Page 48 of The Vampire and the Tattooist (The Vampire and Series Book 4)
Gavin was nervous. It was nearly time for Hunter and his parents to arrive. His thoughts were spinning round his head. What if they don’t like me? What if they think I’m defective and not worthy of their son?
He had so many negative thoughts going through his head.
“Whatever dark thoughts you’re thinking, stop,” he heard his brother say.
His eyes shot up to see Mathis standing in front of the desk, arms crossed over his chest, scowling at him.
Gavin jumped up and practically ran around the desk and threw himself into his brother’s arms, hugging him, soaking up all the love he could.
“They will love you, little brother, just like everyone else does. But if, for some reason, they don’t, I’ll have Gabe turn them into slugs for you.”
Gavin pulled back and silently laughed. “Thank you,” he signed, blowing out a breath.
“There is nothing to thank me for. I’m just speaking the truth. Now, we are all gathered in the kitchen; come and join us.”
Gavin nodded but didn’t move; instead, he signed again.
“You never thanked me for what?” Mathis asked, looking confused.
Gavin signed more.
Mathis pulled Gavin back into his arms. “You never have to thank me for protecting you from our father. I saw him sneaking into your room. No one with good intentions sneaks anywhere. I will always protect you, just as Raz, your Hunter, or anyone that knows you will. And just because you now have Hunter in your life, as I have Gabe and Raz has Thiago, nothing will ever change with us. We’re brothers, now and always.”
Gavin hugged him back and smiled before pulling away and signing again.
Mathis frowned for a moment. “Are you asking about the listening bugs?”
Gavin nodded.
“We found a lot of bugs at the witches’ coven, more than I thought would be there. We got them all, though. Now we just have to find where they were downloading to,” Mathis said as they walked to the kitchen.
“Gavin,” Gabe said, coming over to hug him before pulling away and looking him over. “You’ve been shopping. You look amazing.”
Gavin smiled and blushed. He must admit his new clothes did look good. Shelby had a good eye for clothes.
“That would be Shelby’s influence. They both went shopping yesterday on their way to buy lunch,” Taha said.
“In that case, I need to go shopping with Shelby,” Gabe said.
“I’m sure that can be arranged,” Taha said.
Just then, Kevin and the others walked into the kitchen and Dave, Gabe, and Gavin, all hugged them.
“You’re back,” Jack said happily, walking over to Seth.
Seth pulled him into a hug. “I am. You alright?”
Jack nodded and hugged him back, leaning into him.
Seth looked for Spencer and saw him standing by Stefan, leaning into his side. He wondered if David and Gio were about to get a little brother.
“Lissa said she would help shop for anything you and Spencer need clothes wise or for your room,” Seth told him.
“I’m okay with what I have,” Jack said softly.
“Too bad. You’re getting more,” Seth replied, laughing at him.
Just then, Gio and Creed walked in, and letting go of Jack, Seth went and said hello to his mate while Creed said hello to Kevin.
“Gav, as there are so many of us, the table has been set up in the large formal dining room. Mum and Louise have made it look really comfy and not at all stuffy,” Dave said to him.
Gavin nodded and bit his lip, his nerves hitting him again.
“Here, puppy snuggles are called for,” Kayden said, handing Diablo over to him.
Gavin mouthed, “thank you,” took the puppy and snuggled him.
“I know you’re nervous, but Hunter loves you, and you love him and make him happy. His parents will love you because of that,” Taha told him, stroking a puppy ear. “Trust me. Charlotte and AJ will love you. I consider them my second parents, and I’d never lie to you.” He leant forward and stage whispered, “Owen’s nervous, as well.”
Gavin turned and looked at Owen, who was chatting with Seth and Gio. Owen nodded at him.
“See,” Taha said, grinning. “Plus, if anything does happen, I’ll just tell Charlotte and AJ how much Owen spends on shoes.”
Gavin silently laughed, but Dave laughed loudly.
“How much does he spend?” Kayden asked.
Taha leant forward and said quietly, “Ten thousand plus.”
Kayden’s mouth fell open. “Seriously?”
“Oh yeah,” Taha said cheerfully.
“Gav, Hunter’s here,” Gabe told him softly.
