Page 26 of Bae

“No,” she said, her voice softening as if she’d read my thoughts.

There was a door at the back of the garage that led behind the house, past the huge deck, the massive play structure we’d had built for Nova, and the stone fire pit with benches.

The dogs barked and ran ahead with gusto, and the autumn breeze picked up strands of Rim’s hair and fluttered it around her shoulders.

I walked a few paces in front of her and crouched down, offering her my back. “All aboard.”

She laughed and flung herself onto my back. I straightened, hooking my arms beneath her knees, and set off across the property.

The sun was high in the sky, but the air was cool. It smelled crisp, like damp leaves and acorns.

“It’ll be a good night for a bonfire,” I told her.

“We haven’t had one of those in a while.”

“All the more reason to have one,” I replied.

Her chin settled on my shoulder right next to my head. We walked (well, I walked; she rode) in silence a while, the crunching of leaves underfoot and the rowdy dogs barking in the distance the only sounds.

I could feel her heart beating steadily against my back. The rhythm calmed me in ways nothing else could. Not even football and bashing heads on the field.

Trent and Drew had their own house on the property. It wasn’t as huge as the main house, but it was still big, with four bedrooms, and had the same look as our house. Beside it was a huge garage, and when we got close enough, I saw the doors were open. Seconds later, I saw them moving around the Fastback inside.

“Let’s go tell them about the bonfire tonight,” Rim said.

We set off in that direction.

I ducked under a tree, and Rimmel reached out and plucked a yellow leaf off a nearby branch. “I love fall,” she said soft, holding the leaf out to study it.

I grabbed her hand and pulled it close to kiss it before tucking my hand back beneath her knee.

Trent saw us coming across the grass and stepped out of the garage and waved. Then he wiped his greasy hand down the side of his jeans, leaving a black trail.

Rimmel snorted. “That’s never gonna wash out.”

“You guys made it back,” Trent called.

Drew heard him and came out from around the Fastback to stand beside him. Trent shifted automatically, angling just slightly closer to him. They didn’t touch, but just the way they inclined their bodies when close said a lot.

They were happy, something that was fucking good to see. After everything that went down last spring and the way those two fought against their feelings, I honestly started to wonder if they’d ever surrender.

But they did.

Them becoming official locked this family into place.

Someone asked me once in an interview what I thought about having two gay men in my family. I told them I didn’t even think about it. It was simply the truth. I didn’t care my brothers were gay. I only cared they were happy.

Besides, bitches be tripping, and I didn’t exactly relish the thought of those two bringing home two bitches I’d have to watch circle around my girl.

And yeah, bitches were exactly what they’d have brought home, because Trent and Drew were meant to be together, just as much as me and Rim. Anyone else would have been completely wrong and a choice made out of denial.

Trent was happier than I’d ever seen him in the past five years since we met. He wasn’t as guarded anymore, at least not around us. It was like he finally stepped up and accepted the place he’d always had in this family.

He and Rim had grown closer, something I was grateful for. B would probably always be her number one big bro, but B was gone a lot with me. At least this way I knew she had someone at home she could go to if shit hit the fan and I wasn’t around.

The changes in Trent were all thanks to Drew, who was the reigning champ of the NRR. We’d all been in the stands for the championship race. What a rush it had been to see him cross the finish line first.

It was right up there with the day B and I won our first Super Bowl.

---