by K. L. Ramsey
“I feel the same way,” Bowie whispered. He pulled her around his body and helped her settle on his lap. “The only way we’re going to make this work is to stop hiding. We don’t have anything to be ashamed of, so why are we afraid to tell the world what the three of us have come to mean to each other?”
Dallas framed his face with her hands, and she loved the way Bowie leaned into her touch as if craving more from her. “You’re right,” she whispered. “If you do this, I’ll be by your side the whole time.” Bowie gently kissed her lips.
“I appreciate that Honey,” he said. “How about you get the girls up and I’ll call my parents to tell them we’ll be over in a few minutes.”
“But, it’s the middle of the night,” Dallas protested.
“Yeah, but the Dragons don’t care what time it is, Dallas. They’re coming for us and the sooner I get you and the girls someplace safe, the sooner I can find our guy and we can put an end to this mess. I don’t know about you, but I’m ready to get back to our lives.” Dallas smiled and nodded. He was right and she had to admit, going back to Huntsville was all she could think about. Hiding in Texas had cost her one job and she knew that her employment at her second job was also in jeopardy. It was time to stop running. It was time for the three of them to find a way forward and time for them to reclaim their lives.
“Let’s do this then,” she said.
Bowie smiled and helped her from his lap. “That’s my girl,” he said, swatting her ass.
BOWIE
Bowie watched their time, knowing that Savage should be landing in about thirty minutes. Getting the girls up and dressed turned out to be a major undertaking. Chloe wasn’t very pleasant when she was woken up in the middle of the night, and he couldn’t really blame the kid. He felt pretty much the same way about having to pack the kids up and move them all to his parents’ house. Plus, there was the matter of having to deal with their reaction to his news.
By the time he got Greer and Chloe settled in their car seats, the sun was peeking up over the horizon. “I’m hungry,” Chloe complained. “Can we have breakfast soon?”
“Yep Squirt, just as soon as we get to my parents’ house,” Bowie promised. He knew that giving his mom a heads-up that he was bringing Dallas and the girls with him wasn’t really fair. The woman had been dying to get her chance at playing grandma. She bugged him for years to settle down and have some grandchildren for her to spoil, but he blamed his military career and told her that he’d consider it—someday. Bowie knew that someday might never come for him, but he hated taking that hope away from his mom. Instead, he let her hold onto her fairytale dream of him married with a house full of kids. His reality might look a little different than what she was probably picturing, but it was who he was—who he wanted to be. He just hoped his parents would be able to accept that because if they didn’t he would have to quickly come up with a plan B to keep Dallas and the girls safe.
Bowie pulled into his parents’ driveway and cut the engine, not making a move to get out of the truck. “You alright?” Dallas asked.
“Yep,” he insisted. “At least I will be, once we get this over with. One way or the other, we’ll be fine, Honey. You have my word.” Dallas leaned across the console and gently brushed his lips with her own.
“I know, Bowie,” she whispered against his lips. “I trust you and I’ve got your back.” He loved that she wanted to be by his side during this but coming out to his parents was something he needed to do by himself.
“I think you should hang out with the girls and have some breakfast, while I talk to my parents,” he insisted. “If this goes south, I don’t want the girls around.” The last thing Bowie wanted was for Chloe to hear any slights about him being with her father and Dallas. Savage’s six-year-old was one sharp cookie and she understood so much more than they gave her credit for.
“If that’s what you want, Bowie,” Dallas said. “That’s what we’ll do. I’m hungry, how about you Chloe?” Dallas looked into the backseat and smiled. Chloe quickly agreed and Greer chimed in; fussing, as if on cue, for her breakfast.
“Alright,” Bowie said. “Let’s get you girls some food.” His mother was waiting on the front porch for him, her bathrobe tightly wrapped around her body. His dad stood behind her and they both seemed happy to see him.
“Mom,” Bowie said. He held Chloe’s hand and wrapped a protective arm around Dallas’ waist. “Dad.” He nodded. “This is Dallas, Chloe, and Greer,” he said, pointing to each of them. “My family.” Bowie didn’t miss the concern on his dad’s face. His mother didn’t seem to question anything about him showing up out of the blue with a woman and two kids. She was just happy to have them all there.
