Liam looked at Chase and smiled. “What if we already got married?”
Chase stood up straight and looked at his younger brother with so much hurt in his expression. “Did you?”
“No, and that look on your face is the reason why. We almost went to Vegas last month to get married, but we decided to wait until we could plan something so that all of our friends and family could share the day with us.” Liam smiled back at Jack.
“My mom would’ve killed us,” Jack said. “We’re thinking May, but we still need to pick out the date so we can let everyone know.”
Xavier and Ben came downstairs after they finished assembling Lucas’s bed. “What about you guys?” Liam accosted them as soon as they walked into the room where we gathered around the large kitchen island. I couldn’t wait until Lucas and Lily would sit there on stools and color while Miller and I stumbled through fixing dinner.
“What about us?” Xavier asked.
“I’m guessing they want to know when we’re getting married.” Ben answered for Liam. “Gram probably has him wired for sound.” This was said in a mock whisper, but it was loud enough for all of us to hear. Ben leaned closer to Liam as if he wanted to speak into the hidden mic and said, “We’re thinking about a June wedding like the majority of engaged couples, but we still haven’t decided.”
“You should all have one giant ceremony. Make it a triple ceremony with Gram,” Brandon said, earning a round of groans. “What too many divas in one ceremony isn’t a good thing?” He pointed to Liam and Xavier. Everyone laughed at his joke except the two men he pointed out.
“We should’ve made him stay at Chase and Gray’s house with the kids and let Ava help us move,” Xavier replied.
“Can you imagine?” Chased asked. “They’d have to film a reality show for that wedding fiasco.”
“We’d have two groomzillas and one bridezilla,” I added.
“Just who are you two laughing at?” Liam asked. “Aren’t you Mr. I Don’t Do Love and Romance and Mr. I Can’t Suck The Same Cock For The Rest Of My Life? Seems to me you just bought a beautiful home and are raising two kids together.”
Jack laughed and pulled Liam against him. “I love the sass.” He growled playfully against Liam’s neck.
“Who the fuck would’ve thunk it?” Gray asked with a laugh. “Ewwww, commitment cooties,” Gray aimed his joke at me.
“You’re only going to have sex with him for the rest of your life?” Chase said, mocking Miller’s comments at his bachelor bowling party.
Miller and I just looked at each and smiled. We knew it was bound to happen. We’d been giving these guys so much shit for nearly two years. I hooked my arm around his neck and pulled him closer to me before I planted a kiss on his temple. The teasing was well deserved and I’d gladly take my punishment. I was willing to tolerate anything to have Miller and the kids in my life. We just stood there wrapped in each other and eating our pizza while the jokes continued. I was waiting for them to put on a skit or something.
“Nothing to say for yourselves?” Gray finally asked.
“We didn’t want to interrupt our free entertainment,” I replied.
“Besides, we had it coming,” Miller said sheepishly. “We’re mature enough to know it was coming and take our punishment.”
“I’m not sure about mature,” Chase quipped.
“Yeah, since when?” Jack asked.
“Yesterday.” Miller and I answered at the same time. We looked at each other and laughed.
“Awwwww,” Xavier cooed. “Aren’t they cute?”
“No, we’re downright fucking sexy bastards,” I corrected them.
“Oh, okay,” Gray said with a roll of his eyes.
“I hope they get stuck like that,” Miller told him.
The teasing and wedding talk wound down as hunger became the prevailing need. Once finished, the guys all busted their asses to make sure all the heavy furniture was arranged or built so that all we needed to do was unpack boxes. We couldn’t have gotten half of that accomplished on our own and not for the first time did I realize just how lucky I was to have this special group of guys in my life. I wasn’t one to do a lot of hugging, but that time it was warranted. I wanted them to know how much I appreciated their friendship and their help on that special day.
Gray was the last one left for me to show my gratitude and he didn’t make it awkward. Instead he slapped my back and quietly said, “You’re a good man, JJ, and you deserve this happiness. Accept it. Embrace it. Enjoy every minute of it.”