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“Come on, the water's fine.”
Bradley, despite Pensacola written on half of his documents as a testament to his parents' inability to use a condom despite being three months away from being married, was a California boy through and through. Which meant he was used to the Pacific Ocean and its near-constant cooler temperatures, even in the middle of summer when the temperatures spiked and the air felt like it was going to burn his lungs with each deep, dry breath. Sure, San Diego got humid, but it had nothing on the East Coast. Each breath made Bradley feel like he was two minutes away from a chest cold, and he hadn’t felt dry since they had arrived three days ago.
But Jake loved it. Jake, who was born in Virginia and had spent most of his life on the Atlantic coast, spending summers anywhere from the Hamptons down to Fort Lauderdale and everywhere in between. It had been interesting to find out just how much time Jake’s family spent together, even now as adults. Whenever Jake had leave and could make it to the coast, the whole brood descended en masse, bringing identical smiles and the sort of closeness that made Bradley uneasy because he wasn’t used to it.
Jake was an asshole, but so was the rest of his family. Bradley had quickly learned that the barbs were never-ending, but the smiles were bright and no one took anything to heart. There was no doubting the love in this family, the same love that extended to Bradley almost immediately upon meeting him as if the Seresin clan only knew how to insult and love in equal measure. People were all over the place: Jake's six siblings and in-laws scattered in various conversations, his parents reading, and his gaggle of nieces and nephews running all over the place, in and out of the water.
It was noisy, chaotic, but Bradley only had eyes for Jake.
Thigh deep in the Atlantic, Jake had already been dunked by his two eldest nephews, barely thirteen but already well on their way to surpassing their Uncle in height, a fact they were using to great advantage, and probably a little payback based on how easily Jake had tossed the younger kids into the ocean earlier. The sun was beating down across his shoulders, already pink from the day before, the promise of a sunburn getting stronger with each minute that passed. Bradley could feel the same tightness across his shoulders, but he ignored it, eyes still focused on his boyfriend, half afraid that if he looked away, then he would wake up from the dream.
“Seriously, Bradshaw, it’s not cold, get in,” Jake called, laughing.
“It not being cold is kinda the problem,” Bradley called back, arms crossing over his chest as he eyed the water dubiously. “If I wanted hot water, I’d get in a spa.”
“Don’t be a little bitch,” one of Jake’s nephews called right before he shoved his Uncle, sending Jake under the water.
For a split second, Bradley was about to reply, before the kid was suddenly yanked under, and Jake stood up, water streaming off his torso and a hand wrapped around an ankle. He dropped it with a grin, dancing back as his nephew sputtered his way up.
“What he said, even though he knows he can’t use that word,” Jake said, shaking his head as he looked back at Bradley, one hand lifting and crooking a finger. “C’mon, darlin’, you gotta get them shoulders wet, ease the sunburn a bit. The water’ll do you good.”
Golden, grinning and beautiful, hair plastered to his forehead and shorts riding up to expose the pale skin that didn’t see as much sun, Bradley was helpless to do anything but walk forward, letting his own personal siren call him back into the water.
“I don’t really think hot water works as well as cooler water does,” Bradley said, bracing himself for the chill he was used to and unable to stop the grimace at the warm water lapping around his legs as he waded out to join Jake.
“Not exactly sure it works honestly, but my Granny always said you gotta cool the skin down if you wanna keep the burn away,” Jake said, snagging Bradley’s wrist, tugging him closer until they were pressed together from knee to chest and if they hadn’t spent the morning the way they had, Bradley might start to get a little worried about his response.
“That so?” Bradley asked.
“Mmhmm,” Jake said, grinning at him with that same shit eating grin Bradley had once hated and now loved.
He kissed him, because it was better than listening to whatever bullshit Jake was going to spout, but if there was one thing Bradley had learned since all of this had started, it was that Jake would always say what he was gonna say, come hell or high water, he was gonna get it out. Bradley had found that kissing Jake to break up whatever bullshit he was spouting made it a lot more palatable.