“Well, don’t just stand there,” she insisted. “Come in and have some breakfast.” Chloe cheered at the mention of food, causing them all to laugh.
“If you guys don’t mind, I’d like to talk to you while the girls and Dallas eat breakfast,” he said. Dallas shot him a sympathetic look and he shrugged.
“Are you sure you don’t want to eat with your family, son?” his father questioned. “We can catch up after breakfast.”
“No, Dad,” Bowie said. “This is important and can’t wait. We need your help.” He didn’t miss the flash of concern on his mom’s face.
“Of course, son,” his mother said. “Let me show Dallas where everything is and then we can talk on the sun porch.”
Bowie nodded, “Thanks, Mom. You go with Dallas, Squirt and she’ll get you something to eat. My mom makes the best pancakes and judging by the good smells coming from the kitchen, that’s what you’re having for breakfast.”
Chloe smiled and took Dallas’ hand. “Come on, Dallas,” she said. “I need pancakes.” Bowie watched as they followed his mom back to the kitchen.
“Chloe calls her mom Dallas?” his father questioned.
“Dallas isn’t Chloe’s mom. Dallas is Greer’s mom. Chloe and Greer are sisters.” Bowie watched as his father nearly went cross-eyed trying to figure it all out. “I’ll explain everything once Ma gets back,” Bowie offered.
“I’m here.” His mother breathlessly hurried into the room and sat down in her favorite chair. It made Bowie smile to think that not much had changed since his move to Huntsville. “I like your Dallas,” his mom offered.
“Thanks, Ma,” Bowie said. “She is pretty awesome.”
“And the girls are just adorable,” she gushed. Bowie smiled. They were pretty great kids. He just hated that he was going to have to break his mother’s heart and tell her that they weren’t his.
“Listen,” Bowie started, “let me just get out what I need to say and then you can either ask me questions or kick us out.”
“Why would we ever kick you all out?” his mother asked.
“Let’s just hear what he has to say,” his father offered.
“Thanks, Dad,” Bowie said. “I don’t really know how to tell you this or where to even begin. I think I’ve fallen in love,” Bowie admitted. Hell, he hadn’t really given his feelings for either Savage or Dallas much thought, let alone label them. But, he was pretty sure that if he had to give them a name, he’d call what he was feeling love.
“That’s wonderful,” his mother cheered.
“Ma, please,” he begged. “You don’t know everything. I’m in love with Dallas, but I’m also in love with a man,” he said. “I’m bisexual.” Bowie swallowed past the lump of emotion that had seemed to lodge itself in his throat. “I met Savage weeks ago and we started dating. He’s Chloe’s dad. He and Dallas dated a little over a year ago and well, he’s also Greer’s father too. Some bad people are after Savage and they’re trying to get to him by hurting his girls and Dallas. I agreed to bring them here, to Texas.”
“How long have you been here?” his father asked.
“A few weeks,” he admitted. “I was a coward and hell; I didn’t know how to tell you both about our relationship. I’ve fallen for Dallas and Savage and we want to try to make this
thing between us work.”
“Between the three of you?” his father asked. Bowie was impressed his dad didn’t raise his voice. He half expected there to be more screaming and maybe even some crying by this point of the conversation, but both of his parents seemed uncommonly calm.
“Yes,” he said. “Between the three of us.”
“Why tell us now?” his father asked.
“Because I’m done hiding. If I want to live this life with Savage and Dallas, I owe it to them both to stop hiding. I want Chloe and Greer to grow up surrounded by people who love them and are unafraid of being who they are. I want to have a family with them and I can’t do that without telling you two who I am.”
“You said something about needing our help,” his mother prompted.
Bowie sighed, “Yeah. The people who want to hurt Savage—they are on their way here, to Texas. They’ll be here in a few hours. Savage and some of his friends are flying here from Huntsville and I need a safe place for Dallas and the girls to lie low until we can figure this all out.”
