Page 26 of You're Ours

Okay, but seriously, why was there never food at these stupid work events?

Tyler took an angry sip of his sparkling water and glared daggers at the bowl of trail mix in front of him. He was sure it was supposed to symbolize blazing new trails with the company expansion or whatever.

His phone buzzed with Clara’s vibration sequence, and he quickly pulled it out, grimacing at the time.

A gentle hand landed on his forearm, and he looked into concerned blue eyes.

“I can go pick up Layla so you and Jackson can accept whatever bargain brand plaque they’re going to give your team,” Sky said, his voice quiet enough not to alert their coworkers but somehow still lilting with sarcasm.

“You don’t want to stay and see Jackson accept the award? I could go get her, it’s no problem,” Tyler whispered back, leaning down to wrap a subtle arm around Sky’s lower back.

A little over a year ago, Jackson had been promoted to oversee a team of controllers, which had caused a bit of friction in the accounting department. They were very out and proud about their relationship at work, and technically, Tyler wasn’t allowed to report to him. HR had been brought in to sort things out, and eventually, Tyler had been moved to another team. The whole thing had become moot when that team lead left, and Tyler was promoted to lead the team, putting him back at Jackson’s same reporting level.

Both his and Jackson’s teams had been working for almost six months directly with the CFO of the company on the upcoming expansion. Tonight was a ceremony celebrating all the teams that had been putting in the long hours, and Jackson had been selected to accept the award for the accounting department.

Sky’s eyes crinkled in that way they did when Tyler said something sweet–but stupid. “Baby, you’re an important member of the team.” His lips quirked up, and he tilted his head to rest on Tyler’s shoulder. “And an equal member of our triad. I don’t need to stay to see Jackson anymore than you do.”

Tyler squeezed his waist and planted a quick kiss on his head. It had taken a while for Tyler to accept that he was not only a part of Jackson and Sky’s relationship but anequalpart of it. He’d truly had no issue with Jackson and Sky remaining married, but the dissolution of their marriage the previous summer had put them on more equal legal footing at least.

Tyler had been excited to contribute to bills when he moved in with them, but after only a few months, they realized their sweet little condo wasn’t enough space for three grown men. Sky had been hesitant at first, bad memories from their previous relationship resurfacing, but eventually he sat them all down, and they started drawing up legal papers. They ended up forming a family owned LLC, which allowed them to equally own the condo they bought a little uptown. It had three bedrooms, one of which they outfitted with a guest bed Layla was finally old enough to sleep in, as well as a fully decked out home office for the three of them, and a good sized master bedroom that could fit all their shit.

“I know, sweetheart,” Tyler said. ”I meant that she’s my spawn, so I’m happy to pick her up.”

Clara and Stephanie had decided to tell Layla where her sperm donation came from–obviously not in so many words–and Tyler had accidentally joked that she was his spawn while she had been within earshot. She’d loved the word so much, it had become sort of like a nickname. Clara and Stephanie didn’t mind; in fact, Stephanie had bought them custom t-shirts that said “Spawn” and “Uncle of Spawn” for Christmas.

“I think Sky doesn’t want to be here anymore than we do, darling,” Jackson said. Even though he was almost a foot away, his deep voice rumbled through Tyler, and he leaned a little heavier into Sky’s side.

Sky gave him a knowing squeeze before releasing him. “So, it’s settled? Why don’t you two finish up here, and you can meet us at the house?” Sky glanced at the bowl of trail mix, and then smirked up at Tyler. “We’ll have pizza and root beer ready and waiting for you.”

“You’re the best,” Tyler said.

“Thanks, love. We’ll see you soon, and I’m sure Tyler will send you lots of pictures,” Jackson said, nodding his head at Sky, who gave a campy salute and sauntered off.

Tyler let himself watch his partner’s sweet ass for a few moments before returning to staring blankly at the stage. The CEO could be a bit long-winded, and he’d already run the program over by thirty minutes.

With a start, he realized he hadn’t answered Clara, but as he went to grab his phone off the table, he noticed Jackson already had his out. He saw a familiar group photo they’d taken as a family–his parents, Clara, Stephanie, Layla, himself, and his men–and a moment later, their family group chat dinged with an incoming text from Jackson.

“Sky was able to make an early escape. He’s coming to get Layla now,” it read.

“The Spawn,” Sky immediately corrected.

Jackson rolled his eyes, and when he glanced over at Tyler, he rolled them again.

Tyler stepped around the table so he was shoulder to shoulder with his larger partner.

“You ready?” he asked, tucking his phone into his back pocket, giving him an excuse to drag his hand over Jackson’s hip on the way back to the table top.

Jackson smiled down at him, then sighed. “Ready as I’ll ever be. You’re much better at public speaking. I don’t know why they couldn’t have gone with you.”

Tyler bumped their shoulders together. “You’re a prettier face.”

Jackson snorted, and when a few of their coworkers glanced their way, he hid his face in his cup of water.

Over ten minutes later, making them forty minutes late, the CEO finally wrapped up his speech and began calling employees up to the stage. Tyler whipped out his phone and recorded Jackson walking up to the stage when his name was called. He cheered loudly, and quite obnoxiously, figuring he was owed at least that after the long nights and pathetic food offerings. He couldn’t even enjoy the free beer because of course this stupid event had to be planned for a night Layla was staying over.

He kept his phone trained on the stage throughout Jackson’s entire speech, switching to camera mode right at the end to grab a few photos he quickly shot off to the family group chat.

As Jackson descended from the stage Tyler’s phone buzzed again. His fingers tingled at Sky’s familiar vibration.

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