Page 114 of Not Catching Love

“No. It took forever.”

“It was so worth it.” He squeezes me tighter, chin rested on my shoulder. “Can I tell you a secret?”

“Of course.”

“Seven took Dad out to dinner last night.”

I try not to give myself away. “Oh, really?”

“Without me. Alone. Just those two.”

“Right.”

“I snooped and found a ring,” he says quickly.

“Molly!”

“I couldn’tnotlook. And technically, Will found it first, not me, so blame him.”

“Hopefully, he proposes soon, then,” I say, knowing full well he’s planning to do it tonight too. We went shopping together for the rings and everything. “You’re shit at keeping secrets from him.”

“I’ll keep this one.”

We stand there on the front porch, watching as Kismetcreeps along the banister. Molly holds out his hand and makes thepst pst pstnoise, but the dumb cat turns around and faces his butt at us.

“I’ll win him over one day,” Molly says.

“At least you don’t have to share Seven with the monster. He keeps trying to steal my side of the bed.”

“He really loves Derek.”

Everyone really loves Derek. He and Gabe have NHL season tickets to watch Gabe’s boyfriend play. Rush lost his damn mind when he saw Derek’s formicarium, and they text nonstop about antish …things. Rush also bought a beekeeping suit thingie to help Derek when he gets his hives. Christian, Émile, and Elle take him out for dinner once a month, and Madden and Penn have invaded Derek’s football games.

All these people I have to share him with.

And I couldn’t be happier because he shares his people with me. Manny and his daughter, Delilah, invite me to their tea parties, his mom calls me for a chat every other week, and Constantine and I go mini golfing.

I still can’t get over how much my life has changed, but through everything, my brothers are still here.

There are even days where I really believe they always will be.

“Hey,” comes Seven’s deep voice. I glance over at where he’s hanging out of his front door. “Both of you get in here a second.”

Molly pulls away, and we exchange a quick look before following. Our homes are still sparse since we only moved in a few days ago, but scattered between the boxes and mismatched furniture are my family.

Madden and Gabe are both sitting on the floor. Aggy has taken the only armchair. Christian is standing by the kitchen like he’s too scared to touch anything, and Rush is wandering around, taking it all in.

“What’s all this?” Molly asks as Seven slings his arms around him.

“Dunno. Ask Aggy.”

I glance over at her self-satisfied smile.

“So, you’ve all officially gone and left me, huh?”

“Isaidwe’d build you a house too,” I remind her before she can set the guilt trip in.

Aggy waves me off. “I have enough houses, thanks.”

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