The Sweetest Thing

by E. M. Denning

  Nathan came first, spilling all over Scotty, and the warmth of Nathan’s release on his skin, his cock twitching and throbbing between them, sent Scotty over the edge. Still panting, Nathan pressed his lips against Scotty’s cheeks and with a breathless adoration, Nathan confessed his love for Scotty.

  Scotty lingered in the door the next morning. Nathan’s arms were wrapped around his waist and they traded a few quiet kisses as Scotty waited for his cab to arrive. Nathan’s sub-contractor would be there soon, and Scotty had to be at work. He didn’t want to leave Nathan’s side. He’d never been the clingy type, but he couldn’t help it now. He didn’t know if it was Nathan specifically that had that effect on him, or the knowledge that Nathan had to leave soon.

  “Do you want me to come by tonight? Or are you sick of me yet?”

  Scotty rest his forehead on Nathan’s shoulder and closed his eyes. “I’ll be at Linda’s tonight to baby sit Mason. You could meet me there.”

  “It’s a date.”

  Scotty lifted his head and watched his cab pull up outside the house. “I have to go.”

  “Mmm. Not fair.” Nathan’s lips danced over Scotty’s.

  “See you later?”

  “I’ll text you Linda’s address.” The cab honked and Scotty pried himself away from Nathan. “I have to go.”

  Nathan tucked his hands in his pockets and Scotty took a step backward before turning and making his way to the cab. he was wearing a set of Nathan’s sweats, his clothing had been left in Nathan’s care with the promise he’d see they were cleaned properly.

  Scotty arrived home in time to shower and dress for work. He made it with a few minutes to spare. He found Kate in their small lunchroom in the back. Her arms were on the table and served as a pillow to prop her head. Her eyes were closed, but she didn’t appear to be resting.

  “Hey, you okay?” Scotty went to her and gently tucked her hair behind her ear.

  “Ugh. I’ll live. Under the weather. That’s all.”

  “Maybe you should go home? I have a couple open spots and I can take the cranky clients and reschedule the rest.”

  “No. It’s fine. This too shall pass.”

  “This too shall pass the fuck out and impale her dumb ass on a pair of scissors is more like it. You look like death. Go home.”

  “Love you too.” Kate snarked, but still didn’t move.

  “Did you need me to call you a ride? You probably shouldn’t drive.”

  “I’m fine.”

  “God, you’re such a liar.”

  “I hate leaving my car here.”

  “I’ll call Tod. He can drive you home in your car, then catch a cab back here.”

  “I’m fine.”

  Scotty pulled his phone out and sent an SOS to Tod, explaining the situation. He then rescheduled all of Kate’s appointments for the day. Tod arrived and took Kate home. When he returned Scotty was thankfully between clients.

  “How is she?”

  “Sick as a dog. I had to pull over so she could heave her guts out all over the place.”

  Scotty frowned. “I’m supposed to babysit Mason tonight. But if I bring germs around him, Linda is going to throttle me if he gets sick.”

  “I’ve also been exposed, so don’t look at me.”

  “You’re allergic to babies anyway.”

  “True.” Tod plopped himself down in the empty chair at Kate’s station. “You better call Linda and let her make the call.”

  “Oh, Kate said her brother is always looking for guys for the beer league. I’ve got his number in my phone, I’ll text it to you.”

  Tod stayed until Scotty’s next customer arrived before taking off to get ready for his shift at the store. The rest of the day was an insanity fueled comedy of errors. One of the sinks sprang a leak, so they were down to one wash station. Scotty had to call a plumber, but one couldn’t come until next week. He heard a girl swear up and down she wanted her hair dyed dark red, then promptly burst into tears the minute she saw the finished product, claiming Scotty had ruined her hair.

  Scotty offered to redo it, but the girl was insistent that he not touch her hair ever again. Then he dropped a bottle of shampoo on his foot, injuring his baby toe. By the time he closed the salon, he felt like he’d been through hell.

