31. The Anniversary of Forks

Quick reminder: Padre= Noah, Papa= Madison

***

I'd never wanted to hug someone more than I wanted to hug Tyler.

We were sitting at the dinner table with my fathers on one side of the table and Azalea, myself, and Tyler on the other side. My other younger siblings had decided to go to bed, which was a rare but appreciated occurrence. But the smaller amount of people didn't stop Tyler's leg as it nervously bounced under the table against mine. I could practically feel his nervousness.

My fathers, being the weirdos they were, kept looking between Tyler and I, looking like they were about to break into a bout of questions at any moment. Tyler brought another fork full of his food to his mouth, chewing it thoroughly before he looked up at my fathers. "This is great. You all did an amazing job."

Papa gave him a friendly grin. "Thank you, Tyler. I'm glad you enjoy it."

Tyler offered his own closed-lipped grin before he broke eye contact once again. Both empathetic and a bit amused by his shy demeanor that countered the way he acted when we were alone, I slid my hand into his under the table.

Papa lightly chuckled as he shook his head, his attention on the food on his plate.

"What?" I asked.

"Nothing, I was just...I was just remembering when you were still a little boy and you made your first dish. I don't remember what it was exactly, but I remember that you burned it. Bad. Noah was out on a book tour, so it was just you, me, and Azzy, and I tried to stop you because I knew it was going to be bad when you set the stove too high, but you refused to listen to me. And you were so proud. We covered all the burnt bits with cheese and whatever else we were using, and you just smiled and smiled." He scoffed as he shook his head, obviously fond of the memory that I couldn't quite recall. "We ate that burned food and you wanted to save a bit for your Padre when he came home and–"

"–and burned food already tastes bad when you eat it after it's made, but it tastes even worse after you reheat it!"

"Hey!" I protested. "I did my best! How old was I?"

"Too young," Papa said. "But it feels like yesterday and look at you now..." His words died on his lips as he looked between Tyler and I, a grin on his lips. "All grown up."

I felt a blush ignite on my cheeks as I looked away, slightly embarrassed by his sappiness. "Dad..."

"Ooh, Madison, remember when I almost burned your apartment down back in South Carolina?"

Papa laughed. "Oh my–Noah, you almost killed us!"

"Wait, wait, wait, what now?" Azalea asked, voicing Tyler and I's piqued interests as well.

Papa sobered up. "Alright, so what happened was–"

"No, no, no, you never tell it right. Let me."

Papa put his hands up in surrender and let Padre tell the story. "Alright, so it was back in my senior year of high school after everything had gone down. I'd been living with Madison for a while and–"

"–actually, Noah never moved in, he just stopped going back to Nonna's and started stealing all of my food and clothes!"

"Whatever, Madison. Every time I would try to go home you'd get all said and be like 'Il mio re (my king) please don't go. I'll miss you, what can I do to make you stay? Blah, blah, blah'."

At the mention of the familiar nickname my Papa used for my Padre, I caught Tyler looking at me out of the side of my eye. "Mr. Noah? What does that mean? Il mio re?"

"It means 'my king'. Madison has been calling me that since we were young, about you two's age actually."

"Oh," Tyler said with a nod before a heat rushed to my cheeks. I just hoped that he didn't think it was weird now since I called him the same thing. But what could I say? He was my king.

"Anyway, so one day I was making breakfast on a Saturday I believe. Mr. Hill, my old creative writing teacher who Addison knows as Uncle Hill, hired me to be his PA and in addition to babysitting he and his husband's daughter, I would help him grade the papers for the younger classes and other miscellaneous things. I was rushing to get there on time, but I also needed to make breakfast because it was my morning. I was looking over a paper at the same time that I was trying to cook when I heard a crash in the bathroom and Madison scream. So, not paying attention, I just threw the paper down and rushed into the bathroom to make sure that he wasn't hurt. Turns out that he saw a spider and literally lost his mind."

Tyler tried to hide his amused smile by sliding another forkful of food into his mouth. But I made no move to hide my laughter, especially because it was hard to envision my Papa, a big man covered in muscles and tattoos, being scared of really anything, let alone spiders.

"Hey, I see you laughing," Papa said as he narrowed his eyes at all of us. "In my defense, all spiders are the spawns of Satan himself and should be burned on sight, no questions asked."

Padre rolled his eyes. "Whatever. So, I helped him kill it before the smell of smoke filled the air. We hurried out to see that there was a huge fire stemming from, you guessed it, the paper that I left on the stove. Needless to say, I didn't make it to work that day."

"And I didn't leave Noah unattended in the kitchen for like three months after that. I mean, can you blame me? I wanted my security deposit back!"

