I finally fell asleep, likely because of the two glasses of champagne I'd had, and when the captain asked us to put our seats up and stow our carry-ons, my eyes snapped open. I turned to see Andre smiling at me and I still felt his hand in mine. For the first time in a long time, I wasn't panicked.
After we landed and were given the all-clear, Andre turned on his phone, touching the screen with his right thumb. I went to release his hand, but he tightened his fingers to stop me and looked at me. "I don't do well with landings either."
I laughed. "We're on the ground, you know," I pointed out as we taxied to a gate.
"Not until it stops," he answered as he continued to look at his phone.
Finally, he looked at me. "Mom asked if we could take a cab. Père had an emergency, and she's cooking, I guess. Anyway, I told her you and I are good friends, so she asked about inviting a couple of male friends of hers for dinner tomorrow. I believe they're potential dates for us and I have no desire to deal with that shit. I’m sure you don't either, so here's what I suggest. Hear me out before you say no," he instructed as we collected our bags.
"Christ, I don't want to meet a guy like that," I complained.
"Hey, I hear ya. She's pulled this shit on me before and it never goes well. Why she didn't learn her lesson, I don't know, but I think we can get her to believe there’s more going on with us than just friends. She'll back off if she thinks we're in a relationship."
I stopped in the middle of the airport and looked at him like he was crazy. What the fuck is he trying to pull?
"Don't freak out. Listen to me. I won't touch you, okay? I'll leave it to you to touch me, but if we're going to be convincing so we don’t have to suffer through blind dates, you'll have to touch me. I know, I know, you don't like to be touched, and I swear, I respect that. It's just that…well, my mom's nosy, and if we're not a little demonstrative regarding affection, she'll know something's up and she'll push those guys. I'll head her off as much as I can, okay? I already told her you’re really shy, but if you could, um, just hold my hand or touch my leg if we're sitting together, she'll back off, I swear."
We were in the taxi line, and I was already sorry I'd agreed to make the trip. I sighed. Suck it up. He's not going to pull anything. He's your friend, and really? You know you've craved physical contact with the man for a long time. Get over your fucking self.
"Okay. Fine. What about sleeping arrangements?" I asked.
Do they expect we want to share a bed because I’m not ready for that shit at all? I could fake…well, I wouldn't be faking affection for him because I have a lot of it pent up inside me, but I’m not sure how good I am at showing it, and sleeping with him isn’t going to happen.
"She made up a guest room. I'll tell her we're not at that place yet, so she won't think anything of you sleeping in a different room. I think it's the one next to mine. It has its own bathroom, so you'll be completely fine. Oh, here," he clarified as the cab pulled up.
"Where to?" the driver asked as we loaded our bags into the back of the van.
"Twenty-six hundred Benedict Canyon Drive. Take the 405 North to Mulholland…" Andre began giving him directions, and I began to get really fucking nervous. It was turning into a bigger deal than I'd initially thought because as we drove through the various parts of Los Angeles I'd heard of, I got increasingly uncomfortable.
"What's your zip code?" I asked.
He laughed. "Don't give me shit. I can't help it they moved where they did. I went to University Senior High, okay? Not Beverly Hills High. I hate telling people that shit because I usually get ten kinds of hell for it."
"I'm the last bastard on the planet to judge where you went to high school, Dupree. I'll show you mine if you show me yours," I joked.
He swallowed and turned to me, worry evident. I chuckled. "I set ya up, dude. I expected a smart-ass comment. Don't flake on me now. I need that cocky Andre Dupree to check in. I'm not made of glass, and I've never been anywhere near anything like this business," I told him as I took his hand and held it, pointing out what I suspected was a lot of pricey real estate. He smiled, and it really lit up my world.
I continued looking out the window as we moved through traffic. Much too long later, Andre instructed the guy through what I was guessing were back roads, and when we pulled up a brick-paved driveway to a huge blue house with white trim and lush gardens, I felt a knot in my stomach. It was like nothing I'd ever seen, but when I looked at Dupree and thought about the apartment furnishings, namely his bedroom, I could see it as plain as the nose on my face.
