Nick epilogue
Christmas Day...
"Look, Daddy," Xavier cries out in his cute froggy voice, waving a box of Legos at me from the floor. "Santa knew I wanted this!"
I rub the sleep out of my eyes and yawn. "Santa knows everything."
Xavier giggles and then sets to opening another present. Malachi is leaned up against me. He's a sleepyhead like me. Xavier and Dane are the morning people in our house.
"You going to open your presents?" I ask my oldest son.
"I want to sit with you, Dad, and watch Xavier open his," he says quietly.
I give him a little squeeze and kiss the top of his head. "Okay, bub."
With one son in my arms and the other grinning from ear to ear on the floor, I can't help but realize life has a plan. Even the sad kids with shitty parents sometimes get their happy endings. These boys did. As did Joseph. Hell, even me. Jenna and Cora's was a little harder to come by, but even those angels found love in an unexpected place. But that's a story for another day...
Dane exits the kitchen with two mugs of coffee. He earns a smile for being my savior this morning, and this morning, he's looking extra fine in full-on dad mode. He's wearing flannel pajama bottoms and his favorite grandpa slippers. It's his T-shirt the boys gave him last night that makes me happy. The same one I'm wearing: Super Dad.
He hands me a mug and then sits down on the floor beside Xavier. They talk about his presents and how we'll go see Joseph later today. Both boys think it's hilarious that they're uncles to their friend. Joseph refuses to call them Uncle Malachi and Uncle Xavier, and instead insists they call him Uncle Joseph.
Eventually, Malachi perks up and joins his brother on the floor. Dane stands and stretches before settling on the couch beside me. He takes my hand and squeezes it.
Had I known the night I stared at the hot older man from across the bar would lead to this, I'd have kissed him right then and proposed marriage. Not sure he'd have accepted, though. I had to coax him into my bed. Then, he never wanted to leave.
As if cued into my thoughts, he turns and flashes me a devilish grin. "What are you smirking about?"
I shrug. "Just thinking about the night we met."
"I'm glad you found me," he says, his gray eyes twinkling.
"Took some convincing, though."
"I was worth it," he jokes.
He has no idea.
Leaning forward, I rest my forehead against his. "You're still worth it."
He plants a kiss on my cheek and then his mouth finds my ear. "Are you flirting with me, Mr. Alexander?"
"Perhaps."
We share a long stare filled with heat and emotion and love.
Until we're attacked by two little rugrats. Our boys are as affectionate as their fathers. They fell right into this family the same way Dane and I fell into love. Quickly. Perfectly. As though it was always meant to be.
The boys babble about their stockings and cookies and snow. They talk about the Star Wars movies and Legos and XBOX. There are giggles and snorts and jokes. Smiles and hugs.
And love.
A love that just keeps on growing.
I may only have two arms...but they're big, and all three of my boys fit inside. Who knows...maybe one day, there will be room for a few more.
Dane winks at me.
He hopes so.
I hope so too.
The End
If you loved Dane,
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