by Con Riley
Levi’s head shake was small. Blink and you could miss it.
“Whose money did Aiden see you take?”
“Mine.”
Theo nodded. “That’s what I suspected.”
Aiden didn’t understand what they were saying. “What? Why the hell would you say that? I watched you helping yourself.”
Levi sat up straight and answered, “I wasn’t stealing from you. I’d never, ever do that.” He swallowed, and his voice shook. “I know you don’t believe me.” He inclined his head in Theo’s direction. “But what he said is the truth. It was my own money you saw me taking. I put it in the register because . . . .” His voice trailed off. “It doesn’t matter. It was my money and no one else’s. I didn’t take it all back before you fired me, so you still have some of it, and I really need it back now, or I’m not going to make our rent.”
Marco spoke up then, shushing Aiden, who was almost choking on anger and disbelief. “You put your own cash in the register, and then Aiden saw you remove some? Had you done that before?”
Levi nodded.
“So you used the cash register as a bank? What happened if you weren’t working the next day? Did your money sometimes stay there for a while?”
Levi nodded again.
“Why?” Aiden burst out, making Levi recoil and then hang his head.
Theo interrupted. “That would account for the differences in your register totals.” He leaned closer to Levi and put one hand on his shoulder. He asked, “Levi, are you in some kind of trouble?”
When Levi refused to look up, Aiden guessed that was a yes.
Chapter Twelve
The silence at the table stretched when Levi’s head lowered even farther. His ears were deep pink at their tips, as they’d often been when he first started at the store. He’d break the barcode scanner, then come and confess to Aiden, trying to act casual while his ear tips signaled agitation.
This wasn’t like at the store, though. Here, Aiden wasn’t Levi’s boss. Hell, he wasn’t anything to the kid. But now that he knew Levi hadn’t stolen from him, seeing his narrow shoulders sag made Aiden feel pretty awful. How had Theo figured out Levi had a problem after only speaking with him for a few minutes? Aiden saw him nearly every day, yet he hadn’t noticed anything.
He quickly scanned the table. Paul and Amber looked concerned, while Evan walked toward them all with a confused expression. But when Theo drew in breath to speak, it was Marco who motioned at him for silence.
He pressed one finger to his lips, waiting until Theo closed his mouth before pushing his chair back and standing. Instead of probing further, Marco gave Levi another option. He asked, “What do you like on your pizza?” Levi looked up when he added, “Come help me in the kitchen.”
He took Levi inside, and when Aiden followed soon after, he heard Marco’s gentle teasing as he suggested ridiculous pizza toppings. Aiden stood just outside the doorway, listening as Marco cast out verbal bait before slowly reeling Levi in.
Marco had caught Aiden with the exact same hook, making relentless conversation until he finally gave in.
Levi sat on a barstool at the counter and watched as Marco prepared pizza dough, measuring out flour by sight alone. Marco put him in charge of kneading, then busied himself finding pizza toppings. He talked the whole time that he had his head in the refrigerator, explaining how his mamma had her own recipe for the tomato sauce, but his nonna’s had been much better. He talked about his childhood—stories Aiden had heard already, but actually listened to this time—and paused as Levi responded.
By the time he noticed Aiden at the doorway, Marco had discovered that Levi didn’t see much of his family, apart from his elder brother. That was fine by him, Levi had added—family was overrated. Marco had found out more about his clerk than Aiden had in months.
Marco saw Aiden then, and walked right up and kissed him, hands cupping his cheeks. He laughed at Aiden’s blush as he brushed flour from his stubble, then he apologized to Levi, although he didn’t sound too sorry.
“I can’t help myself around him.” He inclined his head in Aiden’s direction, then got back to cooking.
Levi sounded flustered. “No, no, that’s okay.” He slipped from his stool and excused himself. Once he was gone, Marco kissed Aiden again, and he took his time about it. He pulled Aiden’s face down to his and encouraged him to open before groaning and stepping away.
Marco asked, “Are you okay now?”
