by BA Tortuga
The rap on the front door made him jump. “No….”
“Damn it.” Lex rested their foreheads together. “I’ll get it.”
“Do we have to?” They could pretend to be in another dimension.
“Well, they did pretend to not hear their phones.”
Oh, right. Dusty and Nate. They had helped them move.
“Uh-huh. And stood you up for breakfast.”
The knocking turned to banging. “Open up, you pervs!”
Lex kissed his nose, then left him to pull his shirt back on while going to get the door.
“At least growl at them a little!” he hollered.
“I will!” He heard the door open, heard a burst of laughter from Nate and Dusty.
He slipped down the hall and into the bedroom, needing to splash water on his face and find a pair of jeans. God. Buttheads.
Still, he was smiling, wasn’t he? The laughter sounded good. He might have to kick their butts.
Brant headed back down, and the kitchen smelled like Mexican food.
“We got a shitload of El Pinto to make up for missing breakfast,” Dusty told him. “Lady at the hotel said they had the best salsa.”
“You two have shitty timing, do you know that?” He shook his head, but he had to laugh. Had to.
“Eh, you need help unpacking your house way more than you need to unpack your balls,” Dusty said, and Nate groaned.
“Bad one, babe. Bad.” Nate began unloading containers.
“Terrible, Doc.” He rolled his eyes. “Y’all want tea, beer, or Coke?”
“I’d love some tea,” Dusty said at the same time Nate said, “Coke.”
“Sure, what kind, Nate? Lex, honey, what about you?”
“Dr Pepper?”
Lex chuckled. “Tea. I might have to drive yet today.”
Oh, he hoped not. He was really wishing the guys had brought lupper. Lunch and supper. Or maybe they could order more… something, if not pizza.
He poured three iced teas and handed Nate a Dr Pepper.
“Thanks, man. Sorry we reworked the whole plan.” Nate filled a plate. There was enough food to last him and Lex a week, maybe.
“It’s okay.” He rolled his eyes, then winked. “Turned your phones off, huh?”
Dusty grinned, and his cheeks turned bright red. “Uh-huh. We’ll move furniture. I promise.”
“No worries, guys.” Lex handed Brant the tamales. “I have a plan.”
“Yeah? What’s the plan, honey?” He grabbed two and a taco.
“The little couch can go in bedroom three. Right?” Lex waited for his nod. “So can my weight bench. We’ll trade out TVs too. The only other thing is getting the mirror on my dresser in place.”
“No problem.” Nate got all flexy. “Easy as pie.”
Dusty hummed. “Mmm… pie.”
“Yum. Did you guys want pie? I have a graham cracker crust….”
Lex gave him an amused glance. “Eat.”
“Yes, boss.” He settled at the pass-through and dug in. He was hungry. Work hadn’t been awful, but super busy.
Lex chowed down too, the guys all chatting about whether to hang the TV or put it on a stand. They were going to have a place that was like a media room—that huge TV, the speakers. Damn.
“I have the stand, guys. No sense putting big holes in this old adobe. It’s a bitch to drill.” Lex smiled easily, then reached over to put a hand on his leg.
“I’m easy. Either way works. Just remember that Mouse is a jumper, so you’ll have to brace anything.”
“Okay. We can do a few safety straps.” Nate tapped on the table. “The speakers we can mount, though. Since the walls are so thick it won’t shake anything.”
“That would rock! I love knowing we can turn it up.” Lex was damn near bouncing.
“Yeah. And it will be opposite the bedrooms, so no one will worry about sleeping.” Brant liked that. He had a feeling he would be sleeping when Lex was awake on occasion. Cop work.
His schedule was steady, sure, and he liked it that way. Monday through Friday, eight to five.
“You okay with all this?” Lex asked quietly.
“Hmm? Our company? They’re solid.” They were Lex’s friends, and they came bearing enchiladas.
“No, all the moving around and stuff. If there’s anything you don’t want us to move….”
“If there is, I’ll speak up.” He wasn’t shy. “I was thinking about putting that computer desk on the street. I gave my desktop to the daughter of a nurse at work. I use my laptop on the couch.”