Gavin looked up and saw Hunter, and a smile split his face, all his nerves vanishing. He passed Diablo to Dave and walked over to Hunter.
Hunter met him halfway and wrapped his arms around Gavin, dipping his head and kissing Gavin hello. He kept it short as his parents were nearby. He pulled back, smiling at Gavin. “Missed you,” he said.
Gavin smiled and mouthed, “Missed you,” back.
“Come meet my parents,” Hunter said, taking his hand and leading him back to his parents. “Mum, Dad, this is my Gavin. Gavin, these are my parents, Charlotte and AJ.”
“Oh, Gavin, you’re gorgeous. It’s so nice to meet the man who looks at my son the way you do,” Charlotte said, pulling Gavin into a hug.
AJ pulled him out of his wife’s arms. “Don’t hog my future son-in-law,” he said, grinning and hugging Gavin.
Gavin gave a silent laugh, pulled back, and signed, “Thank you.”
He looked at Hunter.
“Mum, Dad, let me introduce you around,” Hunter said.
Introductions had been made and now they were all sat in the formal dining room, eating. Dave was right — it did look cozy and relaxed.
Everyone was laughing and joking. AJ caught Gavin’s eye. “I hope while I”m here you can show me how to get off level eleven of Vampire Hunter. I’ve been stuck there for nearly a week.”
Bert, who was seated next to AJ, laughed. “Me, too, but Gavin wouldn’t tell me. I had to ask Stefan to show me.”
Stefan, who was sitting nearby, laughed. “He wouldn’t tell me either, it took me forever to figure out.”
AJ fake scowled at Gavin. “That’s just mean. What’s the point of knowing the designer if you don’t help?”
Gavin gave a silent laugh and signed.
“I didn’t get all that, sorry. Charlotte and I only started learning sign language when Hunter told us about you.”
“Gavin said he could tell you but isn’t it better to figure it out for yourself?” Stefan translated.
“Not when you’ve been stuck on it for years, it’s not,” AJ grumbled.
“I thought you said nearly a week,” Taha said, grinning at AJ.
“A week, a year, what’s the difference?” AJ said.
“About 51 weeks, Dad,” Hunter said with a laugh.
“Semantics,” AJ said, looking back at Gavin. “You have incredible skills.”
Gavin blushed and signed, “Thank you.”
“Dad, Gavin is about to start designing another game, Vampires vs. Witches,” Hunter told him.
“That sounds fun. I can’t wait until it comes out and I can play it. Do you ever add updates to your other games?”
Gavin signed.
“Gavin said yes. If you scan the QR code that comes with the games, you can download free updates,” Stefan translated. He looked at Gavin. “I didn’t know that. Does it add new levels?”
Gavin silently laughed and nodded before signing.
Bert burst out laughing. “I don’t think any of us have read the notes that came with the game. If AJ and Stefan are like me, we just start playing the game and ignore the notes section.”
“I’ll be changing that when I get home later,” AJ said.
“You’re welcome to stay if you want to,” Stefan offered.
“Thanks, but I need to go home and get everything I need to fix Hunter”s studio up. I’m a builder and have everything needed. I’ll be back tomorrow with my van.”
“I did tell Hunter to phone you, AJ, but he said you were too busy,” Taha told him.
AJ shook his head. “Never too busy to help you boys out. You know that.”
“I know, thanks, Dad,” Hunter said. He looked at Gavin and leant down. “You doing okay?”
Gavin nodded and kissed his cheek.
“Gavin, Hunter, I can’t tell you how happy you have both made me,” Charlotte said, looking at them both and smiling. “AJ, darling, I’m coming back here tomorrow helping Louise, Annie, and Lissa shop for Jack and Spencer. The poor darlings need everything.”
“If you need anything built or put together, let me know and I can do that for you.”
“Thank you, Mr. Marsden,” Seth said.
“Call me AJ. We’re all family here,” he told Seth.
“Thanks, AJ.”
Bert looked at Stefan and Spencer who was sitting next to him. “Are you and Louise adopting Spencer?”
Stefan looked at Spencer and smiled before looking back at Bert. “We are.”
“I said they didn’t need to, but they insisted. They don’t even mind that I’m not a vampire. They said it didn’t matter,” Spencer said.