“They are welcome to stay here,” his dad said.
“Thanks,” Bowie whispered. “What about the rest of it?” he asked. Bowie worried that he was pushing his luck, asking for some response to his declaration of being bi, but he wouldn’t let his parents just sweep his news under the rug like he never even said it.
“You mean the part where you want to be with a man and a woman?” his dad asked.
“Yes,” Bowie whispered.
His mother stood and crossed the room to sit down next to him on the sofa. “You’re our only son, Bowie,” she said. “Do you honestly believe we didn’t know who you were all this time?”
Bowie looked between his mother and father. “You mean you guys knew this whole time?” he asked.
His father shrugged and smirked, “Yep,” he admitted. “As your mom said, you are our only kid. We picked up on all that stuff a long time ago. We were just waiting for you to come to us about it.”
“Wow,” Bowie breathed.
“So, who wants pancakes?” his mom asked. She stood and held out her hand for him. “I know they’re your favorite,” she taunted. Bowie wasn’t sure what to say. He had spent most of his adult life hiding who he was from his mom and dad and here, they knew this whole time? He felt like a complete fool.
“Don’t beat yourself up about this,” his father chided. “You told us when you were good and ready and that’s the way it was supposed to work out. If you would have come out to us sooner, you might not have gone to Huntsville and you wouldn’t have met the two people you were meant to be with. Fate has a way of stepping in sometimes, son. You were right where you were supposed to be when you were supposed to be there and things worked out. Your mom and I are happy for you, isn’t that enough?”
“It’s everything,” Bowie admitted. “I just wish I wouldn’t have wasted so much damn time running.”
“Well, now you can stop running and bring your family around more. We’d love to be grandparents to Greer and Chloe,” his mom said. He almost wanted to laugh at just how hopeful she sounded.
“I’d like that,” Bowie said. “Now, let’s have those pancakes so I can meet up with Savage. Thanks, guys—for everything.”
“Don’t thank us quite yet,” his father warned. “Wait until your mom tells you how she’s planning a trip to Disney with the kids now. She’s just about got it completely booked in the two hours since you called to tell her about Greer and Chloe.” Bowie chuckled and shook his head.
“If that’s the worst she’s got, I think we can handle Grandma here,” Bowie teased.
_______
They finished breakfast and Bowie loved the way Dallas seemed to fit so perfectly into his crazy little family. He just hoped his mom and dad liked Savage as much as they seemed to love Dallas.
Savage had texted that they landed and that he brought seventeen other guys with them. He really didn’t want their motley crew showing up at his parents’ house, but his mother insisted. She got dressed and had enough food to feed their small army by the time the guys showed up and he had to admit, it was damn good to see Savage. He was hoping for a more private reunion for Dallas, Savage and him, but that would come later. Right now, he was just happy to see their guy.
Chloe was the first one to the door when the bell rang and her shouts of “Daddy,” nearly brought Bowie to tears. She was so happy to see her father and Savage looked just as happy to see her and Greer. He took the baby from Dallas, pulling her in for a quick kiss. When he got around to Bowie, he didn’t hesitate, pulling him into his body to give him the same attention he had Dallas. No one seemed to even blink twice at the two of them and Bowie had to admit, it felt damn good to finally be who they were around their family and friends.
“Do you have to go away again, Daddy?” Chloe asked.
“Not if I can help it, Sprite,” Savage said, calling her by his special nickname for her. Chloe giggled and sat on his lap next to Greer. Savage pulled Dallas down on one side of him and Bowie on the other, filling his parents’ little sofa.
“Why don’t I get you boys settled in the kitchen with some food and we give these three a few minutes together?” Bowie’s mom asked. She took Greer from Savage and when she mentioned that they could also watch cartoons while they ate, Chloe volunteered to join them. She stood from Savage’s lap and turned back as if she worried he’d disappear if she didn’t stick around to keep an eye on him.
“I’ll be right here, Sprite,” he promised. “I’m not going anywhere.” Chloe nodded and skipped off, holding Bowie’s mom’s hand, causing them to chuckle.
