Chapter 22
Bennett
The house is full of Christmas cheer. My whole family is here. Everyone is laughing, talking, and having a great time.
I want to, I’m trying to, but I can’t stop worrying about Easton.
The last time I talked to him was this morning. I tried to get him to come for supper tonight, but he refused.
It’s a Christmas Eve tradition that we have all the family over, and Christmas day is just me, my siblings, and our parents. And Bishop, of course.
It gives us a chance to enjoy the day just us, playing games, baking, and watching movies.
I tried to get him to agree to come to that, and he said he’d think about it.
It’s because he thinks my family will hate him. I don’t blame him, I know my dads haven't been the most welcoming, but my parents don’t hate him.
They know we’ve reconciled our past and put it behind us, but they think we’re just friends. I want to tell them we’re more, but I promised Easton I wouldn’t tell anyone.
“Benny, you okay?” Lilly gets my attention.
“Huh?” I look over at her. We’re all in the living room, sitting and chatting, opening the gifts our grandparents brought.
“You look like you're about to chew off your thumb.” She nods towards the thumb I wasn’t aware I was nervously gnawing on.
“Oh.” I put my hand down. “I’m fine.”
Grabbing my phone, I check it again, but nothing. No texts, no calls.
“Is everything okay?” she asks, looking down at my phone.
“Honestly, I don’t know.” I sigh.
Easton told me he was heading to the mall, but apart from that, he hasn't said anything else to me.
I know he was worried about getting me something for Christmas. I told him he didn’t have to, but he wouldn’t listen.
Sometimes his stubbornness makes me want to shake him.
He doesn’t need to go out of his way with me. I’m happy with whatever he’s able to give me, even if it’s just him. Hell, all I need is him.
A few minutes later, there's a knock at the door. “I’ll get it,” Mom says, getting up from her spot on the couch.
I watch as she heads toward the door, wondering who it could be. There’s a small gasp that comes from her, and it has me sitting up.
I’m out of my seat and rushing to the door in seconds.
My heart fucking shatters when I see Easton standing there, soaking wet from the rain. But that's not what has me ready to tear the world apart.
It’s the broken and sad look in his eyes, the bloody split lip, and the bruised eye forming.
“Who did this?” I rasp, stepping forward, not meaning to, but pushing my mom out of the way. “Who fucking did this?” I cup his face, hating how he winces.
“I’m sorry. I didn’t know where else to go.” His voice is so low, so child-like.
“Come in,” Mom says.
“I don’t want to impose.”
“Nonsense.” Mom grabs his hand, pulling him inside. “You are always welcome here.”
I’m vibrating with anger. I want to lose my fucking shit, but I keep it together.
“Come with me.” I grab his hand and tug him toward the back of the house. He comes willingly. We don’t stop until we’re out of the house and into the poolhouse.
As soon as the door is closed, I spin around, nostrils flaring, anger clogging my chest. “It was him, wasn’t it?”
Easton nods his head, eyes cast down.
“Don’t.” I grip his chin. “Don’t look ashamed. You did nothing wrong.”
“I told him everything,” he rasps. “I stupidly thought my mom’s invitation for supper would be different this time. But he found out about me hanging out with you, and I told him everything. As you can see, he didn’t like what I had to say.”
“I’m going to fucking kill him.” I growl. “Easton, we need to call the cops.”
“It’s over, Bennett.” He shakes his head. “I need it to be over. He knows. And he’s out of my life for good. I just, fuck. I just can’t.”
“Shh.” I pull him into my arms. He buries his face into my neck, and his body starts to shake.
I squeeze my eyes shut, trying not to cry, trying to be strong for him. He holds me tight, like he’s afraid to let go.
“Everything is okay. I’ve got you. I’ll always have you.” Hearing him cry is one of the most heartbreaking things I’ve ever heard. It kills something inside me.
When he’s done, I guide him to the bathroom.
Without a word, I strip him out of his cold, wet clothes and into a hot shower. As he warms, I work on cleaning up his face.
He won’t look me in the eye, and I fucking hate it. I understand, but I hate it.
Once we’re in dry clothes, I bring him to my bed. Crawling under the covers, I cuddle into his side.
“It could have been worse,” he says. “He only hit my face a few times. This time, I’m bigger, stronger. It took a second, but this time I fought back.” He laughs. “You should have seen his face, Bennett. The shock of someone finally giving him what he deserves.”
“I’m proud of you,” I say, my fingers trailing over the hair on his lower belly. “I just fucking hate that you had to go through that.”
“I used to hate the fact that you were born into such a perfect family and I wasn't. But it was also a blessing. You, and this house, were my safe place. Losing it when we moved away, when we stopped being friends, it hurt more than my dad’s fists.”
“Fuck, baby.” I look up at him, making sure he can see my eyes. “This will always be your home, Easton. My parents will always be there for you. I will, too. You’re not alone. You never were.”
“I know,” he rasps, giving me a sad smile. “I just hate that I ruined it.”
“Enough.” I get up on my elbow and look down at him.
“We can’t change the past, but we can change the future.
You have me. I’m not going anywhere. I’m not letting you go.
I love you so fucking much, Easton. You’re mine, you hear me.
Mine. And I take care of what's mine. My family is your family. That's just how it is.”