The boy came from money, though he didn't flaunt it, really. Considering what I was seeing, he was pretty down-to-earth about it, and his whoring ways aside, he was a pretty good catch. Unfortunately, he didn't want to be caught, and I had to keep in mind the weekend was just for show and tell, but hell, I could play the part. It might be nice to pretend to be something other than the damaged man I was. It was worth a try, anyway.
"ANDRE!" we both heard shrieked as we dropped our suitcases in the entryway. It was a hallway which led to a room with a lot of windows. It was pretty incredible, and when the woman, who was definitely his mother, raced into his arms, I laughed.
She was more petite than I expected, and she had her hair pulled back in a ponytail. She was wearing casual clothes and an apron, and there was a sweep of flour on her left cheek. She hugged him and kissed him all over his face, causing me to laugh at his obvious discomfort.
He grabbed her upper arms and gently pushed her away. "Mom, have you been hitting the sherry?" he teased.
She slapped his shoulder affectionately. "You're still a smart-ass." She turned to me, offering a bright smile. I could see Andre's enticing green eyes and their hair color identified them easily as mother and son. I honestly wondered what his father looked like because the two of them were like clones. There were a few pictures of the three of them on the bookcases in Andre's bedroom, but they weren't recent.
"You must be Colton. I’m Leslie, but please call me Les. It's truly a pleasure to have you in our home. How was your flight?" she asked as she held both of my hands in front of me. She didn't try to hug me, which surprised me. I wondered what he'd told her about me, and I needed to get him alone to ask. I sure as fuck didn't like the idea he'd told his parents about my shit.
"It, uh, it was fine, ma'am. Thank you for inviting me," I responded as politely as I could, trying to keep the anger at bay at the thought he'd divulged my secrets…the most shameful thing about me…to his parents.
"Good, good, good. Come on in. I made lemonade, and I'm just making pies for tomorrow. Usually, Justine cooks for us, but I like to give her the holiday off to cook for her family. I also like to cook for my family, which I don't get to do nearly enough. Of course, I make a huge mess, but now that I've got help for cleaning up," she turned her dazzling smile to us and Andre laughed, "it won't be so bad."
We heard a buzz, and she jumped a bit. "Oh, that's the tablecloth. Make yourself at home, Colton." She rushed off and left the two of us alone. Andre pulled two glasses from the cabinet, filled them with ice before he poured the lemonade.
"Did you tell them? Your parents? Did you fucking tell them what happened to me?" I hissed quietly at him.
"Did I…? Oh, God no, Colton. I'd never tell anyone, I swear. I told Mom you were more reserved so she should dial back her usual enthusiasm. I swear that's all I told her." He took my hand and put it on his face, leaning into my palm.
"I'd never tell them anything, okay? Please, love, you have to trust me. I know I haven't been too trustworthy in the past, but I'm not that guy anymore, okay? I'll do whatever I have to do to gain your trust. I care for you so much, and I'll do whatever it takes to show you, okay?" he whispered.
I cleared my mind and closed my eyes, pulling him closer and gently kissing him. I remember those lips. They were soft and they were inviting. They gently moved against mine, and they had the ability to make me forget everything that had occurred betw
een the first time I'd kissed them until that very minute when I was kissing them again.
"Oh, shit," we both heard behind us. We broke apart and I saw Andre's mom standing there before she scrambled away. I felt my face redden, but he laughed. "Looks like we won't have to say anything."
I laughed with him and as we went to the kitchen and sat down at the center island, I felt something inside me stir. I had no idea what it was, and I hoped it was something good. There was enough bad inside me, and I worried it was going to squash all the good before it took over my soul. Hell, I deserve something good, don’t I?
Chapter Fifteen
Andre’s Adolescent Highlight Reel
"It was when we lived in Chicago and he was little. It was before we moved to Unionville because Jean-Luc was working at Northwestern in the thoracic surgery department for a two-year fellowship. Anyway, Andre jumped off the back of the couch with a bath towel around his neck fastened with a clothespin. 'I can fly,' he yelled.
