Page 126 of Trouble

“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.

“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.

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