He closes his eyes, taking a shaky breath. “Fuck.” His chest shakes as he tries so hard not to cry again.
“I’m so fucking proud of you, Easton,” I rasp.
“For standing up to him. For accepting who you are. For allowing me in, letting me love you. I want you to see your worth. That you deserve the world. You deserve love and happiness. Your parents? They’re just sad, broken people.
And they tried to make you the same, but you’re so fucking strong.
You got out. You took control of your life. And that’s so fucking amazing.”
“I couldn’t have done it without you. Without Taylor.”
“And we’re going to be there for you through everything.”
“I’m scared, Bennett. I’m scared of the future. Of losing you.”
“You’re never going to lose me. The future is going to be fucking bright. I’m going wherever you are.”
“What about hockey?” he asks, brows furrowing.
“I never wanted to go pro. I’ll join a farm team in whatever state you sign to.”
“Really?”
“Of course. This is your dream. And I’m gonna be right there next to you, watching you thrive, grow, and be so fucking happy.”
“I love you,” he rasps.
“I fucking love you.”
There’s a knock at my door the next morning. Careful not to wake Easton, I creep over to answer it.
It’s my mom. She smiles up at me, a sad smile mixed with worry.
“How is he?”
“The best he can be. But I got him. He’s gonna be okay.”
She smiles wider. “I know you do.”
“He’s my boyfriend,” I tell her, not able to keep it in any longer. “I know we have a complicated past, but–”
She holds up her hand. “Easton is part of this family. That never changed. We will welcome him with open arms. You won’t get a fight from us.”
My chest clenches, and I pull her into my arms. “Could you tell everyone else? And ask them not to make it a big deal?”
“Of course.”
“I love you.” I kiss the top of her head.
“I love you, too. Both of you. Now, come eat. It’s Christmas. And I want to spend it with my boys. All of them.”
Pulling back, I smile, feeling a lot better, like a weight is lifted off my shoulders.
“We’ll be there in a bit.”
She nods, leaving me. I close the door and go back to Easton, finding him awake, lying there with his eyes cracked open.
“Everything okay?” he asks, voice still thick with sleep.
I smile at how cute he looks right now. “Everything is great. Mom came to tell us breakfast is ready.”
His eyes widen slightly. “She’s not mad at me?”
“What? Why would she be?”
“I ruined your family time.”
“One, you are family, so that’s not possible. And two, my mom loves you. So, how about we get dressed and go have some of my mom’s amazing French toast?”
His eyes light up. I knew that would win him over.
We get dressed, and I bring a very nervous Easton into the house.
Everyone is in the kitchen, still dressed in PJ’s.
“Merry Christmas!” Chase cheers, a big grin stretching across his face.
“Hope you like French toast,” Mom says, smiling over at us. “We have lots.”
I love my family. Not one of them gives Easton an odd look or makes it seem like his being here isn’t anything but normal. Despite the fact that it’s been eight years since he was last in this house.
We sit down and eat, everyone making small talk.
“You got tall,” Raiden says, catching Easton by surprise.
He chuckles. “Same goes for you.”
“So... you guys dating or what?” Isaiah asks, putting us on the spot.
I narrow my eyes. “Shut up.”
Easton grabs my hand under the table and gives it a squeeze. “We are.”
Looks are cast around the table, but none are judgmental. If anything, the smiles start to worry me.
“Guess you punching Bennett in the face is the equivalent of a guy pulling a girl’s hair, because he actually likes her?” Brody asks, and everyone swings their wide-eyed gaze at him.
“Brody!” Mom hisses.
“What? It’s true. We all knew these two were crazy about one another, even back then.” Brody waves her off.
I look at Easton in horror, feeling horrible about my dad’s comment, but he surprises me by smiling... and laughing?
“I guess in a way, yeah. Although I don’t recommend it. I think the best way to tell someone you like them is communication. Might hurt less.”
“Fair point.” Chase nods. “Don’t blame yourself, this family seems to have bad luck when it comes to communication at some point in our lives.”
Toby and Bishop look at Lilly with a guilty look, and my dads and Rain look at my mom with matching ones.
“At least it always works out in the end.” Lilly laughs awkwardly. “Glad to have you back, Easton. We’ve missed you.”
Easton swallows hard, looking down at his plate. “It’s good to be back. Thank you. You know, for having me over.”
“You’re always welcome,” Mom says, her voice soft and genuine. “I mean it.”
Easton smiles and nods at her. I give his hand a squeeze, my heart so damn full right now.
He smiles down at me, and I nudge him with my arm. He laughs softly, and I do, too.
“Dig in before everything gets cold.”
And just like that, everything flows as normal. We talk, laugh, and tell stories.
Easton helps Mom and Rain bake as I sit back and watch, with so much fucking love in my heart. I’ll never get tired of this, of seeing Easton happy, at ease, being himself in a place that he feels is safe.
Knowing that my family and I could give that to him is worth more than the world.
Life might have pulled us in different directions, but our paths were always meant to join together again at some point in our lives.
Everything happens for a reason, no matter how painful, how traumatic. We might not always like it, but if you hold strong and keep going, I have to believe everything will work out in the end.
I mean, it brought back my best friend. My person. My love.
And for that, I’ll forever be grateful.