Chapter 46
Dean
“Sign here, here, and here.”
Dean took the pen with a smile and quickly added his signature to the paperwork in front of him before handing the pen to Colton, who did the same.
The agent collected the paperwork and placed everything into a folder.
“Congratulations, Mr. Harris, Mr. Merrick,” she said, standing and extending her hand for a handshake. “You are officially Aiden’s foster parents, with an option to adopt.”
“Thank you,” Dean said, smiling, his breath stuttering. As hard as he tried, he couldn’t control the tears streaming down his face. “I’m so happy. I can’t wait for Aiden to move in.”
Mrs. Young, the agent from Social Services, squeezed his hand. “He can move in right away. He’s waiting across the hall.” She smiled and patted his shoulder.
Colton, with watery eyes, pulled Dean into a hug. “Did you ever in your life imagine you’d be adopting a teenager?”
Dean laughed with a sob against his neck. “No! But I couldn’t be happier!”
After months of jumping through hoops, the process was finally over and Aiden could officially live with Dean and Colton.
The Resource Family Approval Program had taken some time to complete.
First, they'd needed to submit an application and attend an orientation.
That was easy enough, although the orientation could've used a bit more razzle-dazzle to make it more interesting. Luckily, Dean and Colton were already certified in CPR and First Aid, so that part of the process passed quickly. Next, there was a safety assessment and home visit to ensure the loft would be a suitable place for Aiden. The social worker had been happy with the spacious guest bedroom suite, kitchen, and living area, and even more thrilled to see the blueprints for Aiden’s new living suite, which would begin construction very soon.
However, she had not been pleased with the fact that Dean and Colton’s bedroom was completely open to the rest of the loft.
She informed them that their bedroom would have to be closed off before they could proceed.
Dean completely understood the concern and took it as an opportunity to update the loft, adding a new wall to separate the master bedroom from the rest of the loft, with curved corners and architectural elements that reflected the building’s history as an industrial warehouse.
Once that had been completed and approved, next came background checks and financial assessments. Of course, those were a no-brainer and passed quickly and easily.
The final step was agency approval and final approval by the county.
And this was where things sort of went off the rails.
Everything came to a screeching halt. Six weeks passed without any word or progress, not a peep.
Every call or inquiry was met with, "It’s in process.
Someone will contact you when everything is complete," which had everyone frustrated and at their wits' end.
Finally, finally, a call had come from the agency, informing them they'd been approved and only needed to schedule an appointment to sign the paperwork.
They stepped out of the office and crossed the hall.
As soon as the door swung open, Aiden slammed into them with a joyful shriek. “Yes! Can we go home now?”
Dean tousled his hair. “Yes sir, we can go home now. Are you all packed?”
Aiden enthusiastically nodded his head and Dean, still overcome with emotion, hugged him tight.
Aiden began to cough and dramatically wave his arms. “I…I can’t breathe!” he wheezed.
Dean released him with a smile. “Alright, enough of that. You’d better get used to it, kiddo, ‘cause there’s a lot more hugs in your future.”
Aiden beamed with a radiant smile. “I can handle it, promise.” Dean stood and offered his hand to Aiden, who took it and fell in stride between Dean and Colton.
“Can we get milkshakes?” He blinked at Dean with puppy dog eyes, knowing Dean couldn’t resist. Dean threw his head back with a belly laugh, then playfully tapped his chin with a finger. “Well, it is a special occasion. So…yes.”
Aiden pumped his free hand in celebration and Colton patted his head with a chuckle.
They stepped through the front door of The Castro Center and were greeted by Sebastian, the director of the center. “Hey, Aiden. Are you excited?” He asked with a fist bump.
“Yes! I can’t wait. You have to come see my new room. It’s huge!” Aiden grinned, bouncing with delight. “And we’re getting milkshakes too!”
“Wow!” Sebastian patted his shoulder. “That’s very exciting.” He smiled and shook hands with Dean and Colton. “Dean. Good to see you again. And Mr. Merrick, I’m a huge fan.”
After handshakes and a lengthy discussion about milkshakes, and which flavors were the best, they made their way to Aiden’s room.
Aiden bounded up the stairs ahead of the adults, brimming with excitement.
He opened the door to his little room and began to gather the boxes he’d packed.
The residential rooms were small, but functional.
Each room had a small closet, an elevated bunk bed with a desk underneath, and a small sofa and TV on the opposite wall.
Each floor had a central bathroom and shower facility.
Aiden had already been keeping his valuable items at Dean’s loft, so there were only three boxes of Aiden’s possessions that needed to be moved.
After loading the boxes and saying goodbye to The CC, they stopped for shakes on the way home. Dean sighed with contentment and rested his head on Colton’s shoulder, enjoying the sight of Aiden attacking his second milkshake and then complaining of brain freeze.
Could things be more perfect than this?
“There we go.” Dean set down the box of Aiden’s stuff. “You officially live here now.”
Aiden flashed a brilliant smile, his blue eyes shining, and hugged Dean within an inch of his life. “Thank you…so much!”
Dean squeezed Aiden around his shoulders before stepping away with a quick kiss on his head.
“Now, get unpacked, then we can decide what we’re having for your first official dinner.” He smiled and walked toward the bedroom door, pausing when he noticed Colton wasn’t moving. Instead, he sat on the bed helping Aiden open his boxes. “Colton, are you coming?”
Colton smiled and winked at Dean. “Be there in a sec. I’m gonna help Aiden get started, and I want to talk to him about something.”
“Oooh kay.” Dean raised an eyebrow. “I’ll be in the kitchen.”
What the hell is that about? he wondered.
