Savannah bit her lower lip. “Well,” she said hesitantly, “Noah said I needed to—”
“Whoa.” Dylan held up a hand. “Stop right there. I’m not one who attempts to offer advice or share wisdom or stupid shit like that. But, whatever you do, do not listen to Noah.” He laid a reassuring hand on her shoulder. “I trust you way more than I trust him.”
Savannah beamed, and Dylan didn’t have the heart to tell her he trusted the deadlocked political system more than he trusted Noah Tanner.
“Are we good now?” Dylan asked.
Savannah’s smile lit up her face. “We’re good.”
Dylan watched her weave her way back through the crowded tables and come to stop beside her sister. In matching visors, the twins huddled together for a moment, comparing clipboards.
“They’re cute kids,” Alec said. Dylan hiked a brow, and Alec shrugged as he continued. “Okay. College kids then.”
“Yeah.”
Funny how Alec had picked up on the same thought as Dylan. He returned his gaze to the two girls and pursed his lips, contemplating the thought dogging him for a while.
“You ever thought about having any?” Dylan asked.
“Any what?”
“Kids.”
When Alec didn’t respond, Dylan turned his head and met his partner’s gaze.
Hip parked against the railing, Alec stared at him, his face reflecting the same shock present in those wide, blue eyes. Dylan never could decide which was more amusing, a tongue-tied Alec or the nervous, blabbering version. Looks like the topic of children had left Alec mute.
Fucking adorably mute.
A familiar warmth spread through Dylan’s chest. He should be used to the feeling by now, but every time it felt like a novelty.
“Yeah,” Alec said. “But…”
Those two short words seemed to have exhausted Alec’s supply.
“Why haven’t you ever mentioned the idea before?” Dylan said.
Alec blinked and crossed his arms, almost looking offended. “Maybe because of the way you initially freaked out about us. How was I supposed to bring up the subject when you weren’t even capable of saying the words I love you.”
Dylan scowled, but his heart wasn’t in it. “I got over that in a few months.”
“Try six.”
“Okay.” Dylan shrugged. “So I’m a slow learner.”
“Are you serious?” Alec slowly cocked his head. “About the kids, I mean?”
Before Dylan could decide how to respond, a voice interrupted their private conversation.
“Hey, guys.”
Tyler approached them with Logan at his side—the boomerang boyfriend, as so dubbed by Noah—and his gray eyes landed on the still stunned expression on his ex’s face.
Tyler shifted his gaze between Alec and Dylan, his voice calm. Only the subject gave away his emotion. “Looks like Noah shared the news about next year’s plans already.”
Alec winced. “Sorry. I guess we shouldn’t have agreed to give the annual bachelor bid two tries before giving up. I figured we’d make enough money the first time and you’d be safe.”
Tyler’s expression didn’t budge, but Alec plowed on.
“You might as well agree to see Memphis about next year’s attempt. Noah’s going to hound you until you do.” Alec’s attention settled back on Dylan. After all that, Dylan could still hear the thread of amazement in Alec’s tone. “But that’s not what we were talking about.”
“Then what were you two talking about?” Tyler said.
In a fit of evil, Dylan waited until Tyler took a sip of his beer before answering. “Having kids.”
Tyler choked on his drink, coughing, and his eyes wide. Dylan bit back the grin of satisfaction. Nice to see the Ice Man occasionally lose his cool.
Unfortunately he recovered quickly, putting an end to Dylan’s fun.
Tyler spoke slowly. “Are you kidding me?”
Alec watched Dylan with intent, clearly waiting on him to answer the question. Dylan ran the notion around in his head again, feeling it out. Testing the image in his brain. Before he met Alec, the thought used to conjure all kinds of horrors. But, lately, all Dylan pictured was a little girl or boy with Alec’s blue eyes and his big heart. And maybe even his tendency to babble.
Dylan couldn’t think of anything better.
“Nope,” Dylan finally said. “Not kidding at all.”
Alec shook his head, dazed, but clearly pleased. “I swear, Dylan.” Alec pressed his forehead to Dylan’s temple. “I could spend the rest of my life studying you and never figure you out.”
Dylan grinned, wrapping his arm around Alec’s shoulder and pulling him closer. “Sounds good to me.”
Alec and Tyler began to talk about work, the housing fund, and next year’s bachelor bid. But Dylan tuned them out, content to just hold Alec and enjoy the sun sinking into the Pacific.
“What would you call her?”
“Huh?” Dylan looked around and realized Tyler and Logan had gone.
Alec squeezed his waist, as if to get his attention. “If we had a girl, what would you name her?”
Surprised by the question, Dylan said, “I don’t know.”