by Ann Grech
“You know this one, hey?” Con grinned at her.
“Every word,” Mike moaned. Katy couldn’t help but laugh. She’d been exactly like that growing up. When she loved a song, she’d learn every word of it, playing it endlessly until the next one piqued her interest and she’d move onto that.
Con sang. The lyrics resonated within her—being free and loving life on a perfect beach was apropos, poignant as they sat there on that cool autumn night, the waves crashing in the distance. She watched the flames dance in the shallow iron pit on the deck while the sun set. Early evening was upon them, and Con’s deeper voice, mixed with Lexi’s sweet alto created a bubble around them, winding romance through the air.
“Sing us a classic, Con,” Maxi asked when he’d strummed the last note. He nodded thoughtfully for a moment and then sung the slow opening of INXS’s “Never Tear Us Apart.” Katy loved the song, loved the imagery of a man finding love and no matter what intervened—worlds colliding, a thousand years passing, absolute chaos—he’d never let them be torn apart. Katy was swaying in Levi’s arms, humming along, when Nick stood and held his hand out to Emma, dancing slowly with her in the dying sunlight of the day. Reef and Ford were soon up too, Ford’s front to Reef’s back as they swayed as one, Ford holding Reef tight.
Con followed, standing up and walking around the couples, stepping over outstretched legs and coming before her and Levi again. Holding out his hand, he helped Katy up. “Dance with our man, Cupcake,” he murmured, before pressing a lingering kiss to her lips. Katy sighed, all the happy feels coursing through her veins when Levi took her into his arms, and they watched Con sing the rest of the song. She was enraptured, so damn lucky to have not one, but two men who loved as hard as Levi and Con. They gave everything to her, to each other—all of their hearts.
“D’ya know this one?” Con asked as he bent and fished a pic out of his guitar case. “Stupid question, everyone knows this one.”
Katy was preoccupied, staring at his arse and long, strong legs as he bent. Damn. What a view. Katy giggled at Levi’s rumbling groan and snorted out a laugh when Con stood back up and winked at her.
“You shit,” she playfully chastised him. “You’re torturing the poor guy.”
“Eh, I try.” Connor shrugged, and using the pic, strummed the unforgettable first strains of The Kinks’ “All Day and All of the Night.” Cheers went up through the group and with all of them standing and dancing, they shout-sang the lyrics. Wildly out of tune, they were all laughing and jumping around as Con continued to play. It was freeing, the weight of her brother’s vitriol being shaken off all their shoulders. Katy’s heart was light, love and laughter in her soul. Spinning around, Katy raised her arms above her head and belted out the lyrics. They totally described how much she wanted her men—she was insatiable around them. She twirled in Levi’s arms, laughing when he dipped her low. God, she’d needed this, needed to be able to show the world just how much they meant to her.
Only a short song, it ended quickly, but Katy wasn’t disappointed. Con took her hand in his and kissed her fingertips, his other hand wrapping around Levi’s neck and pressing their foreheads together. Breathing hard, Con crushed their lips together. It was quick, but scorching hot, melting Katy’s insides. He grinned wickedly at both of them and strummed down the strings, stopping to adjust the tension on a couple. While he did that, he began singing. He got three words in and she knew it was “Thinking Out Loud” by Ed Sheeran. Katy looked around her. All the couples were cuddled together. Levi’s warmth pressed against her, his strong arms cradling her as she rested her head on his shoulder. Katy smiled at Jaxon, Mike’s youngest, as he looked around disgusted at all the people surrounding him, none of whom would throw the footy to him. Spinning it on his finger, he huffed out an exaggerated sigh and rolled his eyes. Katy pointed to him and Levi murmured, “Poor lil’ dude.”
“I’m gonna play with him. Why don’t you dance with Connor?” Levi’s hum was all the confirmation she needed. Katy stepped out of his embrace and held out her hands to Jax. His little face lit up like he’d won the lotto. Catching the ball he threw to her, she snapped her gaze to her men when the music abruptly stopped.