“Are you sure?”
“It’s pressboard. No big.” It was true. He’d been meaning to get rid of it.
“Someone will snatch it, I bet.” Nate ate another taco in two bites.
“Oh yeah. Okay, I’ll clean out that room and then start on the bedroom so you can settle.”
“We’ll all work on it,” Dusty said. “I’ll come with you, Brant. Let the beefy ones do the heavy lifting.”
“Rock on. I haven’t been in that room in forever.”
“You tend to just see the rooms you use all the time, right?” Nate winked. “Like I never go in the sun room but to water.”
“My plant!” Lex looked around. “Did you guys bring my plant?”
“It came in the front seat of my car, honey. I watered it deep and left it in the shade in the backyard.”
“Yay!” Lex made yay hands with the sound, which made them all snort. “What? That is my very first living thing I lived with.”
“Well, the care and feeding of Brant and cats might be more difficult.”
Lex didn’t look scared at all.
“I’m not worried. We’ll figure it. After all, I’ve been managing alone. Together has to be easier.” At least Brant hoped so.
That smile. Oh, it was worth every bit of cat pouting and sweat from moving.
“Come on, y’all. Let’s get this thing done. I want to see this house put together.” Dusty swatted Nate’s butt.
“Hey! I was eating.”
“Well, you can have thirds after we work.” Dusty flexed his lean muscles.
“I’ll get that desk out.” Lex started directing. “Guys, start the TV move?”
“Man, I thought I was going to leave that to Lex and Nate,” Dusty bitched, but went, so he followed Lex to clean out the desk and start cleaning out that closet.
There wasn’t much more than weird stolen office supplies, dried-out sticky notes, and there was a picture of him and Matty from the day he left for Basic.
Oh, Lord. He couldn’t wait to show this to Matty, see if he remembered how drunk they’d gotten the night before, how they’d eaten Doritos and olives and pizza rolls and listened to Pearl Jam for hours. Matty would just….
Pain hit him like a sucker punch to the gut. Motherfucker. Matty wouldn’t anything. Matt was fucking dead.
Matt had died with his brains blown out on a parking lot next to a goddamn gas pump.
“Brant?” He and Lex were alone suddenly, and Lex put both hands on his shoulders. They were hot, solid, and they anchored him, forcing him to breathe somehow.
“Yeah.”
“You just got all pale.” Lex kissed his cheek, then touched the photo. “Is this you?”
“Yeah. When I left for boot camp.”
“Wow. Look at your baby face.” Lex chuckled. “My mom has mine from high school and the academy.”
“Yeah? Is she excited that you’re closer now?” He would put this one away until it didn’t hurt so bad. Hell, Lex didn’t even recognize Matty, the damn picture was so old.
“I think so?” Now Lex looked uncomfortable, shoulders rounded. “I need to take her to lunch.”
“Does she know about me?” He should probably have known that before, huh?
“She does. I want you to meet her, but I probably need to go see her alone first.” Lex shrugged off whatever was eating him and grinned. “The sibs will come too, when you meet her.”
“Ye
ah? Cool. One day soon my brother will come out. He’s ready to meet you.” Hell, he’d be lucky if Bridey didn’t try to seduce Lex.
“I would love that.” Lex didn’t seem at all fazed by the prospect of brothers. Just moms.
“Okay. The desk is ready. I’m going to see what’s in the closet.” He just hadn’t ever put this room together.
“Sure. I don’t have a lot to store, but I would like a nook for the gun safe somewhere. I need to run to Walmart or something to get a standing one for the office closet, I think.” Lex didn’t seem fussed by that either, so Brant was going to let it be. He trusted Lex, but who knew what could happen?
People broke in. Home invasions. Cop haters. God, he’d never worried like this before.
“You’re thinking again.” Lex was right behind him when he peered into the closet. He kinda wanted to tell Lex he needed a moment, but he wasn’t sure if that was rude. They were still learning the rules.