“Unfortunately, he tripped over the towel and cracked his head on the coffee table. I swear, I thought CPS was going to take him away. Jean-Luc met us in the emergency room and when he saw the size of the knot on Andre’s head, he went home and busted up the damn coffee table. Until Andre was ten, we didn't have one," Leslie related as she made a pecan pie. I was sitting at the island watching her, and Andre was bitching as he loaded the dishwasher.
We'd changed into shorts and we were sitting with his mother. She'd asked us if pizza was okay for dinner because she was busy cooking for Thanksgiving, and hell, we were college students so pizza was a staple in our diets. We agreed easily.
"Mom, really? I seriously doubt Colton wants to hear about my idiocy as a child," he protested. I chuckled.
"Oh, babe, I love hearing about your flaws. You don't have very many," I commented without thought as I place the pecans on the pie in concentric circles as Leslie had requested. Her giggle made me think about what I'd said, but I wasn't sorry at all.
"Colton, how are your parents? I remember seeing them at swim meets before we moved here," she asked.
"Mom, uh…" Andre warned.
"It's okay. Mrs. Dupree, my dad was killed in action. It was just after you moved away. Momma's fine, though. She's in New York with my sister for the holiday."
"Oh, gosh, I’m so sorry. It’s Zoey, right?" she asked with a smile.
"Yes, ma'am. My sister's a senior at NYU and Mom went to spend the holiday weekend with her. My mother has always wanted to see the parade, and Zoey was back in Unionville a few weeks ago, so Momma went to visit her," I explained.
"I'm sorry about your father, Colton. From the few times I met him, I remember him to be a nice man; very personable. I'm really glad you're here for a visit. It's nice to meet the boy who seems to have captured my son's…"
"Jesus, Mom. Don't you have something else to do?" Andre complained as he dried his hands on a dish towel.
I wondered what he'd actually told her about us because she hadn’t mentioned one thing about blind dates to me, but I wouldn't press it. He seemed uncomfortable, and I knew how that felt far too well so I decided to let it go for the time being. I'd try to pull up my balls and talk to him about it later, but for the moment, I wouldn't say anything.
We heard a car pull up the drive and a garage door open. Les smiled and took down her hair, running her hands through it. Andre laughed and walked over to where I sat, placing a hand on my shoulder in the safe zone. "That'll be Père. He's not nearly as overbearing as Mom." He placed a kiss on my temple before walking into the hallway.
I heard them greet each other, and then I heard something I didn't want to hear. "What the hell happened to your face?"
Shit! His mother hadn't said anything about the bruise on his cheek, and she should have…would have noticed it. Why didn't she mention it?
"Jean-Luc, I told you Andre and Colton are sparring partners. I swear you don't listen to anything I say," I heard his mother comment. I let go the held breath and walked out of the kitchen and into the hallway where the family was waiting.
"Sorry, Dr. Dupree. Dre let down his guard which he never does, and I bested him the other day. Trust me, sir, he's bettered me more days than I care to remember, both in the ring and in the pool," I commented as I went to meet the man.
He was a handsome man, just a bit taller than Andre, but he had a warm smile on his face. "You must be Colton. It's a pleasure to finally meet you, officially. I remember you a lot smaller when we lived in Unionville. You've certainly grown into your own," he greeted as he crossed the floor and extended his hand. I shook it happily. His jawline reminded me of Andre's, and well, I couldn't help but like him.
"Good to see you too, sir," I responded as I shook his hand heartily.
"You're quite the strapping young man. I remember going to your swim meets. Do you still swim?" he asked.
"Not for a team, Dr. Dupree, but Dre and I swim regularly at school. I'm sorry I don't remember much about you. My father knew you, I believe," I replied without thinking.
"Ah, Joe Wixsom. He's something else. He and Herb were quite the pair back in the day from what I understand," he commented jovially.
"Jean-Luc, could you help me with something from a high shelf?" Les asked as she took his arm and began tugging him toward the large pantry.