  He dropped into his chair and closed his eyes. “At least I don’t have to babysit,” he said to himself. With a groan, he shoved himself to his feet and set about cleaning up. Instead of going home and making plans with Nathan, who had been oddly quiet all day, Scotty picked up some soup and headed over to Kate’s.

  Scotty sent a text to Nathan detailing his shitty day, the cancelled babysitting gig, and the plan to check on Kate. He waited for a response for a second, then shoved his phone in his pocket and traipsed up to Kate’s apartment.

  Chapter Twenty-One

  Nathan

  “What’s up little buddy?” Nathan’s brother Christian had sent him a frantic text message, begging for his help. As soon as Nathan got the contractor squared away, he called him.

  “Mom is driving me fucking crazy.”

  Nathan rubbed at the back of his neck. “What do you want me to do about it?”

  “She doesn’t want me to move out. You should hear her. She sounds insane.”

  “Christian…”

  “She wants me to defer the year.”

  Nathan paused. “But you worked your ass off to get into that school.”

  “I know,” Christian’s voice broke. “It’s stupid. She’s a fucking helicopter.”

  “Why does she want you to take a year off?”

  “Because she’s mom. Why does she harass grandpa? Why does she ride dad’s ass about his cholesterol? The only reason she doesn’t nag you is because you’re too busy doing her bidding.”

  “Hey,” Nathan balked.

  “Why exactly are you renovating Grandpa’s house?”

  Nathan closed his eyes and counted to five. “Because Mom finally wore him down.”

  “Look. I know Mom loves us, but she’s got to stop, Nathan. I’m eighteen and I’ve never been normal. I want this. I need it.” Christian’s distress was palpable, and Nathan exhaled, feeling his resolve fade. He’d promised his brother a long time ago that he’d always have his back, and sometimes that meant Nathan had to step in and argue with their mother on Christian’s behalf.

  “I’ll talk to her,” Nathan promised.

  “Nathan, if she doesn’t cave, you need to know that I’m going to leave.”

  “Leave?” Nathan furrowed his brow. “Where?”

  “I found a place close to the campus.”

  Nathan wasn’t so sure about Christian’s back up plan, but he kept his doubts to himself. The last thing Christian needed was yet another person trying to control him and run his life.

  “I’ll call mom.”

  Christian exhaled. “You’re the best brother ever.”

  “I know. You owe me.”

  “I owe you nothing.” Christian cackled. “I have to go though. I have to meet Sam.”

  “Tell Sam I said hi.”

  “Talk to Mom. The sooner the better.”

  Nathan sighed, made another promise, then hung up. He gave himself ten minutes to compose himself, then he dialed his mom’s number.

  She answered on the second ring. “You said you were going to check in often, Nathaniel. How’s your grandpa? How are the renovations?”

  “The renovations are great. The downstairs bathroom is being redone as we speak, then it’s paint, and I’m going to repair some of the boards on Grandpa’s back steps.”

  “And your grandpa? Is he eating okay? How’s he getting around?”

  “Mom, chill. Grandpa’s fine. He’s spending the week with friends while the bulk of the work is being taken care of. He’ll have all the homemade pie he can eat.”

  “I hope he doesn’t overdo it on the whipped cream.”

  “Mom,” Nathan pinched the bridge of his nose. “You need to chill.”


  “Now, Nathaniel…”

  Nathan cut her off. “No, mom. Grandpa is fine. The work is fine. I’m taking care of everything over here. Grandpa is a grown man, you need to stop worrying about him so much.”

  “It was hard leaving him. I wish he’d move closer.”

  Nathan, despite his best intentions, laughed. “Mom, you’d drive him crazy. You already do.”

  His mom was quiet for a minute. “I know. I try not to, but I can’t help it.”

  “It’s your anxiety, mom. I’ve told you to talk to your doctor about it.”

  “I’m fine.”

  Nathan heard the hard edge in her voice that warned him not to push her any farther on that subject. “That’s not why I called though.”

  “I know why you called,” her words were clipped.

  “Mom, you’re not being fair.”

  “He’s not ready to be on his own.”

  “He’ll be in a dorm, surrounded by people. He’ll be fine.”