“Thanks, Ma,” Bowie called after them. When the room was finally empty and the three of them were alone, he was sure he could hear Savage’s heart beating, it was so quiet.
“I missed you both, so fucking much,” he whispered.
“We missed you too, Savage,” Dallas said. She crawled onto his lap, wrapping her arms around his neck. Bowie had worried that seeing her with Savage might spike some jealousy, but he felt none of that. In fact, watching the two of them felt right, like the three of them were always meant to be together.
Savage grabbed Bowie’s hand, linking their fingers. The three of them sat like that, soaking in the fact that they were finally together, in the same room, breathing the same air. It just felt right.
“When I found out that the Dragons were on their way here, I worried that I was too late,” Savage admitted. “I don’t know how I’ll ever be able to repay you for keeping them all safe, Bowie,” he said.
“You never have to thank me for that, Savage,” Bowie admitted. “You are my family now too. At least, I hope that’s how you both feel.” He suddenly realized that they had a lot to talk about and now wasn’t the time or place to hash out the details of what they meant to each other.
“Yes,” Savage and Dallas quickly agreed.
“Thank fuck,” Bowie breathed. Dallas giggled and leaned across Savage’s big body to kiss Bowie.
“You thought this was going to end between us once Savage got here, didn’t you?” she questioned. Honestly, he wasn’t sure what he thought was going to happen when the three of them were reunited. He sure as hell never imagined their reunion would take place in his parents’ family room while a quarter of Savage’s MC sat in his mom’s kitchen eating pancakes.
“I’m not sure what I expected,” Bowie admitted.
“This,” Savage growled. He leaned into Bowie’s body and kissed his lips; his gesture was so different from Dallas’ kiss. Savage was rougher with him and he liked it that way. He wanted every ounce of Savage’s alpha side and anything less would just plain piss him off.
“This is what I expected,” Savage said. “The three of us are a team now.”
“You planned Bowie and me falling into bed together, didn’t you?” Dallas questioned. Savage’s sly smile told them both his answer. He had planned on them falling for each other while they were away.
“I was hop
ing you two would hit it off,” he admitted. “Sure makes this thing between the three of us a hell of a lot easier if you two like each other,” Savage teased.
“I think I might more than like Bowie,” Dallas whispered. Bowie took her hand into his free one. In fact, I think I’ve fallen in love with him,” she said. Dallas watched him as if she worried that he didn’t feel the same way. There was no way Bowie would take the coward’s way out of this and not admit to having those same feelings for her.
“I’ve fallen in love with you too, Baby,” he admitted, pulling her from Savage’s lap onto his own. Dallas framed his face with her hands and smiled.
“Thank fuck,” she whispered, giving him back his words. Bowie chuckled and kissed his way into her mouth. By the time he broke their kiss, Dallas was panting with need and he wished like hell that they were back at his house instead of sitting on his parents’ sofa.
Savage watched them and Bowie could tell that he wasn’t sure what to say or do next. He almost felt bad for the big guy.
“Savage,” Bowie started.
Savage held up his big hands as if trying to stop Bowie’s train of thought. “No,” Savage barked. “You don’t need to say something you don’t mean. I get it—you two have had the past few weeks together and I wasn’t here. I just hope you give me a chance to catch up with the two of you.”
Bowie shook his head and Savage dropped his hands to his lap. “No,” Bowie said. “You don’t need to catch up because I already know where we stand. I’m in love with you too, Savage. I didn’t ever think something like this would work—you know the three of us? But, it does. You both own a piece of my heart and well, it just feels right.” Savage let out his pent- up breath and Bowie almost laughed.
“I’ve fallen for you both,” he admitted. “You two are all I’ve been able to think about these past few weeks. I knew I was falling for Dallas a year ago. That’s why I ran away like a coward and didn’t have any contact for so long. I was a fool to think that losing you would make me stop loving you. I’m so sorry, Baby,” he said. “I hope you will be able to forgive me in time.”