by Megan Slayer
“The doctors handling Dad’s care are great. I met Dr. McLean when I interviewed here after my residency in Westlake. I didn’t get the job. Good because I did at Cedarwood and got to meet you, but bad because I wanted to be closer to Dad.” Aiden massaged his temples. “I’m not totally okay with what’s going on, but I feel better knowing McLean is on it.”
“Good.” Matt hustled Aiden through the line at the counter. “I’d like water and one of those brownies.” His mouth watered. “Please?”
“Make it two.” Aiden grasped Matt’s hand. “Shit. I forgot my wallet.”
“This was on me.” He paid, then picked up the bottles of water. He didn’t argue when Aiden carried the plates to a booth behind a potted palm. The privacy would be a good change of pace. Aiden sat opposite him and sagged forward.
“I’m glad you made me chill before we rushed down here, but I’m happier to be here.” Aiden flattened his palms on the table. “God. You’ve got to think I’m such a drama whore. First the accident, now this.”
“Um…I was shot and you saved my life. I think we’re even.” He unwrapped his brownie. “You needed to see your dad. I get it.” Being around his own father wasn’t an option, but he couldn’t deny Aiden his wish.
“You’ve never said a word about your dad.” Aiden twisted the cap on his bottle. “Is that okay to ask, or is it a sore subject?” He waved his hand. “Never mind. I’m being nosy, and it’s none of my business.”
“Nah.” Aiden had to know sometime. Matt toyed with the edge of the brownie, then tugged off a piece. He nibbled on the dark-chocolate confection. Damn, it’s good. He should’ve ordered milk to wash it down.
Aiden downed some of the water but said nothing. The awkwardness of the moment wasn’t lost on Matt. But how in the hell was he going to handle the situation? He wanted honesty from Aiden but hadn’t disclosed a lot of information. When he met Aiden’s gaze, he knew. “You’re my boyfriend, and we’re together. Let me tell you about the bastard I called father.”
Chapter Eight
Aiden reached for Matt’s hand, then rubbed the back of his knuckles with the pad of his thumb. Matt had been a champ through Aiden’s crisis. The least he could do was reciprocate. But he felt the tension from Matt and regretted his question. “I’m prying. I guess me having to deal with shit makes me stressed and nosy.” That and he couldn’t prevent himself from looking for the cracks and problems that could arise.
Matt’s eyes flashed and a wolfish smile curled on his lips. “That’s just a lack of sex.” He held Aiden’s fingers tighter. “Do you realize that’s the first time outside of the bedroom that I’ve heard you swear?”
“Sorry. I try not to use foul language while I’m at the hospital. I’d rather not risk slipping in front of a patient and being rude.”
“Good reason.”
Aiden stared at Matt. Having such a good man in his life humbled him. Matt knew how to listen, to talk and just be with him. He couldn’t say the same for his father and Ross. His head ached just thinking about his father’s new partner. The man was crass, mean and not much fun to be around. But the fallout was always around the corner. Eventually something would happen. He had to stop looking for the imperfections, but damn it, he couldn’t stop who he was.
“What?” Matt asked.
“I’m not happy about my father’s situation or the deal with Ross, but I’m happy—if that makes sense.” He wasn’t sure anything he’d said computed.
“It does.” Matt nodded. “The guy your father is seeing is an ass.”
“You figured that out too? I knew from day one, but I kept my mouth shut. I’d only met him once and chalked it up to a bad day, but I guess my assumptions were spot-on.” He sagged back in his seat, and the stress of the day weighed on him all over again. “My father claims Ross said the same about me. The words ungrateful, spoiled jerk , and jackass were mentioned too.” He fought to keep his emotions in check. The man his father claimed to love seemed to hate him and enjoyed tearing him down. The throbbing behind his eyes increased. He didn’t need Ross’ kind of stress in his life, but he sure as hell couldn’t take it out on Matt. Damn it. His father deserved a partner. If Ross was good to him, then fine. Aiden wouldn’t argue.
“Ross said some choice things to me before he realized who I was.” Matt finished off his brownie. “I didn’t say anything I’d regret or that should get you into trouble with your father, but I straightened him out. I’m not listening to someone rip you apart the way he did.”
