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Chapter Twenty-Eight

Niall

N iall made it his mission to get the household into a workable rhythm for the two weeks Teal would be in High Court. He’d been the boys’ nanny for a long time and knew all the McGinns’ foibles. By the second day of the tribunal, they had a routine.

A natural early riser, Niall woke an hour before everyone else.

He exercised, made coffee, and started the laundry.

While it was quiet, he set up and organized the twins’ lessons for the day and developed a game plan for keeping Zayne occupied.

Besides his more traditional nanny duties, he’d functioned for years as the de facto household manager.

He’d kept the central schedule, planned and cooked most of the family’s meals, and although Ronan and Teal handled the bulk of the cleaning and maintenance for the duplex, Niall was always happy to assist where he could.

Now that he and Jax had moved into the house, Niall relished the opportunity to be even more helpful.

He prepared Ronan’s lunchbox and made sure the boys were up in time to kiss their Papa goodbye before he left for work.

Teal’s guard and town car arrived promptly at eight, and Garin, Kino, and Zayne gave their daddy fierce hugs before he left.

Teal never ate breakfast at the house, maintaining his habit of eating a bagel at Fontaine’s, the same thing he’d done during the big tribunal the previous year, Niall recalled.

As the first week progressed, each day of High Court began the same way as the first, with angry protestors shouting derogatory nonsense at Teal as he entered the courthouse.

Niall hated that Teal would need to endure that for the remainder of the tribunal, but if any omega could withstand the onslaught, it was him.

The tribunal was broadcast each day and Niall monitored it from a small TV in the kitchen, out of the boys’ view.

Once Ronan and Teal cleared out in the morning, Niall helped the twins tackle their schoolwork while Zayne opened his Pre-K-level puzzle book. Jax and Sorcha came in to grab breakfast after this process was underway.

Niall knew both men were slightly uneasy about their places in the household, although Sorcha seemed to have reached some sort of new understanding with the husbands. He was less tentative about showing affection. Niall had seen the three men exchange soft touches and kisses on multiple occasions.

Sorcha still occupied the third bedroom, but Niall doubted it would be much longer before the omega was permanently in Ronan and Teal’s bed.

Niall acknowledged a twinge of jealousy about that. But as he'd told Jax, he didn’t begrudge them their happiness. Regardless of Niall’s relationship with the couple, it was obvious Sorcha was a necessary part of their family, that they were made for one another.

And because he wanted them all to be happy, Niall took it upon himself to do what he could to further integrate Sorcha into the household.

Sorcha had realized immediately that Niall knew everything about the McGinns, from where they kept the spare toilet paper to the fact that Kino was left-handed and used a special pair of scissors.

Niall didn’t want Sorcha to feel like Niall was more connected to them because he knew things.

So he made a point to keep Sorcha close to him as he cooked and did chores.

He brought Sorcha in on conversations with the boys and ensured Sorcha had his own to-do list, which usually included keeping Zayne busy.

Zayne had already gifted Sorcha with the moniker of “Daddy Sorcha,” and while his older brothers hadn’t gone that far yet, they seemed comfortable with the man’s presence and were opening up to him more each day.

Niall wasn’t surprised. Sorcha was likeable and unexpectedly funny.

Niall also felt a gentle pull toward him, as he always had, and on more than one occasion he’d clocked Sorcha giving him appreciative glances as well.

Niall smirked inwardly whenever he caught the young omega man’s eyes on him.

Between his past relationship with the couple, Sorcha’s current one, and Niall’s with Jax, it was certainly a horny household.

Good thing everyone liked each other. They’d been on solid enough footing after the barbeque, but the events of the past week had brought them together in ways none of them could have predicted.

Even Jax appeared to have found his footing, although he still hesitated. Niall suspected his boyfriend had been a goner ever since Zayne’s “ G’night. Love you, Jaxey ” the day of the aquarium incident.

On the third day of the tribunal, Niall peeked in on Jax at lunchtime to find his boyfriend staring blankly at the computer.

“Tough day?” Niall asked.

Jax pinched the bridge of his nose. “Nah. You just caught me spacing out. Too many emails, I guess.” He looked down at his lap.

“You sure?”

“Mm-hmm.” He wasn’t very convincing, but Niall didn’t push it. “Where is everyone?” Jax asked.

