33. Veronica #2
This is why I’ve kept her around all these years. She gets straight to the point, doesn’t bullshit around, and whines along with me. She complains to me about her other patients, even though legally she’s not allowed, but she knows I would never tell a soul.
She swears and laughs when I start crying for stupid reasons. Most people would be offended by her professionalism, but then again, she’s not made for everyone. And I love her just the way she is. She’s a breath of fresh air.
“Anyway! I’m glad I end my day with your nutty self instead of him.” She finishes arranging the papers on her desk and spins with a beaming smile, but it drops the moment she notices I’m not alone. “Oh… I’m sorry, I didn’t realize you were bringing company.” She looks from one man to the other.
“Dr. Hallaway, these here are my boyfriends, Noah Adler.” I point to him. “And Gabriel Ellis.” I finish toward Gabe and smile back at my therapist. “Boys, this is Dr. Susan Hallaway, my therapist. We’re in need of a group session,” I tell her.
“Oh… OH! Your boyfriends! Oh my… this is some twisted shit right here, if I may say so.” She laughs. “I was not expecting there to be two of them.”
I frown, confused at her statement since I’ve mentioned them a few times already. Then it hits me. “Oh my God! Did you think I was crazy and that they were in my head?!”
“Oh no, dear. I just thought you were dating one man who may have multiple personalities and goes by different names depending on the day.” I gape at her as she smiles and claps her hands.
“But all is well now. I’m glad to see you weren’t changing up one crazy guy for another.
Although this is an interesting turn of events. ”
“Well, let’s not speak too soon. They have their issues as well,” I inform her.
Her brows raise high. “Oh, okay. Like what?” We’re all still standing in the center of her office.
I point with my thumb to Gabe first. “He chokes me in his sleep because of nightmares,” then point to Noah, “he’s quickly becoming an alcoholic because his sister passed away,” and finally turn my thumb on myself, “and Victor broke into our home and left me a message.”
“Wow… okay, let’s have a seat.” Noah, Gabe, and I all head over to the couch, sitting down with me in the middle as Susan takes her wingback chair.
“So… let’s start with the murderous one, Gabriel, is it?” She looks at him with her hands clasped as he nods, then she leans in on her arms. “Have you ever thought about having a therapy pet?”
GAbrIEL
“I can’t believe she called me a murderer…” I say, stepping out of the car in Hayes’s driveway.
“Hey, she compared my ass to a corgi’s and said that I needed to pull my head out of it. I can’t even tell if that’s an insult or not. You think that’s any better?” Noah states, following beside us up to the entrance.
“Corgis are cute. So yes, that’s a lot better.” I glare at him.
“I think she was just pointing out that you had a nice ass. I saw her checking you both out when we were leaving.” Ronnie giggles.
“You know your shrink’s crazy, right?” Noah raises a brow her way.
She laughs and pushes the door open. “Oh, I know. She sees a therapist once a month.”
Noah and I both stop, looking at each other, then back at Ronnie. “And you expect us to trust an expert who needs therapy themself?” I gape, which only makes her laugh harder.
“I wonder what it says about a therapist who needs a therapist…” Noah chuckles.
The second we step through the threshold, we’re greeted by two friendly dogs. Milo, a beige and white Alaskan Klee Kai with vibrant blue eyes, who belongs to Silas and Cecilia. And Daisy, a pure white Pomeranian who’s Emma and Greyson’s pup.
“How about a dog?” Ronnie asks as I crouch down to show them some love.
“Eh, I don’t know. I love them, but I feel like with our career, it’s not the best lifestyle for them. Besides, if we were to get a dog, I’d rather have an actual backyard for it, rather than just the back patio.”
I know technically she’s living with us for now, so our puppy would never be alone, but I don’t know if she intends to stay once everything with Victor is over… if it ever is. At this point it seems like the guy is impossible to catch.
“Okay, so how about a cat?” she questions.
I look up at Noah, who shrugs, then Vixen, who smiles down at me. “A cat could work. Although I don’t see how a lazy feline will do any good with my nightmares.” I stand, dusting my hands from all the fur.
“You’d be surprised what animals can do.” She kisses my cheek and heads over to our friends who litter the kitchen.
“Hey guys! Happy you could make it.” Cecilia comes over, hugs Ronnie, then me, and stops in front of Noah. “Hey Noah, it’s good to have you back. It’s not the same without you.”
He wraps her in his arms, squeezing tight. “Yeah, sorry about that, Mama. Just needed a little time to myself.”
“I get that.” She smiles warmly at him.
