Chasing Him - Kat T. Masen Page 0,99

patting Tristan on the shoulder.

Tristan has been cast as a lead in a Hollywood blockbuster being filmed in Dubai. The fame is already starting with hordes of girls begging for selfies wherever they see him. According to Eric, he will be gone for three months, and this will be the test as to how strong their relationship is.

Charlie is quick to inform me that Eric already has leave booked in, and although he hates to admit it, he loves Tristan and can’t imagine being apart from him.

“Yep, tomorrow I’m off,” Tristan says.

“I’ll miss you, kid, but I’m stopping over next month, so we’ll catch up then,” Julian adds before they man-hug it out.

Charlie is sitting on the steps with Lex. They both sit in silence as Lex is careful to keep a small distance between them. I take a seat beside Charlie, my feet throbbing from walking around for hours. Julian steps through the back door and sits on the other side of me. I lean my head on his shoulder as he kisses the top of my head. Taking a moment to let it all sink in, I relax knowing it’s all over, and everyone enjoyed themselves without any drama.

For the better part, that search to find Andy did wonders for Lex and Julian. Neither one of them will ever admit it, but ever since they came home, there seems to be some unspoken understanding between them. They aren’t the best of friends, and probably will never be. I don’t care as long as I have both these men in my life, the rest will just fall where it may.

Amelia and Andy are still running in circles chasing Blaze and Ash around the backyard. Ava attempts to follow them, her tiny feet walking unsteady, barely able to catch up. She tumbles over but is quick to stand without shedding a single tear. We watch as they continue to play, silenced by their overactive imaginations.

“Andy, Batman has to marry Robin. Ewic said they’re gay like him and Tristan,” Amelia informs him.

Andy has no clue what that means, shrugging his shoulders at her.

“Batman and Robin will have superhero babies,” Amelia explodes.

“Now that I have a daddy, Mama can have babies, too.”

“Is Jay your daddy?” Amelia asks innocently.

“Yes, because he loves Mama.”

“But you call him Jay?”

The question stumps Andy for a moment.

He runs over to Julian, followed by Amelia.

“Jay, can I call you, Daddy?”

Julian glances at me seeking approval, and I smile reassuring him. I couldn’t have thought of a more perfect present for Andy.

Julian’s face answers before his mouth opens. “I will be honored to be called that.”

Andy throws himself at Julian and hugs him tight. Julian buries his head into Andy’s hair, not letting go. I move in closer to them and kiss Julian on the cheek, then Andy on his head.

Charlie’s hormones are seriously out of control as she wipes away her tears. Lex tries to comfort her, and finally she leans her head into him and murmurs, “I love you,” and Lex follows, “Love you, too, baby mama.”

Andy pulls away enough so he can ask Julian a question. “Daddy, can you take me to school tomorrow, so I can show everyone you’re my daddy?”

Julian nods and grips my hand tightly, overwhelmed by emotions.

Eric walks over and takes out his cell. “Let me get a photo of you guys.”

I scooch over a little toward Charlie and rest my arm on Julian’s knee as he leans into my side.

“On the count of three, say crabs!”

The four of us groan at Eric, then laugh in unison, and we all say, “Crabs!”

Eric walks over and shows us the screen of his phone. The four of us are smiling at the camera, and I know by looking at this photograph, this is meant to be. It doesn’t matter how we got here or what happened, we’re here. Somehow, we have come together.

It’s far from conventional, you could even say it’s fucked up, but we’re all right where we belong.

We are one family.

And, as I look one more time at the picture, I see two orbs, one between Lex and Charlie—it’s small, but it’s there, right beside them. The other is just off to the side of my shoulder. There’s no question in my mind, and I don’t care about the light in the sky, the dust in the air, or the glare off the windows or whatever the skeptics might say, I believe it to be only one thing.

Elijah.

He will always be with