“What is?” I ask, tilting my head to the side.
He waves the clothes in his arms around like that should be answer enough. “This.”
I step up beside him, giving his shoulder a little nudge. “Is it weird, or is it exciting?”
There’s a beat, and then he’s blowing a breath. “Both.” I glance down at him to see the start of a small grin on his lips. “Let’s go see how they fit?”
“Lead the way.” I gesture toward the changing rooms.
As he disappears into the changing room, his cheeks are bright red. It’s adorable. For a long while, there’s nothing, and then finally, “I, um, I think I like this.”
“Well, let’s see it.”
There’s a pause and for a second, I don’t think he’s going to come out, but finally, he does.
He steps out, gripping the bottom of the sweater tightly, curled in a little on himself. The skirt is really flattering on his slim figure, and he looks more at home in his own body than I’ve ever seen him. It’s the eyes that show it, not his body language. “You look amazing.”
His eyes dart to mine. “You think so?” he asks quietly, his cheeks flushing again.
“I really do. It’s adorable. Are you going to get it?”
His hands fall away from the sweater, and he turns to the mirror beside him, swaying back and forth a little, the skirt flaring around his thighs with the movement. He smiles at himself. A brighter smile than I’ve ever seen on his face. “I think I have to, right?” he asks, turning to me, almost bowling me over with how happy he looks.
“I think it would be a crime not to.” Especially with how confident he looks.
He nods once, then steps back into the dressing room, emerging a few minutes later wearing his old clothes again. “Back to it?” he asks.
“Back to it.”
The rest of the shopping trip goes off without a hitch. By the time we’re walking out of the mall with both of our arms loaded down, he’s smiling and giggling, a bubbliness to him that I hope we get to see more of. I’m not sure what his exact style is yet, and I don’t think he does either. He got everything from skirts and crop tops to jeans and t-shirts. It was a little all over the place, but I know he’ll be safe with us. And in time, he’ll be able to fully embrace himself. No matter what that looks like.
When we toss everything into the trunk and head back to Ro and Beck’s house, he turns to me with a smile. “Thank you for today. I had a lot of fun.”
I can’t help but grin at him. “I had a lot of fun too. We definitely need to go again soon.”
“Next time, we’ll use Beck’s card?”
He poses it like a question, but I know damn well I’m not doing that. “Let me tell you about Wren’s fourth birthday and how insanely overboard Beck went on gifts for her. And then the following Christmas. And then Warren’s first birthday. And basically every special occasion or random Tuesday just because. The man has a problem. Ihave the opportunity to spoil his kid like he’s done mine. You think I’m gonna pass up that opportunity?” I ask, raising an eyebrow at him. “Not a chance in hell.”
Chapter 12
Julian
“Wren, for the love of God, if you don’t leave your brother alone, I’m taking your iPad and you won’t get it back until next year.”
Dramatic? Probably. But these two are pushing every one of my buttons today. Gentle parenting is about to throw itself out the window, along with my sanity.
She lets out an annoyed huff. Join the damn crowd, kid. But finally, fuckingfinally, she untangles her hand from his hair, and the two of them jump up, taking off toward their bedrooms together. It’s all fun and games until one of them gets tired of being messed with, and then they’re driving each other crazy and me right along with them.
Sometimes I laugh at myself when I remember telling Holden I wanted ten kids. Not super smart of me. Butman, when they’re sweet and cuddly orsleeping,I think maybe Icouldhave eight more. But then Wren pulls Warren’s hair. Or Warren hides her iPad and I think no fucking way in hell.
I love them more than life, of course, and I know before long, they’ll do something unbearably sweet, and my heart will feel too big for my chest. It’s possible I’ll even cry about it, and then Holden will laugh at me. But for now? For now, I think I need to be a little grumpy about it.
The sound of a car door shutting outside has my heart racing. I love that Holden took Eli out shopping today. That kid needs someone in his life who will support him and encourage him to be himself. But I’m also glad he’s home. I’ve missed him. I have to resist the urge to roll my eyes at myself. He’s been gone for eight hours and I miss him. To be fair, though, we did just get engaged. I’m still riding the high of that, honestly.
When he walks in the front door, his green eyes are sparkling and, like always, he comes rushing straight to me. He doesn’t even say hello. Not that I need him to. No, he just drops down in my lap and kisses me—his fingers tangling in my hair instantly, his body molding to mine. Fuck, I’ll never get tired of this.
I can feel the stress of the day melt away under his touch. Like always. There’s just something about him that easesall the worries, the stress, the exhaustion. Never thought a tiny little twink of chaos would be my salvation, my home, my rock, and my safe space, but hey, here we are.
