45. Tanner
TANNER
The entire ride home, all I can think about is how I wish I’d kissed Deacon in the backyard.
It would have been romantic—the two of us under the stars in the cool fall air—but there’d been too many thoughts floating around in my head, the need to get out of there overpowering my need for physical touch.
But all that changes the second we walk in the door. He barely has it shut before I spin on him, my arms wrapping around his waist as I push myself flush against his body and crash my lips over his.
He groans, his big hand gripping the back of my neck, holding me in place as his tongue plunders my mouth. It’s grounding and so damn needy, his scent and taste overwhelming my senses to the point of just saying fuck it, we can talk later.
But we can’t—at least I can’t.
“Deacon,” I pant, ripping myself away, my fingertips touching my swollen lips and wishing already we hadn’t stopped.
“Right. Sorry,” he tries, not looking sorry at all as he toes off his boots and moves around the living space to sit on the far end of the couch.
Obviously, he’s trying to put a respectful distance between us, but all I can see is the way the denim stretches across his thighs and the wide set of his legs.
Legs I’ve straddled while he’s gotten us off.
And so much more.
“Do you want me to start?” he asks, my eyes jumping from his lap to find fire in his eyes, his expression full of determination and want…and I want it all.
“I heard Jude say you always wanted to be a dad.”
“And did you hear that I said—”
Knock. Knock. Knock.
My head whips to the door and back to Deacon. “I wasn’t…”
“I can guess,” he mutters as it bursts open and Briggs practically barrels into me.
“I told you to wait to make sure—” Otto is the next one to enter, looking chagrined as Fallon huffs and slams the door behind her.
“Hi, Tanner, Deacon. I’m sorry, apparently everyone has lost their minds tonight.” She motions arounds frantically. “Can someone please tell me why Case is putting my daughters to bed right now?”
“Briggs has something to say and didn’t want to wait until tomorrow,” Otto offers as Briggs steps back to look at me at the same time Deacon rises to his feet. From where we’re standing, it looks like Briggs is facing off with Fallon and me, while Otto and Deacon stand at his back.
What the hell…
“What happened?” I ask as Fallon takes my hand in both of hers, obviously noticing the same them against us situation unfolding.
“I don’t want to talk to Grandma and Grandpa anymore. They’re mean to Dad and they only talk to me if you call first.”
Briggs’s face is flushed, his chest heaving as my eyes ping-pong between him and the men standing sentry—men who didn’t have to but did anyway.
Belatedly, I hear Fallon’s gasp as I drop down, one knee and then the other hitting the floor in front of him.
“I’m so sorry,” I whisper, as I imagine the tears streaming down my son’s face mirror my own. “I’m so sorry I didn’t know.”
Briggs’s movements are slower as he falls into me, so much of my heart breaking for both of us. But it’s only momentary, the mourning of this one singular event overshadowed by love that follows.
By Fallon wrapping her arms around both of us and crying too. Of whispered words of apology and promises that we won’t settle for less than we all deserve.
Of new beginnings and realizations that we’ve all grown up and we’re so thankful to be here.
Together.
I know the moment Deacon’s hand grips the back of my neck while Otto’s falls to my shoulder, their stance only changing to protect the three of us now instead of just Briggs.
“I love you.”
I tell them because those three words belong to every person in the room today.
And always.
DEACON
“You knew?” Tanner asks quietly long after we can no longer hear Otto’s truck in the distance.
“Briggs and I were playing horseshoes. He’s really good, by the way.”
Tanner gives me a tired smile. “He is.”
“I think he just wanted to test it out on someone that wasn’t tied so tightly to everything. He told Otto when he came outside and then I ended up having a conversation with Otto and…”
“And now we’re here.”
“And now we’re here.”
Tanner runs his fingers through his short blonde hair as he sags against the sink. “Am I a terrible father for not knowing?”
“Absolutely not. He wanted to protect you the same way you’ve tried to protect him. Tonight he had the courage to say the words out loud, and I happened to be in the right place at the right time.”
“Thank you for that—for protecting him.”
“He’s a brave little boy.”
“He is. And I want that with you.”
My heart stutters in my chest, and I have to swallow twice before I can find the words to speak. “You want…”
“A baby.”
“Tanner, look—”
“I heard you talking to Jude, him saying you’ve always wanted to be a dad, and I heard you saying all the things you think I’d want to hear.
But the truth is something happened tonight, and I don’t know if it’s divine intervention or karma or just the biggest God damn set of coincidences to ever align, but I’m done letting any of the bullshit I’ve been carrying interfere with the things and people I love the most.”
“A baby, huh?” I grin because I can’t help it, and I watch as the sexiest smile spreads over his lips.
“Maybe not right this second, but yeah, we should have a baby. I don’t know if that’s adoption or a surrogate or something else, but I want to enjoy my life with you. I want what you want and I want our kids to be as loved as Briggs is—as loved as any of the kids on your side or mine.”
“Are you sure? I forget it’s only been a few months… We don’t have to rush. There’s plenty of time to talk about the future.”
“I’d rather know we’ve done everything to ensure our future.”
“Like kids.”
“And marrying you.”
“And while we’re talkin’ about it, I’d love to give the house to Jude and Arden and move in here with you as soon as Briggs is good with it.”
“I have a feeling we might already have his blessing.”
“I think you’re right.” Closing the distance, I cage him against the counter and drag my nose up the column of his throat. “Anything else you want to talk about?”
“I’m going to tell my parents they can fuck off and lose my number.” Pulling back to meet his gaze, I find only resolve there. “They made my kid cry—there’s no coming back from that.”
“Then let me be the first to congratulate you on getting everything you’ve ever wanted.”