Chapter 62 Tytus
Chapter sixty-two
Tytus
Pulse hammering, I stop at the base of the stairs, scratching at the back of my neck.
Noah wanders over, pulling his sweatpants higher on his hips and tightening the drawstring. “You okay?”
When I don’t answer right away, he steps up in front of me, frowning.
“Ty?”
That single syllable breaks through the anxiety engulfing me, making me smile.
No one except Atty and Sawyer ever calls me Ty.
Until now.
“What if we slept upstairs tonight?” I rush out before I lose my nerve. “All of us, in the big bed?”
Brows lifted, he considers me. Then, with a thoughtful nod, he scratches at his chin. “I’m not sure Merce is up for climbing the stairs—”
“What am I not up for?” Mercer steps into the foyer with Sawyer tucked under his good arm.
“Forget it,” I grumble. “I had an idea, but it can wait. I only want to do it if we can all be together.”
All three of them fall into stunned silence, focus fixed on me.
My chest constricts. I—I can’t believe I just admitted that out loud.
Fuck that. I can believe it. A fundamental shift has occurred over the last few days.
We’re doing this. I can trust this.
Hell, I fucking want this—what we have now and all possibilities of what we’ll share in the years to come. I want my life to be deeply and irrevocably intertwined with the three people standing in this room. I want to be part of this family, now and forever.
“Tytus suggested we all sleep upstairs in my room,” Noah says when I’m too caught up in my thoughts to answer. “I didn’t know if you could handle the stairs.”
Mercer’s brows jump toward his hairline. “Sleeping in your room is okay with you?”
Noah nods.
Expression warming, Mercer catches my attention. “I can make it up the stairs, no problem. I want all of us to be together, too. I’ll follow your lead.”
I grasp Sawyer’s hand and pull her closer, kissing the tops of her knuckles.
“Up we go,” I murmur, keeping one hand on the small of her back as she takes the first step.
Behind us, Noah sets the alarms, then he urges Mercer to go ahead of him so he can safely follow him up.
Once we reach the landing, I pause.
Noah’s room has been off limits, and I want to respect that. Respect him. Confirm that he’s really okay with taking this step.
Without slowing, Noah skirts past us and ushers us into the room.
The space is decorated in rich autumn tones. It’s sparse, with only a dresser, a vanity, two side tables, and a massive bed, but it’s warm and inviting.
Shiloh perks up and tilts her head, tail wagging, as we file in.
“Does Shiloh always sleep up here?” Sawyer asks.
Noah shrugs. “She’s a snuggler. She loves to sleep in the bed.”
“Shiloh and I are claiming the middle.” Sawyer sashays over to the bed, yanks back the covers and crawls in.
“Merce, you take the left side so you can protect your shoulder,” I suggest.
He nods silently, and because I can’t let an opportunity like this pass, I call his name again.
When he turns, I say, “Good boy.”
Noah snorts.
Mercer glares. “There’ll be none of that tonight, Tremblay. Don’t start something you don’t intend to finish.”
Smirking, I circle the bed and pull back the covers on the other side. “Ah, come on, prof. You know I always finish.”
Sawyer, who’s now spread out like a starfish on the bed, giggles.
Her giddiness inspires a warm, floaty feeling in the hollow of my chest.
“Enough, you two. It’s been a long day,” Noah grouses. “We all need a good night’s sleep.”
Sawyer’s eyes flash with glee. “Okay, Daddy.”
With a low growl, he crawls up the bed and hovers over Sawyer, covering her in kisses until she’s squealing and kicking her legs.
Only when Shiloh barks does he pull back, smiling. “I love you, honey.”
He loves her. They both do.
I’ve loved her for years. And now I really get to love her out loud, forever.
It takes a little time to figure out who’s limbs go where and what’s best for Mercer’s arm and Noah’s back. For tonight, I resist making any jibes about his age. Low back jokes will keep.
Sawyer falls asleep first, softly snoring in the crook of my arm, her hair fanned out on the pillows at our head.
“Okay?” Mercer asks Noah.
“More than okay,” he responds.
I close my eyes, a calm, quiet peace settling over me.
I’m safe and I’m home.
Finally.