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“Welcome to the family, Finn,” my sweet mom says as she stands and greets him with a welcoming, affectionate hug. We finish with greetings, doing the rounds and introducing him to everyone. He meets the headstrong women of our family next, and they’re just as welcoming as my mom.

“Nice to meet you, Finn, Hayes brood. Good seeing you all!” Reid announces.

“You’re not sticking around?” I ask.

“Sorry, got somewhere to be. Just needed to drop something off to Sawyer.”

Reid heads out, which is normal. The man has been invited to every Sunday dinner for the last decade and he’s declined every single one. We all sit together for a bit and enjoy small talk when I realize I haven’t seen my favorite family member.

“Li! Where’s my dog?”

Finn’s eyes get big, mouthing “you don’t have a dog,” making me laugh.

“He’s not your damn dog, Casanova. He’s Charlie’s!”

“You didn’t leave him at home, did you? He doesn’t like to be left alone!”

“For fuck’s sake, he’s running around with Charlie. Go find him yourself.”

Finn follows me like my shadow as I jog down the back steps of the porch and into the large yard, easily spotting Charlotte in the distance, running circles in the flowers with a small dog chasing her.

“Yo! Pipsqueak! Your favorite uncle is here!” I yell with my hands cupped around my mouth.

“Screw you, Casanova, you aren’t her favorite!” Sawyer yells from behind me, making me laugh.

“Dude, your family is batshit crazy.”

“I tried to warn you, but like always, you don’t damn well listen.”

“Yeah, but it’s awesome. I like them.”

“Let’s survive dinner and then you can reevaluate.”

“Uncle Carter!” Charlie squeals as she gets closer, running as fast as she can until she launches herself into my arms. I swing her around, nearly knocking her feet into Finn’s face as her little laugh echoes around us.

“You’re here! Dad said you were bringing a boyfriend, and I learned all about types of families already, and I know that two boys can get married! Are you going to get married like Dad and Mom did? Then I’d have anoooooother uncle. I’d have five aunts and five uncles! Ms. Katie taught me that five plus five equals TEN! I have the most in the whole class!”

“Oh yeah? That’s a lot of aunts and uncles. Are you sure you’re counting correctly?”

“Yep!” she says, popping her ‘p.’ “Auntie Lo, Auntie Hailey, Auntie Ivy, Auntie Blaire, Auntie Kinsey theeeeen, Uncle Sawyer, Uncle Dallas, yooooou, Uncle Graham, and now him,” she says, pointing to Finn. “That’s TEN!”

“I guess you’re right, that is a lot of aunts and uncles. You’re so lucky you have all of us. Are you ready to meet my boyfriend, pipsqueak?”

“Yep!”

“Finn, this is Liam and Hannah’s daughter, Charlotte, but everyone calls her Charlie.”

“I was named after a bear,” she deadpans, and I laugh.

“Were you now?” Finn asks, sitting down on his haunches after I set her down on the ground so he’s eye level with her. Finn’s face lights up while they talk, Charlie telling him allabout starting kindergarten in the fall and how Ms. Katie is going to be her teacher again. My heart pangs in my chest, a sharp, steady stab that makes my throat tighten.

Fuck. How could we not talk about this kind of stuff?Because you’ve been trying to digest the fact that you have feelings for someone for the first time in your life, plus all the other drama.If Finn wants children someday, this could end before it even gets started. I don’t have any interest in being a father. It’s so far from my radar, it isn’t even a tiny blip.

Finn stands, Charlie running off with her dog, Billy, hot on her tail. He must read the unease and rising panic on my face because he steps into my space, putting his hands on either side of my face.

“Hey, where’d you go?”

“Do you want kids?”