by R. Cayden
“I’ll make a note,” I laughed.
Cass tilted his head to the side, and suddenly, the expression on his face changed. “Do you hear that?”
I listened. At first, the only sound I heard was the wind, but after a second, I noticed a rumble beneath it, too. “Is that a car?”
Cass released me and crossed over to his clothes. “Do you get many people driving by?”
“Never,” I said as I hurried over to retrieve my underwear. “Maybe someone is lost?”
Cass kicked his legs into his jeans, then stepped into his boots, leaving the laces untied. “I’ll check it out. You wait here.” He paused to kiss me on the cheek, the continued to the front. “Be right back,” he hollered over his shoulder.
I pulled my underwear on and stared after him. “I’ll be here, babe,” I answered once he was gone, just to try it out.
Even though I figured the visitor was nothing, I still finished dressing myself. I noticed that Cass had left his boxers behind in his hurry, and I took a second to fold them and set them on the bench. The sun was slipping behind the trees, and I realized we were only a few minutes away from darkness. It looked like another beautiful, peaceful evening, and I was ready to slip away into the bliss of it with Cass.
“Shawn!” he hissed, a loud whisper through the trees. “Shawn!”
I stepped to the edge of the porch. “Cass?” I said.
“Get up front, quick! Your brother is here!”
Chapter Fourteen
Cass
“Damn, dude. Put on some underwear. Those jeans are pornographic.”
I grumbled under my breath as I adjusted my bulge, still half-hard from Shawn. Leo stood across from me in the living room, the top few buttons of his collared shirt undone and a stylish suitcase dangling from one hand. He sported a soft beard and a sly smile that I’d been laughing with for years.
“Here we go,” Shawn said, returning from the kitchen with three bottles of beer. When he handed one off to Cass, he shot me a look, his face somewhere between panicked and excited.
Leo turned to me, then to his brother. “Damn,” he said with a smile. “It’s sure good to see both of you. It’s been too long.”
Shawn sat back on the top of the couch. “How did you get the time away from your PR firm?”
“Kai and I just finished moving into the office yesterday. Our scrappy upstart days are finally over. I figured I’d earned a few days off, and I couldn’t miss an opportunity to see you both at once.” He twisted the cap of his beer, then held it in the air. “We’ve got three nights together, boys. Let’s have some fun.”
Shawn and I each raised our bottles and clinked the necks together, but I could tell he was just as thrown off as I was. There was a strain behind his smile that made him look nervous. It was cute enough to make me chuckle.
“Yo, Cass, come on,” Leo said, nudging my arm. “Stop staring at my brother. I want to see what you’ve been getting up to out back.”
I tried to think through the situation I’d gotten myself in as we walked toward the studio. I did not want to deal with the fallout of Leo finding out that Shawn and I were hooking up. The smart thing would be to just stop doing it while he was around, but I hated that idea. Things with Shawn were easy and fun, not to mention incredibly hot. How was I supposed to flip off that switch and stop riding that high, just because Leo rolled into town?
Typical Leo, to just show up and surprise us like that. He was always the one with the bright ideas that got us into trouble. Hell, the way he jumped on his instincts and always charged full steam ahead, that was who Leo was. I loved that about him, and I loved kicking it with his energy.
I just wished I’d had time to jerk off with Shawn first, if the guy was going to blue ball me all weekend.
When Leo saw the studio, he got all excited and ran around, looking at the work I’d done and asking questions about it. I saw my opportunity and flipped on the stereo, then whispered to Shawn the first chance I got.
“Do we tell him?”
“Oh god no,” Shawn whispered back. “Absolutely not.”
I let out a relieved puff of air. “Great.” I squeezed his side quickly, letting my hand linger along his hip, then tore myself away.
“I guess you two have been getting along,” Leo said, turning back to us. The overhead light I’d installed on the porch shone down onto him, and insects chirped in the trees.
“Excuse me?” Shawn asked after a slight pause.
