Total pages in book: 79
Estimated words: 74298 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 371(@200wpm)___ 297(@250wpm)___ 248(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 74298 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 371(@200wpm)___ 297(@250wpm)___ 248(@300wpm)
In another few minutes, we were all sitting around the dining table, cold beers in hand, ready to feast.
“We may still be surrounded by boxes,” Tristan said, holding up his pint glass, “and we sure as hell still have a ton of work ahead of us. But I want to say cheers to us. Cheers to being in our new home, with a family I love more than I can say. And cheers to my best friend Blue, who I hope will be part of the family for as long as he’ll tolerate us.”
I leaned over to kiss him. “Cheers to that.”
We all clinked our glasses together and took big swigs before digging in. Dinner was all that I’d wanted and more, especially after a long day’s work. As usual, our conversation turned to construction and work before long, and it really did start to feel like home. Tristan’s brothers, and his whole family, really, spoke my language.
And being with them, even here in a brand-new town, felt like home. The first whole, complete feeling of home I’d had since my dad had still been around.
Months ago, I would have called someone crazy if they’d said my love for Tristan could have deepened. It was already one of the deepest, truest loves I’d ever felt for another human, even though until recently, he’d just been my best friend.
But miraculously, astonishingly, my love for Tristan had deepened in a way I never knew would be possible. I could imagine a future with him, now. I couldn’t wait to see what adventures we would have here in a new place.
“Want to go check out the view from the balcony?” Tristan asked me hours later, after we’d already stuffed ourselves with food and drinks and we’d hugged Shawn and Nathan goodbye.
“Hell yes, I do,” I said.
We made our way to the small second story of the house and into the master bedroom—our bedroom—and opened the double doors that led out to a small, lovely balcony that overlooked the forest.
“There’s just something about the night sky here,” I said, looking up. The stars shined a little brighter here, it seemed. There was just a little chill in the air, and the pine trees gently rustled in the breeze. Maybe it was the elevation, or maybe it was all in my head, but things looked a little more beautiful, here in Jade River.
“This is one of my favorite spots in the house,” Tris said, holding my hand as both of us leaned on the railing, looking up at the sky. “Blue…”
“What’s up, baby?” I said, pulling him a little closer, wanting his warmth next to me.
“I wasn’t just saying it when I talked about wanting you in the family. Wanting you to be my family,” he said. “Part of me feels like you already are.”
“You a little jealous of Sam?” I teased. “Shacking up with his stepbrother and all?”
Tristan let out a beautiful laugh. “That’s definitely not how I meant it, although I’m certainly happy Sam and Fox found love,” he said. He got a little serious again, looking me in the eyes. “No. I meant more like… someday, I don’t know when, it doesn’t have to be anytime soon, I love the idea of being more than just your boyfriend.” He cleared his throat. “If you know what I mean.”
It was the first time I’d seen Tristan get awkward and nervous in a long while, and it was frankly adorable.
“Tristan,” I told him. “If you’re telling me that you’d be interested in marrying me, you better believe that I’d drop everything and marry you tomorrow if you wanted it. I’d have married you yesterday. Hell, I’d probably have done it ten years ago, although I’d have been very confused. But I’d have done it. And fuck yes, I want to be your husband, someday. Desperately, actually.”
He bit his bottom lip as a huge smile came over his face. “Well, good, then,” he said. “Then someday, you might see me drop to my knee in front of you for a reason other than a blow job.”
“What if I beat you to it?”
“You had better not,” he said. “I have no clue when I’d propose, but I want to be the one to do it.”
I laughed. “You have zero preferences on topping or bottoming, being big or little spoon, what chores we do, or anything like that, but you definitely want to be the one who proposes?”
“Yes,” he said. “Can’t explain it. I just want to be able to give you that moment, you know?”
My heart squeezed in my chest. “Sure thing, Tris.”
He leaned in to kiss me, roughly, like he was tired of holding back. He kissed me deeply, his tongue sliding against mine, just like he had the first few times we kissed, back when it felt like we were getting away with something. I felt my cock perk up under my pants, and I knew I was going to have to pull him into bed soon.