Kye

“IDON’T NEED A WHEELCHAIR,” I GRUMBLED AS A FAR-TOO-CHEERY orderly pushed me toward the hospital exit.

“Dude, someone put a hole in your chest. I think you can take people up on some rides for a while,” Cope muttered.

Rhodes hit him upside the head. “Sensitivity chip, Copeypants. And you’re one to talk since you were pulling the same stunt not long ago.”

“Yeah, Puck Boy,” Fallon said, narrowing her eyes on him. “Be sensitive. Otherwise, you never know where a glitter bomb might hit.”

Cope’s eyes widened. “You genuinely scare me.”

“Good,” Fallon huffed.

“Sparrow,” I said, trying to fight a laugh because it still hurt like hell, “stow your vengeful streak for a few days, would you?”

She glanced down at me as the hospital’s automatic doors opened. “Now, what fun would that be?”

“I heard someone was breaking out today,” Shep called, grinning as he stood in front of Cope’s SUV.

I scowled at him. “Did it really take four of you to get me home?”

“When you’re being a curmudgeonly idiot who tries to do way more than the doctor says you should … yes,” Fallon huffed.

“A curmudgeonly idiot? Is that any way to talk to your still-recovering husband?” I demanded.

Fallon’s lips twitched. “When he’s being a curmudgeonly idiot, it is.” She leaned down and brushed her lips across mine. “But I love you even when you rival that grumpy cat meme.”

“Say it again,” I whispered against her lips.

“You rival that grumpy cat meme.”

I smiled against her mouth. “The other thing.”

“Oh, that.” Fallon kissed me again. “I love you.”

“Where’s Luca when you need him?” Shep muttered. “No mushy-gushy.”

Rhodes threw something at him. “They’re sweet.”

Fallon straightened, her deep blue eyes a little hazy. “Ready to go home?”

“Get me the hell out of here.” I glanced up at the orderly. “No offense, Brady.”

“None taken, Mr. Kye. You get better and enjoy that sweet family of yours.”

“You know I will, sir. And keep an eye on Fletcher for me,” I said. Harrison wouldn’t be getting out of the hospital for another week or two, but he would recover, and I was incredibly grateful for that.

Cope shook his head. “You listen to Brady. Even call him sir. I try to tell you to take it easy, and I get called Puck Boy.”

“Get used to it, Puck Boy,” Fallon called as she opened the SUV’s front passenger door.

Rho grinned at him. “She’s gonna take out all her pent-up worry on you now. You know that, right?”

“What did I do?” Cope asked as he and Shep helped me stand.

“You were a shit-stirrer. Like always,” Shep said, struggling not to laugh.

Cope scowled. “Well, I learned that from Kye.”

“You’re welcome, buddy,” I muttered.

They all bickered like usual as they got me settled in the SUV, and something about that felt comforting, like a return to a ridiculous, chaotic normal.

“You’re not driving my Bentley,” Cope growled, demanding the keys from Shep.

“You let me pull it around.”

“Which is way different than taking this baby out on the open road,” Cope shot back.

Fallon leaned forward from the back seat. “One of you had better get behind the wheel, or I’m taking my keys to this pretty leather interior.”

Cope gaped at her. “You wouldn’t.”

She arched a brow. “Want to try me?”

Cope snatched the keys from Shep’s hand and jumped behind the wheel. “Fucking terrifying.”

Shep climbed into the back seat next to Fal. “Have I told you lately that I love you?”

Fallon grinned. “I’ll always take an I love you.”

“Yeah, at the expense of my emotional torture,” Cope mumbled as he started the engine.

“Such a drama king,” Rhodes muttered.

The conversation continued much like that for the entire ride home. The bumps and jostling didn’t exactly equal a good time, but I’d take it over and over again if it meant being able to sleep in my own bed tonight.

As we turned onto the road toward home, Cope glanced at me as the others chatted in the back seat. “You hanging in?”

I gritted my teeth but nodded.

“I need to say something.”

The pain in my chest ebbed as I took in my brother. “You okay?”

Cope’s grip on the wheel tightened. “No, not really. I was a giant asshole to you and Fal when you told us you were getting married. And when you got shot, all I could think about was that those words might be some of the last I said to you.”

“Cope—”

He shook his head. “I’m so fucking sorry. You are one of the best men I’ve ever had the privilege of knowing. And I can’t imagine anyone better for Fallon. Anyone who could be a better brother, dad, son. We’re all so damn lucky to have you.”

“Copeypants,” Rhodes whispered from the back seat as she dabbed at her eyes.

