Page 38 of All Orc Nothing

“Okay so, I guess we’re about to have an important conversation. In all honesty, we should have talked about this a long time ago and I’m sorry I didn’t think of it until someone else planted the seed. But anyway, yeah. Important family discussion.”

Bax snorts. “Dude, take a breath. You look like you’re about to throw up.”

“Should we be having this conversation in front of Maverick? No offense, but I don’t want this to be awkward for you,” Blaire adds, waving a hand in my direction.

“If you’d rather I go wait in the car, I will,” I tell them all seriously. “I don’t want to intrude.”

“I’d rather you be here,” Thane says softly, resting a palm against my thigh. He looks at the twins. “I trust Maverick and you can trust him too.”

“Good enough for me,” Blaire says with a shrug.

“Okay, so,” Thane says, using his free hand to tug on his braid, a nervous habit. “How would you feel about me looking into getting official custody of you guys? I have no idea where to even start but if it’s possible, would you want me to? Don’t feel like you need to know how you feel right this second but I wanted to put it out there? I guess?”

“Yes,” Blaire says right away. “Yes, we want that.”

“Both of us,” Bax adds on. “We’ve talked about this before. We were thinking of emancipation but I think you having custody would be better.”

Blaire reaches across the table, pulling Thane’s hand away from his hair. “You’ve already been our dad all this time. It would be cool if it was official, you know?”

Thane looks like he’s about to cry but he holds it in. He looks away for a moment, composing himself.

“When I was your age, Tess and I made a promise to each other to get away from this place. She wanted to do everything to leave while I wanted to do everything in my power to take care of you guys. I have no idea what that all means, but I know I’ll make it happen.”

All three of them put their hands in the middle of the table, holding onto each other. Our waitress brings our pizzas, breaking the tension of the moment.

Once she’s gone, I clear my throat. “I want you both to take my number as well. I’m a doctor and if you ever need anything, or if Thane is in class or something, you should have another trusted adult you can count on.”

We all exchange numbers between bites of pizza. Thane keeps glancing over at me, giving me an unreadable look. If he’s got something to say, I trust him to bring it up when he’s ready.

At the end of the night, we take Blaire and Bax to their home. Thane gives each of them a hug, promising to see them soon. Despite having only just met them, I feel connected to them through Thane. They give me teasing looks when Thane’s back is turned.

I already adore them.

The drive back home is quiet and somber, Thane lost in thought. I give him space, content to drive while holding his hand. When I pull up to his dorm, Thane unbuckles and turns in his seat to face me.

“Thank you again for coming along.”

“You don’t have to keep thanking me.”

“I know. Force of habit I guess.” He tugs on his braid and chews on his lip. “Can I ask you something?”

“Of course.”

“Do you really think I could do it?”

I don’t need him to specify. I nod my head. “I know you can do it and Thane,” I say, touching his chin, forcing his golden eyes to lock with mine. “You don’t have to do it alone.”

Then I lean forward, slotting my lips between his tusks, kissing him gently. I put all of my pent up emotions into the kiss, silently reminding him of how I feel. It might have been easy to ignore before but after tonight, I’m certain of one thing; I’m in love with Thane.

Thane gives me one more kiss before wishing me good night and heading up into his dorm. I make my way back home, drifting into my home almost in a trance. I look around, my brain already whirling with ideas.

Without much thought, I start planning how I can move my room into the smaller guest room, and get my bigger bedroom ready for a pair of twins to have a place to stay. It’s already late, but that doesn’t stop me from planning, from dragging my things into the second bedroom, from looking online and ordering two beds, two dressers, two night stands.

I want to do this. I want to have this ready to go.

Just in case.

Chapter Twelve