“Course I’m so…damn…hot.” Jake was laughing as Bradley wrapped an arm around his waist, his hand cupping his face to try and kiss him deeper, wondering if a tongue would be enough to shut him up. “Themmph…water feels…co—ld…anyway.”
It was worth a shot, same as it always was and same as it always did. Bradley pulled back with a groan, rolling his eyes heavenward even as Jake laughed, mouth pressing against his collarbone as he shook his head. “That was bad, even for you."
“You liked it,” Jake replied, hands dropping to Bradley’s waist to knead gently, fingers digging in only to relax as he stayed where he was, mouth still pressed against Bradley’s collarbone, body swaying forward so all Bradley could do was wrap his arms around Jake and hold him.
There was a looseness to Jake that only came out around his family, chosen and blood, and it was the same looseness that Bradley now saw in the moments when it was just the two of them, Jake falling asleep against Bradley anytime they were seated for more than five minutes, the way Jake would press close for a hug, kiss Bradley’s cheek anytime he walked past. The times Jake let the world see that version of him were few and far between, showing his soft underbelly to a few special people. Bradley knew how special it was and he'd do anything to make sure it never ended.
“I’ve got sun sickness,” Bradley attempted, even as he cupped the back of Jake’s head and kissed the side of his head, listening to the sound of laughter behind him, the sun stretching across the ocean in front of him and the man he was going to marry, even if Jake didn’t know it yet, in his arms.
There was happiness, and then there was whatever Bradley was feeling right then, and he didn’t know joy could feel like this, and he wanted to live in the moment.
“Is that what they call it?” Jake asked, lifting his head, shit-eating grin on his face. “And here I thought it was roast chicken.”
Groaning, Bradley dropped his arms and took a step back, the water sloshing around his thighs, only to reach up and shove a laughing Jake backward into the water, watching as he splashed down into the surf. Bradley was an only child of only children, and he hadn’t grown up roughhousing with siblings, and that was the story he was going to stick with for not dancing back even after witnessing how quickly Jake could move under the water. A hand grabbed his ankle, and Bradley barely had enough time to shout before he was collapsing back, the warm water washing over him.
He came up spluttering, the water was shallow enough; all he had to do was sit up and his head was above water. He could hear laughter, and he shook his head, rubbing a hand over his face and through his hair to get it out of his face a second before Jake was in his lap, arms wrapping around his neck and settling down as if he had nowhere else he’d rather be.
“See, told you the water was fine,” Jake said, getting in his face, blocking out the whole world, and Bradley was fine with his world being nothing with Jake.
“It’s a fucking bath,” Bradley muttered, dropping his hands to Jake’s hips, gripping in case he got the stupid idea to try and leave. “And not even a fun bath when I have you naked and soapy in my lap.”
“I am in your lap.”
“Not naked though. Or soapy. The soapy is the important part.”
“Nag nag nag,” Jake muttered, cupping a hand around Bradley’s jaw, rubbing a thumb over his mustache. “You complain so much.”
“You like it when I complain, you think it’s funny.”
“Lies, slander and more lies.”
“Truth,” Bradley replied, tugging Jake closer, well aware of everyone around them, but he was helpless when it came to Jake.
Huffing, Jake cupped his palm and scooped some water up, letting it trickle over Bradley’s head. Bradley blinked away the salt water to stare at Jake, who was smiling at him, different than what he was used to even in their private moments. This was soft, something in it that felt private. A smile just for him, even with the crowd around them. Bradley had quickly learned the Seresins didn’t understand the meaning of subtle. Nor did they really bother to hide their love and affection for the people in his life, a fact he was well aware of, as well as the fact that Jake only had nine nieces and nephews so far was a miracle that could apparently only be attributed to modern-day birth control considering he had six siblings and they were in total, eleven years apart.