“Stop eavesdropping,” he shot back.

“Then I’d miss all the good stuff,” she argued.

I reached over and patted his arm. “Love you, Cope.”

“Fuck, my eyes are leaking,” Cope mumbled.

Shep chuckled and slapped him on the shoulder. “Feel your feelings, Puck Boy.”

Cope glared as he slowed in front of my gate and punched in the code. “I hate all of you.”

Rhodes grinned. “You love us. And stop stealing Trace’s line.”

Before long, we pulled up in front of the house, and I was being fussed over again. This time, it was Fallon on one side of me and Cope on the other. I struggled with the stairs, wheezing by the time we reached the top of just a handful of them.

Fallon squeezed my hand. “I had Ellie set up the secondary suite on the main floor, so you don’t have to deal with stairs for a while.”

I scowled at that bit of information. “I miss my bed.”

“Kyler,” she said, pausing at the threshold. My head dipped, eyes locking on her dark blue depths. “Give yourself some time to heal. Give us time to fuss over you. We need it. We lived for five days, not knowing if you’d pull through.”

Fuck.

I bent, ignoring my chest’s protests, and said, “Sorry, Sparrow. I’ll stop being a grumpy fucker.”

“I prefer curmudgeonly idiot,” she whispered.

I smiled against her mouth. “You always were fancier than me.”

“They’re here!” I heard Gracie yell from inside.

“Let’s go see our family,” Fallon said.

She and Cope helped me inside, where I was greeted by a massive WELCOME HOME DADDY KYE KYE sign. There were all sorts of drawings around it, too: tattoos, boxing gloves, sparrows, and some pot leaves and little magic mushrooms.

I turned to Lolli. “Let me guess what your additions were.”

She beamed. “My boy is home. I just wanted to send him some good healing vibes. I tried to make you a special healing blend, but someone”—her gaze shot to Nora—“said she’d steal my stash if I tried.”

“Your healing blend had your best friend seeing pink bunnies for a week,” Trace cut in.

Walter looked up from his spot on an overstuffed chair. “Forget pink bunnies. She dosed me last week, and I thought I was a T-rex. I was running all around the house with baby arms, roaring at things.” He held his arms close to his chest, flinging his hands around to demonstrate.

Lolli sent her boy toy a sultry look. “But remember how much fun that role-playing was when you chased me?”

Walter grinned and rose from the chair. “Oh, I’ll chase you all right …”

“Dear God, someone please make it stop,” Cope moaned.

“Come on,” Fallon said, leading me toward the sectional.

“Over here, Daddy Kye Kye,” Gracie cheered. “We made you a nest.”

I took in the spot they’d created with a bunch of blankets and a makeshift table on the cushion next to it with all sorts of things.

“I did some research,” Clem explained. “Hydration is super important for recovery.”

“So, we got you this cup,” Hayden said, her lips twitching wildly. “Gracie picked it out, and we helped Lolli bedazzle it.”

Gracie held up a bright pink cup covered in countless bedazzled hearts. In the center was a bigger heart with an arrow through it that read: Kye + Fallon.

Fallon made a strangled noise next to me. “I’m a little jealous.”

I lowered myself to the couch with plenty of assistance. “It’s perfect. I think pink’s my new color.”

“I know what that’s like,” Anson called from a chair by the fire.

Trace grimaced. “Me, too.”

“Real men wear pink,” I said, lifting my cup and making the girls giggle.

Arden crossed to me, a hand on her growing belly. She pulled off one of my shoes and then the other. “I’ve got a new appreciation for how hard that can be.”

I smiled at her, even though I felt like I’d just climbed a mountain. “How are my niece and nephew in there?”

“Better now that you’re home.” Arden spread one of the many blankets over me and squeezed my foot. “If you ever do anything like that ever again, I will personally kick your ass.”

“She’ll do it, too,” Linc said, a proud grin on his face. “I don’t call her Vicious for nothing.”

I reached out and threaded my fingers through Fallon’s. “I think the entire Colson crew should be drama-free for a while.”

Nora crossed behind the sectional and laid a hand on my shoulder. “I like that plan.” She glanced at my sisters. “I think our stew is done. Want to help Sutton dish it up?”

“Yes!” Gracie cheered.

Clem sent me a pointed look. “You need to eat meat and other iron-rich foods to build up your blood supply.”

“Yes, ma’am,” I said, giving her a salute.

Fallon shook her head. “I should’ve brought Clem to the hospital. You actually listen to her.”

I grinned as she released my hand and followed the girls into the kitchen.