“Nick, get a radio on,” Levi’s low voice rang out clearly among the quiet group. “I wanna dance with my man.” Katy smiled and tossed the footy back to Jax, all the time watching as Levi held the neck of Con’s guitar and lifted it over his head, setting it against the wall. When Levi stepped into Con’s arms, they melted together, holding tight while they joined their lips in another scorching kiss. Right then, she wanted Con to have Levi more than anything. She was so ridiculously happy, so damn ecstatic that her guys could finally love each other in the open. She knew how hard it was for Con to be kept hidden, even if he wouldn’t admit it to them. Katy couldn’t help her goofy smile and the giddy happiness at full bloom in her.
ELEVEN
Levi
C onnor pulled up into the drive, and Levi’s gut sank, its contents very nearly coming back up when he saw the car sitting there. He’d been riding a high after Jonathan left the party, everyone’s unflinching support and acceptance freed him from the weight of Jonathan’s words, his hatred. But that four-by-four parked there, and its occupants who were waiting for them, undid it all. He could see Katy’s father sitting on the front step—his dark brown but greying hair was neat as usual. He was dressed casually but sat ramrod straight, his jaw clenched tight and his mouth drawn into a thin line. Levi looked around for Katy’s mother and, sure enough, she was there too, inspecting the grevillea that Katy’s parents had gifted to them for their housewarming.
He took a deep breath and wiped his suddenly sweaty palms on his shorts, a fine tremor in his hands. He’d been through the ringer that night, and he was tired, emotionally spent. Levi didn’t have it in him to do anything more than curl up in bed with his lovers and hold them tight, but Rich clearly had something on his mind. It didn’t take a genius to guess that Jonathan had called them.
He remembered back to “the talk” that Katy’s father had given him years ago—the one that went “if you fuck my daughter over, I’ll cut your balls off with a rusty knife and watch you bleed out with a smile on my dial.” God only knew what Jonathan had said, but even a toned down version would easily count as one of those “I’m gonna cut your balls off” scenarios.
None of them spoke as Connor turned off the engine. With a final glance at each other, he and Katy opened their doors. Connor was right behind them. As soon as Katy stepped out from the passenger side, Rick had his hand on her arm, dragging her across to his car. “Dad, what the hell?” Katy fought him, pulling her arm away, but his grip visibly tightened. She winced, and it kicked both he and Connor into gear, both of them racing to her side. “Dammit, Dad, that hurts. Let go.”
“I spoke to your brother tonight. You’re coming home with us.” He tugged on her arm again with a sense of urgency and Katy stumbled, Rich catching her before she fell. In his peripheral vision, Levi saw the front lights of their neighbour’s house turning on, the screen door opening and their neighbour Ying walking outside in her PJs and holding a cricket bat. But she was the least of his worries. Connor’s expression was murderous, rage boiling in his dark eyes, every muscle in his body vibrating as he clenched his fists ready to attack, and Levi was right there too. Rich putting his hands on his daughter and hurting her? Not in this lifetime.
“Dad,” Katy ground out, fighting to pull free of his embrace. “I’m not going anywhere.”
“Kaitlin, now isn’t the time to do this. You’re coming home.”
Levi saw red, blinding rage filling his every pore. Her father was as delusional as his son, judging them for something he knew nothing about. “Let her go, Rich.” Levi’s words were deceptively quiet and calm, but anger bubbled just below the surface, like a volcano about to erupt. He and Connor were a united front, standing shoulder to shoulder, working together as a team. Levi took Katy into his arms and Connor reached out,
pressing down on a pressure point on Rick’s wrist until the other man dropped his hand. Rubbing it, Rich looked at Connor horrified, but Connor’s attention had already turned to Katy, gently caressing the red mark her father had left on her arm.
“You bruised her,” Connor gritted out, clenching his fist again and stepping closer to Rich. Panic filled Katy’s mother’s face, and she stepped between them, placing her hands up to stop Connor, halting his progress on a dime.
“Katy, honey, are you okay?” Andrea, her mum, asked.
“I’d be better if we weren’t arguing about bullshit after my bedtime on my damn front lawn. I’m drunk and I’m tired. Jonathan almost ruined our night and he’s an arsehole, so if you’re here because of him—and of course you are, because why else would you be here at nine at night—you can just leave.” Katy was ranting, and Levi couldn’t help his smile. God, he loved this woman. She was feisty and fiery and called it exactly as she saw it. “Can we at least go inside?”
“I think that’s a good idea,” her mum replied. When Levi looked to Connor and nodded, his lover strode over and opened the door, ushering everyone through. Katy’s parents went on ahead, walking into the living room while Levi hesitated, putting some distance between them.
