Chapter 21

"Igot it." I snapped worriedly as I pushed my crutches out of the way so I could take off my seatbelt.

"I'm just trying to help." Justin chuckled easily, which instantly made me feel like an asshole.

"You help enough, honey. I have to learn to manage things. Fucking crutches!" I struggled with the seat belt with one hand and holding the crutches up with the other.

"Can I please help you?" He sighed and nodded, and I quickly reached around and unbuckled his seatbelt. "Listen to us bickering like an old married couple.

"Don't give me ideas. I already know what my colors are." I blushed. He made me a red mess.

"Orange and Black?"

"Asshole. No."

"It's lilac and a soft green." He whispered into my ear, and I shuddered.

"How did you know that?" I opened the car door and managed to get the crutches outside.

"It's the colors you chose for the vases in your living room and I think that they're perfect." He got out and walked around the car.

"Are you? You're not saying that… we… You're not…" I grunted as I slowly stood up and managed to get the crutches under my arm.

"When I propose, you will know." He kissed me on the cheek, and I shooed him away.

"When?" I started making my way to the front door. I was better, but I was still a hellion on these things. I teetered. I really needed to work on my upper body strength. My left crutch came out from under my arm. "Fuck."

"Are you coming?" He turned and grinned.

"I just can't get it to stay under my arm… There. Now I'm actually coming."

"They've been asking when I was going to make you get out of the house."

"I hate these crutches."

"But they're so fashionable."

"Get out of my way, or I'll stick this crutch up your ass."

"The things you promise." He opened the door, and I made my way through.

"I can't believe I'm going to the gay bar on crutches. People are gonna stare."

He kissed me on the cheek. "You already caught me, so I don't think it matters. Let them look. I'll only be looking at you." His hand rested on my lower back, giving me comfort and support as I teetered and tottered my way into the bar.

Crystal whooped and waved at us, and I hobbled over. I had gotten much better using the crutches, but the stairs were still tricky. Of course, my new friends were all on the upper level, which had two stairs.

"Can I help you, sir?" Zane slid out of the booth and came to one side. Justin wrapped his arm around me, and with their help, I hopped up the stairs. "Shall I get you the usual? Justin? Beer?"

"Thanks, Zane – that would be great." Justin helped me over to a chair at the head of the table, and I carefully lowered myself into it. Justin pecked me on the cheek and sat down next to me.

"How're my two favorite love birds?" Crystal cooed.

"Nesting." Justin grinned. "I think my mom is glad to have her craft room back. I went over there the other day, and my bed was scooted up against the wall."

"I'm officially adopted. John comes over and has drinks with us every so often, and Julie, Justin's mom, keeps bringing us food," I said happily. "That woman can cook. It's a shame Justin didn't get any of those genes."

"I think you like the genes I did receive," he chuckled. Mom believes that David walks on water. She's so happy that I found someone stable and kind. If I tried to move back home now, she'd get mad at me. Dad found out that David knows how to play Cribbage, so he's been coming over every Saturday afternoon for a game. I see them more now than I did when I lived there."

"How long until the boot comes off?" Hunter asked.

"Three more weeks. I'm just now learning to actually walk on those stupid crutches." I groaned. "Where's Kris?"

"Working. Always working these days." Hunter grinned. "We both have our busy seasons and enjoy what we do. You'll see. It will be like that for you two, too when season begins."

I had grown to like this group quite a bit. I was hoping that Claybourne would be here because we had so much in common—well, our age, anyway. But every single one of them was loving and opened their arms to me without blinking an eye. Being laid up had somehow brought me closer to them, and they visited quite a bit. Justin even had everyone over for dinner—takeout, of course. Liza had loved the attention.

"Drinks for the men of the hour!" Zane slid our cocktails in front of us and sat down on the other side of me. "You didn't kill anyone on your way in with those crutches. I'm so proud."

Crystal had quickly taken to Zane, and he had become one of her gossip buddies. I was glad that our friend group had merged so easily.

"When do you start your semester from hell?" Crystal placed both of her hands on the table as if she were holding court. "We are all prepared to circle the wagons if necessary."

"Next week," Justin groaned.

"Are you ready?"

"David, let me move some things around in the guest room. I have my desk and computer all set up there. So, I have a space to concentrate." I had insisted upon this. I wanted him to succeed without any problems. He was already taking a class load that was going to be extremely difficult. He accepted my offer without hesitation. We had gotten much better about listening to each other.

"I usually work on the dining room table. I wanted him to be free from any distractions."

"He means Liza." Justin laughed loudly. "She has adopted me as her new daddy and demands to sit in my lap most of the time."

"Yes – she's become quite a monster. But now he can shut the door. If David is around these days, she just curls up in his lap and takes a nap. She's a whore and demands constant petting from him. Of course, he obliges and urges her on."

"She's a sweet little belly-rubbin" monster," Justin chuckled, reached over, and took my hand. "Just like her daddy."

"Oh, I think we know who the daddy is, don't we?" I winked.

"And don't you ever forget it." He reached over and placed his lips against mine. It still made me quiver.

"Young love," Crystal giggled as her phone buzzed.

"I think that everything has worked out exactly as it was supposed to." Danny raised his glass, and we all followed suit. "To us and new family."

"To us!"

Justin never took his eyes off me.

Family – I had finally found mine.