Page 22 of Dean (Unexpected #9)

CHAPTER NINETEEN

DEAN

We never heard from Nick again. No clue what Bane did with him, but I refuse to ask. I don’t fucking care. And honestly, I’m pretty sure he won’t be missed by anyone. If anything does come back to us, Anthony will resolve it.

He owes me that much.

But I’ve heard nothing, and our lives have gone back to normal.

Better than normal. It’s exciting, new, and addicting. There’s always something new to explore with Avery each day.

“Oh, I can’t wait for you to meet her,” Avery says, bouncing in his seat. “I’m so glad she was able to evade my parents. God, they’re such assholes. I’m serious. They ruin everything.”

“They are shits. Never want to meet them. When we get married, we won’t invite them to the wedding,” I murmur, my hands twisting on the steering wheel. When Avery doesn’t respond, I turn to look at him.

“What?” I ask, concerned I’ve offended him.

“You just said ‘when we get married ’,” Avery says.

“Yeah,” I reply and then eye him. “Is that not something you’re interested in? ”

His mouth opens and then closes. “Dean, is this a proposal? Jesus, you have to give a gay boy some warning. I’m not dressed right. I didn’t even do my hair.”

“You look fucking pretty,” I reply, taking in his pink lips, the mascara on his long lashes, and the cute skirt and top he’s wearing. I want the wind from the ocean to blow that skirt right up so I can sneak a peek at his panties.

“That’s not the point. We haven’t discussed marriage. Or a wedding.”

“Yeah, but…are you not interested in moving in that direction?”

He rolls his eyes and lets out a laugh. “Of course I am. I love you. I want to marry you. I just didn’t expect to hear about it on the way to San Diego to meet my sister.”

“Yeah, well now’s as good a time as any.”

“Oh my god. If you weren’t fucking me and horny all the time for my ass, I’d assume you were straight. Good hell.”

I let out a chuckle. “I do love your ass. And your lips. Love everything about you.”

Avery wiggles in his seat and blushes. I remember telling him this the first time. The way I blurted it out when I sank into him, the tug of his rim around my cock pulling the truth right out of me.

“I love you, Avery Mitchell.”

But if I’m being honest, I’ve loved this man longer than I realized. Probably that first week he started working for me. Something about him drew me to him. It wasn’t just attraction. It was awe, obsession, and lust.

And then once we started spending time together, it became love.

I fucking love him.

And now he’s mine. Living with me, cooking in my kitchen, sleeping in my bed.

We’ve made a home together. He loves me for me.

It helps that Ben adores him. The two of them have gotten so close. They spend at least one day a week together just chattering nonstop, while Ford, Cash, and I grill in the backyard, the five of us together.

But now, I just need to make sure his sister likes me. I don’t want her to hate me or disapprove of who he’s choosing to spend his life with.

I’ll make sure she likes me. Because I want her to be part of the wedding.

I want her to be there to give Avery away.

“What are you thinking?” Avery asks, his hand linking with mine.

“Just thinking about the future.”

“Me too. I have so much I want to do with you. So many plans.”

As we get closer to the meeting place near the ocean, my nerves start to kick in and Avery can tell. He grins softly at me, reassuring me with small touches that it will all be okay.

“She is going to love you. You’ve already talked so many times on the phone.”

“I know, but this matters. Face to face. She will get an impression.”

“The impression that you’re hot.”

I huff, and he puts a hand on the back of my neck, massaging softly. “She will love you.”

“I hope so because, you know, when she moves out and needs a place to stay, I want her to know she can stay with us.”

“Oh my god.”

I feel my cheeks heat, and Avery sniffles. “You’re just the best. I’m serious.”

“It’s what anyone would do.”

“No, it isn’t.”

I let that sit with me as I park the car twenty minutes later, and I drag my hands down my jeans to make sure they’re not sweaty when I shake her hand…if she wants to shake my hand.

Fuck, what if she doesn’t want to shake my hand?

Before I panic, Avery pulls me into him and we walk side-by-side toward a small cafe. It’s then that I see her, an Avery lookalike, but younger.

She bounces up from her seat and rushes toward him, jumping into his arms and squeezing him tightly, a squeal erupting from her mouth.

“Avery! Oh my god! You’re here!” I watch the way Avery starts to cry, his hands clasping on to her. He’s missed her more than he’s ever admitted to me. But I get that. Sometimes it’s easier to pretend grief doesn’t exist.

But it can’t stay hidden forever. It eventually makes itself known. I’ll do anything I can to make sure they’re together once she’s able to leave.

When they finally part, they swipe at their eyes, a young man approaching cautiously behind her.

“Um, guys, this is Toby, my boyfriend. And um, Toby this is Avery, my brother. And Dean, the boyfriend.”

Toby holds out his hand and Avery shakes it as Amanda eyes me.

“He is as hot as the video made him out to be,” she says lowly.

“He is,” Avery says and then pulls her into another hug. “He’s perfect. Now, come on. Let’s catch up. I’ve fucking missed you. I have so much I have to tell you. We have so many plans.”

I turn to Toby, and he bobs his head awkwardly.

“Want to get something to drink?”

“Sure.”

We place our orders with the barista and then walk to the table where Avery and Amanda are curled toward one another, talking happily, their hands linked, and I know I’ll do anything to make sure Avery and Amanda see each other more often. I want her to be a part of his life.

I know how much she means to him.

I’ll make sure she knows. I’ll extend the invitation to have her live with us now that Ben’s moved out. She can have the apartment over the garage.

Since Avery’s my forever now, I plan on making sure he has everything he wants. Safety, love, and more importantly, a home.

With me.

“Come sit next to me, Dean,” Avery says, and I do.

Our legs touch, his hand slipping into mine, and I feel it.

Whole. After twenty years, I feel complete.

With him.