Page 54 of Bond Strength

Lightness bubbled up, threatening to dispel every other storm cloud that loomed in the distance. I’d deal with the job situation later. This morning, I wanted to go to brunch with Declan.

“Come on, my boyfriend,” I teased. “Let’s go see your family.”

Chapter twenty-one

Declan

Bringing anyone new to Brannon brunch was a recipe for carnage.

Noah wasn’t necessarily new, but he was nursing the surprise loss of a job. On the way over to my parents’ house, I’d compiled about half a dozen exit strategies if he was getting overwhelmed. I even debated on swinging back around and trying my hand at cooking for today because that was a guaranteed exit strategy.

Everyone in my family had a comment about my cooking. Give people food poisoning…well, maybe five times now? And they seemed to not trust you in the kitchen anymore.

Noah’s shoulders were squared, and his normal goofy smile was absent, which probably meant he was nervous. Whether about the job loss or my family, though, I wasn’t sure. Yet we didn’t have the time to contemplate. All too fast, he pulled right in front of the house I’d grown up in, one he’d also come to thousands of different occasionswhen we were younger. Six cars glutted the driveway and street parking, which meant we were last to arrive. Not my favorite because it put us at a disadvantage to settle in.

“How are we doing this?” Noah asked.

“Define this.” I tapped my knee.

“The whole coming out as bi thing?. Introducing me as your boyfriend?”

“If my family can’t deduce I’m bisexual by the fact that I brought a boyfriend, I don’t have high hopes for their intelligence. And I’m certain you don’t need an introduction, since they’ve met you before. Come on. Let’s go.” I opened the door and slipped out.

I strode toward the house, but when I looked back, Noah lagged a few paces. I slowed and slipped my hand in his. “Are you ready, or do we need to claim a cat emergency?”

“Do you have a cat I’m unaware of?” Noah asked, some slight amusement in his voice.

“I figured I’d claim I got mauled by a random cat.” I shrugged as we reached the front door. “Last chance to run.”

“Hell no, gorgeous. I’m in this for keeps.” His husky voice sent a shudder through me, and yet again, I could barely believe I’d been missing out on this for so damn long. His hand was sweaty, but I just clutched it harder.

I pushed the door open, and the familiar wall of noise slammed into me. I let it cascade in waves, discerning one voice after another, then stepped in so it was no longer an indistinguishablesoundand more familiar, more the people I cared about most. All under the same roof—Noah included.

I nudged the door wider, keeping a firm grasp on Noah’s hand. Mom and Dad were lounging on the couch, and Cor and Felix hadtaken the love seat. My other siblings must’ve been in the other room because their voices carried in.

Mom’s gaze landed on our joined hands first. “Well, damn. Looks like we have a full set.”

“Hunh?” Dad asked.

“Of queer kids, Henry. Now pay up.” Mom’s eyes glinted with amusement, and I shook my head. Of course they had a bet going.

Dad stared at me and then at Noah. “Well, I’ll be damned. Noah Langston?”

“In the flesh,” he joked, even though there was a slight wobble in his voice.

“I’m glad you brought him,” Cor said.

Warmth settled inside me at the way my family welcomed Noah. Not like I thought they’d be any different, just that they might overwhelm him.

“Wait, Declan brought someone?” Rory called as he walked into the living room. He stopped and stared. Then stared some more and tugged on the brim of his backward cap. “Holy fuck, Declan. Noah’s hoooot. Also, when the hell were you into guys? Why did you keep this from me?”

I blinked and blinked again, but Noah was still holding my hand and not running away, so that was a bonus. “This is a recent development, so I wasn’t keeping anything back.”

“Wait, Declan’s dating a guy?” Aislin almost crashed into Rory as she raced into the room. “Oh, hey, Noah.” She cocked her head to the side. “Shit, wait, Noah?”

“Declan’s dating a guy, and Noah’s visiting?” Ollie asked as he and Liam joined the rest of my siblings in crowding this room far too fast. I was about ready to duck out of the limelight. I hated it.

“Nah, babe.” Liam elbowed Ollie. “Declan’s dating Noah.”

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