Padre rolled his eyes before he not so subtly whispered. "He was worried I would hurt myself."

"Is that why there isn't any paper allowed in the kitchen?" Azalea asked.

Papa nodded. "Bingo. If your father managed to do it when he was almost twenty, you two can do it at your age. You are his children after all."

Tyler chuckled, visibility a bit more relaxed from the story. "I can imagine. One time when I was little, I had this weird obsession with forks after I watched 'The Little Mermaid'–which makes sense seeing how I am now– and I would take them everywhere. But more importantly, I'd leave them anywhere. I also really liked food and noticed how my parents always took food out of the microwave before they gave it to me. So, my little toddler brain thought it would be a good idea to try to combine my two favorite things: forks and a microwave."

"Oh no, I think I see where this is going," I said with a slight chuckle.

"Oh no indeed," Tyler said with a grin, showing off his amazing dimples. "So, when my parents weren't paying attention–which wasn't their fault because I snuck out of my room after they'd tucked me in for nap time–I took a ton of forks, like three or four, and climbed up to the microwave, which, mind you, wasn't that high, and shoved all the forks in. I pressed a random button and just watched. I was amused at first because it sparked and made cool noises. I don't exactly remember what happened, but one moment I was in front of the microwave and the next I was on the floor with my parents over me freaking out. My mom was crying and my dad was frantically calling 911. I don't remember much but it didn't really hurt, but I do have this scar on my back that took up the entirety of my back when I was younger. Now it's just a little scratch that you can't even really see."

"So, what I'm hearing is that to make you happy, I just need to give you a fork or a microwave, but not both at the same time?" I joked, making a mental note to search for the epic fork battle scar.

He rolled his eyes, though his grin grew. "Yes, Addison, the way to my heart is through a fork."

"Well, I know what to get on our anniversary then."

"I'm looking forward to it."

I held his gaze for a moment and allowed his demeanor to wrap around me and continue to shield me from the rest of the world. Those moments between time where I was helplessly surrounded by him were my favorites; like everything had melted away and we were the only two left in the universe.

"Awe, Noah, they remind me of us when we were their age," Papa gushed as he looked at Padre. "Just the way they look at each other, it's like looking in a mirror." It was also moments like these that reminded me that my fathers, much like Ian, didn't have a filter between what they thought and what they said. But it caused a bout of warmth to move through me to hear them compare us to them. Maybe we'd end up like them: still in love almost thirty years after we're married, surrounded by a beautiful family doing jobs that we love. Interrogating our own kid's girlfriend or boyfriend. Just caring for and loving one another.

That sounded like perfection to me.

Padre clapped his hands together, drawing all attention back to him. "Alright, enough of the small talk, now on to the reason that we're here."

I groaned. "Dad, please don't scare him away."

"Tyler shouldn't have anything to worry about...if he says the right answers."

"Lord, here we go," Azalea said with a sigh before she shot Tyler a sympathetic glance. "Don't let them break you, Ty. We're all rooting for you."

Tyler let out a nervous chuckle, his defenses up. I gave his hand a slight squeeze under the table as a small sign of support since his nerves made bigger acts of affection a big no-no right now.

"So, what you two did on the field. Either one of you care to tell us when that happened?"

Deciding to take the lead until Tyler felt more comfortable, I spoke "We started seeing each other about a month and a half ago, we've just been...keeping it under wraps. Our own thing, you know?" I said, choosing my words carefully.

Padre hummed in understanding before looking at Papa, handing him the metaphorical microphone to ask us questions as if we were being interviewed. Once again, my dads were super weird.

"So, Tyler, what about Addi do you like? And don't worry, you can say his big head that you can't miss from a mile away, we won't get offended."

I narrowed my eyes at my father and he chuckled with an amused glint in his eye before he along with my Papa's attention returned to Tyler. Though I too wanted to look at my handsome boyfriend, I refrained, not wanting to make him feel pressured.

"I really like his smile," Tyler said, his deep voice floating through the air. "And his eyes. They really tell you what he's thinking and how he's feeling before the rest of his face does, if that makes sense."

"Aww, that's sweet," Papa said, causing Tyler to let out a little flustered chuckle.

"Thank you, Mr. Madison."

Papa turned to me. "Come on, Addison, your turn."

"Easy," I said as I turned to Tyler and looked him in the eyes. I wanted him to see the endless love and affection that I had for him soI could make him feel more comfortable. "I like the way he looks at me. It's like I'm the only person in the sea of millions. I also like the dimple that pops up on his right cheek when he smiles. It's really cute."

"Awe, Noah, they really do remind me of us when we were their age," Papa gushed as he looked at Padre.

"It feels like it was yesterday when we were in that small town with even smaller-minded people," Padre said as he reminisced. "I'm so glad we got out of there."

