Levi was still avoiding Cole. With Taylor and Jenn keeping Olivier busy, Ollie hardly had time to help Levi fix whatever had gone wrong in his relationship. But someday, he hoped Levi would find the same happiness that Ollie had found with Eric.
By the time Eric set his phone down, Ollie had gotten most of their clothes off. All he needed, really, was to get Taylor clean, and his own arms washed off. Eric scooped Jenn out of the tub. “We’ll be back,” Eric said. “You’ll be okay?”
Olivier nodded, determined. He wasn’t going to disappoint Eric at all.
Eric grabbed Jenn’s clothes and swept her out of the bathroom. Ollie got the water warm, washing Taylor carefully, getting all the poop off his skin.
There was so much of it; it had gone down his legs, up his back somehow. Taylor splashed in the water, getting it up the walls of the bathtub.
By the time they were done, Ollie wanted to sink into Eric’s arms.
He shut the water off, sighing when Eric stepped back into the bathroom. “Jenn’s dressed. I’ll handle this one,” Eric said with a brisk grin. “Get yourself cleaned up. Looks like that spare outfit came in handy.”
Olivier flashed a grateful smile, peeling his dirty shirt off. “I’m not sure what I’d do without you, Eric.”
“Probably those toys you hid in that bottom drawer.” Eric grinned, and Olivier flushed. “Jenn’s been getting into everything, though. We should transfer those toys somewhere she can’t reach.”
Trust Eric to be prepared for their children. Ollie laughed, taking Eric’s hand so Eric could haul him out of the tub.
They were out of the apartment half an hour later than planned. Jenn sang in the backseat, and Taylor babbled along with her, his hands in the little striped mittens Ollie had bought last year. Eric had bought a matching pair of socks for Taylor, just to complete the set.
Ollie slouched into the passenger seat, tired.
“We haven’t even gotten married yet,” Eric said wryly, squeezing Olivier’s thigh.
Ollie picked at his shirt, thinking about the laundry waiting for him back home. And then he thought about the wedding, and this second shirt he’d picked out—it wasn’t his first choice, because it didn’t hide his post-partum belly.
Five months after Taylor’s birth, Ollie had lost some of the weight he’d gained. He still wore the stretch marks on his belly, though, and the skin there was wrinkled.
Eric had probably noticed that every time they made love, the lights were either dim or off, or Ollie wasn’t facing him.
Olivier wasn’t sure Eric wanted to see that belly. Or if he did, whether it would affect how much Eric wanted to get into his pants.
They pulled into the parking lot at the park, Eric cutting the engine. “Worried about your belly again?”
Olivier froze, his cheeks burning. “How... How’d you know?”
Eric rolled his eyes. “I’m your bondmate, Ollie. I’m getting married to you. What don’t I know?”
A chuckle bubbled up through Olivier’s chest. “I just...” He shrugged awkwardly. “I was hoping you wouldn’t look at it.”
Eric sighed, twining his fingers with Olivier’s. “I’ve told you. I don’t care what you look like.”
“But you’ll still see my belly when we—when we get in bed.” Ollie glanced at their children listening in. “I mean... I didn’t look like how I used to.”
“And I told you the same thing when you had that puffy face, didn’t I?” Eric slanted a lopsided smile at him. “I like how you look, but that’s not why I love you, Ollie.”
Except Ollie still wanted to fit in, wanted to be normal. He wanted to be pretty and perfect for Eric, wanted to lose the slurs and hurts from his past. The awfulness of his belly just added to it.
Eric clicked off his seatbelt. Then he tugged Ollie’s shirt up his belly. Ollie squawked. “Eric!”
“Just gonna prove it to you.” Eric pressed a kiss to Olivier’s wrinkled belly. Then he squeezed Ollie between the legs, pressing a finger up against Ollie’s hole. “Gonna consummate our marriage when we get some time alone.”
Olivier’s face scorched; he glanced out the window, where other cars had parked and guests were gathering for the ceremony. But Eric squeezed Ollie’s sac, yanking his attention back to those red-brown eyes.
“Believe me?” Eric murmured, kissing up Ollie’s chest. He stroked his wrist down Ollie’s abdomen, then straightened Ollie’s shirt. “Would you still stay if I got badly disfigured?”
“I would,” Olivier answered, knowing it was true. “I love you regardless of anything else.”
“Then you understand when I say the same goes for you.” Eric smiled, his eyes full of warmth. “Okay?”
Olivier read the patience and love in Eric’s gaze, the acceptance.
And maybe it didn’t matter what he had done in the past, how badly he might look in the future. Eric had bonded with him, and he was still here.
“What matters is your heart,” Eric whispered, pressing his palm against Ollie’s chest. “Here. This is what makes you you, Ollie. It’s why I wake up every day, knowing my life is perfect. Because I have you.”
Olivier blushed, his heart swelling. Maybe he could let go of the uncertainties he had about himself. It would take time, and he would stumble on occasion.
But Eric had stayed by his side, and he wasn’t leaving.
“Okay,” Ollie said, easing into a smile.
“Then let’s get married.” Eric kissed him briefly on the lips, nudging Olivier out of the car.
With a smile, Ollie followed Eric out, grabbing the diaper bag while Eric saw to the children.
Levi rushed up to them, his face tight with anxiety. “You’re late, Ollie! We’ve been holding them for a whole half hour!”
Olivier couldn’t help a mischievous smile. “You and Cole?”
“Me and Aaron.” Levi scowled. “Thanks for nothing.”
“I’m sorry.” Olivier hugged him, hoping Levi would find happiness even if it wasn’t with Cole.
When Eric had Taylor secured in one arm and Jenn by his side, they set off for the gazebo in the middle of the park.
The first spring leaves had begun to unfurl on the barren trees—it was
