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was as simple as that. It should have been that simple all along.
    “We can talk about it later,” Kenn said, coming back into the kitchen and handing him his phone. “Just not at the coffee shop. Ever.”
    Chris winced. “They were pretty pissed, huh?”
    “That’s an understatement, but it’s done.”
    “Dad, your oatmeal’s getting cold,” Micah pointed out.
    Chris stood and pulled out Kenn’s chair for him. “And the other place?”
    “They hung up on me.”
    “I’m sorry you had to do that. Hell, I’m sorry you had to take the jobs in the first place.” If he hadn’t been such a stubborn fuck… and he was on repeat with that, beginning to bore himself. He’d been a jerk.
    “We’ll discuss that later, love. We have a lot to discuss.” Kenn fixed his oatmeal how he liked it. “Together.”
    “We do.” Chris was in total agreement. “We have a lot to discuss.”
    “Dad just said that,” Sarah pointed out.
    “That means they’re going to kiss.” Micah sighed heavily.
    “Oh. Eww.”
    “Yeah,” Micah agreed morosely.
    Chris looked at Kenn and shook his head. “Our children are very antiromance.” Really, it was kind of normal, which made it amazing.
    “I blame you.” Kenn winked. “Good job on the oats, man.”
    “Thanks, Dad.” Micah dug back in, shoveling it in.
    “Me?” He sputtered for a moment before shrugging. “Yeah, that’s probably accurate.” He’d been too busy for romance. All that was going to change, damn it.
    Kenn chuckled and grabbed his coffee. “Can I borrow some clothes before I go back to the apartment?”
    “Why are you going back to the apartment?” He’d told the kids they were moving back here. And he’d meant it.
    “I need clothes, I have some of the kids’ presents, and I don’t have my toothbrush.”
    “That’s okay. We can all go together—do you guys have anything you want to grab?” Chris asked.
    Micah nodded right away. “Yeah. All my stuff. I need some boxes.”
    “Me too!”
    “Guys….” Kenn looked to Chris, wide-eyed.
    “How about we save that for after Christmas? I mean, you can grab some more clothes or even a couple toys, but let’s just be quick and then go have lunch together, look at the decorations in the windows and stuff.”
    Kenn blinked over at him. “That sounds… that sounds like the best day.”
    “Then it’s a plan.” Chris dug into his oatmeal, suddenly starving.
    “Yay! A real live daddy day!” Sarah cheered, and Micah rolled his eyes in the way of the quickly growing up.
    “I know I’m looking forward to it.” Chris was. A real day with his family. With all his family.
    “Me too.” The words were soft, and they were a balm to his soul.
    He reached for Kenn’s hand, holding it under the table. It felt just right. It was about time.

Chapter Seven
     
    K ENN FELT a little like he was walking in a dream. He was in the shower—the huge, amazing shower they’d built together. They were about to go out for the day, the whole family, together. He sighed softly, face lifted to the spray as he rinsed his hair.
    There was a soft knock and Chris opened the door. “I have the sweats you wanted and a T-shirt.”
    “Thank you.” He smiled through the no-fog glass, admiring his husband’s tight, lean body.
    Chris was staring right back, and he could feel the weight of that stare. His cock began to fill, getting heavy as they stood there, the glass separating them. Chris raised his hand and pressed it against the glass. He did the same, loving the sight of them, almost touching.
    They stood like that for a long time before Chris sighed. “We need to talk, before….”
    “Yeah. Yeah, I know. I’m not pushing.” He hadn’t had sex in a year. He wanted.
    Maybe Chris had, though. How would he know? That deflated him and he turned away, amping the cold water up, the sudden chill finishing the job.
    “I was hoping you’d try to convince me I was wrong about that.”
    The words were soft, and when he