"Me too," Papa said as he laced his hand with Padre's and kissed the back of it.

"Gross," Azalea said, though our fathers paid her no mind.

"So, do you two feel safe? I mean, obviously this house is a safe space for both of you and if you need anything you can always come here, but is the same story true for school?"

"For the most part," I said.

"Most part?" Papa asked, raising an eyebrow. I couldn't tell if they were playing dumb about the Kyra situation or if he was genuinely asking.

"Kyra found out about us earlier and has been holding it over Addi's head," Tyler said. "I mean, I didn't know how bad it was because Kyra never really came for me, she came for Addi and he just didn't tell me. He didn't want to worry me, but I noticed the changes. He was very hot and cold and anxious, but I decided not to push it. I knew he'd tell me in his own time. But, as it turned out, Kyra was basically blackmailing him and threatening to out us. I'll admit I...I didn't have the best reaction when he told me after almost a month, but it was because of other things. But we were able to talk it out and fix things, which I'm beyond glad about because I honestly hated being away from him but...I just thought that's what I had to do in the moment. I was scared. I was hurt. I was....I don't know. But now, my main priority is protecting him from her. Even though she can't out us anymore, I don't trust her, so I'm doing my best to make sure that she doesn't hurt him."

I offered him a grin and gently cupped his cheek. "And I'm doing my best to make sure she doesn't hurt you."

The corners of his lips tugged up as he put his hand on top of mine, giving it a slight squeeze. "I believe you." His words were soft, yet intimate and sweet.

"Oh he will," Azalea said, though I didn't think she heard Tyler. "Did he tell you about the time he beat up Tommy Burger in pre-K for bad-mouthing our dads? Classic."

Tyler raised a brow. "I don't think I've had the honor of hearing it."

He looked at me expectantly and I let out a faux annoyed breath. "Alright, so we were on the playground right..."

***

"It was no big deal," I said with a shrug as Tyler and I loaded the dishes into the washer. Azalea had already headed to bed, leaving just me, Tyler, and my dads.

"No big deal? Addison, you almost broke the kid's nose!"

"And almost got suspended," Padre added with a chuckle.

"And almost made me fight the principal," Papa added.

Padre laughed and shook his head as he finished hand washing the last of the bigger dishes. "If looks could kill that man would've been dead fifty times over."

Papa shrugged before he wrapped his arms around my shoulders. "At least he knows that I don't play around when it comes to my children. Any of them, so Tyler take notes."

He raised his hands in surrender. "I wouldn't dream of it, sir. Besides, my dad's the same way. He always told me, he'd say, 'Ty, never be afraid to tell me if something's wrong because I'm not above beating down anyone for my son. Young or old, they can all catch these hands'. He definitely meant it too. Oh, speaking of," Tyler checked his watch. It was well past ten, almost eleven, "I think I need to head home. I don't want to be in your hair."

Papa shook his head. "Nonsense. Besides, we can't in good faith send you into those subways alone at night by yourself. You're more than welcome to stay the night if that's okay with your father. If not, we'll drive you home."

"Wow, okay. Thank you." Tyler's tone mirrored that of disbelief.

"No problem, Tyler. But we're trusting that you two won't do anything too devious. We still have rules here, and we were young once too." Padre gave me a pointed look as he spoke.

I put my hands up in surrender. "Nothing devious, got it."

"Of course not, sir," Tyler added, a look of embarrassment on his face.

Padre held our gazes for a few moments in an effort to be slightly intimidating before he wove us off. "Alright you two, get some rest. Emphasis on the word rest. Madison and I will finish up."

I blushed. "We get it dad, please stop." Before he could say anything else, I grabbed Tyler's wrist and pulled him toward the stairs.

"Thank you again, and the food was lovely!" Tyler called as I pulled him away, and I could swear that I hear my fathers chuckling.

"How was it?" I asked once we reached the safety of my room. I really wanted Tyler to feel safe and at home with my family. I knew it would be a gradual process until he'd be as comfortable as she had been, but I really wanted things to work out.

"I didn't know you were a fighter," Tyler teased as a grin tugged at the edge of his lips and he sat on the edge of my bed.

"Oh yeah. Word class champion," I said as I sat on his lap and slung my arms around his shoulders. "You'll find out soon enough."

"Is that a threat?" He gently gripped my hips and his thumbs firmly met my skin that had been exposed from the crop top.

I leaned in so our foreheads were together, looking him in the eye. "It's a promise."

"Addison, you can't go around saying stuff like that, you know that," Tyler chastised though there was a certain pull in his voice, almost like a beg, that was urging me to keep going.

