Chapter 24 ~
Alec ~
Rory eases herself off the bed, careful not to knock me. She looks back at me like she’s afraid to leave me.
“Go, Sunshine,” I tell her. That’s all the encouragement she needs before running across the room.
She slows when she gets to Jace’s parents but Helen doesn’t share the same uncertainty and immediately pulls Rory into her arms.
Rory holds Helen tightly—tears streaming down both their cheeks.
Jace gives them space, standing beside his dad.
Devon’s a six foot two or three mountain. Well, he’s a mountain to me but he’s just slightly taller than his son. He’s smiling with happiness as his wife and Rory embrace.
Devon puts his hands on Jace’s shoulders. Jace leans into his dad’s touch.
I used to yearn for their kind of relationship with my dad but I learnt quickly he wasn't the kind of father I would be proud of. He’s nowhere near the man Devon is.
A warm, caressing hand rests on mine. I meet Dominic’s concerned eyes and it stuns me briefly. Their chocolate depths show me he hasn’t slept, exhaustion clinging to him. Their warmth embraces me and I relish the feel of his hand on mine.
Wait. I shake my head slightly and Dom frowns. What am I doing? I pull my hand back in bewilderment.
“What are you doing?” I question quietly.
Dom looks hurt but that can’t be right. He’s the one who didn’t want to fight for us. I didn’t change my mind on what I wanted our relationship to be just because I was in a car accident.
I go back to watching Rory. It’s Helen who pulls back first. Helen reaches up, putting her hands on Rory’s cheeks.
“Look how grown up you are,” Helen says softly. It’s odd to see Rory actually the same height as someone. The guys and I tower over her.
Helen’s just slightly shorter than Rory. Her dark curly brown hair is a little wild—as though she ran here and the grey eyes—clearly having passed it down to Jace—are slightly misty.
“I guess my little bear isn’t little anymore,” Devon rumbles.
Rory glances up at him and smiles wobbly. “Hey, Bear.” She sniffles.
“Come here, little one.” Devon opens his arms and Rory falls straight into them, her shoulders shaking.
Helen moves to embrace her son next.
Finally Jace can’t deal with her crying anymore and tucks Rory under his arm.
He murmurs something to her and she nods, laying her head on his chest. Jace runs his thumb under her eyes, collecting her tears. Rory leans into his touch, drawing the attention of Helen and Devon.
“Did…are you two…?” Helen trails off.
Jace looks down at Rory who wraps her arm around his waist and nods. A faint smile dancing on her lips when Jace leans down and kisses her softly.
Helen squeals loudly causing everyone to wince. She begins fussing over them as Jace rolls his eyes.
Part of me sinks.
I glance around and see we’re all pretty much in the same boat. The twins look disappointed. Luc shows his pain for all of three seconds before it’s gone. Dom and I exchange glances.
I guess I traded one secret with another.
Devon makes his way around to Maverick and Mason, detouring past the doctor before he comes over to us.
Dominic jumps up and shakes Devon’s hand—ever the perfect southern gentleman.
They exchange words about some football game. I know Dom doesn’t give a shit about football, despite his southern American heritage, but he keeps up with the leaderboard for Devon and his father who are football fanatics.
“How are you, son?” Devon greets me.
I look down at my arm in a sling, feeling pretty bruised and battered. I simply raise an eyebrow at Devon who laughs.
“Fair enough, mate.” Devon pats my knee before stealing Dom’s place in the chair beside me.
He asks me a few questions about my injuries which I answer, my fingers falling into that easy rhythmic tapping habit on my leg.
I don’t know what happens but Helen shrieks again, somehow louder than before.
“Ma-am,” Flynn says exasperated but I can see the smirk he’s trying to hide. Helen waves him off.
I zone back in to find out what’s happening.
“You—all of them?” Helen stutters.
Rory looks really nervous but Jace’s face is calm.
“I, errr…I probably should have actually checked with them first,” Rory says awkwardly. She fiddles with the lotus charm on her necklace.
“Yes, Helen.” Maverick answers Helen’s question, sliding up to Rory’s side. Helen slaps a hand over her mouth.
Luc takes a seat beside Mase. Like he senses my gaze, his eyes meet mine. He smiles and I return it.
‘How are you?’ He mouths. I roll my eyes and mirth glimmers in his.
‘Deal with it,’ he mouths, sticking his tongue out.
“Do you know what’s happening?” Devon leans over, watching his wife struggle to contain her emotions for all our sakes.
“Umm, I think so,” I answer distractedly. I focus back on Rory. Is she really ready to tell people?
She told Lindsey and her men but I assumed that was because she was comfortable with just them knowing. Because their relationship was the same.
In the last few weeks, Rory’s relationship with us didn’t change after our conversation. She never confirmed or declined our offer, leaving us unsure as to what she wanted.
