“Sure.” Rising from Assa’s lap, Zinn unhitched the lock on the highchair tray and lifted Lachie into his arms.
“Now that we’ve gotten to this place, where you feel good about the five of us, and where we are a unit facing the world together—”
“I like how you make us sound like superheroes,” Zinn joked.
“We’ve certainly come through the fire like superheroes,” Assa replied.
“Alright.” Zinn sat down with the baby, matching Assa’s serious tone.
“I’ve been thinking a lot about how I left things with my alpha father before he died.”
“Jeral?”
“I never got closure with him. Deep down, I wanted him to apologize for being horrible to me, but all I did was make his last years more palatable. I never told him about Ryde, never told him he’d lost the privilege of meeting his grandson because he was so awful that I couldn’t risk him being around my child. Looking back, I wish I had told him, so he would have understood his actions had consequences. Would he have cared? I don’t know. But the thing is—I’ll never know.”
Zinn squeezed his thigh. “You were kinder than he deserved.”
Assa took a deep breath. “If I felt then the way I feel now, so sure in the love of four amazing men, I would have confronted him. Because I would have known that no matter the outcome, whether Jeral rejected me, ignored me, or was miraculously remorseful, I would have been able to handle it. But I can’t have a do-over because he’s gone.”
Zinn looked pensive. “What does this have to do with what I said?”
“When you talk about refusing to hide, it proves that you have the strength to face anything. I was only starting to build that type of resolve while Jeral was still living.”
“You mean—?”
“I never got my closure. But you can. You’re strong enough to face them.”
“My fathers?”
Assa nodded. “If you want to confront Keyes and Deveron, I’ll be with you. We all will. They can’t hurt you anymore.”
Zinn launched himself at Assa, taking care not to squish a protesting Lachie as they embraced. “My beautiful beta. My amazing friend. Your father was an idiot not to appreciate having a son like you.”
“I know,” Assa said quietly.
“I’ll think about it,” Zinn said. “But if I decide not to confront my parents, it won’t be because I worry about not being strong enough.” He gestured vaguely around the room, then at Lachie and Assa. “This might be enough closure for me. I’m honestly not sure.”
“Fair enough. The offer doesn’t have an expiration date. I just don’t want you to have any regrets.”
Zinn smiled. “I’ll consider it, but right now, all I want to do is change Lachie’s diaper, put on thatI Heart Historysweatshirt Wes got him, and go cheer for our son at his soccer game.”
His words were light, but Assa saw Zinn’s expression and knew he’d given his omega a lot to think on. But he wouldn’t push. Whatever Zinn wanted to do, he’d have the full support of his partners.
But secretly, he hoped Zinn decided to tell his parents off, to make sure they understood how badly they’d lost. Keyes and Deveron Parkenson deserved nothing less.
***
That evening, Zinn and Assatold their partners what they’d discussed. The other men agreed Zinn should take his time to decide if he wanted to confront his fathers.
But a week later, the issue came to a head thanks to some news delivered by Asher.
Ryde and Ked were out with friends and Jordie was at the pizzeria, but all the adults were home.
“Oh, good,” Asher said when he saw them. “I was worried one or two of you would be out.” He went to Zinn and held out his hands for Lachie. “Come to Uncle Asher, sweet stuff.”
Assa thought Asher looked extremely happy with a baby in his arms, sitting comfortably in the recliner. Now that Asher and Xan were official, he wondered if Zinn’s brother would settle down to have kids of his own.
“Did you need to talk to all of us?” Valentin asked.