  “Something bad could happen.”

  “Mom, please. Think about it, okay? Just… try to think about things from his point of view. Despite all his setbacks and all his challenges, he’s going to university. Let him live a little.”

  Nathan didn’t miss this. He hated being in the middle between his mom and his brother, but he didn’t see a way out of it. He had to be there for Christian. His dad worked his ass off and thus, left most things to the discretion of his wife. Very seldom did he side against her. The idea of not going back appealed to him now more than ever, and not because there’d be less of him playing the go-between, but he’d missed Tod, and he’d miss Scotty when he left.

  “Are you even listening to me, Nathaniel?”

  “Sorry, Mom. I wasn’t. I’ve got a lot going on with the renovations. I wanted to call you. Christian… he’s upset. I think you should hear him out.”

  His mother sighed, which meant Nathan had at least won his brother that one small victory. “Fine. I’ll talk to him. But I’m not making any promises.”

  “I have to go, mom. The contractor needs something,” Nathan lied through his teeth, but the need to get away from this exhausting conversation outweighed his morals. With a little more fuss, his mom let him off the phone and Nathan dropped into a chair at the kitchen table. He set his phone down and scrubbed his hands over his face a few times.

  It had only taken half an hour to suck all the life and the energy right out of him. As if Nathan didn’t need another thing to take care of, a courier had come by before Christian called. Nathan had signed for a package for his grandpa. It was a fat envelope and Nathan wondered if the material inside could be time-sensitive.

  Pushing himself to his feet, Nathan grabbed the envelope and let the contractor know he’d be back later. He took the long way through town to Bruce and Cathy’s, where his Grandpa was staying. The way he was feeling, Nathan half expected a storm to blow in off the horizon, but the day was unseasonably warm, with a bit of wind. It was perfect weather.

  Nathan knocked on the door and was greeted by a friendly face. He’d known Bruce and Cathy his whole life. She’d been friends with his grandmother and had sometimes babysat him when he was a kid. “Nathan, dear. What a lovely surprise.”

  “Is Grandpa here? He got this via courier, and it looks important.”

  Her face was a picture of confusion. “He’s still in the hospital, dear.”

  Nathan’s heart stopped. “Hospital?”

  “For the tests.” Her shoulders sagged and she grabbed Nathan’s arm, pulling him inside. “He didn’t tell you?” She ushered Nathan over to a recliner and sat him down.

  Nathan cleared his throat. “No. He said he was staying here during the renovations. Too much noise and dust for him back at home. Plus, he likes your pie.”

  “Good thing he does. I have half a mind to throw one in his face. So, you know nothing?”

  Nathan shook his head. “Why is he in the hospital? Is he sick?”

  “They’re running a bunch of tests. A biopsy, if I remember correctly. There was a laundry list of things. He didn’t want to go for the tests. He said the only thing wrong with him was old age.”

  A mixture of anger and sadness churned in Nathan’s stomach. “Why didn’t he tell me?”

  She took Nathan’s hand in hers. They were cold but comforting. She stroked the top of his hand. “He probably didn’t want to worry you. He knows how much you put on your shoulders. You’re the same as your mother. You worry about everyone. Besides, there’s nothing you could do for him, nothing more than you're already doing.”

  “That’s stupid. I could’ve taken him to the hospital. Been there for the tests.”

  “So, you’re superman now? You can fix his house and drive him around? Talk to his doctors for him? Hold his hand? Bruce is with him right now. Those old farts can handle themselves.”

  “I want to see him.”

  “He’s in room three-eleven. There was talk of him being released this afternoon.”

  “And then he was going to come back here and never tell anyone about this?”

  Her sympathetic expression told Nathan everything he needed to know. “I’m sorry dear. I thought he told you.”

  “It’s not your fault.” Nathan stood and gave Cathy a hug. “Make him grovel for the pie.”

  She laughed and escorted him to the door. “Go easy on Reggie.”

  Nathan nodded. He wasn’t about to go off on an old man but was hurt that his grandpa would rather go through things without him. If something had happened to him Nathan wouldn’t have even been prepared.