“Cupcake, you okay?” Connor asked, his voice filled with concern as he lightly fingered the quickly fading mark.
“Yeah, boo. I am now.” She reached for him and hugged him hard without letting go of Levi’s waist. The three of them stood there wrapped around each other just inside the front door, the cool night air wafting in on the breeze. Something in Levi relaxed, clicked into place, let him breathe again. He was home—and it wasn’t being inside the walls of that house that did it. No, it was being with the two people who meant everything to him. His heart was full, his soul complete because of the man and woman in his arms. One of the songs Connor had sung earlier flashed back into his mind—Armageddon could happen around them, but no matter what happened from there on out, Levi knew down to his bones that they’d be okay.
He could have stood there for hours, just holding Connor and Katy, but his girl was wavering on her feet. He knew they needed to get this conversation with her parents over with and right on cue, Katy broke away and stomped into the living room. Levi followed, Connor right beside him, and he bit back a smile upon seeing Katy’s stance. Arms crossed, legs apart and chin up, she didn’t beat around the bush. “What exactly did Jonathan say?”
Looking Levi in the eye, Rich voiced his worst fear. “He believes Levi forced you into something you aren’t comfortable with and he’s worried about your safety.” Turning his attention to Katy, he added, “Jonathan said that he tried to talk to you this afternoon but Connor—and I’m assuming this is him—” Rich motioned to the man standing rigidly next to Levi, “physically threatened him. He felt like he had no choice but to leave to protect Elsie.”
Katy’s laugh held no humour. Levi wanted to punch something—Jonathan preferably. It was so typical of Katy’s brother to twist the truth of what happened to suit his own agenda. “Jesus, I need another drink,” she huffed out and shook her head. “Mum, can you please help me make some tea.”
Katy’s dad sat in the middle of their three-seater couch, leaving only the recliner for him, Connor, and Katy to sit in. Levi hesitated, but Connor directed him into the seat. Levi perched on the edge, unable to relax into the chair, and Connor sat down behind him on the armrest, absently massaging Levi’s shoulders, keeping a constant connection between them. Levi needed it, needed him in the moment. He leaned into Connor’s touch, reaching out to squeeze his knee, to try and say with that simple touch, thank you—for knowing him, for falling in love with him, for being his best mate.
Carrying a tray of mugs filled with steaming tea, Katy set them on the coffee table, her mum following with sugar and milk. Katy stood beside Connor, the other man instantly wrapping his arm around her, his other one not leaving Levi. All the mugs were left untouched while Rich stared at them, his gaze hard, cold. Levi tried to ignore Rich’s eyes on him, but he couldn’t. They’d been solid. Actual mates. But apparently, a rumour was enough to destroy any friendship that’d grown over the years. Levi knew he wasn’t worthy of Katy—his girl was a shining light in a sky full of dull grey—but he’d tried his damnedest to be the best person he could be for her. He thought her father had seen that; it killed him knowing Rich’s opinion was so easily swayed.
“Katy, tell me what’s going on—” her father growled.
“Rich.” Andrea chastised her husband’s harsh tone. In a much softer one, she asked, “What’s going on, Katy? We’re worried about you. We’ve been waiting out here for hours with the worst thoughts possible going through our heads. Your brother scared us.”
Katy groaned. “He crossed a line today, Mum, and he can’t come back from it. I don’t wanna have anything to do with him again.”
“So tell us your side of the story,” Andrea pleaded. “It took us a good hour to calm your brother and Elsie down after they left Nick’s to get the story out of them. We tried calling you over and over. Then when you didn’t answer, we came over to see you for ourselves. We were just about to come to Nick’s. Your brother is convinced that you’re in danger.”
“Oh, for God’s sake, I’m not in danger.” Katy tossed her hands up in the air. “Come on, you two know Levi; he’d never hurt me.” She ran her fingers through Connor’s hair and smiled down at him. “And Connor wouldn’t either. I’m happy, we all are, and I’m not in any danger despite what Jonathan said.”
“That’s what victims of domestic violence say. You know that, don’t you?” Rich challenged.
