I watch as Oliver appears to think something through. “Just like,” he says tentatively, “you knew I needed a grand gesture to convince me that you guys really wanted to date me.”
My eyebrows raise as hope flutters in my chest. “Does that mean you’re saying yes?” I ask, heart in my mouth. It’s ridiculous, but I haven’t been this invested in a relationship since I met Tallis all those years ago. “You’ll be our boyfriend?”
He blushes as he looks between us. “Um, yes. Yes, please, Daddy.”
It’s probably highly undignified, but I hoot and punch the air. “Did you hear that, Tallis? We got ourselves a gorgeous boyfriend!”
My husband laughs and leans over to kiss my smiling mouth before capturing Oliver’s lips as well. “I knew it would all work out,” he says with a grin. “You just needed a little time to see sense.”
Oliver rolls his eyes. “You’re so smug, Daddy Tallis. It’s a good thing you have Daddy August to keep you humble.”
I hum and kiss Oliver’s neck. “And now you, too, little bratty boy. I have a feeling you’re going to keep us both on our toes, aren’t you?”
He giggles and squirms between us. “That’s the plan.” He’s caught out by a sudden, violent yawn that infects both me and Tallis. “Urgh, as much as I don’t want this night to end, I should probably go to bed soon. I have work tomorrow.”
That makes me frown immediately. “Work? Surely the only thing you should be doing now is focusing on graduating.”
“And getting deliciously fucked at every given opportunity,” Tallis adds, waggling his eyebrows.
But Oliver looks uncertainly between us. “Um, I can’t just quit…can I?”
I shrug. “It depends. Do you like working there? It’s a restaurant, right?”
He nibbles his lip for a second. “It’s not bad,” he says like he’s trying to justify or defend it.
Tallis scoffs. “Unless it’s your life passion or you feel you have some moral obligation, you can quit, little treat. Are you just working there for the money?”
“Yeah,” he admits with a wince. But that only makes Tallis smirk and my heart lift.
“Did you forget you’re a sugar baby now, sweetheart?” Tallis asks Oliver. “You don’t have to worry about money anymore. If you feel it would leave them in the lurch, I’ll accept you working your shift tomorrow. But after that, no more slaving for tips or minimum wage. Your Daddies are here to take care of you. I know you aren’t sure what you want to do after college. Now, you’ll have room to breathe and think about it properly.”
“Oliver,” I say to get his attention. Tallis means well, but he does need to remember he can’t boss his way through every situation. Oliver had some strong views on money when we all first met. “How do you feel about that?”
“I think,” he says slowly. “That it’s okay to accept help and be taken care of. Especially by people who, um, who might, um…who care about…”
“Who love you,” Tallis supplies.
Oliver’s eyes go wide as my heart leaps.
“Who love you,” I repeat. I thought it was too early to say those words or even to feel like that. But it’s true. I love my tasty little baby boy so much, and it’s clear Tallis does as well.
Oliver’s eyes are filling with tears, but judging by his beaming smile, they’re happy ones. “By people who love me and I love them,” he says thickly.
“Oh, darling,” I cry, enveloping him and Tallis in a hug as my own tears fall. “You’ve made us so happy, you have no idea.”
“I think he finally does,” Tallis says, stroking my back and resting his cheek on top of Oliver’s hair. “You’re our one in a billion, little treat.”
“Thank you, Daddy Tallis,” he says with a sniffle. “Thank you for finding me to be Daddy August’s present. Thank you for accepting me into your lives and your hearts. I’m the luckiest boy on the planet.”
“I think we’re the lucky ones,” I say with a laugh as I wipe my eyes on my sleeve.
“Agree to disagree?” Oliver suggests.
“No,” Tallis says in his Master voice. “I have the last word and I say that you’re both the lucky ones that I orchestrated this whole thing. Without my brilliance, we’d all be very unfortunate.”
I snort and thump his arm. “So modest, sweetheart. So humble.”
He flicks an eyebrow at me. “You wouldn’t love me if I were either of those things.”