And we’re okay with that. It’s hard to jump into a relationship with one person let alone six.
“Yeah?” Rory looks up at Mav hopefully.
“Yeah, baby.” Maverick seals her lips with his. Rory melts into him, her hands cupping his face as she rises up onto her toes.
Devon looks at them dumbfounded. His head swings to me and I grin sheepishly.
“What the fuck is happening?” Devon’s outburst draws his son’s attention.
Jace starts to go into this diplomatically, hands raised but Helen blurts out, “Rory’s in a relationship with all of them.”
“What?!” Devon’s eyes flick towards Rory.
“I am…in a committed relationship with Maverick, Mason, Dominic, Luc, Alec and Jace,” Rory tells him, then inhales. “If you were going to know about my relationship with Jace, then you should know that too.” Rory smiles gently, her eyes shifting across to all of us.
“You sure, Sunshine?” I ask, wanting to get up and go to her.
“Yeah,” Rory looks between us. “I am.”
“Well, I think this is amazing,” Helen announces.
“I wouldn’t go that far,” Devon intercepts, finally getting to his feet.
“Really?” Rory questions Jace’s mum. She’s quiet when she speaks, vulnerability in her voice. Helen must see the same thing I do.
“Oh, baby, of course!” Helen hugs Rory tightly. “You are free to love whomever you want. The boys are good kids.”
Luc grumbles like being called ‘good’ is insulting. Or maybe it was the kid part.
“Oh, hush you.” Helen scolds. “I’m more scared of Abraxas than I am of you.” Helen refers to Dom’s German Shepard.
Rory laughs freely as Luc sulks.
“Dad?” Jace crosses his arms, prepared for a fight when Devon still hasn’t said anything. Rory places her hand on his arm. Maverick stands behind them.
Devon looks at them. He focuses on Jace. “You’re my boy, son,” he tells him and Jace nods. “But she’s my daughter.”
“Bear,” Rory murmurs, tearing up again.
“…So don’t hurt her,” Devon finishes. “And don’t fuck this up. That goes for all of you.” Devon meets every single one of us with a steely glare we’ve never seen before.
Rory blinks multiple times. “Wait, really?” She blurts out loud.
Devon chuckles. “You were always a smart kid, little one. I doubt that’s any different after three years. You know what you’re doing.” His eyes soften. It’s clear to everyone in this room that Devon has a soft spot for Jace but an even softer, more protective spot for Rory.
Tears fill Rory’s eyes but they don’t go anywhere this time.
“Love you, little one.” Devon gently pulls Rory into his arms.
“Love you too, Bear,” Rory mumbles into his chest.
“Besides, my boy’s been in love with you ever since you met,” Devon tells her.
Rory smiles at Jace as Devon hugs her. She mouths ‘I love you’ and he says it back, a peaceful smile taking residence on both their faces.
“Hey!” Mason calls out. “Does this mean I’ve officially met the parents of my girlfriend for the first time?”
Luc smacks the back of Mase’s head. “Do you want to live past eighteen, dumbass?”
Before I can jump in, the doctor gets there first.
“Hey! You’re still in a hospital and he was just in a car accident!” Flynn says exasperated. It’s nice to know someone was keeping them in line while I was out.
“Honestly, I kinda forgot you were here,” Luc says, guiltily shrugging.
“I figured.” Flynn comes back over and asks me what my pain level is. My arm aches but I turn down the drowsy stuff. I need a clear head.
Rory sits on the edge of the bed and I pat the space beside me. I wince when the movement jolts my arm. I breathe through it. I can only take short breaths because of my lung otherwise it hurts like hell.
“You okay?” Dom asks, concerned. I just nod, keeping my arm as still as possible.
I lean my head on Rory’s shoulder, yawning.
“Do you want to go back to sleep?” Rory asks quietly.
I shake my head. “What are yours and Mase’s injuries?” I ask her.
“Concussions. Mase has bruised ribs and I’ve got three stitches in my forehead.”
I lift my head and study the neat stitches just above her eyebrow.
“It doesn’t look like it’ll scar,” I tell her. Rory shrugs like that doesn’t really bother her.
“Oh, Alec.” Helen comes over and fusses over me. I meet Jace’s eyes and he snickers behind his mother’s back.
“Do you need anything, sweetie?” Helen asks, fluffing my pillow behind me.
“I’m okay. Thank you, Helen.” My polite words don’t stop her from hovering over Flynn’s shoulder as he checks the vitals monitor beside me.
Dom gives me an amused look and I return it.
Devon and Jace are having a quiet conversation in the corner of the room. Judging by the way his eyes flick to Rory every now and again, I’d say Jace is giving Devon the full story. We gave them a brief run down on the phone a few weeks ago but it’s probably best that they know what’s going on.