“Are you ready?”

“Yeah,” Shane answered a little breathlessly. One hand still clenched the steering wheel, even though we’d been parked in Kings’ parking lot for the last five minutes. The other was pretending to be relaxed in mine, where I let my thumb stroke the skin atop his hand.

“No matter what, I’m here for you. I love you.”

He finally let go of the wheel and turned to me with a soft smile. “I love you, too.”

I’d never tire of hearing it.

When I’d woken this morning, I decided not to bring up Sunday brunch. I wanted to dive right in and show the world that he was mine, but I worried it was too soon. I didn’t want to push him.

Also, I kind of wanted a repeat of Saturday when he hadn’t left the apartment at all. We scavenged his barren cabinets and refrigerator for enough sustenance to allow us to keep fucking like bunnies.

I couldn’t have been more shocked when he was the one that rolled over, pulled me to his chest, and whispered, “Come to Sunday brunch with me.”

I swallowed hard past the happy tears and easily agreed. I also gave him a long blow job to make sure he started the day with a positive explosion. Looking at him with his jaw clenched, swallowing nervously, I wondered if I should give him another one to calm him down.

“He’d be an idiot to let you go,” I said. “And while I personally find him lacking in the brains department, I have faith he’ll figure it out.”

Shane leaned over and kissed me long and hard, sending chills all over my body.

As soon as we each rounded our sides of the car, we linked our hands back up and made our way into King’s. Everyone was already sitting at the table and froze at our entrance, falling completely silent. My eyes sought out Jack as I gave Shane’s hand a supportive squeeze and was met with flared nostrils and a snarling lip.

“You have a lot of nerve showing up here,” Jack said, rising from his chair and taking angry strides toward Shane.

Before he could make it very far, I held up my free hand to halt his progress and gave him a fierce stare of my own.

“I love him. And he is part of this family. So you better love him too. He makes me happy. Period. The end.”

“You go, Glen Coco!” Evie shouted from her position at the table.

“What?” Jack asked exasperatedly, jerking his head around toward her.

“Sorry. Mean Girls reference to cheer my girl on.” She waved her hands in a rolling motion. “Proceed. But if you could forgive him soon, that’d be great because I’m starving.”

Luella laughed as Jack turned back to glare at Shane. I turned to look at him to find nerves etched all over his face. His chest rose high before he let out a heavy sigh.

“Look, man. I’m sorry. I never meant for it to happen, but I’ll never regret that it did. I love her.”

Jack said nothing as he let Shane’s words sink in.

I stepped into Shane’s side, wrapping my arm around his waist, needing to be close after his proclamation.

“You ever hurt her, I will fucking murder you.”

“Duly noted.”

“Praise hands. Let’s eat,” Evie shouted.

I smiled up at Shane, and we moved to take a seat at the table. Jack continued to level dubious glares in Shane’s direction, but quickly turned away when I whispered in Shane’s ear and then nibbling my way down his neck.

“Ugh,” Jack grunted.

“What?” I turned to Jack with raised eyebrows. “I’ve watched you and Lu all the time. Let’s not even talk about the time I walked in on you and saw your pasty ass.” I shuddered, and not for effect.

“Ahh, good memories.” Evie smiled up at the ceiling like she was seeing it all over again. But when Jameson nudged her, a questioning look on his face, she stopped and gave him a peck. “But not as good as you, Jamie-boy.”

“Or the time in the bathroom,” Shane murmured under his breath.

“What?!” Jack and Luella’s shocked voices asked in unison.

I leveled a death glare at Shane for even reminding me of that horrifying moment.

He just laughed and said, “Nothing,” before leaning down to kiss me softly, erasing my irritation.

As everyone moved on talking about anything and everything, I curled into Shane’s side, with our hands clasped tightly on top of the table for anyone to see.

This was my life. My family. And it was more than I ever could’ve imagined.