Nora sat on the back of the sectional, studying my face. “You’re going to take some pain meds with that stew. You’re hurting.”

“I—”

“You’re going to listen to me, or I will let Lolli dose you with whatever the hell she mixed up.”

I fought a laugh. “Nora, you cursed.”

“Sometimes, it’s necessary. And I’m not going to have my boy hurting.”

A different sort of pain flared in my chest. The good kind. I laid a hand over hers. “I’m sorry I held myself back from you and the things I should’ve given you.”

“Kye—”

“Should’ve called you Mom a long time ago.”

Nora’s eyes filled. “You know terms don’t define our bond.”

I swallowed hard. “But I should’ve given it to you anyway. I just … I didn’t know how to reconcile the things I felt for Fal with who I was to the rest of you. I’m sorry if I hurt you because of it.”

Nora pressed a hand to my cheek. “You’ve always been ours. And we’ve always been yours. Nothing about our family is typical, but that just makes it more special. And I couldn’t be prouder to have you as my son.”

The lump in my throat grew, and my eyes burned. “Love you, Mom.”

“More than all the stars in the sky,” she whispered.

“Fuck, my eyes are leaking again,” Cope muttered.

“Swear jar!” Luca called from the kitchen.

“He’s catching up to you, Uncle Kye Kye,” Keely added.

“Keep it up, Puck Boy,” I said with a grin.

Anson and Trace shifted the sectional so I could see out the back windows. Because that’s where the fun was. While I was in the hospital, the pond had frozen solid, which meant one thing and one thing only.

Hockey.

Nearly the entire Colson crew, including Walter and Lolli, was out on the ice. They were playing some severely bastardized version of the sport that involved tripping and snowball fights.

“Jesus,” Trace muttered. “Someone’s going to break an arm.”

“Always the safety monitor,” I said with a grin.

A knock sounded on the front door before it swung open—open because there was no reason to lock it anymore. A surprising figure stepped inside.

“Dex,” Anson greeted. “I thought you’d already headed back to Virginia.”

He shook his head, hazel eyes astute and glasses-free at the moment. “Heading to the airport now. I just …” His throat worked as he swallowed. “Wanted to check on Kye before I left.”

Anson had shared that Dex had dealt with some pretty brutal violence growing up. Between the confrontation with Ellie’s attacker and mine, it must have stirred up a lot for him.

“I’m glad you did,” I said, forcing my smile wider. “I wanted to thank you in person.”

“For what?” Dex asked, confused.

“Fal told me you supersized our alarm system.”

He simply shrugged. “I just … I wanted to do something. When stuff like this happens, it can make you feel pretty powerless. At least I can control gear and tech.”

I reached out a hand, and Dex took it as I met his gaze. “Thank you.”

“It was nothing.”

“Not to me. You’ve helped my family countless times. You need anything, just say the word.”

Dex’s gaze roamed over me, stopping on my chest as if he could see the wound beneath my shirt. “Your doc said you’d make a full recovery?”

“Full recovery. Just no marathons for a while.”

Dex nodded but didn’t smile. “Good. That’s good. Take care of yourself and those girls.”

“I’ll do just that,” I assured him. “What’s next for you?”

He forced his gaze away from my injury and turned to the back windows. “I’m not sure. I need a few months to wrap up some things in Virginia, and then it might be time to go home for a while.”

Anson straightened. “Back to Starlight Grove?”

Dex turned to him. “It’s time. I need to get back to my brothers.” He glanced at his watch. “And I need to hit the road.”

Trace gave Dex a quick hug, and Anson walked him out, leaving Trace and me alone.

He lowered himself to the end of the sectional. “How are you really? No bullshitting.”

“My head’s a little twisty,” I admitted.

“But you’re not pushing Fal away. Or the rest of us.”

I shook my head. “I learned. I’m so much better when she’s with me. Every part of me.”

The corners of Trace’s mouth kicked up. “He finally learns.”

I flipped him off but then sobered. “Thank you. For everything. You’ve had my back since you got me placed with Nora. I wouldn’t have made it through any of this without you.”

“Love you, brother. To the ends of the Earth,” Trace rasped.

“Love you,” I croaked, then shifted, pulling something out of my pocket. “Think you could do me a favor?”

“Anything.”

I handed him the paper. “Take this to the jeweler. She’ll know what to do.”

Trace unfolded the page I’d torn from my sketchbook. “You already got Fal a ridiculously expensive ring.”

“She needs this one, too. And there’s nothing I wouldn’t do for her.”