“Thanks.” Aiden picked at the label on his water bottle. Talking about his father and his feelings weren’t his ideal, but with Matt, it was easier. “Dad and Keye were great together. Not just good, but great. They balanced each other out. Dad’s serious and all about his legal practice. Give him a juicy case, and he’s happy. Keye was a free spirit. He could get Dad to relax when nothing else would. They traveled together and it worked. If Keye bought him an ugly sweater, Dad wore it with pride. It’s funny. They were fixtures at the pride parades in Cleveland. Once they were together, I decided I wanted a love like theirs. As for Ross, I’m not sure how I feel.” That wasn’t the truth. He didn’t like Ross. Didn’t like the way Ross seemed to know everything, the way he lied and the way his father seemed to go along with it. “I get a sketchy vibe from him.”
“Because he’s replaced Keye?” Matt stilled Aiden’s hands. “Or something else?”
“It’s the lying. According to Dad, Ross told my father I didn’t want to be here. He’s told him I demanded money and said I wouldn’t talk to him unless I got my way. I call Dad every week.” He still couldn’t believe what Ross had told his father. “I’ve never felt so belittled in my life.”
“None of that sounds like you—the brattiness, the demanding or the defeat.” Matt held on to Aiden’s hands. “You’re ordered and dependable. I’ve never seen you outright… No, you’re a little demanding, but you wanted your car fixed. It was expected. What Ross said was out of line.”
He’d forgotten about the night he’d run over the curb. Yeah, he’d been an ass. If he’d been a jerk then, were there other instances he’d acted out and hadn’t noticed? Maybe he’d been heartless all along and didn’t know? There were the flaws—in him.
“Aiden?” Matt snapped his fingers in front of Aiden’s face. “Hey. I see the wheels turning. I’m just giving you shit. Yeah, you wanted the car fixed, but you were a lot nicer about it than a lot of my customers. Don’t sweat it.”
Easy for him to say. Aiden scrubbed the back of his hand over his mouth. He’d over thought so much, but damn it. Ross had gotten into his head—maybe Ross didn’t know that, but he’d messed with Aiden’s concentration in a horrible way.
“I don’t know the guy well, but he threw you under the bus to me. He had no idea you were connected to me, sure, but he still verbally abused you in front of a stranger. That showed his character, and it wasn’t pretty. He seemed rotten and like he wants to bring everyone around him down.” Matt curled his fingers under Aiden’s chin. “I can spot these kind of people a mile away.”
“Oh? How?” He tried to treat everyone the same and assumed Matt did too.
“My father. You asked about him earlier. I’ll tell.” Matt folded his hands on the table. “My old man was a lot like Ross. Remember how I said I’m a sucker for pain?”
“You said you needed it to be level.” He held the bottle in both hands and leaned forward. Matt had his full attention.
“I do, but it’s not like I want everyone to know.” Matt kept his gaze on Aiden, but his voice cracked. “I can trace that need back to my father. See, he was the kind of guy who hated everyone who wasn’t like him. He was angry, aggressive and straight.”
“Nice.” Not really, but he wasn’t sure what else to say.
“Yeah, nice wasn’t him. He settled everything with his fists and usually on me. Because of him, I played football even though I wasn’t heart and soul invested in the game. I wrestled because he swore it wou
ld take the sissy out of me and I tried to be straight so he might love me again.” Matt smiled, but the light didn’t reach his eyes. He rubbed his forearm. “It sucked.”
Aiden couldn’t imagine being held back in so many ways and forced to do things he didn’t believe in. He couldn’t fathom anyone abusing their own child in such a manner, either. “Matt. Babe.” He doubted Matt wanted sympathy, but any other words seemed irrelevant.
“I’m not a virgin. Not in the biblical sense. Dear old Dad made sure I had rubbers and a chick from the bar the night I turned eighteen. He told everyone that Nikki would make me into a man. I was of age, she was willing and we fucked in the back of her Saab. She thought I liked her. I went home and puked. I guess he told everyone about my new status and acted like what I’d done gave him greater standing in the community.” Matt shook his head once, then closed his eyes for a moment. “She called me once, and I told her the truth. I like pole, not pussy. Nikki took it well, but Dad found out and beat the hell out of me.”