Aiden shrugged and tried to kiss him again. That was much easier than thinking.
Marco only gave in for a minute. “We can do this later, but first I think it’s time you fixed more fences.” He crossed to the sink and washed his hands before looking over his shoulder. “Have you talked with Evan yet?”
Aiden shook his head, standing close behind him, drawn to him like iron to a magnet. How many times had Marco rinsed his dishes at this sink, teasing Aiden while he did so? Aiden had stormed away so often, cursing his bad luck at having a housemate who wouldn’t give him a moment’s peace.
“You should talk to him now. See how fiercely he is frowning.”
Aiden found it hard to look out the window. Marco filled his whole field of vision.
“He looks very young today.”
Aiden wrapped his arms around Marco’s middle before looking over the top of his head. He still couldn’t quite believe the way this day had worked out. Talk about highs and lows. He’d almost done enough to get arrested, but somehow he’d ended up with a group of people who were worried about him.
How the hell had that happened?
How had he ended up with a housemate who drove him crazy now for very different reasons, with people like Paul ready to support him even when he lost his shit?
“I hope Evan and Joel are okay.” Marco kept on talking even as his body relaxed, letting Aiden take his weight as he leaned back against him. “I will talk more with Levi later. Perhaps he will find it easier to share his story when he sees that he only has friends here.”
Aiden held him even tighter, bending down to press his lips to Marco’s shoulder before moving on to his neck. Marco smelled of the basil he’d been tearing, and he tasted lightly salted. When Aiden sucked a little, Marco squirmed and turned to face him. They kissed again—Aiden tugging up Marco’s shirt back so he could feel warm skin—until they both heard a loud wolf whistle.
Evan’s was the only face at the table in the garden that wasn’t smiling broadly at their impromptu show.
“Go now, before I tell them all to leave us.” Marco’s voice was husky. “Talk to your brother before his face sets in that ugly expression.” Aiden leaned down for one last kiss. “No,” Marco said. “Stop.” He pushed against Aiden’s chest. “Sex with me shouldn’t be a distraction from what you still have to deal with.” He sounded so stern. “When we do fuck, I want all of your attention.”
Aiden was still breathless, his head full of the thought of having Marco to himself, as he left the house. When he looked back through the window, Marco’s smile was small and aimed only in his direction. Somehow that small smile, so different from his usual huge ones, made Aiden feel he could face the others. He walked over to the table and asked Evan to come help him clear up all the discarded tools.
It was easy to ignore Paul’s teasing—he was tickled that Aiden had finally succumbed—but Theo’s smile of warm amusement made him wonder if his cheeks were really burning. He couldn’t even look directly at his brother.
Evan waited until they were at the far end of the backyard before he harshly whispered, “You could have told me you were together.”
Aiden took a deep breath. “Is that going to be a problem?”
“No!” Evan quickly looked over his shoulder before repeating, “No, of course not. I’m just surprised. The last time we talked about Marco, you said you couldn’t trust him. I guess kissing him is one way to stop him talking.” He snorted, still not sounding exactly happy. “What changed? I thought you said he was a player.”<
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“That was you, Evan. And you don’t really know him.”
“Like you do?” Evan pressed his lips together before blurting, “Morgan said he’s seeing some guy named Jack. They all went out together. Are you happy about that? I know I wouldn’t be down with sharing Joel.”
Aiden hauled in another breath. “He’s not seeing anyone else.”
“How do you know for certain? How do you know what he’s really like?”
“Evan, stop.” He reached out and held his brother by the shoulders. “Why are you being like this?” When Evan twisted away, he reached out and grabbed his wrist. “Talk to me.”
Evan snorted. “You want me to talk to you now?” He glared, making Aiden suddenly feel like the younger brother. “You want to talk about your new boyfriend, but I can’t mention the guy I’ve been seeing for nearly a year?” He continued, his temper flaring. “I got a phone call from”—he made a dismissive gesture toward the house—“saying that you were in real trouble. Then, when I get here, you’ll talk to anyone but me. Now it looks like you’re having a party. Tell me, would Joel be welcome here like they are?”
