Page 180 of One Winter Knight
It was supposed to be temporary and then I’d go live with my mom’s sister, but that never happened. Honestly, I liked being there. There was something comforting about all the people, all the chaos. Eventually I stopped calling them aunties and all six of them became my moms. They’d also legally adopted me, thoughI’d kept my last name and they supported that.
Sure, sometimes it got to be a little much between my grief and the adjustment to not being an only child. But six moms meant there was nearly always someone around. All my siblings meant that there was someone to play with, someone to read a book to, someone to help me with my homework.
A house full of artists and creatives meant our dreams were always nourished, but there was also a degree of practicality built by their own experiences.
They also never sought to replace what I’d lost, just add to it.There’s no such thing as too much family, especially when you choose it yourself,they said.Love is infinite.
This area didn’t look anything like it had back when I was a scared little boy holding a stuffed rabbit and a backpack. Our building was a warehouse converted into artist lofts. Over the years the neighborhood had gentrified a lot and many of those loft buildings were now fancy, the artists selling and leaving for other places.
My moms stayed because it was home. Not to mention we had an awful lot of room for New York City for not being rich.
I pulled into the underground parking lot. My brother, Dante, sat in the parking space in a camping chair. When I’d first arrived and my siblings had been told I was staying with them for a while, Dante nodded solemnly and said, “Dusty’s our brother now. Don’t be sad. I put dinosaur sheets on your bed.”Taking my hand, he showed me the room which I shared with him.
And never looked back. I was his brother. End of discussion.
I rolled down the window. “Is this space free?”
“Mmmm, I don’t know. Some guy offered me $100 for it.” Dante grinned at me, his curly hair in his brown eyes.
“Please? I’ll let you meet my pack first,” I fake-pleaded.
He pretended to think for a moment. “Okay.”
Folding up the chair, he left the space so I could pull in. I got outand opened the door for Saoirse.
“Nice ride, did you pick the color out yourself?” Dante smirked.
Hale helped Fiona out of the car.
“I wanted dark pink, but this is all the dealer had in stock, and I didn’t have time for special order,” Fiona replied.
Dante blinked. “The fact that your dealership had this color in stock says a whole lot.”
I never actually thought about that. But they must know their area. I could see omega moms wanting pink SUVs to drive their kids around in.
Dante turned to Carlos. “Hey, man, I figured you’d end up having a pack together. I’d ask for those introductions, but I know our moms are dying to meet everyone.” He nodded to Hale. “Hey, Cowboy, not sure where you came from.”
“He raced Manhattan After Midnight,” Carlos bragged.
We got my moms’ favorite flowers out of the car. I took Saoirse’s hand and squeezed it.
“Did you win? I watched that,” Dante replied as we all entered the elevator.
“I got third, which was great considering I stole my sister’s car. She did forgive me for that, but she said now that I’ve got my own pack I should probably be responsible and, you know, not take people’s shit without asking,” Hale said.
Dante sucked in a breath. “You raced your sister’s car that you didn’t ask to use? And you’re still breathing? You are so fucking lucky.”
“I really am.” Hale nodded as we got out of the elevator.
Our loft was on the top floor, and we got to use the roof. The place had been built out bit by a bit by the moms, though it was all mostly in place by the time I arrived.
As we opened the door we were immediately accosted by one of my nephews.
“Dusty, how was twister land? Is it really made of cheese?” LittleAndre wrapped his arms around my leg.
“There was an awful lot of cheese.” I ruffled his hair.
“Oh, there was,” Carlos nodded.