“Everyone,” I raise my voice, gaining everyone’s attention. “We have some news.” I beam while Ronnie eyes me suspiciously, even Noah’s frowning beside me.
“Oh my God! You’re pregnant too?!” Emma shrieks with excitement.
“NO!” Ronnie shouts, holding her hands up in front of her. “No, I am not pregnant.” She glares at me.
“Of course not, your men have good seeds who know how to stay put,” Em grumbles.
“Wait, so I have bad seeds because I knocked you up?” Greyson frowns.
She whips her head his way with a glare. “Twice! You knocked me up twice!”
“I see she’s still mad about that.” I chuckle, whispering over to Ronnie, who giggles.
“What’s going on? What are they talking about?” Noah leans in, asking quietly.
“Emma found out yesterday that she’s having twins, and she’s not very happy about it,” Ronnie murmurs.
“It was epic. She was beating him with a pillow, then made a very disturbing visual of what she was going to do to his balls.” I chuckle.
“Damn, that must have been something,” he says, but I can tell there’s a hint of sadness in his voice. Ronnie must pick up on it as well because she wraps her arms around his waist and leans into him.
“Okay, okay. We get it, you’re still mad about the twin thing,” Clay says with a hand up to silence their bickering. “What’s the news, Ellis?”
Oh right, I forgot about that for a second. I puff out my chest, a prideful beam shining at them. “Ronnie said she loved me.”
I hear Ronnie groan into Noah’s chest as the room silences to the point that crickets could be heard. Then everyone explodes with laughter.
“I thought you were going to announce you guys were moving in together permanently, or buying a house, not this!” Silas laughs harder, slapping his thigh.
“Why not this?” I ask, confused.
“Because, sweetie, we already knew she was in love with the both of you.” Morgan smiles.
“Well, I’m still proud to announce that she finally said it.” I stand tall.
“And you have every right to be.” Aubrey comes over with a sweet smile. “I’m happy for you guys, truly.” Her gaze falls to Ronnie’s, but within seconds, her smile disappears, and a frown appears on her face.
“Ronnie? What’s this?” She reaches up to touch Vixen’s neck, where her concealer has started wearing off.
Ronnie’s eyes widen, and she quickly covers the marks with her hand. “It’s nothing.”
Aubrey’s gaze bounces all over Vixen face, then mine, and I can see the moment she spots the scratches along my jaw that Ronnie tried to hide with a concealer as well.
She looks around, noticing no one is paying attention to us anymore as she comes closer and whispers, “It doesn’t look like nothing… did he… do that?”
Ronnie furrows her brows. “What?” Then she catches on. “Oh! No. No, it’s not him. We just… we get a little carried away in bed sometimes. That’s all.” She grabs Aubrey’s hand with her free one. “I promise it’s nothing you need to worry about.”
I know Vixen didn’t need to cover up my mistakes, but I’m grateful she did. I don’t know if I could have faced the humiliation so soon. Even though we’re on good terms, better terms than we’ve ever been, the guilt still eats away at my skin.
Aubrey chews on her lip with uncertainty. “Okay… if you say so.”
The sliding patio doors to the backyard open, and in comes two toddlers with their nanny. Sam seems to be pretending to be a dinosaur that’s chasing after them as they screech with laughter. I watch them in awe, wondering if one day I’ll get to do the same with my kids.
“Unc Gay!” Dante screams as he runs toward me, throwing himself into my open arms as I crouch down to catch him.
His pronunciation isn’t on point yet, but I understand it’s his way of calling me, and I love it.
He started calling me that on vacation, and I was thrilled to be the first one to gain the uncle title out of our group.
I guess repeating it to him constantly when no one was around did help, but I won’t tell the others that.
“I’ve got you, little man! I’ll keep you safe!” I spin us around, putting my back to Sam as he comes in and tries to grab hold of Dante, who bubbles with joy.
Gracie hides herself between Ronnie’s legs, then throws her hands up, indicating she wants to be taken.
“You want me to protect you, baby girl? Good choice, if anyone will keep you safe from the evil dinosaur, it’s me!
” She picks her up and runs around in circles with Gracie as Sam abandons Dante and chases after the girls.
She comes to my front, hiding behind my massive frame, with both kids stuck between us. They deliver some lung-filled shrieks whenever they feel Sam’s hands trying to grab them, and I watch Ronnie radiate with happiness as she laughs away with them.
I can picture it. I can see us, just like this. My wife with our two rowdy kids, playing ‘save the princess’ right before dinner time. I want that. I want it with her.