  Three-eleven was easy to find, and Nathan knocked softly before letting himself in. At the sight of him, his grandpa swore.

  “Goddammit, Nathan. You always were too damned snoopy,” Reggie said, even as he waved Nathan into the room.

  “This came special for you this morning, Grandpa. It looked important so I ran it over to Bruce’s.” Nathan handed over the envelope and watched his grandpa set it aside. “You’re not even going to open it?”

  “No need. I know what’s in there.”

  Nathan dropped into the chair next to the bed. Bruce muttered something about chasing down a decent cup of coffee before leaving the room.

  “Why didn’t you tell me you had tests this week?”

  Reggie didn’t look the least bit sorry. “Because you’re almost as bad as your mother. You both mean well, but you drop everything for everyone else. You like being needed, but you take it a bit too far. Lord knows you don’t nag the same as she does, but that’s because you walk in and take over.”

  “Only when they need my help.”

  “Need it, yes. But do they want it?” Reggie sighed and shifted in his bed. “Look, son. I’m an old man and there’s a lot of bullshit things that come with an aging body. Mobility issues. Aches for no reason. But one of the perks of being an ornery old man is you can choose who sits with you while you wait for the doctor to come ram a camera up your arse. And no, Nathan, you weren’t my first choice.”

  Rendered speechless, Nathan stared at his hands.

  “Now, don’t go looking like I kicked you. You’re a good man, Nathan, but sometimes you have to learn to butt out.”

  “I’m sorry.”

  “Don’t apologize for being a good person.”

  “I’m not that good of a person, grandpa. I told Cathy to make you beg for your pie.”

  “What a dirty rotten thing to do to an old man. I have so few joys left in life, you know.” Reggie grinned at him. “I’m about due for a rest, though, Nathan. All this poking and prodding has worn me down.”

  “I have to get back to the house anyway.”

  Reggie waved at the envelope. “Could you take that back with you? Leave it on the table or by my chair in the living room. I don’t want to risk losing it here.”

  Nathan grabbed the envelope off the side table and gave his grandpa a nod. “I can do that. Did you need anything else?”

  Reggie closed his eyes.
“A nap.”

  Nathan slipped out of the room and walked back to his truck. His emotions were a tangled mess. His grandfather’s lecture had left Nathan with a lot to think about. Nathan tossed the envelope on the passenger seat and drove back to check in with the contractor. He’d sort that out first.

  Chapter Twenty-Two

  Scotty

  Scotty was elbow deep in diaper duty when the doorbell rang. Scotty hurried to diaper little Mason, then scooped him up into his arms and went to answer the door. Through the peephole, he saw Nathan. Scotty unlocked the door and pulled it open.

  “Hey you. This is a nice surprise.” Scotty moved aside so Nathan could come in, then he relocked the door.

  “Tod gave me the address.” Nathan looked exhausted and emotional. His lips were drawn into a tight line and his hair was a disheveled disaster. “Hey, come sit down.”

  Nathan toed his shoes off and sank into the couch. Scotty sat next to him, Mason happily chewed on his chubby hand and drooled all over Scotty’s shirt. “What’s wrong, babe?”

  “Grandpa’s in the hospital.”

  Scotty flinched. “Is he okay?”

  “Far as I can tell, yeah. He was there for some tests. I found out when I tried to bring him his mail.” Nathan dropped his face into his hands and exhaled. He raked his fingers through his hair.

  Scotty put his free hand on Nathan’s back. “Have you eaten?”

  Nathan shook his head. “Too busy.”

  “Stay put.” Scotty stood and carried Mason into the kitchen with him. He put him in his bouncy seat and quickly assembled a sandwich. He raided Linda’s fridge for the orange juice he knew would be there, she was practically addicted, and carried the food out to Nathan. He retrieved Mason, who had passed out in his seat, and gently moved seat and all to where he could see him.

  Scotty watched as Nathan devoured his food, the orange juice vanished in a few seconds and Nathan leaned back and closed his eyes.

  “I hate that he didn’t tell me. I’d have been there for him.”