When Aiden let him go, Evan stumbled backward. He crossed his arms, looking belligerent.
“Evan—”
“No. You don’t get to ‘Evan’ me now. You just get to tell me, why the double standard? Why? I hoped you and Joel might get along better with a little distance, but ever since you moved out you’ve been even worse about him. What the fuck is up with that?”
Aiden shook his head.
“Don’t try to deny it. Do you have the first idea how unhappy you’ve made him? I don’t fucking get it.” He turned to face the fence, and when he next spoke Aiden could hear his agitation, as if he was speaking through clenched teeth. “I have no idea what’s going on in your head. Why was Theo talking about a problem with the cash register? Why does he have your financial info, when I have to wait for weeks if I ever need answers to anything about money?” He turned to face Aiden’s way again. “And what the hell is Levi doing here at all?”
Aiden took a step away.
“See?” This time Evan yelled. “You won’t tell me a thing, but it’s okay now because you have a boyfriend.”
“Evan, please.”
“You told me seeing Joel was a bad idea. You told me I should think of Mom. Do you have any idea how guilty that shit made me? Joel says she’d be fine if she knew about us—he says she’d adjust—but then you act like I’m the world’s worst son for wanting to be happy.” He shoved Aiden in the chest. “Good luck keeping Marco a secret. I bet he won’t fucking let you. You think about how Joel’s felt all this time, keeping things on the down low unless we’re somewhere private. No wonder he wants to relocate.”
Aiden stood, blinking, scrambling to know what to say, as his brother walked away.
Theo took Evan home, then came back with Morgan. Instead of the peace and quiet he wanted, Aiden ended up with a house still full of people.
“Can’t you make them leave?” He sat at the kitchen table watching Marco slice the pizzas.
“You sound like a baby when you whine so. No, Aiden. Life is better with company, and this is how we’re going to be together. No more solitary brooding. It does you no good at all. Be a good host for once, instead of a moody asshole. Carry this out for me, then come back for more wine.”
Jesus, he was bossy. Aiden got to his feet, but he did it slowly.
“Come on, now. Evan will get over his tantrum. It is normal for brothers so close to be jealous. He’s just worried that I will steal you from him.” He sliced, and then sucked sauce from his fingers as Aiden watched. “He has no need to worry. I was the same way the first summer Ben met Theo. I felt like he had no time for me.” He shrugged. “Ben brought me up. He was so much more than a big brother. I couldn’t understand why things had to change between us. I might have acted out a little.”
He cut a sliver of pizza studded with black olives and popped it in Aiden’s mouth. “Make sure you talk to Evan before you sleep tonight. It’s better that you clear the air sooner rather than later. Change doesn’t have to be an ending. Perhaps he needs to hear that from you.”
What Marco said made him feel weird about the way he’d been around Joel. Surely he hadn’t been jealous? But part of what Evan had said stayed with him: Aiden had warned him, over and over, to keep his boyfriend away from their mom. As far as he knew, she still had no idea that Evan had a roommate, let alone a partner. He took a tray of pizza outside and set it on the table.
Morgan grabbed a slice and took a huge bite while already reaching for another. “This is fucking delicious.” He glared at Marco. “Why didn’t you make this when you were staying with us?”
“Because you would have pretended not to like it. See how distance has made my food taste better?” He winked, and Theo stifled laughter.
Marco set down another tray in front of Paul and Amber. When she turned to thank him, he bent to kiss her cheek. “Feeding friends and family is my greatest pleasure.”
Aiden brought out more wine and refilled half-empty glasses. Levi refused a glass, then shook his head when Aiden offered to go get him a beer instead. “I don’t drink alcohol at all. I . . . . Um . . . I don’t like the taste.”
“Come in and grab a pop.” They headed back to the kitchen, and as he pulled out soft drink bottles from the refrigerator, Aiden apologized again. “I can’t stop thinking about what happened. I could have hurt you, Levi. I feel so bad about it.”
