vodka punch I love.”
“Just sweet tea for me, thanks,” Law replied.
“I’ll take the fruity vodka punch,” Remy said. “Here, I’ll help you.”
“Thanks.” We went into the kitchen together, and I grabbed two glasses from the cabinet.
“This was me last year.”
“Huh?” I looked at him.
“Law and I had a barbecue at the house. There’s apparently no other way to introduce your boyfriend to your friends in Havenwood,” he teased. “I wasn’t out. No one knew I was gay except for Law and my friend Brit. My anxiety was really bad back then. I thought I was going to lose my mind, but it was great. They’re all really good guys. Knox is one of the best men I know. Even though this is new for him, he’ll do right by you. If you’re nervous, I thought I’d let you know you don’t need to be.”
I exhaled a deep breath, one that came from the bottom of my lungs. “Thank you. Sometimes you can know something inside, but you still need to hear it from someone not involved in the situation, ya know? I might have always known I’m gay, but this, what I feel for Knox, I’ve never had that before.” He was my family. I wanted his kids to be my family too.
“Havenwood has a way of bringing people together.”
“I’m seeing that.” I smiled, and Remy gave me a kind, somewhat shy one in return, just as we heard more people at the door.
“So like, can I start singing Knoxy and Callum sitting in the tree?” Kellan’s voice came from the other room.
“Yes!” I called back playfully, hoping it was okay. A loud round of laughter followed, Knox’s the loudest. We grabbed the drinks, I got Knox a beer, then went into the living room. Frankie Blue and Bear were all over a German shepherd. I didn’t know who it belonged to, as Kellan, Chase, Griff, Josh, and Natalie all arrived together.
“Hey, Knoxy.” I bumped him with my hip.
“Not you too,” he said playfully. “I thought I was your lumberjack? I need a tough name like that.”
“Oooh, so tough. Hard Knox,” Kellan teased.
“Why is it always you causin’ trouble?” Chase said to his boyfriend.
“Because I’m more fun than the rest of you?” Kellan looked at me. “Though I have a feeling Callum and I could get into some trouble together.”
“Ah, hell, we’re screwed,” Josh added. “But at the same time, I want to get into trouble with you guys too.”
Another round of laughter followed, and any nerves I had melted away with it. I felt at home, not just with Knox, but with these people.
“Come on. Let’s head out back,” Knox said. We all started to go, and he wrapped an arm around my shoulders and kissed the top of my head.
“K-I-S-S-I-N-G!” Kellan sang as we went.
First time with a man or not, Knox didn’t shy away from touching me, and that meant more than I could ever say.
We’d put extra chairs and tables in the back. The three dogs were running around, poor Frankie Blue the youngest and littlest of the bunch. Our girl held her own with them, though.
We played horseshoes and cornhole, and Kellan and I kept making jokes about the name. At one point, Josh tossed Kellan over his shoulder like a sack of potatoes, and I was struck by how close they were, the bond they had, and that it didn’t seem to bother Chase at all. But then, the way Kellan looked at Chase was all it took to know who he loved.
“I’m not sure I’ve ever seen so many vegetables or fruits at one of your barbecues,” Griff said.
“That’s him.” Knox pointed at me.
“They’re good for you! I swear I’m going to start a class on healthy eating in this town. I don’t know how all of you look the way you do.”
“I know, I’m hot, right?” Josh teased.
“You’re conceited is what you are,” Griff countered.
“Aw, you like it, Griffy. It’s your favorite thing about me. You just don’t want to admit it.” Josh winked at him.
With a stern, serious look on his face, Griff shook his head. “No. I used to think you were the responsible one out of you three.” He pointed to Josh, Kellan, and Natalie. “But now I’m not so sure.”
“Hey! I’ve always been the responsible one!” Natalie countered.
“One can be sensible and fun at the same time,” Josh replied. “You should try it sometime.”
Griffin flipped him off, but there was a small smile on his face as he