“Watch your fucking mouth,” Connor snarled as both of he and Connor jumped up off the armchair. White-hot fury raged through Levi. Rich’s accusation was a strike below the belt. Levi had never laid a finger on Katy. He never would. Why would Rich say something like that now? Why, when Connor was sitting there, did he have to act like a dick when in truth, the man was good people?
“This is exactly what I mean.” Rich pointed at them, making Levi’s heart sink. Jonathan had poisoned Rich’s opinion of both of them. Levi could handle his own reputation being slandered, but not that of the beautiful man in front of him. Especially not before Rich and Andrea had even met Connor. “I say something you don’t like, and you both jump up, beat your chests and measure your dicks. What if it’s Katy who says something that makes you angry? You gonna threaten her like you’re threatening me?” Levi looked down, shame dousing the anger flooding through his veins. Sure, Rich was acting like a dick, but Levi was reacting in exactly the same way. And there was no denying that he was doing exactly what Rich had pointed out. When neither he nor Connor answered, Rich continued. “Are you a violent man, Connor? Are you someone who I can trust living in the same house as my daughter?”
“I don’t consider myself violent, Mr Daniels, but it depends what your definition is. Will I hurt someone for the sake of it or in anger? No, never. Have I killed before? Yes.” He nodded. “Under orders in the line of duty. Will I kill any bastard that hurt Levi or Katy, or tried to, even if it meant giving up my own life? Without hesitation. So I dunno, Mr Daniels. Am I a violent man? As for whether I can be trusted with your daughter, I’d say that’s a decision she needs to make.”
“I agree, Connor, and for the record, I don’t think that you’re a violent man.” Andrea answered for him, and Levi blew out a breath. “Nor you, Levi. Young and impulsive, yes, and protective too, but not violent. Question is then, why did Jonathan say Katy’s in danger?”
Levi scrubbed a hand over his face. He had to man up. He had to do a solid by Katy’s parents and let them hear the news from him, because Jonathan wouldn’t give him a second chance to fess up. He sat back down and clasped Katy’s hand, drawing strength from her rock-solid grip, her unwavering support. “I love Katy more than I can put into words. That hasn’t changed and it won’t. My life is pretty damn perfect with her, but there’s always been
something missing. Until Connor came home, I didn’t realize it wasn’t something, but someone. Him. We’re together—”
“Lee, no. This isn’t only on you.” Katy turned to her parents and without a shred of hesitation, blurted out, “We’re all together. The three of us. I’m with Connor too. Jonathan walked in on Con and Lee and assumed they were cheating on me. Then when he found out I knew, he figured they were forcing me into it.” Katy shook her head. “But he was wrong. I love both of them.”
Shock rendered Rich speechless; Levi didn’t expect it to last long. He was waiting for the explosion, Vesuvius’s second coming—the eruption to end all others. But like a guppy, Rich opened his mouth and closed it again, then repeated the action. He ran his fingers through his hair and sat back on the couch, then after a moment, asked, his tone disbelieving, “You’re serious?” Levi nodded and winced when the other man shook his head. “How do you expect me to accept this? It isn’t right.”
“We’re not doing anything wrong, Dad.” Still holding his hand, Katy reached out for Connor’s and held tightly. Levi looked across at both of them, the three of them sharing a glance. It was one tiny moment in time, but Levi’s breath caught in his throat. He could see the love written on each of Connor and Katy’s faces and he reached out, touching Connor’s face before bringing Katy’s hand to his mouth and kissing her fingers. Her parents had to see that this was no whim—it was written all over their faces. All they had to do was look. “I love them and they love me.”
“Do you hear how naïve you sound, Katy? I love them and they love me.” Her father uttered sarcastically. He grimaced and stood, pacing the length of the couch. Tossing his hands up in the air, he shook his head and huffed out an exasperated breath. “There are so many things you haven’t considered. What are people going to think of you walking down the street with two men on your arm? Have you thought about how your business—everything you’ve worked for—could be destroyed? And what about you, Levi?” Rich motioned to him. “You might as well say goodbye to your job if this gets back to them. How will you explain to some kid why you’re with the two of them? What sort of role model will you be?” Rich was being realistic, stating things how he saw them. Levi had done the same thing, had thought through every one of the issues the other man had raised, but he couldn’t fight it anymore. He couldn’t hurt either of Katy or Connor by ignoring what was there between them. He wouldn’t.