“Don’t. Nothing happened, really. I don’t believe you would have even touched me. I’ve seen people lose their shit and mean it. You’re not that type of person, and I can look out for myself.” He stepped back as Aiden straightened.” I really want you to believe I didn’t steal anything from you. I’d never, ever do that.”
Aiden looked at his expressive dark eyes and at the way his hands twisted together. Theo seemed to believe him, but Aiden still felt conflicted.
“Will you tell me what made you do it?”
Levi ducked his head.
“See, I want to believe you, Levi. And I want to give you your cash back—”
“That’s okay, that guy . . . your accountant? He paid me back already.”
Aiden opened, then closed his mouth, wondering if should be pissed or grateful that Theo had bailed him out. “Did he now?”
“Yes . . . .” Levi hesitated. “Is that going to be a problem? I don’t want to make things any worse.”
Aiden shook his head, thinking that worse was his brother losing his shit and then walking away. Even worse had been not realizing he had a good thing until he nearly made Marco turn his back.
“No, that’s fine. I’ll talk to him later.” He took a breath, and then another quick one, before going with his gut. “Will you be back at work tomorrow?”
When Marco came back in to find them, Levi was still shaking his outstretched hand.
Aiden watched Marco’s smile broaden over Levi’s narrow shoulder, and felt that maybe his luck was finally changing.
By the time everyone started to leave, thick clouds had rolled in from the direction of Puget Sound, and the sky had begun to darken.
Theo stood on the porch for a moment after sending Levi out to his car with Morgan. Then he turned and spoke very quietly. “Aiden, we should talk soon.”
Aiden nodded, feeling the faintest burn below his ribs for the first time that evening. “Yeah.” He stared down at the floor. “I guess I do need some business advice.” That was hard to admit.
“There’s nothing wrong with your business, Aiden.” Theo’s tone was serious. “I mean it. I’ve analyzed your figures, and your grasp of business is impressive. Your net profits are much higher than I’d expect from someone whose truck and cell phone are both falling apart, or who lost their shit so badly over the perceived theft of a few hundred dollars.” He stepped closer, and his next words were almost a whisper. “I think we both know what your real problem is. I saw all of your ex
penses. Is this something I can talk about around your brother or your mother?”
Aiden quickly shook his head.
“That’s what I suspected. Maybe you could give me a call if you want to talk over your options.”
Aiden nodded while thinking that “options” was a word with very little meaning. There was nothing he could do about how far his money had to stretch.
Theo asked, “Did David really leave you nothing?” and he looked so confused that Aiden had a mental flashback. Confusion had summed up the whole first year after his dad’s death.
“He left enough.” Aiden sounded gruff. He couldn’t help it. Theo’s disbelief sounded too close to judgment. David Daly might have chosen to check out, but he was still Aiden’s dad.
“Aiden.” Theo paused, then guided him back into the house, pulling the door closed behind him. They stood close together in the darkened hallway. “Listen, your dad taught me more than I ever learned in business school. He showed me things that saved my job a few times, and he really didn’t have to. He was a good man, generous. I know that. And . . . .” His words trailed off before he drew in a deep breath. “He was always kind to Ben’s face. I’m not going to think badly of him, but if you need help, if you want to talk things over, I can see some strategies that might reduce your payments.”
Aiden thanked him, but Theo wasn’t done yet.
“There’s just one more thing.” He hesitated, and Aiden watched him trace a finger over the knuckles of his right hand before he continued speaking. “I want you to know that what I’m about to say comes from a place of understanding. Paul told me exactly what went down before we got here today. Marco won’t tell me anything beyond the fact that you’ve had a tough few days.”
He paused, then grasped Aiden’s upper arm with a surprisingly tight grip. “I know—and you’ll just have to trust me on this—I do know how easy it can be to lose your temper.” He glanced along the hallway, then lowered his voice again. “But I have to speak up for Ben now. I have to be his voice.”