“Matt.” He thanked God he’d won the lottery with his fathers. They weren’t a perfect example of how to be, but they were a damn sight better than Matt’s father.
“I played football and wrestled through high school until I blew out my knees during my senior year.” Matt collapsed his water bottle. “Sucked.”
“I remember you said your father thought you playing ball was his ticket to fame and fortune. He didn’t like what he perceived as your unwillingness to push yourself for his sake, did he?” Aiden asked.
“Bingo. Ross might not be physically abusive, but he’s a bully. Like my father, he’ll let you know he thinks you’re beneath him.”
“Did you ever talk to your dad?” Aiden tensed. He guessed the greeting-card moment hadn’t happened between Matt and his old man.
“No.”
“Too much damage?” He’d gotten too personal and nosy again. He really had to stop looking for the faults against him being with Matt, but still.
“He’s dead. Can’t exactly get a dead man to talk and I’m not sure I’d want to. Knowing him, he’d find a way to cut me down, and I don’t have time for that. I’ve tried to focus on the present and future as well as healing.” Matt forced a smile, though it was tight. “We didn’t talk much when he was alive, but I’m glad he’s at peace. I used to be angry I never lit into him, but now I’m relieved. He can’t hurt me and he’s gotten his.”
His respect for Matt grew. “You’re a strong man.”
“Nah. I’m a survivor. Unfortunately, the way I dealt with my pain and frustration was through the body ink and piercings. They were something I could control. Once I had the needle in my skin, the pain made me feel something. The piercings were reminders I was still here. I thought I needed the pain to survive. I won’t lie. I still get a fix from them and I doubt I’ll stop.” Matt shrugged. “I’d rather channel my energy that way than by doing other things.”
“Where? You look good with what you have.” Too much more would overdo it and Aiden preferred Matt with the edge. Any more art and he wouldn’t be Matt.
“I don’t want new ones. I let my tattoo artist touch up the color or fix the art that wasn’t done right the first time.” Matt straightened in his seat. “If you ever want to…you know…my friend Bix, er, Ben Armstrong, is great, and he’s in Cedarwood.”
“I’ll pass for now.” He’d met Bix once when he’d been on rotation to oversee the vaccinations at the health department. Bix had come in for a tetanus shot. He seemed like a nice guy—colorful but nice.
Matt rested his elbows on the table and folded his arms. “I don’t talk about Dad. Aaron doesn’t even know the whole story. He thinks my issues are because of Theo, my most recent ex-boyfriend. He’s not, but I don’t want to talk about him right now.”
“You don’t have to talk about him ever.” Aiden finished his brownie, then his water. The gravity of the moment hadn’t been lost on him. He cherished Matt and respected him more for how he’d pulled himself up. Maybe he wasn’t someone else’s ideal for sexiness. He fit the bill for Aiden. He made Aiden’s motor run. Hell, Aiden wanted Matt to take him home right now for a few rounds of hot sex.
“Aiden?” Matt asked, drawing Aiden out of his thoughts.
“I think I’m in love,” Aiden blurted. He didn’t regret what he’d said. Hell, he felt free now that he’d admitted to his feelings. Maybe it was too early. Probably was, but he knew his heart.
“You’re just tired. You’ll say anything to get me into bed.” Matt stood and offered his hand. “Come on. Let’s see your dad.”
“Sure.” But he wasn’t speaking out of weariness. Matt did something to him. Like finally understanding a test question from biology class or getting the man of his dreams to agree to a date… Something bizarre and not expected but totally right. He held tight to Matt’s fingers as he and Matt went up to the fourth floor. He and Matt hadn’t been together long, but they acted like an old couple. He’d thought love wasn’t in the cards, but he’d fallen for Matt Phillips.
With Matt by his side, Aiden spent the next hour with his father. Ross, for reasons Aiden never quite got out of his dad, had vacated the room for a while. He didn’t mind. He hadn’t decided how he felt about his father’s new beau.
