and stared up at Andy. "And you're sure you want me to move in with you?"

I gasped when he walked me backwards and I felt the bed behind my knees.

"I want everything with you, Ricky." He kissed me as he helped me lie down on the bed. "Everything and more. Just you. Only us."

I hummed happily as I returned Andy's kiss, my hands finding their way under his shirt to map out the lines and ridges of his perfect body. "I love you."

"I love you, too," Andy answered. "And as much as I'd like to strip you naked and explore your body again, you know my dad is outside waiting for us to tell him we hate it. It would be awkward."

I giggled. "You're not wrong." I touched his cheek with the palm of my hand as I stared into his hazel orbs. I saw the worry and anxiety before he pushed them away. "Only us," I murmured.

***

Everyone was sprawled out around the backyard of the Olson house as the party went into the early evening. Usually Killian and Matthias left early, claiming they had a young child who needed his rest, but Archer was tucked upstairs sleeping soundly while they causally checked in on him through the baby monitor they had brought with them. I caught the way RJ kept eye-fucking the twins while talking to Parker, and Lucas was watching them like a protective bodyguard.

Andy was faking his happiness. I saw it when he thought I wasn't looking. The way his walls came down and his feelings appeared on his face before he hid them with a pretend smile. One that didn't reach his eyes. I wasn't sure if Andy was actually listening to what Maverick was saying to him or just nodding along when he thought he needed to.

"Are you going to christen the new place?" Felix's question brought me back to reality. "Nice new bed and all." He wiggled his brows, and I rolled my eyes at him.

Ford huffed. "Not everyone wants to have sex twenty-four hours a day, Fe. Maybe they're just going to cuddle and go to bed. That's what couples do."

"Why are you making me feel like a slut right now, Ford? You were in that room with RJ, too, and you enjoyed—"

Ford clamped his hand over his brother's mouth, his cheeks flaming red. "Don't. You. Dare." He hissed before he met my eyes. "That goes for you, too, Leo."

"But I have so many questions." I grinned, only to have Ford scowl at me. "Okay, but you know I'm here for you, and if you need to talk about anything, I won't judge you. Either of you. I only want you to be happy."

Ford dropped his hand from Felix's mouth. "We're still friends?"

"We've always been friends," I assured him.

Even though I was still upset about him telling Andy to break up with me, I wasn't about to hold it against him forever. I could see how sorry he was when he looked at me. The guilt he carried.

Felix nudged his brother, who nodded at me. Just as Ford opened his mouth, Maverick let out a high-pitched squeal. We spun to watch as he rushed toward Jackson, who had appeared in the backyard. Seth and Noel were already hugging Wyatt, the smile on their faces saying everything. It was always happy to watch them reunite, even if they had only been separated for a day. Andy approached his father, and Jackson broke into a big smile as he hugged his son, keeping his husband tucked to his side. Then the twins joined them, and Lucas moved in, making it the perfect family Christmas card.

"They make a stunning family." Parker appeared next to me, their dark eyes sparkling with happiness. "You were right. Maverick isn't so bad."

I grinned. "Wait until he tells you to call him dad." Parker turned red, and I threw my head back laughing. "Or did he say that already?"

"Sort of. He said that he knew I had a great father in Mason, but if I wanted another, he would certainly help fill that position," Parker muttered, then broke into a smile. I didn't care what they said about me being pretty. They were absolutely stunning.

I glanced over to where the twins were gesturing wildly as they spoke with Jackson. Maverick caught me staring and waved me over. I grabbed Parker's hand. "Come on."

"What? Oh, no, this is a family thing." They tried to untangle our fingers, but I held strong. "Leo, no." Parker tried to pry my hand away.

I nodded. "All right, if you're sure, but just know that if you and Lucas are a thing? You're family now, too. And that's forever. Maverick will always include you."

"We're not... It's... Really?" Parker chewed on their bottom lip as confusion flirted across their face.

"Yeah, really. Maverick and Jackson are amazing people. Trust me when I tell you that they will welcome you into their home without question. They will feed you, clean your clothes, and treat you like one of their own. Even if things with Lucas don't work out."

Parker gave me another shy smile. "Okay."

"Okay?" My brows shot up, and when they gave me a quick nod, I hooked my arm through theirs, then we walked over to where the Olsons were standing.

Maverick welcome us both with a quick hug before he pulled back and touched Parker's face, pushing their hair behind their ear. "I'm glad you're here, kiddo."

"Thank you." Parker blushed. "Me, too."

Then Andy was pulling me against his chest, his arms tight around my body. I leaned my chin on his chest as he leaned down to kiss me.

"You doing okay, hon?" I asked, even though I knew he wasn't. I could see everything he wouldn't tell me in his eyes. The fear, the anxiety, and the worry he was trying so desperately to hide.

"Better now that you're here," Andy said quietly. The sudden urge to drag him to our house hit me hard, but I somehow refrained.

Instead, I rose onto my toes so I could press my mouth to his. We would be having a serious conversation once everyone was gone, and I could bide my time until then.