Hat Trick (Fake Boyfriend 5)

“Hey,” Matt whines.

I shush him. “I’m having a moment with my niece here.” I turn back to her and talk her ears off about what a great family she has, how much support she’ll have from not only her daddies and uncles but the whole gay brigade too.

When I run out of random things to say, I start singing.

My songs. Eleven songs. And then I move onto the classics like Queen.

Her little eyes get droopy, and she stops sucking on the bottle.

“She needs to burp,” Matt says.

I look up to find him lying on the couch and Noah nowhere to be seen. “Where’s Noah?”

“You lost him around the time you started singing boy band songs.”

I give him the finger.

“I told him to get some sleep while he can.” He stands. “Here. Hold her upright so it’s easy for her to burp. Oh, and she’ll probably spew on you.”

I shrug. “I’ve had worse on me.”

“Don’t want to know.”

“You know, I don’t know what you’re complaining about. This baby thing is easy.”

“If I wasn’t so tired and thankful she’s being quiet right now, I’d totally tell you to fuck off, but I won’t because I’m seriously questioning if I’ve gone deaf.”

“Do you think if I sit down, she’ll start screaming again?” I ask.

“Give it a try. She only weighs eight pounds but she sure gets heavy after a while.”

I sit in the recliner and wait for the crying to come back. Jackie looks up at me with warm, brown eyes. “Are you sure you adopted her and didn’t accidentally impregnate someone? I swear she has the Jackson family brown eyes.”

Matt laughs and takes a seat on the couch. He continues to watch us, and while I’d put it down to being an overprotective father, I know something else is bothering him.

“What’s up?” My tone is exasperated, and he can tell.

“Are you and Soren good? For real?”

“Ah. Nice time to bring this up because I can’t yell.”

“I’m just askin’. I know I didn’t react … umm …”

“Sanely. The word you’re looking for is you didn’t react sanely when you found out about us.”

“I just didn’t see you two together, but I know when to admit I’m wrong. I wanted to talk to you while you’re here because I know you guys are doing long distance, and—”

“If this is going to be a lecture on how it won’t work—”

“It’s not. Look at Talon and Miller. They did long distance for the first six months of their relationship. They’re one of the strongest couples we know. I have faith you guys can pull it off, but you might need help to do it. So, we’re offering you the Gulfstream to use whenever you want.”

I try not to break into laughter, but it slips out. I worry about disturbing Jackie, but when I look down, she’s sound asleep on me.

“What’s funny?” Matt asks.

“Doesn’t that feel weird to you? Like the words are foreign coming out of your mouth? ‘Hey, if you need to get anywhere, take our plane.’ Like it’s no big deal. If you’d told us that fifteen years ago, you think we would’ve believed it? Maybe you would have because you were always good at football, but wanna know what I almost replied with? ‘Thanks, but I’ve got access to my own.’ I mean, it’s the label’s, but I can still use it if I need to.”

Matt chuckles. “I’ll admit, it took a long time to get used to.”

“Thank you for the offer. I’m not saying no. It’s comforting to know I have options.”

“You and Soren will make it. I’m sure of it. And I’m going to say one more thing, but then we can erase it from our memories.”

“Oh, God, I’m terrified of what’s about to come out of your mouth.”

“Talon and Miller always say the key to a long-distance relationship is … uh … naked Skype calls. And now we’re pretending I never said that.”

I laugh. “Noted.”

Chapter Thirty-One

Soren

My phone beeps as I reach the locker room, and as I pull it out of my pocket and stare at the pic that’s been sent through, my chest warms. I don’t know if it’s because of the photo or the caption. It’s obviously a group text with the rest of the gay brigade, but the fact I’m included in it means Matt and Noah must actually be okay with Jet and me.

It’s a photo of Jet asleep in their recliner with baby Jackson on his chest.

Better up your uncle game, bitches.

It’s the most adorable thing I’ve ever seen in my life, and a voice in the back of my head says that photo could be our future if we wanted it.

We can have anything we want.

“Whoa,” Morgan says beside me as his looming presence hovers over my shoulder. “Please tell me your boyfriend didn’t steal a baby.”