“You like it because you like me,” Jake said, cupping some more water and letting it run over Bradley’s face. “Actually, scratch that, you loveeee me.”
Bradley blew out a puff of air, spraying some of the water back at Jake, who laughed. “Yeah, baby, I do.”
Hands curled around his jaw, and Jake was kissing him again. “Yeah, yeah you do,” he mumbled into the kiss, his smile infectious as Bradley pressed up into the kiss. “And I love you.”
It was cute, watching Bradley try to deal with Nicole, all of four years old and still unaware of how fucking pointy her elbows and knees were and how used she was to everyone in her life being wrapped around her little finger to the point she just assumed that Bradley would also want her climbing all over him. To be fair, he was being a good sport about it, the same way he had been a good sport about the whole trip, even though there were times when Bradley’s eyes got a little wide, a little panicky, and it was only Jake taking his hand for a walk outside that settled him down.
It wasn't a secret that Jake had a big family, getting bigger with every passing year, and his siblings and in-laws kept popping out babies like they were going out of style. Bradley had always wanted a big family. Jake knew that now, the same way he knew Bradley’s family had been nonexistent for most of his twenties, but wanting something and being used to something were two different things.
But he was trying, and he was having fun, accepting the teasing and giving it back just as good now that he was more comfortable with the way Jake’s family spoke, never shutting up, louder and filled with laughter. Jake knew the Seresins were a lot; he knew he was a lot, and he was fine with that because he had people who loved him, and that was all he needed. He had never expected Bradley to be one of those people, but he had, and fuck, it was so much better than Jake had expected. It had been a rocky start, but they had made it, and now they were here, at the meet-up they had managed so Bradley could finally meet Jake’s family for the first time in full.
It was the last step Jake wanted to take before he finally got on one knee and asked Bradley to marry him, because this was the future he wanted.
“So, who’s pregnant?” Amelia asked, sliding up next to him and resting an elbow on his shoulder as she looked around the group. “You or him?”
“You, if the way Clarke keeps staring at you is any indication,” Jake replied promptly, looking up at his big sister in time to see a look pass over her face. “…or you already are?”
The grimace was all the indication Jake needed, and he grinned, wrapping his arms around her waist and pulling her into a gentle hug. She sighed, flicking the back of his head before hugging him back. “We’re keeping it quiet until the end of the trip. I know this is all about meeting Bradley.”
“You don’t have to do that,” Jake said, looking up at her. “I think he’d like it if some of the attention isn’t on him.”
Amelia snorted, just as Mary appeared, a plate of food in her hands as she dropped down next to Jake. “So, what are we talking about?”
Jake had grown up in the middle of the two of them, both of them as loud and as strong-willed as he was, and he had been their secret keeper for most of his life, the same way they were his when he needed someone at his back. The three of them had always been as thick as thieves, and now, he knew everything, for better or for worse, and he kept their secrets close, but sometimes, a secret needed to be let out.
“The fact that you’re both pregnant at the same time,” Jake said, keeping his voice down as he leaned back in the chair, eyes finding Bradley, who was nodding along to something Nicole was saying as if it were state secrets.
There was a moment of silence before Jake was nothing more than a memory as Amelia and Mary were whispering to each other, excited that they were each pregnant and Jake was excited for the next two, more kids for his parents to dote over so he didn’t have to dodge a hundred pointed statements about how adoption was always an option as if they didn't already have enough Grandchildren. Jake ignored his sisters, mostly for his own peace of mind as they started talking about side effects he didn’t want to know about, and watched as Bradley picked up something Nicole had dropped and handed it to her, getting the wide grin that had all of them wrapped around her finger.
She really was cute, small for her age, all dark curly hair she had gotten from her Dad, the bright green eyes she had gotten from Jake’s side of the family, and as sweet as could be. It had to be from Clarke’s side of the family because the Seresins didn’t do sweet, but apparently the Koch family could be.
