As the spring turned into summer, Daniel and the Weeks siblings seemed to be spending more and more time with Zayne's group, which Zayne liked fine because he enjoyed having Brinxton around. Even with work for both of them, they were finding plenty of time to be together, and going to events together. So of course, they ended up being the second people after the immediate family to know when Elias proposed to Aspen.
There was a small celebration with just the family, but they had the engagement party not too long after. Zayne gave a very heartfelt speech about his sister and Elias, telling everyone that he decided to talk because he loved the spotlight more than anyone else and the doctor still wanted Zev resting, and Zev hated public speaking. That got the laugh he was hoping for, too.
Aspen wanted a winter wedding, so they were going to plan for next winter. She didn't want to step on Brielle's toes, and it gave them time to have some fun with the planning. Elias asked Zayne and Zach to be his best men, though he didn't ask Daniel to be a groomsman at all, and Brinxton noticed that that seemed to bother Daniel. Around the twins and Elias, though, he didn't say anything.
The whole group had some drinks a few weeks after the engagement party, and talk turned to logistics of married life once it happened. Zach asked if that meant Elias was going to move out, as neither twin could picture their sister living in the house built up to be accessible for Zayne as if she was another roommate.
"That wouldn't be the worst thing in the world, you know," Aspen said airily. "I'm very good at helping you when I need to."
"Of course," Zayne agreed. "But eventually, both Elias and Zach need to go and live their lives. I know the house was bought with the idea that we would always have someone there with me to help, but it's okay to step away and let...I don't know, nurses step in, I guess."
"Or a partner," Zach pointed out. "You could get serious with someone eventually and have them move in. And when that happens, then I'll leave. I'm not looking to settle down now or anything. Elias and Aspen can get their own place though. They don't have to go far."
Zayne gave his twin a look. "Yeah, because so many men are jumping for a chance to commit to me. You can't let my lack of a love life stop you from doing what you want. I'm fine."
"Lack of love life? What the hell is Brinxton here then?" Zach asked.
"That's my sex life, dude. Two different things," Zayne pointed out, and then turned to Brinxton. "If he asks you for a resume for marriage material, you can tell him where he can stuff it."
Brinxton seemed to give that a great deal more thought than Zayne intended before he smiled and made some joke about not getting tripped into married life just yet. Zayne gave a motion that seemed to tell Zach that he had his answer, and Zach shook his head at them.
In the end, it was decided that Elias and Aspen would start looking for a place to live, but Aspen wanted to be close by just in case. Zayne waved his hand dismissively at that, but he wasn't going to stop them. He enjoyed having them around, even if he wanted them to have the space to live their lives as they wanted to.
Leading up to the bachelor party, Zayne had to go in and get another epidural shot, which Brinxton ended up taking him to. It wasn't as intense as the ablation, but he had explained it was also about once a year and they put the needle directly into Zayne's spine and put numbing medicine in to help relax the area and bring pain down.
With the warmer weather, they got to play basketball together, and Zayne hadn't been joking that he was good on the wheels. They had rules in place that he could every once in a while skip dribbling due to the disability, but Brinxton and Zach's height difference didn't help them as much as Brinxton thought it would. Zayne was damn good at the game while on wheels.
They also spent time in the pool. When Daniel was with them, Brinxton noticed that Zayne wore his swimming shirt to cover up the scars, but when it was just them, he ditched it and just enjoyed the water. Zayne was a good swimmer and they enjoyed some alone time in the hot tub after exercising too.
Much to Brinxton's confusion, Brielle seemed to be making efforts to include him in things in a meaningful way. She even asked him while they were putting together little bags full of bubble wands for the wedding what boarding school was like for him. He looked at her in consternation for a bit before answering, but he told her. "At first it was terrible. I had no idea why I was there, what I had done wrong. I had some suspicions based on their reaction to catching me with Josh, but I had assumed that they would have reacted that way to catching either of us smooching on someone."
Brielle frowned at that. "They didn't particularly like finding me kissing a boy at school. I got quite the lecture, but they never sent me away, so maybe they both hate it but view what you did as worse. Despite the things I've said to Zayne, I don't have an issue with you being with men. Live and let live."
Brinxton smirked at that, "It's good to have your approval. Especially considering that your fiance used to be with men."
Brielle gave a strained smile at that. She looked down at the bubbles in thought and then said, "Used to be isn't quite right, actually. We have an agreement. I can't give him everything he desires, so as long as he is discreet he can get his fill of men on the side. He's not really supposed to bring feelings into those encounters though. He's supposed to stay faithful that way to me."
Brinxton tried to keep his shock from his expression but failed miserably. "That's more progressive thinking than I would have given you credit for a month ago," he said, honestly.
Brielle chuckled at that. "I understand that there is a lot men can give him that I can't. A strap on only works so well." She fell silent for a moment as she tied up a few more bags. "He really hates you and Zayne together. I know he still has feelings for Zayne, but sexually, that's off limits to him. He thinks you're going to sweep Zayne off his feet and ride into the sunset with him though."
"I'm not really a sunset-riding fellow," Brinxton said. "A fact that Daniel is well aware of both through my reputation in the community and my outright statements any time we've hung out." He shrugged, "I don't know of any way to make that any more clear."
Brielle looked thoughtful. "Well, he'll see the truth of it when Zayne actually meets someone he wants to settle down with, and then you won't be someone he is annoyed with."
Understanding dawned on Brinxton's face. "I sincerely doubt Zayne would be willing to be Daniel's secret side-piece, even if you would authorize it. He doesn't seem to have any animosity toward him, but he isn't interested in getting his heart broken again."