Total pages in book: 83
Estimated words: 79308 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 397(@200wpm)___ 317(@250wpm)___ 264(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 79308 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 397(@200wpm)___ 317(@250wpm)___ 264(@300wpm)
“Are you guys going to start in with the praising stuff now? Because it’s hot and it will probably get me horny.” Corbin smirked.
“You’re always horny,” Marcus and I said at the same time, earning a round of laughter.
“I mean, I’d be down to do the orgy thing if you guys were,” Kai joked.
“Baby boy, you belong to me and me alone,” Marcus told him.
“Yes, I do. I just wanted to hear you get growly and possessive,” Kai countered.
“Sometimes I feel like I’m the only adult around here,” Declan said.
“Mmm…we can’t let them show us up. Let’s make out.” Sebastian nuzzled his throat.
“Are you going to let them all one-up us like that?” Corbin asked me.
“Never.” I started unbuttoning my shirt, which prompted Corbin to cheer and everyone else to laugh.
I was…so happy. I’d never considered myself unhappy before, but having Corbin changed everything, made everything better, and as I sat there with them, I realized I really did want to do exactly as Parker and Elliott had done today. I wanted to marry Corbin.
Declan cleared his throat. “I know I gave my speech at the wedding, but before everyone starts getting naked and disappearing to have sex all over Marcus and Kai’s house, I just wanted to say a couple of things. First, thank you, Elliott, for loving Parker the way he deserves.”
“Always, brother,” Elliott replied.
Declan continued. “I didn’t know what it was like to have family before Parker, and because of him, I eventually got Corb and Marcus too. I thought that was more than I deserved. How could I ask for more than that? But then I fell in love with Bastian, and my world grew even more. Now there’s Elliott, Kai, Spencer…and I just… We’re really fucking lucky. That’s all I have to say. Jesus, why did you guys let me word-vomit all that? I must be drunk too.”
Parker was openly crying now, unable to swipe the tears away. “I love you, Declan. So much.”
“Love you too,” Dec replied.
I felt honored to be there with all of them, to be able to call Corbin mine and to have inherited his chosen family.
“I know I’m the newbie, but thank you for including me.”
“There’s nothing to thank us for, Spencer. You love Corbin, and that automatically makes you family. Good thing I like you too.” Marcus winked. “You’re good people. We really are fucking lucky.” Marcus raised his drink. “To family.”
Corbin raised his next. “To Beach Bums and Poddies.” Everyone repeated the toast, leaning in and clinking our drinks together. Corbin stood, signaling for everyone to do the same. “Come on, guys, we gotta do it.”
“Do we have to?” Marcus asked, but I knew it was playfully.
“Yes.” Corbin grabbed his hand and tugged. “Get up, Daddy M.”
Kai laughed, nearly falling off Marcus’s lap.
I stood, followed by Kai and Marcus, Elliott and Parker, Declan and Sebastian. And even though today wasn’t Corbin’s day, somehow, it was him who was in the middle of the hug, reminding everyone it was okay to feel this, to need this, silently giving everyone permission to soak up the love.
We stayed up most of the night, laughing and talking outside.
Sometime after three, Corbin and I stumbled into one of the beds in a room upstairs and got naked, him immediately nuzzling into me, breathing me in, letting me hold him, and damn near trying to melt into me.
“I want to marry you,” I whispered close to his ear, running my fingers through his hair.
Corbin tensed on top of me.
“You heard me right, baby,” I said, knowing it wasn’t that he didn’t feel the same; he just couldn’t believe me. “I want to marry you. I want to give you a day like today, where everyone is there to celebrate you.”
“Us,” he replied, looking down at me. “Celebrate us. Fuck yes. I want to marry you too.” His mouth slammed down on mine before I could respond. We kissed and laughed, rolling around together on the mattress before Corbin pulled back and shouted, “I’m going to get married!” at the top of his lungs.
“Shut up, Corbin!” drifted through the wall on one side.
“Some of us are trying to have sex over here!” came from the other direction.
“Sorry you apparently suck at it!” Corb shouted back.
“Shut up, Corbin!” numerous voices answered, and somehow, it was fucking perfect.
“God, I love you,” Corbin said before kissing me. “Let’s show them how we do it.”
I grinned. We weren’t quiet as we did exactly that.
EPILOGUE
Corbin
Three years later
“Hello and welcome to The Vers, where four best friends who rarely agree on anything share their versatile opinions on everything. I’m Corbin Chase, The Charmer.”
“Marcus Alston, The Realist.”
“Parker Hansley-Weaver, The Romantic.”
“And Declan Burns, The Loner,” Dec chimed in last.
I’d taken Spencer’s last name when we’d gotten married two years ago. While things were better with my mom, who had come around and was working to have a positive, affirming relationship with me, the rest of my family was different. We still didn’t speak. But even if that hadn’t been the case, I would have wanted Spencer’s last name. I felt more connected to it than I did my own. Plus, his family had loved me from the start. They were my family now too.