"Mrs. Dupree, it's okay. Dr. Dupree, my father was killed just after you folks left town. It's been a few years now, but yes, from what I understand from Sheriff Wynn, he was quite the hell-raiser in his younger years." It wasn't anything that wasn't true, and they were kind enough to remember my dad so I felt I owed it to them, to be honest. I missed my dad, but I enjoyed hearing how much people liked him. That was something that would never change.
"I'm sorry to hear that, Colton. He was Special Forces, right?"
"Yes, sir."
"I'm going to go change into something other than this suit. Les, what did you need me to get?"
I laughed. She was trying to distract him, and he didn't see it coming. She sighed. "Never mind. Go shower and change. We're having pizza. Maybe you boys want to have a swim?" she offered.
I tensed. I didn't know if they'd say something about me wearing a t-shirt, but Andre took my hand and pulled me to where we'd left our luggage. "That's a good idea. We'll be back," he told them as he grabbed our bags.
"I made up the guest room across from you for Colton," his mother called behind us. He waved her off and led me down a hallway and up a set of stairs that seemed like an entirely different wing. I was surprised, though I suspect I shouldn’t have been.
We climbed the stairs and he walked into a blue room with brown accents. "This is you. I'm across the hall, and Mom and Dad are just down the way. The bathroom is right there, and there are lots of clean towels. I'll wear a shirt in the pool, too. Hell, we go to school in one of the rainiest places in the country, so the fact we don't want to get sunburned on our first day here will make my Père happy. Thank you, Colton."
I grabbed my shitty suitcase and looked at him. "For what?"
He stood in the doorway and seemed to try out the words in his head before he said them. I hated that he and Lance weighed their words. I wanted…needed… emotional words and I knew they were afraid to say them. I hated it.
"Just say it, Andre."
"Thank you for coming here and not being offended by the fact I'd never told Mom and Père about your father. It didn't occur to me…"
I took his hand and placed it on my chest, seeing the apprehension in his face. It was time to clear the air. "Look, with everything going on, I understand why you didn't think of it, but it wasn't earth shattering for me to tell them about losing my dad. It was just normal. I want normal, Andre.
"If we're going to actually try to be something more than friends, you need to be able to touch me, too. I know you don't because of my issues, but…hell, I really want you to. Just, for now, start here, okay?"
He nodded and held his warm hand to my chest. It felt really go
od. I held mine over the top of his so he knew beyond a shadow of a doubt it was okay, and then I leaned forward and kissed him gently. It was just a brush of our lips, but it felt really good, and I was proud of myself for initiating another kiss.
When I pulled away, he smiled. "Someday, I want to be able to kiss you when I want. We can work toward that, right?" he asked in a whisper. His palm was gently rubbing over my shirt-covered chest, and it didn't scare me. It didn't cause me to freak out, and it didn't make me want to run and hide. This has to be a good thing.
Chapter Sixteen
Shine a Light in the Dark
"FUCK! I KNEW BETTER! I KNEW BETTER!" I heard shouted.
"Les, roll him on his side," I heard muttered quietly. That was when I began coughing and sputtering on the deck of the Duprees' nice pool.
For a minute, I panicked at feeling hands on my back, but they weren't hurting me. They were gently holding me, and the words I heard, "Sweetheart, you're fine. We've got you," were whispered in a comforting tone. The other sounds I heard were more worrisome.
"Andre, calm down. He's okay. It was just a freak accident."
"Honey, we can only take care of one of you at a time, and right now, we need to make sure Colton is okay."
"Yes, yes, of course. Please, make sure…"
I coughed and sputtered, spewing water out of my mouth. I was pulled into a sitting position and for a moment, I didn't know where I was, exactly. When I saw Jean-Luc's kind eyes and tender smile, I remembered everything.
Andre and I had been swimming laps in the pool. We were racing, as we'd always done, and I’d accused him of cheating. We began horsing around in the pool, and he disappeared under the water, swimming up behind me and pulling down my trunks. I panicked at feeling him behind me and after that, I didn't remember anything else.
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