Page 105 of The Quarterback

Nick smiled, as big and beautiful as he’d smiled the day Colton had surprised him by pulling into that Texas Hill Country winery. “That’s perfect.”

Colton bit his lip. “So you’re my fiancé now?”

“And you’remyfiancé.” Nick’s arms tightened around him. He kissed Colton, on the lips and the nose and then the lips again.

“I’m gonna be Justin’s stepdad,” Colton blurted out. “And Wes’s stepfather-in-law.”

Nick tipped his head back and roared. Heads turned their way. Colton’s eyes traveled over the arch of Nick’s neck, the lines of his jaw. The sparkles at his temple, catching the candlelight in the perfect way. He grinned at his lover—fiancé—as Justin and Wes made their way across the dance floor when the song ended and the band announced they were taking a short break.

“What’s so hilarious?” Justin asked. He sank into Wes’s side, their arms wrapped around each other’s waists. “I want in on the fun.”

Nick glanced at Colton. His cheeks were flushed, eyes twinkling, lips turned up in a huge grin. “Nick just asked me to marry him.”

Justin shot a triumphant look at Wes. “Itoldyou it was going to happen tonight.”

“You were right.”

“Always am.” Justin winked.

Wes kissed Justin’s temple and smiled. He pulled Colton into a bear hug, holding on as long as they had in the end zone when they’d scored their final touchdown together. “Congratulations,” he said in Colton’s ear. “I’m happy you’re finally happy.”

Colton held on tight to Wes. His best friend. His brother. “I am.”

A waiter passed by with a tray of champagne, zeroing in on the new husbands and making sure they were never wanting. They each took one, and Justin led a toast. “To my dad, and to the love of his life, Colton: I’ve never seen my dad happier, and I’ve never seen a couple so in love. Other than us, of course.”

Nick beamed, and Colton’s chest went tight. He took Nick’s hand as he sipped his champagne, trying to say “Thank you” in all the ways he held Justin’s gaze.I love him so much.

It was like Justin could read his mind, read the shape of his thoughts. He tugged Colton into their own hug and lay his lips against Colton’s cheek. “Take care of him, okay?”

“I will. I always will.”

“And he’ll always take care of you. You’re his forever, Colton. Everyone can see it.”

They pulled back, and then Justin and Nick hugged and whispered in each other’s ears as they held on tight, bear hugging like they never would let go. Wes’s hand landed on Colton’s back, and he turned to Wes, smiling—

And it hit him:this is the family I always wanted.

Unconditional love. Acceptance. Arms that wrapped around him and held him tight. Two brothers, one who built him up and another who challenged him, who stayed up and waited for him to come home with his dad and then made coffee for them both in the morning. Who never saidI love youwith words but who had dug down inside himself and recreated his whole world so Nick and Colton could build a love story together.

Two brothers who made him a better man, and the man he loved so much he couldn’t breathe some days. He’d never imagined himself this happy. Even when he dreamed about the NFL, something had been missing. He’d thought he wanted a team, and for a while, that worked. But what he really wanted—what he really needed—was a family.

The love of his life. The one man he’d been waiting for his whole life. The man who rewrote his life in all the shades of happiness that existed. The man he loved, and who loved him, forever.

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