Bradley smiled back at her, glancing up and around, finally settling on Jake, his expression waffling between ‘help me’ and that soft, dopey look he got whenever he looked at Jake for too long. Jake settled back in the chair, linking his fingers together and resting them on his stomach, unable to take his eyes away as Nicole got Bradley’s attention again, holding something up to him that Bradley took, nodding along with whatever Nicole was saying as if it were the most interesting thing in the world.
“I’m gonna marry the shit outta that man,” Jake said, feeling his heart thud even harder in his chest.
“Please do,” Mary said, leaning her head against his shoulder. “He’s easy on the eyes.”
“Amen to that,” Amelia agreed.
“Both of you are married,” Jake said, glancing over to where Clarke and Nate were half-watching their three boys running around. Jordan, Patrick, and Lucas were at the age where they only needed a minder to make sure they didn’t do something that would result in serious or permanent injury in the same way all pre-teens managed. Jake had more than a few scars from his own stupid stunts.
“I have eyes that work,” Amelia replied. “And I can see the way he looks at you, Lil-Jay. That man loves you and you deserve it.”
“Seriously. I think Mom was about ready to adopt him when he helped her do the dishes without being told to,” Mary agreed.
“Suck up,” Jake muttered, more for form's sake, but he knew it had been because Bradley had been on his own in so many ways since he was a teenager with a Mom who only got sicker the older he got.
“You gonna ask, or him?”
“Oh, he wants to ask first, but he’s gonna have to be quick if he wants to beat me,” Jake explained, knowing how to read the longing looks Bradley sent his way, as well as the not-so-subtle glances at any jewelry shop they ended up passing. “The difference is I already have a ring.”
“Really?” Amelia asked, suddenly a lot more interested.
Jake nodded and stood, dislodging his sisters, who protested wanting to know more, but he ignored them as he made his way over before dropping into the sand next to Bradley.
“Uncle Jay!” Nicole said, excited as she turned, elbows, knees, and heels finding all the sensitive spots if Bradley’s grimace was to be believed, as she waved a hand.
Jake grabbed her, avoiding an elbow to the face with practiced ease as he tugged her into a hug, kissing the top of her head. “Hey, Lil Nicky. What’re you telling Uncle Bradley about?” he asked, glancing over at Bradley in time to see him smile, slumping toward them as if he was about to pass out from happiness.
“I found gemstones!” Nicole said, waving her fist in Jake’s face, almost getting him in the cheek before he jerked back.
“Watch those hands, you don’t wanna hurt anyone, right?” Jake opened his hand, palm up as he waited. “Lemme see.”
Nicole mumbled an apology as she settled down, dropping her handful into Jake’s. It was a collection of sea glass and seashells, half of the shells broken and cracked, the glass rounded from the ocean. “Wow, you’re rich!” Jake exclaimed, picking up one of the pieces of glass. “You gonna buy me a car now?”
Nicole giggled like it was the funniest thing in the world. “You’re silly!” She shook her head and reached for one of the stones, which she handed to Bradley. “He said this was his favorite, so he should have it, right?”
It was a piece of sea glass, a bright green that was almost a perfect circle and about the size of Jake’s palm. Once upon a time, it had probably been a Heineken bottle before the ocean had its way, but now it was the sea glass that was easy along the beach if you wanted to spend the time.
“It’s almost as pretty as you are,” Jake exclaimed, wrapping his arms around her and pressing kisses on her cheeks as she laughed, bright and free in the way all kids should be.
“It’s why I like it,” Bradley said, holding it up next to Jake’s face, nodding seriously. “Same as your eyes.”
Jake was wearing sunglasses, but it was exactly the sort of romantic shit that Bradley always said. Nicole was a little young to get it as she rolled her eyes, her entire head moving and catching Jake’s chin in the process.
“Silly! You can’t see his eyes! He’s got sunglasses!” she said, her voice so dry that both of them burst out laughing. Nicole, not wanting to be left out, threw her head back and caught Jake’s cheek with the back of her head as she laughed, loud and bright.