I grinned before I gently kissed him, holding it for a moment before I pulled away. Tyler chased my lips, but I turned my head so he only landed a kiss on my cheek. "Ty, baby, you heard my dads. Tonight is for rest."

Tyler groaned as he rolled his eyes but relented.

I gathered the material of his shirt in my hands before I looked him in his earth-tone eyes. "May I?"

He nodded and I tugged the material over his head. I gently ran my fingers across his body, appreciating every dip and curve, all the while he was looking up at me with those eyes I could get lost in for days, even years.

I climbed off of his lap and instead settled myself on my knees between his legs. I gave him a look, asking the silent question and he nodded. I started undoing his pants. "Ty?"

"Hmm?"

"Be honest with me. How did you feel about tonight?" I gently tugged at the waistband, slowly working them down his long, toned legs. The faint scars made my chest tight, but I kept myself from staring at them so I wouldn't make him uncomfortable. I also noticed that he was wearing briefs, a welcome change from his usual boxers.

"I liked it. Your family is fun and close, the complete opposite of mine. I mean, you're connected with your roots, you have both parents and a tight relationship with your siblings, meanwhile I have to worry about what my mom says to Serenity about me when I'm not around. She may be young, but you pick up a lot at her age and I really don't want our relationship to be torn apart." His gaze fell to his hands in his lap. "I can't handle someone else being taken from me."

I pulled his feet out of his pants before I folded my arms across his lap and rested my chin on them, looking up at him. "Well, you can be a part of mine if you want to. I mean, obviously it won't replace your family, and that's not what I'm suggesting but...I don't know, we can be a safe space for you. Like my dads said, this place is open to you, even if we break up again.We're all in your corner if you need it."

The corners of his mouth slightly turned up before he leaned down and kissed me. I allowed him to deepen the kiss and our lips moved together in a sweet soundless rhythm. "I would love that," he softly said, his lips brushing against mine as he spoke. "A lot, actually."

Proud and excited for the progress, I pressed one more kiss to his lips before I stood up and started taking off my pajamas. I wanted to enjoy feeling as much of Tyler as I could and clothes weren't helping in that regard. I started with my pants and felt Tyler's gaze burn into me as I did, but when I made a move to take off my shirt, he stopped me. "What?" I asked.

He shrugged. "I think you look cute in it. Keep it on."

I rolled my eyes but heeded to his command of keeping my crop top on before I took my glasses off and walked around to my side of the bed. Following my lead, Tyler turned off my main light before he slid into the other side. The light from outside was enough to softly illuminate the room.

I faced Tyler and slid one hand under my head and used the other to lightly stroke his chin. "I'm proud of you, you know that?"

"For what?"

"For fighting and not giving up. For not letting what happened to you define you. For allowing yourself to love again and allowing yourself to be loved. For just being you. I'm proud of you, and I grow more proud of you by the passing second."

He put his hand on top of mine and gently stroked it silently conveying how he felt. "I love you."

"I love you, too," I instantly said. He smiled and kissed the palm of my hand before he turned over. I took the opportunity to inspect his back, and after a few moments, I found his battle scar from his accident as a kid. I gently traced it with my finger, causing him to slightly shiver beneath me. I liked the effect my touch had on him. I pressed a kiss to his shoulder before I wrapped my arms around him and pulled him flush against me. His masculine scent rushed in my nose as our legs tangled with one another and I allowed my body to melt into him.

"Addi?" Tyler's voice was barely above a whisper as my name left his lips.

I hummed in response.

"Since my dad was working tonight, he missed the game and us coming out. So I, uh, was wondering if, since he has this weekend off, you'd like to come over so I can formally introduce you to him since you really didn't get to meet him. And, I mean, it's totally okay if you don't want to, I understand–"

"I'd love to, il mio re (my king)." I pressed a kiss to the side of his neck. "I wouldn't miss it for the world."

A relieved look flashed across Tyler's face before he looked over his shoulder at me. Seeing him happy was the greatest sight in the world, and I'd do anything to keep seeing it.

We got comfortable, and there in the night sandwiched between my boyfriend and the tremendous pride and gratitude I had to call him mine, I fell asleep, counting down the seconds until I could wake up and see him again.

***

Hey y'all! How did you feel about this chapter? Did you love it? Hate it? Let me know in the comments! Also, I know a lot of people wanted me to have Noah and Madison tell Tyler their story but it didn't feel right in this chapter, and I want the moment to feel right rather than forced. But don't worry, they'll tell him soon. Also, spoiler alert: things are going to get messy in the next chapter so stay tuned for that. If you want to go ahead and read the next chapter, you can check it out on Inkitt with the Inkitt link in my bio! Stay healthy and safe you guys!

Love y'all– Jordan