“Am I? I have to stop that shit.” He stood up and started pulling weird storage boxes out to stick in the garage.
“It’s not healthy.” Lex grabbed a box. “Nothing that will melt, right? You sort, I carry.”
“Nothing that will melt. This is paperwork, for the most part.”
“Gotcha.” Lex trundled out of the room, whistling.
He looked at the near empty, soulless room and shook his head.
Look at me, Matty. I have a live-in.
Chapter Nineteen
THE HOUSE looked amazing.
His TV was all hooked up, and the couch was cleaned and in place with the cats already ensconced on it. The guys had left for the night….
And Lex was starting to worry that Brant was having second thoughts. He was so damn quiet. Too quiet.
“Are you going to miss them?” Brant walked out of the bedroom, hands landing on his shoulders.
“Nah. I mean, with our schedules I’ll probably see them as much now as I did in Cruces.” He let his head fall forward. Damn, that felt good.
“You worked your ass off today. The house looks great.” Brant dug in harder, fingers moving in a lazy circle.
“Mmm. The guys were great. And man, you cleaned.” Lex moaned a little, feeling each muscle loosen.
“I couldn’t fucking believe how nasty things were when we moved them. I mean, the cat hair.”
“It piles up. My mom has plants. Leaves fall off and get everywhere.”
“Now we have plants and cats. The dust bunnies are going to feed.”
“I know.” Lex made a fake mournful noise. “I mean, the only reason I didn’t have dust bunnies was I had so little furniture I could see them all the time.”
“Yeah, you know, those posters were special. I can’t believe we forgot them.” Brant was beginning to cackle.
“Oh, hush. I saved the one. The Sandias? Mom got it framed for me. I can put it in the man cave or even the garage.”
Brant started massaging his neck now, and Lex thought he’d keep the man. “Is it man cave or men cave?”
“Men. For sure. We have many couches and beds to cuddle on now.”
“Mm-hmm. I can lounge and watch you lift weights. I’m all in.” Brant sounded like it.
“Yeah? It wouldn’t be weird to watch me work out?” That would be cool, to have someone to talk to. Lex hated the gym, but working out alone led to… laziness.
“It would be like soft-core porn….”
He flushed, his cheeks heating. “Good deal. I like the idea of showing off. For you.”
Brant kissed his temple. “You think we’ll stop being hot for each other anytime soon?”
“Nope.” He reached back to stroke Brant’s cheek. “I think we’re gonna be like bunnies.”
“Nothing wrong with that, honey.” Brant leaned down onto him, forehead on his shoulder.
“Nope. What’s your pleasure tonight, baby?” If Brant was ready for bed, he would go. Lex was kinda pooped.
“I was thinking about lounging on the couch like slugs and watching TV.”
“Well, come on and sit with me.” He held out a hand, so Brant came around to join him and Mouse. The girls were on the long lounge section. Brant sat close, arm to arm.
So Brant didn’t look unhappy. Not at all. Maybe he was overthinking. Cops did that, or so Lex was told.
Brant found some goofy British show about chefs and castles, then started petting Mouse, who was still in his lap. That was weirdly intimate, but still so cool.
He was living with someone.
Him.
He was living with someone. Travis would be so….
Travis. His eyes flew open. “I haven’t called Travis.”
“Shit. You want me to go to the other room?”
“No.” Lex tugged out his phone. “Let me just see if he can do lunch tomorrow.” His fingers flew as he texted.
“I’ll be home for lunch tomorrow and Wednesday. Maybe go for breakfast or lunch Thursday? Is that weird?”
“No. No, it’s cool.” Lex chewed his lower lip, hoping Travis wasn’t pissed.
Brant pinked and chuckled. “No, it is weird. Y’all have lunch tomorrow. I can totally save my hours.”
“Baby, Travis says Thursday is fine.” He grinned, relieved on both counts.
“Are you sure? I don’t want to be some freak boyfriend.”
“Not even for a little while?” he teased. “I think you should push it.”
“I just…. This is all so new, and we got interrupted this afternoon….”
