“I didn’t think you’d actually do it!” he argued.
“You boys have always been so close. I’m glad that hasn’t changed,” Sandra commented, smiling at us.
“That’s not going to change. They’ll always be there for each other,” Dad said with a nod. “Family is most important.”
Mylao-bahad lived with that principle all his life, from sacrificing his youth to raise me the best he could to putting me first, even when he had a second chance at love.
When they first told us about being together, they both emphasized that they would only get married if we were okay with it. And knowing mylao-ba, he would have kept his word if we hadn’t been okay with it.
I caught Clay glancing at me. I didn’t look away this time but held his gaze, smiling.
Family was most important, which was why I needed to stop being selfish once and for all.
Some people weren’t lucky enough to have an amazing family—take Clay’s biological father, for example—when you were lucky enough to win the lottery for one that would always be there for you, you had to do the same.
With guns blazing in the background, my resolve tostop dragging Clay into my whims any further was strengthened even more. Even if we never became lovers, he’d still always be in my life. And that would be enough.
It had to be.
We all chatted for another hour before calling it a night. Clay hugged his mom goodbye, and then she proceeded to fuss with his bangs, insisting he stop by tomorrow for a haircut.
I watched them interact for a second before turning to Dad. He smiled and patted me on the shoulder.
Over the years, he’d evolved from head pats to shoulder and back pats as his form of hugs, though I have managed to wrangle an actual hug out of him every once in a while. Today felt like one of those days where I needed a comforting hug from him, so I caught him off guard and stole one.
His shock quickly morphed into a hug that was all loose, with hard pats on the back. It was awkward and inexperienced, but it still gave me the comfort I needed.
“Are you okay, my son?”Lao-baasked in a hushed tone. I smiled at how I was able to see he wasn’t comfortable talking about feelings, but he was trying his best for me, just like I would do for him.
“Yeah, I will be,” I told him. And of all the lies I’d told myself over the years to keep my crush a secret, I needed this one to be true more than ever.
Chapter Five
DAN
“You boys heading out for a good time and didn’t even bother to invite me?”
Rosa glanced between Frederick and me. We’d both changed out of our work scrubs.
“You’re welcome to join the debauchery tonight if you can stand leaving your husband for a few hours,” I teased.
Rosa barked out a laugh. “Whatever you two have planned, I’d better get a full debrief tomorrow.”
She eyed my tight jeans and dress shirt that left nothing to the imagination. They emphasized the muscles I’d spent hours gaining in the gym with Clay.
“Damn, I didn’t know you polished up so good,” she commented, looking Frederick up and down.
He let out a tiny huff of air and crossed his beefy arms as if to hide himself from Rosa’s leering.
I couldn’t blame her.
Frederick normally dressed in casual clothes, but tonight, he went all out. His sapphire-blue shirt emphasized his pale blue eyes, and he left the top few buttons undone to reveal the splattering of tattoos across his chest.
Even with his usual stern expression, I doubted anyone would be scared off tonight. They’d surround him like bees attracted to their favorite flower.
“You boys are trouble,” Rosa said with a shake of her head. She packed up her things into her oversized purse and threw the bag over her shoulder.
Passing us, she smirked and said, “Be good now, you hear?”
