Page 22 of Hansen

Someone cleared their throat.Evan didn’t have to look to know it was Hansen.Even here, he was taking care of Evan.

“Why don’t we all sit down?”Hasen suggested.

It was a sign of how overwhelmed Evan’s parents were that they didn’t question who Hansen was.Hell, Evan’s mother barely even looked at him.She’d seen Davey, and she was hugging him to death now.

“My boys are home,” she said with a sob.

Evan’s eyes burned, but he didn’t care how much he was crying.He figured he was allowed to today of all days.

Evan was thankful for Hansen and Orion because if it wasn’t for them, he, his parents, and Davey would still be crying on the porch.Instead, Orion and Hansen guided them inside the house, found the living room, and helped them sit on the couch.All four of them squeezed on the same one.Evan didn’t want to be far from his parents right now.

“I need to call Cynthia,” Evan’s mother said.“Your mother should be here,” she told Davey.“Your father.They all should be here.”

Evan had known that would happen.He’d hoped that his and Davey’s mother were still close, and he was glad they’d had each other.They’d both lost a son when Evan and Davey had vanished.

“What happened to you?”Evan’s father asked.

“Maybe we should wait until Davey’s family is here, too,” Evan suggested.“I want to tell you everything, but I don’t want to have to go through it twice.”

His father’s expression turned serious.“We’re not going to like this, are we?”

“I wouldn’t have stayed away for so long if I hadn’t been forced to.”

“My poor boy.”

Evan started crying again.He’d imagined this day so many times over the years.He hadn’t thought he would ever have it, but here he was.

Home.

* * * *

THINGS STAYED PRETTYnormal until more people arrived.Hansen had heard Evan’s mother calling Davey’s mom, but he hadn’t realized that she would bring more people than Davey’s father with her.

Everyone was eager to see Evan and Davey.They hadn’t seen them in years and hadn’t even known that they were alive.It wasn’t a surprise to see that everyone wanted to hug and cry on their shoulders.

Hansen and Orion exchanged a glance.They’d been pushed to the side when Davey’s mother had barged into the house and thrown herself into her son’s arms.Hansen and Orion had stayed there, watching their mates.

“How are you feeling?”Hansen asked Orion.Orion didn’t have a family who would be happy to see him.He had his brother, but beyond that, his family was better lost than found.It couldn’t be easy for him to watch as Davey and Evan were surrounded by love.

But when Orion smiled, he looked sincere.“I’m happy for him,” he said, tilting his chin toward his mate, who had a baby in his arms and was crying.

From what Hansen had gathered, the baby was the son of Davey’s younger sister.Davey was an uncle, and he hadn’t even known.

Evan was talking with his mother, while Evan’s father watched them both.The man was frowning, which was an out-of-place expression.Evan had promised to explain what had happened to him and Davey, and if Hansen had to bet, that was what his father was thinking about.

It wouldn’t be easy.Hansen wished Evan didn’t have to do it because it would hurt him, but he wouldn’t let it stop him.Evan wanted his family to know what had happened to him.It would probably be the last time he talked about it beyond therapy, and that would be perfectly fine.

“Why do you have bodyguards?”Davey’s mother suddenly asked.

Davey blinked up at Hansen and Orion.Their hovering was kind of awkward, but neither of them was willing to get far from their mate.

“They’re not bodyguards,” Davey said with a smile.He held out his free hand, and Orion moved forward, taking it and linking their fingers together.“This is my mate, Orion.”

The level of noise rocketed.Hansen grinned when Orion gave him a slightly panicked look as he was enfolded into Davey’s family, but he didn’t smile for long because Evan’s mother had heard the conversation and was turning her attention to him.

“If Orion is Davey’s mate, does that mean this man is yours, Evan?”

“It does,” Evan confirmed with a smile that Hansen was pretty sure he’d never seen before.It was bright and wide and went straight to Hansen’s heart.

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