“You both texted that you were having fun together,” he said. “You probably haven’t seen each other since high school, right? I’m just glad it worked out. I would have hated it if Shawn were here alone all summer.”
Shawn laughed. “So now you planned it this way, huh? That’s not what your last-minute phone call sounded like.”
I stared back and forth between them. “Wait, what? Leo didn’t check with you before he offered me the remodeling job? I thought he just forgot to tell me that you were here.” I caught Shawn’s eye. “I’m sorry, Shawn. I didn’t even know I was intruding.”
Shawn stuck his hand on his hip and pursed his lips at me, which made me blurt out a laugh.
“See, Shawn doesn’t mind. He told me it was fine. Sure, it was a week after you showed up, but it still counts.”
I rubbed the back of my head and risked one more smile to Shawn. “Well, I’m glad Shawn isn’t alone out here all summer, too.”
“Me, too,” Shawn agreed, then took a seat on the bench.
“Yeah, I can tell you’re comfortable,” Leo said. He stepped over, then lifted my boxers by pinching the waistband and dangling them in front of him. “You know, just because you’re straight, that doesn’t give you a good excuse to leave your dirty underwear all over the place.”
I laughed and tried to snatch them, but Leo pulled them away. “Isn’t that right, Shawn?”
Shawn rolled his eyes at his older brother. “You’re one to talk. I’m pretty sure you stored your dirty boxers on the bathroom floor until like, two years ago.”
“Oh, brother burn,” I laughed.
Leo yanked his arm back and before I could stop him, he launched the boxers at Shawn. They flew straight into his lap, and even in the shadows, I could tell that he was blushing as he fumbled to toss them aside.
“Seriously, Leo?” Shawn laughed.
Leo took a seat on the bench across from his brother. “Okay, okay. No more throwing Cass’s underwear at you.”
“Thank you,” I muttered.
“And don’t think you’re getting off this weekend without telling me about your project,” Leo added to Shawn. “I want the telescope out and everything.” He turned to me as I took a swig of my beer. “Shawn used to point out all the constellations to me when were kids up here.”
“Sure, tomorrow night will be good weather for stargazing,” Shawn said.
Leo took another drink from his beer, then wiggled the empty bottle. “Anyone ready for another?”
The second he disappeared through the trees to get more beer, I turned to Shawn with a quick kiss, then grabbed my boxers from the ground. “I never thought my best friend throwing my boxers at his brother could feel so complicated.”
Shawn laughed. “At least he’s clueless.”
“Now I just need to stop thinking about your lips long enough to enjoy his visit.”
He pursed his lips, then rose to his feet. “I’ll try to make it easy on you,” he teased.
Animal desire kicked in every time he talked to me like that. The last thing I needed was Leo pointing out every one of the boners his brother gave me all weekend. I pushed my hand through my hair, then let out a slow breath.
The second that weekend was over, I was going to devour Shawn.
The next afternoon, Leo and I took a hike through the woods behind the house. The trees cast a nice shade, and the air was sweet and cool as we followed the winding trail.
“Are you and Monica still talking?” Leo asked as we rounded a bend.
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“Not really,” I answered. “There’s not much to talk about, I guess.” I realized that I hadn’t thought about her in days, which surprised me.
Guess I had a few good distractions. There was nothing quite like experimenting with gay sex to keep your mind occupied.
“I’m sure the right woman will come along,” Leo said. “You’re a total catch.”
I chuckled. “I’m not worried about it.” A squirrel ran across the path while Leo paused to take a drink from his water bottle. “How have the men been treating you?”
“Very good, as usual. Thank god for Grindr. You remember, back in high school, I was convinced I’d never get laid.”
“That’s because you were the only out gay guy in school.”
Leo cocked up half a grin. “Well, if you asked anyone else, they would have sworn that you and I were fucking.”
I shrugged. “Those are better rumors than what everyone said about me before you and I started hanging out. Back then, I was just a violent criminal.”
