Page 12

SIX MONTHS LATER…

Logan

The diner is packed with people, almost every booth and barstool taken. "Glad we got in just before the lunch rush," I say to Wade and the kids as we shuffle into a booth by the front window.

Ever since Tex started spreading the word about this place, and Wade and the guys finished their renovation work, it's become Thickehead's hottest hotspot.

"I'm happy to see it doing well," Wade says, sliding menus to Sofie and Jax. "It's how I remember it."

Three waitresses are working today, but not Hattie. She's got the day off and is currently enjoying her monthly free day spa pass, being pampered with a facial and hot stone massage at the center.

We place our order with one of the waitresses, and I lean back, smiling as Wade tells the kids about all the cool places he and I used to explore in the mountains. As they listen with rapt attention, my mind wanders.

It's amazing how much has changed these past six months. When Wade showed up on my doorstep, he was a shell of his former self. I hoped that getting him to visit the center and meet the guys there might help him find his way. I could have never hoped for how transformative it's been.

He started his course in business administration last month. He loves it, and his new dream is to one day work at the center, surrounded by and supporting the men and women he respects so much.

I really am so proud of him. He's getting back on his feet, forging ahead with a new career and stepping in to help Hattie with the diner and the kids.

I'm still the meticulous, ultra-organized, routine-loving guy I've always been. But I have changed in one big way. Being with Wade has made my self-confidence skyrocket. I am who I am, and being with a partner who embraces every part of me, quirks and all, has helped me not just accept myself but to really lean in and celebrate all of the one-of-a-kind traits that make me, me.

Not to mention, I love being able to unleash my beast mode and know that he won't judge me for it. If anything, he finds it really hot when I get all dirty.

The food arrives, and we start eating. Jax is listing his favorite dinosaurs in order when I spot a monster-truck-sized black SUV pulling into the parking lot. A few seconds later, the door opens.

"Holy sh…er, sugar," I say, clapping my hand over my mouth.

"What is it?" Wade asks.

I make a move to get up. "My brother's just arrived."

"What?" He turns to look out the window. "Which one?"

"I'll be right back."

I hurry out of the diner and approach the car.

"Kynan?" I check, since I'm still not entirely sure which of my brothers it is.

They both have massive sleeve tattoos running down their muscular arms, but since he's wearing a T-shirt and not a tank top, I can't see if he's the brother with the red flower tattoo just below his shoulder.

Doesn't help that he's wearing oversized black shades, I suspect in an attempt to not get recognized now that he's one of the biggest social media stars on the planet.

"Nice guess, bro." He lifts his glasses, resting them on his head, and pulls me in for a hug. "It's good to see you."

"Good to see you, too," I say. "What are you doing here?"

His already normally intense eyes narrow even more. "I'm running away."

"From what?"

He opens the back seat of the car, and I peer inside. "Holy shit." I jump back and glare at him. "You kidnapped a baby?"

"I did not kidnap a baby," he says, brushing past me to unbuckle the baby and gently lift him out of the car. He's tiny, and as Kynan holds him, I see the look in Ky's eyes. A look that's full of love.

"Ashton," he says in a low voice, pressing his lips to the baby's forehead. "I'd like you to meet your Uncle Logan."

My jaw drops. "Uncle?"

Kynan glances at me. "Crazy, right?"

I take my nephew in my arms for the first time, marveling at his chubby cheeks, expressive eyes, and soft pudgy arms. Then I turn to Kynan and say, "You've got some explaining to do, mister."

We go inside. I snag a high chair for Ashton as Ky hugs Wade and slides in beside the kids.

"Okay, spill," I say, once he's ordered himself a milkshake and baby Ash is happily observing everything in the diner.

"It's a long story."

"We've got time."

"Okay, well, see…" He fills us in on how he found out he was a father.

"And how do you feel about becoming a dad?" Wade asks once he's done.

Ky exhales. "It's a lot. Don't get me wrong, I'm over the moon." His eyes drift to his son. He sticks out his finger, and Ashton grabs it, letting out a contagious little laugh. Ky's entire face softens. I've never seen him look at anyone like that. "There's a problem, though. I'm being profiled."

"Like by the FBI?" I ask.

"No," he replies with a chuckle. "By a reporter for a story. His name is Sawyer Bannister."

He pulls out his phone and passes it to me. I stare at the image of an attractive older guy doing the typical, shirtless, standing in front of a mirror at a gym pose then hand Wade the phone so he can see.

"So, what's the problem?" I ask Kynan, as Wade passes him his phone back.

He runs his hand through his mane of dark-blond hair that falls to his shoulders. "I can't let Sawyer find out about Ashton."

"Why not?" Wade asks.

Ky huffs out a breath. "BBA."

I groan. "Really?"

"I know some people think BBA is a silly, frivolous thing, but we're more than just a collective of content creators. Those guys are like my brothers." I clear my throat, and Ky shakes his head. "You know what I mean. And GDL, that's my baby." Ashton makes an excited coo sound. "My other baby."

Wade and I exchange a look, neither of us are super up to speed with social media. All I know—based on Ky correcting me a million times—is that people on social media prefer to be called content creators and not influencers. And BBA, the collective Ky is part of, is a whole new stratosphere of content creators I can't even begin to wrap my brain around. All six of them have gone from being virtual unknowns to mega viral superstars over the course of the past year. It's wild.

"There's something else," Kynan says, his knee bouncing nervously.

I'm almost afraid to ask. "What?"

He exhales slowly through his nose. "Sawyer and I have been… Well… We've kind of, sorted, fu—" He glances over at Sofie and Jax who blink up politely at him. "Er, fumbled around."

A surprised cough catches in Wade's throat. "But you're straight."

Kynan scrubs his hand down the side of his face and looks at both of us. "Am I, though?"