Page 34 of With You

“Why don’t you read it out to us,” Bill steps into the room and suggests, probably anticipating just how long this will take if we let these two run the show. And Deacon and I almost always let them run the show.

“Reese, honey, do you have a list too?” he adds.

Rowan pulls out another piece of paper and hands it to her. “I kept it so she doesn’t lose it.”

“Okay, let’s all find a comfortable place to sit and then you two read them to your dads”

Between the bed, the desk chair, and the floor, we spread ourselves around the room, and they read out their lists.

There are almost fifty promises between them and counting, And even though we have a whole house full of friends and family, there isn’t a single place in the world any of us would rather be.

Their list ranges from helping us around the house to making sure they never go to sleep angry at one another. Their lists areso well thought out, I’m in awe, but I also don’t expect anything less from either of them.

I can’t confidently say it’s us, because it isn’t true. It takes a village to raise children, even an occasionally dysfunctional one like ours, and everything they’ve learned—their love, their empathy, their compassion—has been taught to them by all of us. Including Elaine and Bill.

“Okay, it’s time for our last one,” Reese announces.

Rowan looks down at his list and then looks between Deacon and me.

“We promise to clean up after our dog,” he says.

“And take it for walks,” says Reese.

“And teach it how to sit and shake hands.”

“Wait,” Deacon says, shaking his head. “What are you two talking about? We don’t have a dog.” He looks up at me. “Did you buy us a dog?”

“No!” I exclaim. “I’m just as confused as you are.”

“Don’t look at us,” Elaine says, putting her hands up in surrender. “We spoil them, but a dog seems like a recipe for disaster.”

“We don’t have a dog,” Row says, a cautious smile on his face. “But can we get one?”

Reese stands in the middle of the room, batting her big, childlike doe eyes. “It can be our anniversary present.” She puts her hands together like she’s praying. “Please.”

After Deaconand I stopped laughing with the kids at just how wrapped around their fingers they both have us, Reese made a unanimous decision—it was cake time and then she was ready for her and Rowan’s sleep over at Elaine and Bill’s place.

“Julian and I just want to thank you all for coming here tonight and celebrating our wedding anniversary,” Deacon says to all our friends. “It feels like it was only yesterday I was walking down the aisle. Life seemed so full of promise, and when I look around this room…” His gaze lands on Row, Reese, and me, the three of us standing huddled beside him. “Life more than delivered.”

Clapping and cheering fill the yard as Deacon comes closer to us, kissing both Rowan and Reese on the head as they pass us by to enjoy dessert with their friends.

“I love you,” he says. Reaching for me, he intertwines our fingers and tugs me close, our bodies flush against one another. “And I love all these people.”

Arms wrapped around my neck, he kisses me softly. “But how about instead of promising to share your chocolate with me, you make me another one.”

“Yeah?” I say with a teasing tone. “Promise you what?”

Kissing me again, he subtly grazes his hips against mine, and I can feel his cock thickening against me. “Promise me that this’ll be over soon.”

“I promise,” I say against his lips.

“Promise me we will worry about cleaning up tomorrow.”

Laughing, because it’s a hard ask, I sneak a hand down to his ass and squeeze. “I promise.”

Deacon kisses me along my jaw until his mouth is below my ear, his voice low enough only I can hear him. “Promise you’ll replace this plug with your cock.”

“I promise.”

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