As we stood under a small tree, I considered the family resemblance between Leo and Shawn. They had the same silver eyes and the same cheekbones, high and curved. And they each had slim, compact bodies, although Leo carried around more heft than Shawn did. But as I considered my old friend again, still, I didn’t feel a hint of attraction to him.
Weird how that was, I wasn’t going to doubt it. Maybe my cock was just smart enough to know he and I would be terrible boyfriends.
“Hey, man,” he said. “That reminds me. I was thinking about it on the way out here. Thanks for being so nice to Shawn.”
I sucked on my teeth. “How’s that?”
“Back in Indiana. You know me, I was a mess in high school. I was busting out of my seams. And I definitely didn’t have enough sense to look after him. But I remembered how you always kept an eye on him. I just thought I should say thanks for being there and doing what I should have done myself.”
I kicked at the path, not really sure what to say. “Yeah, Leo. No sweat. You came around when the time was right, too.”
We started walking again, and Leo swung his water bottle by his side. “Yeah, once he came out of the closet. I should have been there for him before that, though.” He shook his head. “Shawn and I have talked it out. I’ve made my apologies. I just can’t believe I had my head so far up my ass, I missed what was going on with my own little brother.”
I laughed under my breath. “Trust me, Leo. There’s always more going on with Shawn than other people realize.”
Chapter Fifteen
Shawn
The next day, Leo and I spent a few hours after lunch in the garage, digging through Grandma’s old things. There were boxes stacked up along the wall that hadn’t been opened in years, and we took our time knocking the dust off and poking around, looking for some things to spruce up the studio once the remodel was done.
“What about this?” I asked, pulling out a pewter figurine of a Labrador. “Mom likes dogs.”
Leo shrugged. “Put it in the maybe box?”
Sitting cross-legged on the concrete floor, I reached over, then dropped the figurine in. It felt nice to just do some normal brother stuff with Leo. Despite our differences, we’d come to appreciate each other over the years, and I knew that he loved me the same as I loved him.
And it helped to have someone so different in my life. I could turn to Leo for things I couldn’t ask anyone else, just like he had an easier time admitting his feelings to me than he did to other people. It had been a huge gift when I came out of the closet, but now, I realized he might be able to help me with another kind of problem, too.
“Hey, I wanted to tell you, I kind of got a job offer.”
Leo tugged a box down from the top of the stack. “Oh yeah?”
“It’s not my favorite kind of work, but I’d be joining the team of an amazing woman. If it turned out to be a good fit, I’d have the opportunity to travel the world, maybe for the rest of my life.”
Leo frowned, then handed me the box. “That’s exciting,” he said. “Although the part where you go away for the rest of your life isn’t my favorite.”
I nodded. “Right. It’s a lot. But I would start off in Texas for a couple years first, so I wouldn’t be too far. On the other hand, it would really get in the way of writing this book.” I opened the box, pulled out a strand of Christmas garland, and then shoved it aside. “I have no idea how to make decisions about my career,” I admitted.
“The book, don’t worry about that,” he said, waving his hand to dismiss it. “You can keep writing in your free time, and even if you sell it, it won’t provide for you in the long run.”
I frowned, not so sure it was that easy. I felt invested in the project, but I could see Leo’s point, too. “So you think I should take the job?”
“Probably, unless you get a better offer first. If it’s not the right team for you, you can always leave, and it’s important to get some experience on your resume.” He leaned against the stack of boxes, and I noticed the dust on his white T-shirt. “I’m proud of you, Shawn. Completing your degree, getting an attractive offer right out the door. You’ve accomplished a lot, man.”
I smiled, glad to hear him say it. Even when Leo and I were teenagers and fighting all the time, I still always just wanted his approval. “Thanks,” I said. “And yeah, you might be right. I’m going to seriously think about taking the offer.”
He opened the top box on the stack. “Oh shit,” he laughed. “Remember this?”
