Despite the five hundred miles between them, Joel is still very close to his family, but in that moment, still caught somewhere between knowing everything is going to work out with his mother and fearing the worst, it warms his heart to hear Raleigh use the word. It's possible, he knows, to expand a family to include people he's not related to by blood, but he's never imagined himself doing it and yet here he is. Spencer hadn't been expected, exactly, but he'd made the effort. He'd gone places just to see Spencer, specifically hoping to run into him. He'd invited him on a date, he'd planned their evening with intention and while he's still surprised almost every single day by the way Spencer has changed his life, it hadn't been completely unexpected.

But he hadn't planned or accounted for Raleigh and Joel's usually so good at keeping his guard up. Something had happened with her, though, and somewhere along the way she'd gotten in without his even realizing it was happening.

"Yeah," he says in agreement to what they've both said and maybe it should be a surprise that he's able to admit that, but it feels natural. It feels like the only thing that makes sense to say and he smiles, leaning into Spencer a little before giving an exaggerated sigh. "Alright, I'll make real food for everyone when you're done in the kitchen. I promise."