Matt sat beside Aiden. With his father, they laughed, talked and simply existed. Aiden liked how his dad and Matt got along. As if I need more reasons to like Matt! He should be looking for reasons to split up so he could keep his heart under wraps. Aiden listened to Matt and Len discuss the finer points of car maintenance. He’d thought he’d never find a man who would respect him, want him for the man inside instead of the title and whom his father liked. He’d hit the jackpot with Matt.
Dr. McLean came back into the room and folded his arms. “It’s like I’ve walked into a family reunion.” He laughed, and the echoed around the space. “I’m glad. Len, you needed this. So…I’m going to keep you here for a few more days. I’d like to get your oxygen levels back up to where they should be. I’m not seeing any lasting damage from the TIA, but that doesn’t mean something won’t manifest.” He turned his attention to Aiden. “You need to rest. Aiden, a word?”
Aiden followed the doctor into the hallway. “What’s up? Did you see something that’s bothering you?”
Dr. McLean bowed his head. “Yeah, you.” He finally met Aiden’s gaze. “I knew your father was gay. I’ve been treating him for the last four years and Ross for the last six months, but you? I had no idea.”
“Is that a problem?” Aiden stared at him. He’d spoken with Isaac a few times since the interview and had thought they were friends at best. Talking about his sexuality had never seemed important. Besides, he had no idea Isaac might be interested.
“No. I just…” Isaac paused. “Your father will be fine. Ross seems adequate at taking care of him. He’ll need to do a lot of resting.”
“I agree, but I have the feeling that’s not what you wanted to talk about.” Aiden widened his stance. “I’ll level with you. I’m gay. Have been all my life, but I didn’t understand it until I was a teen. Mom was gone and Dad and Keye never told me I was anything but normal. I’m not a showy gay. I like men, yes, but I’m not at the clubs, wearing way too much eyeliner and cruising. I’m probably the most boring gay man you’ll ever meet.”
“But you’re taken.”
“No, I just dragged him along because he was the last man I slept with.” Aiden frowned and the ache behind his eyes returned. “Yes, I’m taken.”
“Thought so.” Isaac stuffed his hands into the pockets of his lab coat. “When you interviewed, I was still so new here. I wasn’t given the opportunity to put in my opinion on you or anything, but I would’ve loved to have had you here at Springdale. I think we’d have gotten along great and it might have been me with you in there.”
“Isaac.” Where was he right after Lucky left the last time? “Things happen in strange ways. It’s not up to us to question why.” He sounded like a bad hair-metal s
ong.
“Guess not.” Isaac dragged a long breath into his lungs and sighed. “Keep an eye on your father. He needs you.”
Aiden stared at Isaac as he walked away. Guys weren’t exactly crawling out of the woodwork to hook up with him, but he hadn’t detected a vibe from Isaac. Not even now that Isaac had said something. He shrugged. Trying to figure men out, especially those he wasn’t seeing, wasn’t worth it. He headed back into the room and checked the time on his phone.
“Everything okay?” Len asked.
“It’s fine. We should go, though.” Aiden stretched, then put the phone back into his rear pocket. “I’ve got to work tomorrow night, and Matt has to take care of business at the shop. I’ll call you in the morning to see how you’re doing.” He crossed the room to his father’s bed and hugged him. “Get better.”
“Had you worried, didn’t I?” Len patted Aiden’s cheek. “I expect to hear from you.”
“You will,” Aiden said. He might have forgotten any other time, but this was more important.
“It was a pleasure meeting you and getting to talk.” Matt shook hands with Len. “But Aiden’s right. I need to speak to my second-in-command and make sure he hasn’t burned the building down. I hope to see you again soon. The holidays are coming in the next couple of months. It would be great to do something as a family.” Matt rested his palm on the small of Aiden’s back. “Ready?”
“Yeah.” Did Matt just mention the holidays?
“I’ll consider that an invitation, and I’m accepting.” Len’s eyes lit up. “I can’t wait to tell Ross we’ve got plans for Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Year’s. He’ll be thrilled.”
Aiden somehow doubted that.
“I heard my name.” As if on cue, Ross appeared. “What’s happening?”
“We’re spending all the holidays with Aiden and Matt. It’s all settled.” Let sat up a little more. “Don’t argue.”
“I see.” Ross brushed past Aiden, pushing into him enough to nudge him backward without making it appear forced.