Page 85 of Far from Destined

“That you are the best. Everyone else sucks.”

“You know we’re standing right here,” Prior huffed.

“I like this side of you,” Arden chimed in. “My big brother, all nice and happy. Dakota and Joshua are sure making you all smiley.”

“It’s rather disturbing,” Prior replied, shaking his head.

“Hey, don’t harp on Macon’s happiness.” Paris came up on my other side to wrap her arms around Prior. Arden moved to do the same with Liam, and then Hazel was there, hugging Cross. I moved back and gently picked up Dakota so she was sitting on the stool in front of me.

She let me do that, and Prior took the crutches. I was grateful that there were other people around. Usually, she bit my head off.

Dakota did not like being on crutches or asking for help. That much I had known even before they handed her the damn things.

But Pop and Jason were filling her shoes nicely. Dakota was on a fancy little rolling stool in the front now while taking orders, or in the back, dealing with things she could do from a seated position. We did not let her walk around the place on her crutches, and she just had to deal with that.

Later, she’d be in a different position. But for now, everybody was a little overprotective, and for that, I was happy.

“When do you get the final move-in?” Liam asked.

“Next week. We’re putting the house on the market and everything,” Dakota said, and I heard the wistfulness in her tone.

“I told you we could change that,” I added quickly.

She glared up at me. “You have the bigger house, and it fits the five cats that we now have,” she said dryly.

“And the puppy that you’re probably going to get soon.” Cross sipped his beer. I narrowed my eyes at him.

Dakota growled. “Oh, we’ll be getting a puppy. Never.”

“You know I’m a vet. Sometimes, puppies just show up,” I said.

“You are as bad as our kid,” Dakota replied, and I grinned at that.

We were getting good at calling Joshua ours. The second that I had seen Joshua outside of the hospital, he’d called me Dad. I had nearly gone to my knees and wept in front of him, but I did my best to act stoic and fucking ecstatic.

Joshua hadn’t wasted any time making sure we were a family.

I was going to get a ring on Dakota’s finger soon, and we’d finalize adoption because Joshua was mine, and Dakota wanted no part of Adam anywhere near him. I was just fine with that. But for now, Joshua was ours, and I was theirs.

“Anyway, we’re not staying in my house. You know why.”

I ran my hand down her hair and kissed her temple. “I’m sorry.”

“I know,” she whispered.

“You said you were sorry pretty quick.” Prior grinned. “It’s like a whole new side of you.” He let out an oomph as Paris elbowed him in the gut, and then he rubbed his stomach. “Those elbows are pointy.”

“I will end you, Prior Brady. This is a nice happy family moment. Don’t mess it up.”

“Ah, you guys are so sweet,” Hazel said with a laugh.

Dakota laughed before she continued. “Anyway, we’re moving in next week. And, thankfully, we’re still in the same school district, although I’m glad we’re not going to be at that school next year anyway when Joshua ages out.”

None of us needed to say why. That was where he’d been abducted. Joshua was doing just fine, but he was still a little scared. We were going to therapy as a family, plus all of us individually. And mother and son were going together as a duo, too. Somehow, we were making it work. I had never been one to talk about my feelings, but I learned that I needed to when I was first hurt. Now, I was doing it even more.

“Well, this just makes me happy,” Paris said, grinning. “You guys are too cute. And the fact that your parents are in love with that kid there? I’m pretty sure they’re going to start asking for grandbabies soon.”

“They never ask for grandbabies.” Arden shook her head. “They’re always very polite about it, but I think they’re ready,” she said.