“Sorcha is in the backyard with the boys. The twins finished all their schoolwork for today, so I told them they could set up the mini-golf set and play outside.”

“Ah.” Jax linked his fingers together and stretched his arms up over his head, hitching his neck from side to side and rolling his shoulders.

Niall moved to stand behind him and began massaging his upper back. “Maybe you need a break from the computer.”

“Maybe,” Jax hummed, leaning into the massage but still seeming distant.

“Sure everything’s okay?” Niall tried again, working out a knot with his thumb.

A deep sigh escaped Jax, echoing in the quiet room. “Everything’s fine. Only…”

“Yes?”

Jax tilted his head back to look at Niall. “Nothing’s wrong. Just something that’s been on my mind.” He exhaled again. “I guess you could say that Ronan and I sort of…had a moment.”

Niall’s brow furrowed and his fingers froze on Jax’s shoulders. Of all the things his boyfriend could have told him, he never would have guessed that. “What do you mean?”

Jax swiveled the chair around and tugged Niall down into his lap.

“A few days ago, the first day of the tribunal, Ronan came in here.” Jax raked his fingers through Niall’s hair. “I think he’d just been talking to you in the kitchen.”

Niall’s cheeks heated recalling the long hug he and Ronan had shared that day. “Okay.”

“I’m pretty sure he was trying to put me at ease, you know, make me feel welcome by coming in to say hello or whatever.”

“That sounds like something Ronan would do.”

“Right. But then he got kind of close—”

“Close?”

“Yeah, like, he sat on the desk, sort of leaning in while I was sitting on the chair.”

“Alright.” Niall licked his lips. “This sounds hot.”

Jax hmphed. “I’m being serious. He was staring at me and telling me how I fit in with the family. And it just got sort of…heavy. He even used his… voice …to make sure I understood.”

Niall waited for Jax to continue. When he didn’t, Niall prodded, “Is that everything?”

“I know it sounds crazy. I mean, he had a thing with you, and now he and Teal have Sorcha. But I don’t think I imagined it, him looking at me like I was a popsicle on a hot day.”

Niall looped his arms around Jax’s back.

“Babe, you are such a humble guy. Of course Ronan’s going to look at you like that.

Besides the fact that you’re gorgeous, you just upended your whole life to help him and his family get through a tough time.

Naturally he’s intrigued . And so is his inner alpha.

Being in a relationship isn’t going to stop him from noticing you.

Or even feeling desire. It doesn’t mean anyone has to act on anything, right? ”

“I suppose not.”

“Then there’s no need to overthink it.”

“Really?”

“Really.” Niall raised an eyebrow. “We can’t always control what we desire. The best we can do is be honest about it.”

Jax still looked disquieted. That must have been some heavy moment, Niall thought.

He’d been onto something when he’d thought of this as a horny household . Truthfully, it was simply a loving one. Over the past few months, the five men had shown many times over how much they cared for one another.

Years ago, there was Ronan and Teal. Then Niall joined their household, and occasionally, their bed. The husbands met Sorcha, their shy neighbor. Niall met Jax and left the couple’s bed. Now Sorcha was in Ronan and Teal’s bed, and Niall and Jax lived in their house. Like pieces of a puzzle.

Snapping together to form a complete picture.

Niall saw now that the changes probably weren’t going to stop. Was he the only one with an inkling where this might be headed? Jax was so conflicted about his heavy interaction with Ronan. His boyfriend wasn’t ready to think beyond today yet. Maybe Niall wasn’t either.

And that was fine. There was a lot going on. No need to push. Things had a way of working themselves out naturally.

“These are crowded quarters,” Niall said. “And I’m betting the type of close moment you shared with Ronan is going to happen again. With Teal or Sorcha even. And that’s okay. As long as we’re honest.”

Jax stayed quiet for a long stretch. “I love you, Nigh,” he said. “Now more than ever.”

“Back at you, Babe. And tonight, after everyone’s asleep, I’m going to show you just how much.”

Jax’s eyes went wide. “Here? In this house?”

Niall placed a soft kiss on his boyfriend’s lips, reveling in their sweet softness. “Of course here. This is where we live.”

“Only temporarily.”

“Sure.”