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My eyes catch Cooper’s, and together, we throw the doors open.

“Oh my god,” Huxley exclaims. “This is so cool.”

Cooper follows him into his room and I follow Ryker, my eyes wide in awe of what my sister has managed to achieve in only a few short hours.

It’s a hockey player’s dream.

One wall is a locker room; behind the bed is Ryker’s number, and on the opposite wall are two jerseys. One is Cooper’s and the other is an LA Vipers jersey that looks like it’s been signed by the entire team.

Ryker stands there in the middle of the room with his chin dropped and his eyes wide, taking it all in.

“Oh my god, yours is the same. This is crazy. They’re amazing,” Huxley cries when he comes rushing in. “Thank you,” he wails, wrapping his arms around Cooper.

“This is your home now, all of you. I want you to feel like you belong. Any changes you want made, anything that will make you more comfortable, all you’ve got to do is say.”

“All we need is you,” Huxley says. “Both of you.”

Our eyes meet again, both of them glassy.

“Now, there’s a hockey game about to start. What do you say we all go watch it and I order takeout?”

“Yesss,” Huxley agrees. “I want to discover the rest of the house first,” he says, racing out, Ryker hot on his tail, leaving us alone for the first time all day.

Cooper steps closer and slips his arms around my waist.

“This is a lot, huh?”

“Yep. But I wouldn’t have it any other way,” I say before leaning forward and brushing my lips against his.

70

GARRETT

“Good morning,” Cooper rasps as he steps up behind me and slides his hand around my waist.

I instantly stop what I’m doing and lean back against him, soaking in his warmth.

“Morning.”

Last night was his first game since we brought Huxley and Ryker back to LA with us. It was the first time the two of them left the house and faced the world.

I wasn’t too worried about Huxley. From the moment he arrived here, he seemed to be at home. Ryker is another story, though. I know he’s quiet and closed-off, but being aware of it and seeing it myself are two very different things. I swear, I’ve spent every second of the last two days worrying about him and how he’s settling in.

Other than being quiet, he hasn’t shown any signs of not being happy. He’s slept through the night; he’s eating and engaging as much as I think he can right now. Huxley has assured me that he’s okay. I keep reminding myself that Hux knows his little brother better than anyone, but it’s hard when I can’t hear the words from Ryker.

Taking them to the arena last night, though…getting to watch their reactions to Cooper out on the ice. Fuck. It was so good. Huxley was in his element, shouting and screaming along with the rest of the fans. And while Ryker was quiet, he was right there with it. His eyes lit up with excitement when we got close to a goal. His enjoyment and happiness oozed out of his every pore, and for the first time, I felt myself breathe a sigh of relief.

Both of them are going to be okay. It might take time, Ryker probably longer than Huxley, but they’re going to find themselves here. Cooper and I are going to make sure of it.

Thankfully, the game was a little more successful than the previous one they watched, and we took the W two goals to one.

I took the boys up to the friends and family box afterward and introduced them to everyone. Of course, Calvin, Kodie, and Casey had already done a fantastic job of ensuring everyone knew about the change in Cooper’s situation. They all welcomed the boys with open arms and big smiles, exactly as I knew they would—just as they haven’t treated Cooper any differently since he trusted them with the truth.

And now those closest to Cooper know…it’s time to reveal it to the rest of the world.

Later today, we’re meeting Hailee, and we’re going to come up with a way to tell the world that we’re a family now.

Cooper is understandably anxious. Hell, I am too. This is far bigger than the day I pulled up my big-boy pants and sat my parents down to tell them I was gay. Turned out they already knew and were just waiting for me to get my head around everything. While we know there are going to be so many people out there who are going to accept this and offer virtual hugs just like my parents did to me that day, we also know it’s going to bring out the haters.