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I wait with bated breath for him to suddenly change his mind. As far as I know, he’s happy at his school. But he doesn’t say anything. Instead, he pushes to his feet. “We’d better get packed fast because I’m starving.”

“Yeah, me too, bud.”

“Me three,” Garrett agrees with a laugh.

“Race you both to your bedrooms,” I say, and suddenly they both shoot off. Even with the trauma they’ve just lived through, they’re still the competitive little boys I know and love.

As much as I want to follow them, to keep them in my sight so I know they’re safe, I also need to speak to Garrett alone.

“I’m sorry, I just sprung that on you. You don’t actually have to⁠—”

He presses his fingers against my lips, silencing me.

“What you just did…I’m so proud of you, Cooper. You’re going to make the most incredible guardian to those two. I know it’s not going to be easy, but I’m going to be there every step of the way. For all three of you.”

“Yeah?” I ask, searching his eyes for the lie that should be lingering there. But there’s nothing.

“Yeah. Let’s take them home.”

“Fuck,” I hiss, resting my brow against his. “How is this happening?” I whisper.

“Because it’s the right thing to do. There is one problem, though.” My spine straightens as his words hit me.

“What?”

“You’re gonna have to hide some of those drawings you’ve done. They’re not suitable for innocent eyes.”

Laughter erupts from me, and it feels so fucking good. Wrapping my hand around the back of his neck, I tug him closer. “I always fancied having a studio at the bottom of the yard; maybe I’ll move it all down there. No one will know when I get you laid out naked so I can draw you like my French girls.”

My lips brush his before he gets a chance to respond; his fingers twist in my shirt, fully anchoring us together before we seal all the promises we just made to each other with a kiss.

69

GARRETT

Istand at the end of the bed and watch the three of them sleep.

We booked two connecting hotel rooms, but understandably, neither of the boys wanted to be apart from their big brother.

They all look so incredibly peaceful. Relief floods through me that they’ve been able to find some rest after the day’s events.

Did I think we’d end the day with flights for tomorrow for four? No, not a chance. But now that it’s happened, I can’t imagine anything else.

Cooper, me, and those two incredible boys. We might be a bit dysfunctional and clueless on a good day, but I have good feelings about the future. I also have every confidence that we’ll be able to give them a better home than their father ever did.

I don’t know how long I stand there watching them, but eventually, my cell begins buzzing in my hand, and I slip into the room next door to answer it.

“Hey,” Sienna says once the call connects. “How’s everyone?”

“Wiped out. All three Nash boys are sleeping soundly next door.” She laughs down the line, but I hear the same concern in her voice that I feel.

I called her earlier while we were at the wing restaurant the boys wanted to go to. While Cooper and I were confident in the decision that had been made, we knew we’d need some help. So while he stayed close to his brothers, I started getting things into motion. My first call was to my sister, because who would be better to get two little boys’ rooms ready for their new occupants in less than twenty-four hours? Her first reaction was to laugh and tell me it was impossible. But I have faith in what she can achieve, especially if she calls in the troops.

My next call was to Casey, and in turn Kodie, because Huxley is the same age as Sutton, and if anyone is going to know how to get a kid into a new school and, possibly more importantly, join a new hockey team, it would be him.

Armed with information I never thought I’d need in my life, I started getting things into motion. The sooner we can get Huxley and Ryker into some kind of routine, the more normal everything will feel. Right?

Fucking hell. I’m so out of my depth right now, it’s not even funny.