Page 77 of Off The Rush
“I know,” I interrupt, reaching up to squeeze his hand reassuringly. “You’ll unleash brother wrath on them. But trust me, you don’t need to worry. They’re amazing.”
“Alright, alright,” he concedes, a hint of a smile tugging at the corner of his mouth. “Let’s go meet these so-called boyfriends.” We quickly unload his car and get ready to leave.
As we walk to the car together, my heart races in anticipation. Introducing my brother to my guys is a huge step, and I can only hope that he’ll come to love and accept my boyfriends as I have. There’s no turning back now.
The moment we step into the boys’ house, I’m hit with the warm, inviting scent of something delicious cooking in the oven. JD, Luka, and Alec are all dressed to impress – crisp button-down shirts and slacks that accentuate their athletic builds. As if that isn’t enough, they’ve even gone through the trouble of setting up a small, beautifully decorated tree in the living room.
“Wow, you guys went all out,” I say, my heart swelling with love and gratitude.
“Only the best for our girl,” Alec replies, flashing me his signature smirk.
“Emma!” JD beams at me, eyes twinkling like the lights on the tree. “We wanted your brother to see how much we care about you.”
“Speaking of which,” I turn to Tristan, who’s been standing silently by the door, taking everything in. “Tristan, this is JD, Luka, and Alec. Guys, meet my little brother, Tristan.”
“Nice to meet you, man,” JD says, extending a hand towards Tristan. Luka and Alec follow suit, each offering a firm handshake.
Tristan hesitates for just a second before shaking their hands, his expression guarded. I feel a knot forming in my stomach, praying that things won’t go downhill from here.
“Nice place,” Tristan says, his words clipped. He takes in the clean, well-organized home and the delicious food still wafting from the kitchen. “Didn’t expect it to be so…domestic.”
“We can clean up when we need to,” Alec says, chuckling. “Especially when we’re trying to make a good impression.”
“Your sister means a lot to us,” Luka adds, his gaze steady and sincere as he looks at Tristan. “We want you to know that we’re serious about her.”
“Really?” Tristan raises an eyebrow, crossing his arms over his chest. “All three of you?”
“Absolutely,” JD speaks up, his voice warm and comforting. “We’re in this together, and we all care about Emma. It’s unconventional, sure, but we make it work.”
I watch as Tristan takes a moment to process their words, studying each of my boyfriends in turn. The knot in my stomach tightens even further, and I bite my lip, hoping for the best.
“Alright,” Tristan finally says, uncrossing his arms and offering a small smile. “You guys seem genuine enough. But if any of you so much as think about hurting her…”
“Trust me, man,” Alec interrupts, grinning broadly. “That’s the last thing any of us would ever do.”
“Good,” Tristan nods, his smile widening just a bit. “Now, what’s that amazing smell coming from the kitchen? I’m starving.”
As we all head towards the dining room, the tense atmosphere dissolves. My heart is full, grateful not only for Luka, JD, and Alec but also for my brother’s willingness to give them a chance
The aroma of garlic and herbs wafts through the air as we gather around the set dining table.
“Wow, you guys outdid yourselves,” Tessa exclaims, eyes twinkling as she takes in the festive atmosphere.
Luka, JD, and Alec beam with pride.
“Only the best for our girl,” Alec says, winking at me. I can’t help but blush, feeling overwhelmed by their thoughtfulness.
“Let’s dig in before it gets cold!” JD announces, taking his seat at the table.
We all eagerly follow suit, diving into the delicious feast they’ve prepared.
Throughout dinner, conversation flows easily as we share stories and laugh. I take a moment to observe my brother, who seems to have warmed up considerably to my boyfriends. He chuckles along with Luka’s jokes and engages in friendly banter with Alec and JD. My heart swells with happiness as I see him genuinely enjoying their company.
“Tristan, you should tell them about Emma’s sixteenth birthday,” Tessa prompts.
Tristan proceeds to tell them a terrible story about me drinking too much that embarrasses the hell out of me. At least they’re bonding.
I quickly change the subject to something else. “Cheers to all of us getting to spend this time together.”
