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Chapter 45

The sun was starting to set, casting a warm, golden light over the city as we pulled up to Leo’s apartment. Noah was in the front seat, humming quietly to the music playing softly in the background. Eden was, as usual, in my arms, half-asleep, her tiny fingers curling against my shirt. Kennedy was beside me, and though she wasn’t as talkative as usual, I could feel the excited energy buzzing between us. We were about to meet up with Leo and Austin, and the whole reason for tonight’s gathering was something huge—Leo and Austin were finally ready to tell everyone that they were officially a couple.

Noah and I had been living together for a while, but this was different. Leo was my brother, and Austin was my best friend. The idea of them being together, of them finally admitting what everyone already knew, felt surreal, yet completely natural. If anyone had asked me six months ago, I would’ve never seen it coming. But looking at them now, the way they’d grown closer, it was like the pieces of the puzzle had finally fallen into place.

We arrived at Leo’s place, the sound of laughter and chatter drifting through the open windows. My brothers were already there, and I could feel the nerves stirring inside me. I knew Leo and Austin wanted to make things official with the family, but it didn’t make it any easier. I wasn’t sure how everyone would react, even though I had a pretty good idea. My brothers, who were already overprotective of me, were likely going to give Austin a hard time. Not that I minded. It was their way of showing they cared.

“Ready for this?” Kennedy asked as we climbed out of the car, adjusting Eden in her baby carrier. She gave me a sideways glance, her smile soft but knowing.

“More than ready” I said, though the excitement bubbling in my chest told me otherwise. “This is gonna be fun.”

We made our way upstairs, Kennedy knocking first on Leo’s door. A few moments later, the door swung open, revealing Leo’s familiar face. He looked just like he always did casual but with that hint of excitement I could see in his eyes. But today, there was something else. There was something different, something warmer in the way he looked at me.

“Hey!” he greeted, stepping aside to let us in. “Glad you could make it.”

“Wouldn’t miss it for the world” I replied, shooting him a grin.

Inside, the apartment was bustling. Leo’s brothers Felis, Orion, Caelum, Nash, and Atlas were all present. As usual, they were sprawled out across the living room, joking around with each other and catching up. The moment we walked in, they all turned their heads toward us.

“Hey, Estella!” Felis greeted with his usual easy smile, ruffling my hair. “Did you bring the baby to steal the show?”

I laughed and shook my head. “No stealing today. She’s a little sleepy.”

Orion raised an eyebrow. “Austin’s probably gonna have to get used to her stealing his thunder.”

Kennedy and I both shared a look, an unspoken understanding passing between us. We knew the moment Leo and Austin made their announcement, it wasn’t going to be just about them. The teasing would start, and we’d all be dragged into it. But, honestly, I didn’t mind. If anyone could handle it, it was Leo and Austin. They were made for each other, even if they hadn’t realized it yet.

At that moment, Austin stepped out from the kitchen, wiping his hands on a towel. He smiled when he saw us, but there was a hint of nervousness in his expression, his fingers fidgeting with the edge of the towel as he glanced at Leo.

“Hey, everyone” Austin said, his voice slightly shaky but full of warmth. He had the same energy as usual, but now it was tinged with something more something that spoke of new beginnings, of vulnerability. “We’ve got food ready if anyone’s hungry.”

Noah gave him a thumbs-up. “Can’t say no to that.”

I stepped forward, giving Austin a quick hug. “It’s good to see you” I said, before pulling back to look at him properly. “I think tonight’s going to be a pretty special night.”

He nodded, but his eyes shifted toward Leo. I could see the flicker of nervousness in his gaze, and I understood why. Coming out as a couple, especially with the entire family in the room, was never easy. But what they were doing was brave. It wasn’t just about admitting their feelings for each other; it was about letting us all in, about sharing their lives with the people they loved.

I exchanged a glance with Kennedy, who seemed to be doing her best to suppress a smile. She was a little more reserved than I was, but I could tell she was feeling the same way I was this sense of warmth and joy for the two of them. They were finally making it official, and that meant a lot.

Just as I was about to say something, Leo clapped his hands together, drawing everyone’s attention.

“Alright, we’ve got everyone here” Leo said, his voice carrying over the chatter. “And, um, we have something to tell you all.”

His brothers raised their eyebrows, some of them putting down their beers, others shifting in their seats.

“You all know Austin” Leo continued, his hand resting on Austin’s shoulder, “but I guess it’s time to admit that we’ve been more than just friends for a while now.”

The room fell silent for a moment. I could see Austin’s cheeks turning pink, but Leo kept his hand firmly on his shoulder, a silent promise of support.

“You two are officially together?” Nash asked, his grin wide.

Leo nodded. “Yeah. We are.”

The room erupted in a mix of cheers, laughter, and playful teasing. Felis and Orion were the first to speak up, raising their glasses in mock solemnity.

“Well, finally” Felis said, raising his glass. “You two make a great couple. Took you long enough to admit it.”

“Yeah, seriously” Orion added, his grin mischievous. “We all saw it coming. Honestly, Leo, we were starting to think you were just keeping Austin around for his coffee-making skills.”

Austin laughed, but there was still that nervous edge to it. He looked at Leo, who was beaming at him, and I could see the relief flood through him. For all the teasing, his brothers were clearly supportive, and I knew this was exactly what Leo had wanted.

“It’s good to see you guys so happy” Nash added, his voice softer now. “We all want what’s best for you.”

I smiled at that, my heart swelling with pride for my brothers. The teasing was all in good fun, but the underlying support was unmistakable. And in that moment, I realized just how much I loved my family. Despite their tough exteriors, they always had each other’s backs.

Leo glanced at Austin and then back at the room, his smile wide and full of joy. “Thanks, everyone. We’re just really happy to finally be open about this. We’ve been keeping it a secret for long enough.”

The laughter and teasing continued, but beneath all of it was a deep sense of joy. And I couldn’t help but feel incredibly proud of both Leo and Austin. This was the beginning of something beautiful, and I was grateful to be there to witness it.

As the evening wore on, the conversation shifted to food, music, and silly stories from the past. I looked over at Leo and Austin, who were now sitting close together on the couch, laughing about something Nash had said. They were so natural, so right for each other, and I couldn’t wait to see where their journey would take them.