“You sound just like your Uncle sometimes,” Bradley said, reaching out to tug at the end of Nicole’s braid.
“Mom says Uncle Jake is a bad inf…infl…,” Nicole started only to frown and turn, looking at Jake.
“Influence?” he offered.
Nicole nodded. “That one!”
Humming, Jake looked over to where Amelia and Mary were watching them, and he grinned, kissing the side of Nicole’s head. “Wanna go tell your Mom something for me?”
Nicole scrambled up, her elbow catching him in the stomach before she was standing. “What is it?” she asked, hands on her hips, looking determined.
“I need you to go tell your Mama that I said she’s a bitch,” Jake said.
Nicole frowned. “That’s a bad word.”
Bradley started laughing, turning his head and pressing his hand against his mouth to try and keep the noise down as Jake nodded seriously. “It is, and you can only say it because I’m telling you to say it, no other time. Okay?” Jake said, holding out his pinky finger.
Nicole nodded seriously, wrapping her tiny pinky around his as they shook on it before she turned and ran toward Amelia, screaming.
“Mooooooooom! Uncle Jake said to tell you you’re a bitch!”
Bradley lost his battle with laughter, the noise filling the air just as Amelia was up and moving toward them. “Jacob Allen Seresin!”
“Fuck, c’mom,” Jake said, scrambling up and grabbing Bradley’s hand to drag him with him up the beach. “Gotta run!”
“Why am I getting in trouble?” Bradley asked, the two of them booking it down with Amelia yelling after them.
“Because we’re datin’, baby, what’s mine is yours and that includes siblings these days,” Jake said, glancing behind him to see Amelia stopping, both hands on her hips and glaring at him even as Clarke wandered over and picked up Nicole, who was laughing at the antics, too young to understand.
Jake turned and started walking backward, still dragging Bradley along with him. “We’ll be back later!” Jake called, stopping to grab their shirts and things before he pulled Bradley up after him as various people called their goodbyes.
“Where are we going?”
“Getting some peace and quiet,” Jake explained, shoving his feet into flip flops as he started walking down the path toward the shops that lined the beach down the way.
“Sounds good to me,” Bradley said, falling into step next to Jake, shirt on and unbuttoned, barefoot as he carried his shoes.
“Thought as much,” Jake said, bumping his shoulders against Bradley’s.
“That obvious?” Bradley asked, rubbing a hand through his unruly hair, looking nervous as he glanced behind him.
“Nah, just to me,” Jake said, reaching out to run his knuckles down Bradley’s forearm, doing his best to help settle his nerves.
“Fuck, shit, fuck,” Bradley chanted, following Jake as they booked it toward one of the shop awnings as the skies opened up and started to pour, the sun disappearing behind clouds that hadn’t been there a second ago.
They made it, but they hadn’t been fast enough, and both of them were soaked.
“Holy shit,” Bradley said, peering at the downpour close enough that the raindrops kept splashing up onto their legs, as warm as the day still was, humid and sticky and so different than he was used to but there was nowhere else he’d rather be.
“Summer storm,” Jake said, leaning over and peering up at the skies. “It’ll pass quickly.”
Despite the rain, the sun was still shining, making Bradley squint to see through the glare as he watched Jake shift deeper under the awning, rubbing a hand through his hair to slick it back. His shirt was beginning to stick to his chest, tan skin showing through. Bradley swallowed, aware they were in public and there were a fair number of people, all of them seeking shelter the same way they had, but through luck alone, they had ended up underneath an awning alone, no one but them and the rain for company.
Jake pinched the front of his shirt and tugged it away, only for the wet fabric to stick back to his chest as he sighed, shooting Bradley a crooked half-grin. “Suddenly the open button-down shirt seems like a much better idea.”
