31. Chapter Thirty-One
Chapter Thirty-One
A powerful relief dwelled in Kai as they pulled up to Sloan’s house.
The fear that had clutched his bones over the past week had left him, and he’d all but deflated. Rick had shown up, but Sloan and Ezra were safe. Ezra had stood up to his brother, and Meg kept them protected.
He put the car in Park and slipped out, the beginnings of fatigue creeping through him.
When he reached the door, he turned around and waited for Sloan to get there.
“I need to make you guys keys of your own,” Sloan said offhandedly, as if the comment wasn’t a huge deal.
His chest squeezed tight. “Want us around a little more often?”
“Every damn day.” Sloan paused with his hand on the doorknob. “When your lease is up, if you guys want to move here…”
Ezra placed his hand over Sloan’s, which still clutched the knob, and he pressed a kiss to his nape. “I’d love to.”
“Just try to get rid of me,” Kai said. Ezra caressed his cheek with his bandaged hand, the tenderness in his eyes strong enough to drown in. He looked as exhausted as Kai felt. All three of them had been through the wringer tonight in some way, shape, or form. With Kai, the fatigue from his lupus was rearing its ugly head, but Ezra and Sloan were just as wiped.
“Can I lounge on the couch while someone feeds me grapes?” Sloan walked into his kitchen. “When I say there’s nothing left in me—goddamn.”
“Lucky for us, I placed a pizza order on the way over,” Ezra said.
“How the fuck?” Sloan called out from the kitchen. “I’ll get snacks for the interim.”
“Want to curl up on the couch and watch something?” Kai asked, craving that deep in his soul. As much as he longed for adventure more than most, the past month had been exciting enough.
He was ready for a little peace with Sloan and Ezra.
“God, that sounds like perfection.” Ezra pressed a kiss on Kai’s cheek. The absentminded affection sent a shiver down his spine. From the guy who’d seemed distant and cool when they’d first met, he’d blossomed the more they’d spent time together. Kai was grateful he got to watch it all unfold.
He sank into Sloan’s cushy navy couch, tilting his head back and closing his eyes. Ezra took the other side, leaving space in the middle for Sloan. God only knew their touch slut would be craving it something fierce tonight.
“What do you want to put on?” Ezra asked.
A laugh bubbled out of Kai, one that made his shoulders quake. “I think that’s the simplest question I’ve been asked in a week.”
“Fuck, I know,” Ezra said, his voice warm. “I just want to bask in this for a little while.”
“Me too.”
“No serial killer documentaries or World War II documentaries,” Sloan said. “Why I’m dating people with the weirdest taste in what to watch, I don’t know.” He carried a plate loaded with cheeses, some fruit, and a sleeve of crackers.
Kai lifted his brows. “Do you just keep the fixings for a charcuterie board on hand at all times?”
“Hey, you never know when you’re going to have company or want a decent snack.” Sloan sniffed. He leaned forward to fix up some cheese and crackers, placing his gorgeous ass on display.
“What do you suggest we watch, then?” Ezra sat with his legs wide, his arms sprawled out over the back of the couch. God, his boyfriends were so fucking hot.
“I’m voting for a movie. preferably light and not about murderers or war.” He shot them both looks. “ The Princess Bride ?”
“Oh shit, I haven’t seen that in ages,” Kai said. “Fuck yes.”
Sloan settled between them, draping one leg over Ezra and leaning against Kai. The heavy weight of him offered a reassurance he craved. Exhaustion was hitting in hard, but this, he could handle.
“I’ve never seen it,” Ezra admitted.
“No shit. Well, then we’re definitely watching The Princess Bride .” Sloan munched on his cracker. “I’d make an excellent Princess Buttercup, if I do say so myself. ”
A laugh escaped Kai. “God, I fucking love you.”
Those words landed in the air, and he realized what he’d just admitted. Except he didn’t want to take them back.
Sloan’s blue eyes widened, and he chewed on his lower lip. “I love you too.” He glanced at Ezra. “Both of you.”
“Damn you guys for stealing my thunder,” Ezra said, a softness in his eyes that undid Kai. “I love you, Kai. You helped break down some of the barriers around my heart, and there’s so much I can learn from you from your innate kindness. From the way you view the world.”
Kai’s eyes prickled as joy welled inside him.
“And you, Sloan. Your understanding and compassion helped rebuild me when I thought I was broken. I adore you for your bravery. For how you showed me loneliness wasn’t the answer.”
“You fuckers.” Sloan swiped at his watery eyes. “I don’t want to cry, just watch a damn movie.”
Kai pressed a kiss to the side of his head. “Then put the movie on. Right now, I just want to rest here with the men I love.” He met Ezra’s eyes over Sloan’s head, a warmth shining in them he’d been searching for his entire life.
When he’d moved here, he hadn’t believed anyone would be able to accept him as is. A fraction of his former self, burdened with a chronic illness that was unpredictable at best.
Yet Sloan and Ezra had welcomed him in without missing a beat.
He’d discovered he wasn’t as broken as he’d realized, that he was still capable of becoming everything he wanted to be. And it was thanks to the two men who he’d opened his heart to.
When he’d moved cross-country, he thought he’d lost everything.
However, in the process, he’d gained so much more.
And he couldn’t wait for the rest of his adventures with the loves of his life.