“I know.” He set his phone aside to wrap his arm around his man. “It feels pretty damn good, having you want me.”
“I do. Want. You know.”
“Yep.” He hit On, bringing up the TV. Looked good. The sound had to come down…. There.
“Mmm… perfect.” Brant settled in, a soft sigh sounding.
“Yeah? I think so too.” So no second thoughts. Yay.
Maybe tomorrow he’d make cookies. Brant needed peanut butter cookies. Lex did love to stick things in the oven and pull them out and see something come from nothing. Yeah. That was a good idea.
It was sort of the way he dealt with his life, full stop.
He was grinning just thinking about it, which made Brant chuckle along, even though the man had no idea what he was smiling about.
And when Brant lifted his face for a kiss, it was perfect.
Chapter Twenty
TRAVIS LOOKED tired.
Lex felt a pang of guilt for forgetting to call, but he’d been damn busy. Not just with Brant. Moving had been a drain, and the guys had taken up some time. He guessed it said something that he was seeing Travis before he saw his mom.
“Hey. How’s it going? You’re still on half days at the school?”
Travis nodded. “I am. I just get tired.” He gave Lex a wan smile.
“Oh, hon, I’m sorry.” He slid into the booth across from Travis. “How can I help?”
Because he did want to help. Travis was down. Like, lower than he’d expected.
“You can talk to me. Tell about the last few days. Are you settled? Are you moved? I need to know everything!”
“I am. Brant is talking about inviting you to come over for supper next weekend. Is that cool with you?” He grabbed a menu.
“He does? Are you sure?”
“I am.” Lex grinned over the top of the laminated paper. “He’s worried you never want to see him again.” Then he sobered. “He’s missing Matt bad. It would be good for you two to see each other, but I don’t want you to push too fast.”
“I bet he does. They spent a lot of time together being buttheads.” Travis winked at him. “And I feel terrible at how I treated him.”
“Well, there you go.” Burger? Or breakfast all day? “Do you need any help at the house, hon? Anything I can do before I get to work?”
“I don’t know when it’s okay to start moving some of his things. Do you?”
“No.” He shook his head on that one, trying to give it some thought. �
��I mean, my grandma never has moved anything, but she was older when my abuelo passed. I know Dan Medina got rid of everything within six months when his wife died from cancer.”
“Huh. I don’t know, it hurts seeing all his clothes hanging in the closet. Maybe I can just move them into the garage.” Travis offered him a quirky little grin. “This stuff is hard.”
“It is. I wish I could do more, but this is about you, not me.” Lex winked. “What are you having?”
“I’m thinking lemon chiffon pie and chocolate silk pie for dessert.”
“Both, huh?” Lex looked at the menu again. “Maybe the chicken parm and linguine.” There was nothing better than chicken parm in a casual dining place. Fried to a crisp with bright red sauce….
“Yes. I’m currently on an all-sugar diet.”
“Ah. Well, I’ll join you in a pie and take a piece home too.” After salad and garlic bread he might take both pieces home. Huh. What was Brant’s favorite pie? “Do you know what kind of pie Brant likes?”
“Apple. He always orders apple.”
“What was Matt’s?” He hoped that didn’t hurt too much to ask. “I know he liked lemon cake. I remember that from the wedding.”
“Key lime. He loved key lime pie with a passion.” Travis grinned over. “Brant would know that. He brought Matt one every year.”
“Aw, that’s too cool. I think he’s been busy enough to not think about it too much, but he was kinda down a few nights ago.”
“Yeah. I feel terrible about hurting him. I was an asshole.”
“You were hurting. Coke, please,” he added to the server. “He knows that, I think.”
“Even if he doesn’t, he’ll be nice. He’s a good guy.”
“Yeah.” Lex grimaced. “I’ve been worried this would be too weird for you. And me, which is why I was all texting. I should know better.”
“Why? I get to see you more often. That’s going to be amazing, right?”
“It is.” They had to have things in common still. Movies. Music. Food. Something. He would look forward to finding out.
“When you get back on the force, will you come to my class and talk about your job? The kids are so worried about the police.”