There was the normal answer Bradley would give, leaning in and teasing Jake about liking his style despite how much shit Jake gave him, letting themselves fall into the easy back and forth that annoyed almost everyone around them but the words were lost as Bradley leaned in, cupping the side of Jake’s jaw and kissing him softly, hearing the inquisitive noise, only for it to fade off as Jake pressed in closer, fingers curling around the open edges of Bradley’s shirt. He could feel how warm Jake was, even with the still-oppressive heat around them.
It wasn’t the time or the place for more, despite how badly Bradley wanted to push Jake against the wall, block out the whole world except for each other, and so he pulled back, seeing the bright grin and cheeks pinked from happiness and sunshine. “My, my my, Mr. Bradshaw, what would my Mama think?” Jake teased, leaning in to kiss the corner of Jake’s mouth.
It was another soft ball, an easy answer about how much Jake’s Mom wouldn’t care, but Bradley was finding that taking the safe path sometimes was boring. And he knew what he wanted to say because he had never been normal a day in his life when it came to Jake Seresin, and Bradley wasn’t gonna start now. Not when things were the sort of good that belonged in fairy tales.
“I’m gonna marry you,” Bradley breathed out, unable to keep the words in his chest, knowing it for the fact that it was.
Jake tilted his head to the side, staring at Bradley in amusement. “That a proposal, Bradshaw?”
Bradley shook his head. “A statement of fact,” he said, reaching out and snagging Jake’s hand to tug him closer so he could kiss him again. “One day.”
“Why isn’t it a proposal?” Jake asked, contrary as he always was, even as he kissed back.
“No ring.”
“So?”
Blinking, Bradley tilted his head to the side, mirroring Jake’s, seeing the small smile playing at the corner of his lips, and all he could do was cup Jake’s face and lean in, kissing him again, deeper this time despite the semi-public venue. A hand slid underneath his shirt, resting on his lower back, and Jake pulled him closer, the two of them standing from chest to knee, and, despite the temperature, Bradley felt goosebumps break out across his skin as he pulled back, panting as he stared at Jake.
“You deserve it done right,” Bradley said, wanting to make it perfect for Jake.
That, for some reason, had Jake chuckling, shaking his head. “Darlin’, ain’t no such thing as the right time, only the time you want it to be.”
“Well, maybe I want to get a ring for you,” Bradley argued.
“Maybe you should catch up then.”
It took a moment for the words to sink in, and Jake’s smile softened from that infuriating know-it-all smirk into the soft smile that Bradley treasured for its rarity as much as its beauty.
“Always so slow,” Jake teased, his second arm joining the first, fingers linking together at the small of Bradley’s back as he leaned against the wall, dragging Bradley closer until he had to brace himself with a hand against the wall.
“Good things come to those who wait,” Bradley said, feeling like his happiness was gonna burst out of his chest.
As quickly as the rain had started, it stopped, the absence of noise jarring in its suddenness, but Bradley didn’t care, instead leaning in and kissing Jake again because it was the only thing he wanted to do for the rest of his life.
“For the…record,” Bradley said, needing to get this out even as they kissed. “I asked first.”
Jake pulled back with a chuckle. “Technically, you didn’t ask, you just said it.”
“Technically, I still said it first and you don’t have the ring on you,” Bradley replied, rubbing a thumb over Jake’s jaw.
“Technically—"
Bradley kissed him, shutting him up in the most effective way he knew how, loving the way Jake’s mouth felt against his as he kept trying to talk.
“have—-with….mmphn.”
Pulling back, Bradley pressed a thumb over Jake’s lips to try and silence him. “Would you do me a favor and shut the fuck up so I can kiss you?”
Jake smiled, teeth nipping at the pad of his thumb. “Only because you’re pretty when you’re wet,” Jake replied, his arms tightening and pulling him closer. “Short-term agreement as well, so you really gotta make do with what time frame you hav—”
Bradley kissed him, and thankfully, Jake shut up and kissed him back.