“Mom’s Santa beard!” I laughed. It was looking a little worse for wear, with the hairs all stringy and not so white anymore, but I’d recognize it anywhere.
Leo held it up to his face, then sneezed. “Should we take some pics for Mom?”
I grabbed my phone. “Strike a pose.”
I was just finishing putting the garage back together when Cass came wandering up from the back. He was wearing a black Slayer T-shirt with the sleeves cut off, and his skin was kissed by the sun. I got a thrill seeing him, even though we’d just hung out a few hours earlier.
“Hey, Shawn. Where’s Leo?”
I glanced at the door to the house. “He just left a minute ago to take a phone call. I said I would clean up.”
Cass’s lips curled up in a grin. “Does that mean we’re alone?”
I stuck my hands in the pockets of my shorts, then swung my hips from side to side. “For a minute,” I said, then laughed as Cass ran forward and took me in his arms.
For just a second, I threw myself into the kiss. I nibbled on his bottom lip and clawed at his shoulders while Cass hitched me in the air and bounced me on his hip.
“I can’t wait to really get my hands on this again,” he growled, grabbing my ass.
I whimpered, then dropped my feet back to the ground. Before stepping back, I stroked my fingers up his bulge. “Me, either.”
The door to the house rattled, and Cass and I jumped back from each other right before Leo stepped out. He’d changed into a clean T-shirt and held a mug of coffee in one hand. “Leo, I was just going to come find you.”
Cass and I exchanged a glance. I’d barely touched him, and now we had this distance between us again. It was painful, but at least I had a few years’ practice needing to touch that guy when I couldn’t.
“How’s it going?” Cass asked.
“Good. I just had to convince one of our clients that going public with his new boyfriend one month after leaving his husband was a bad look.”
“Well, obviously,” I laughed.
Leo tapped his forehead. “Sometimes you have to beg people to start thinking with this again.”
“What’s on for tonight?” Cass asked. “Anything special for your last night in town?”
“Me?” Leo asked innocently. “I’m easy.”
Cass and I both laughed. “Yeah right,” I said. “If we were in Pittsburgh, you’d be trying to drag us both to some fancy dinner or exclusive club.”
; “Thank god we’re not,” Cass muttered. “I hate that crappy dance music.”
Leo gestured to me with his coffee cup. “Don’t think I’m going to stop dragging you to clubs, though. Until I find you a boyfriend, it’s my sacred duty to get you laid.”
I looked to Cass, biting the inside of my cheek to stop from smiling. “Please tell your best friend I never made my sex life his sacred duty.”
Leo shook his head. “Unfortunately, you had no choice in the matter, Shawn. The brother gods already decided.” He chuckled, then took a sip of his mug. “At least you’re not still crushing on Cass here.”
I choked on air. “Leo!”
“What, Cass doesn’t care, do you, Cass?”
I turned to him, mildly horrified, but Cass had a wide, toothy smile on his face. “Yeah, Shawn, I don’t mind.”
“Biggest crush ever,” Leo continued. “I caught him whispering your name one time into the bathroom mirror.”
“Leo!” I hissed. “Drop it!”
“He tried to get the same haircut as you one time. Didn’t work for his head at all.”
“Leo!”
“It was a million years ago,” Leo laughed. “We all have weird crushes when we’re kids. You don’t have to act self-conscious about it, Shawn.”
My cheeks burned. Of course Leo would find a way to bring that up now. I’d be a fool if I thought an entire weekend would pass without my brother humiliating me.
Cass rubbed my shoulder. “Yeah, Shawn,” he said, a funny smile on his face. “Nothing to feel self-conscious about.”
Luckily, Leo’s phone rang out from his pocket, interrupting us before my brother had a chance to whip out the naked baby pictures. “Shit, gotta take this,” he muttered as he turned back into the house. “Senator. Senator! Put your boyfriend on the phone, please.”
The door swung shut, and I turned my eyes out to the yard. “Beautiful day,” I said. “What do you think, is it about seventy-five out?”