***
Colton
Once Dean was out of the room, Colton leaned in and whispered to Aiden. “Okay bud, I’ve got something planned and I need your help.” After hearing Colton’s idea, Aiden grinned devilishly and rubbed his hands together. “Oh yeah! I’m in.”
Colton seasoned the steaks in the kitchen before sending them up the dumbwaiter to the rooftop.
After going over several options for his first official dinner at his new home, Aiden shocked Dean and Colton by admitting he had never had a steak but had always wanted one.
After that, the decision was easy…thick juicy steaks on the grill with all the trimmings.
While Colton prepared the steaks, Dean prepared the veggie kabobs for the grill.
Once the prep was done, they sent everything up to the rooftop, where Aiden was waiting to transfer to the fridge.
The weather Gods had smiled upon them today.
It was sunny, seventy-eight degrees with bright blue skies and not a hint of bad weather or fog on the horizon.
Colton and Dean enjoyed a beer while Aiden sipped a tall glass of chocolate milk, lazily dragging his feet through the water as he sat on the edge of the pool.
Cocoa lay curled up next to Aiden, soundly sleeping on the turf.
The dancers spilled out of the door to the elevator and loudly announced their arrival. “You can relax now, we’re here and the party can begin!” Jax exclaimed as he sashayed toward the pool. Aiden grinned and jumped up to greet them.
“Welcome home, little man.” Jax squeezed him tightly. “We brought you some housewarming gifts.”
Aiden’s eyes widened with excitement. “Really?”
Aiden tore through his welcome gifts…a shower curtain with an image of the Castro Theater on it, a Niners hoodie, a disco-ball nightlight, and a gigantic basket of assorted chocolate candy.
Yes, anyone that had more than a five-minute conversation with Aiden knew that the kid was a massive chocoholic.
Aiden thanked the dancers for his gifts as Colton fired up the grill and began cooking dinner.
When they finished dinner, Colton and Aiden cleared the dishes and brought everything to the cabana kitchen.
They shared a look and Colton gave Aiden a quick nod, indicating it was time to implement the plan.
Aiden smiled and walked over to the table where the dancers were laughing and chatting.
He quieted the dancers and silently motioned for them to follow him over to Dean and Colton.
Colton took Dean’s hand and led him toward the pool, and the beautiful view of a full moon over the bay. After some mindless conversation, commenting on the view and how happy they were to have Aiden with them, Colton stopped, turned to face Dean, and took both of his hands into his own.
“Do you remember you told me a while back? You marry someone because you can’t breathe without them, and you can’t bear to spend a single moment apart?”
Dean smiled. “Yeah, I remember that, at the golf simulator. Why?”
Colton stepped closer, bringing their foreheads together.
“Dean, I love you…very much. When we’re not together, I can’t breathe.
When we’re apart, it physically hurts. I love how you constantly make me laugh.
I love how you cry at everything. I love it when you sing around the loft.
I love the way you look first thing in the morning, and I love that you’re the first person I see when I open my eyes.
I never want to miss any of those moments, ever again.
I want to spend every minute of every day, right here with you. What I’m trying to say is…”
Colton dropped to one knee, pulling two silver rings out of his pocket.
Dean gasped. In the background, all the dancers gasped and clutched their imaginary pearls.
Colton looked up with a smile and pleading eyes. “Dean Devlin Harris, will you marry me?”
“Oh, hell yes!” He blubbered, tears streaming down his face. “Colton Philip Merrick, I will marry you.” Colton slipped the ring on his finger and Dean jerked him up for a kiss as Aiden and the dancers erupted in cheers and applause.
After a round of congratulatory hugs and a champagne toast, the party concluded, and everyone went back to their homes as Aiden helped clean the kitchen, scrubbing the pots and loading the dishwasher.
Dean sidled up next to him at the sink and elbowed him. “Did you know what Colton was planning?” he asked with a smile.
Aiden grinned and innocently batted his eyes. “We may have discussed it earlier today.”
Dean kissed the top of his head. “I love you, kiddo.”
As he said those words, Colton wrapped his arms around him from behind and squeezed. Dean dropped his head back onto Colton’s shoulder. “And I love you too. You both made me very happy tonight.”
Colton kissed the side of his neck, then mussed Aiden’s hair. “Alright A-man, it’s time for bed.”
Aiden huffed. “But it’s Saturday night!”
Colton chuckled. “Yeah, and it’s almost midnight. Time for bed.”
Aiden playfully grumbled, but hugged them both and said goodnight.
Dean spun around in Colton’s arms and lightly kissed his lips before stepping back and admiring the ring on his finger. “You did good, Mr. Merrick. I love the ring.”
Colton nuzzled his neck just below his ear. “I’m glad you like it. I agonized for days about which one to pick!”
Dean laughed and kissed his temple. “Okay, let’s post on Insta.”
Colton growled and licked the base of Dean’s neck. “I’d rather you fuck me.”
Dean hummed, “Oh yeah…that too. This won’t take long.”
Dean set up his phone on the tripod and they slowly slid their hands into the shot, displaying their rings, and slowly interlaced their fingers, recreating Dean’s ‘I’ve got a secret’ post from several months before. The caption read “Engaged.”
As hearts and likes filled the screen, Dean devoured his mouth with a kiss. Colton exhaled a contented sigh and surrendered to his fiancé. Neither of them ever would have guessed they would become friends, and that their unconventional friendship would evolve into a love for the ages.
Surely things wouldn’t be perfect. There would be trials, arguments, and drama.
There would assuredly be bad days with Aiden; raising a teenage boy wasn’t an easy task.
Colton could be traded to another team, which meant relocating to another city.
The league didn’t care if you’re happy or settled.
You go where they send you. And if that happened, they would handle it together, as a family.
But no matter what life threw their way, they would make beautiful music together.