Chapter Twenty-Four
Theo
“Darling and most wonderful Laurie,” I said, sliding around the kitchen door to where my beautiful boyfriend was currently making dinner. I liked that word: boyfriend. I’d kept saying it to myself as often as possible over the last week just because I could, and it hadn’t gotten old yet.
“What do you want?” Laurie asked, stirring the big pot of cassoulet he’d pulled out of the oven.
It smelt so good and my mouth was watering.
I was absolutely starving, but that might’ve been because work had been very busy and I hadn’t had a chance to eat lunch.
Sometimes when I was busy preparing new clients, I got so absorbed in helping them and talking to them, it never occurred to me to leave them alone to find a sandwich, and if Laurie was busy as well, there was nobody to remind me to take a break.
Maybe I needed to start setting an alarm. Otherwise I’d end every day feeling hangry and miserable.
“Can’t I just tell you how wonderful you are?”
“You can, but that’s not why you’re here.”
“How do you know?”
“Because no sentence you’ve ever uttered begins ‘darling and most wonderful Laurie’ unless you want something.” He shot me a hard look as he put the lid back on the casserole dish, which was orange and shaped like a pumpkin, before sliding it back into the oven. “So, what do you want?”
I took a deep breath and clenched my fist tightly. “How do you feel about West coming to visit? And by that I mean, how do you feel about him coming to stay. This weekend.”
It hadn’t really been something I’d been planning to ask West at all, but when we’d been messaging earlier, he’d mentioned playing in York on Saturday.
I’d said it really wasn’t that far from York to Heather Bay and I didn’t know if it’d be possible for him to come across and visit, but if he wanted to, then he was super welcome.
West had said yes before I’d even thought about what I’d asked, and by the time I’d realised what I’d done, it was a bit late to take it back.
Otherwise I’d just look like a proper banana and a mean one at that.
I’d wanted West to visit at some point, especially because we were getting closer all the time, but I’d also wanted to plan it out properly and ask Laurie to help so I wouldn’t dive straight in.
But apparently that was already out the window.
Laurie stared at me. He was still wearing oven gloves and idly I wondered what it would feel like if he spanked me while wearing them. It’d feel very different to his leather gloves.
It’d probably also be unhygienic as fuck, although… I could buy a new pair just to see what it’d feel like. I doubted it would feel as nice, though.
“Theo,” Laurie said, his voice firm but definitely more than a teeny bit exasperated. “Did you just say that West is coming to visit this weekend? As in, in two days’ time?”
Shit, I’d forgotten it was already Thursday. I winced. “Maybe? Yes. But he’s coming Saturday evening after they’ve played in York and he’ll go back on Sunday. It’s not a long visit, just one night.”
“And how is he getting here?” Laurie asked as he stripped off the oven gloves and slapped them down on the side with more force than strictly necessary. “I assume he’s getting the team bus to York, so is he hiring a car? Getting a taxi? Are you going to pick him up?”
The smile I gave him was painful and horribly unconvincing because I hadn’t thought of any of that. “Er, one of those?”
“I see. I assume you’ll be giving him your room to stay in?”
“Yes,” I said, because that was easy. I couldn’t even remember the last time I’d slept in there.
“And I assume you’re going to clean it thoroughly, change the sheets, and put all your clothes away before then?”
“Yes?”
“And at least make a decent attempt to clean the house.”
“Yes?”
“Neither of those answers were in any way convincing,” Laurie said. His lips were pursed and I could feel the irritation radiating off him. Maybe if I gave him a blow job while dinner finished cooking, he’d feel better. It was well known that orgasms solved ninety-nine percent of all problems!
“I promise,” I said, crossing my heart. “I will make sure the house is squeaky clean and I’ll work out how West is getting here and back. And I’ll even sort dinner for Saturday too.”
“No, I can do that. I’d rather you focused on housework and practicalities. I’ll make sure everyone is fed.”
“Thank you!” I danced over to him and threw my arms around his waist. He was still tense and annoyed, but he softened slightly when I squeezed him. “You’re the best, and I’m sorry for dropping this on you so last minute.”
“I suppose it could have been worse,” Laurie said. “I could’ve come home to find you frantically cleaning and West about to knock on the door.”
“See, it can always be worse!” I grinned up at him and fluttered my eyelashes, hoping it would make him forgive me. “I’d never do that to you.” Laurie didn’t look convinced. “I promise! And next time I’ll give you even more notice.”
“Do you think there’ll be a next time?”
“I don’t know, maybe? It’ll depend on how this one goes.”
Laurie nodded. He was still tense and I didn’t know why. It worried me because I didn’t want Laurie to be upset. “What’s wrong?” I asked.
“Nothing.”
“Yes, there is. You’re all tense and stiff,” I said, using one hand to gently jab his middle. “And not fun stiff, more like stressed and worried. See, you’ve gone all hard in the middle.”
Laurie laughed quietly. “Ignore me, I’m just being ridiculous.”
“Nope, no such thing.” I stepped back and grabbed his hand, pulling him out of the kitchen and towards the sofa.
“We’re not going to be one of those couples who bottle up their feelings and don’t talk to each other.
We’ve always shared everything, and we’re not going to stop now that we’re boyfriends.
” I pushed him onto the end of the sofa, then climbed into his lap to make sure he stayed there.
“Tell me what’s wrong. Or I’ll sit on you until you do. ”
Laurie raised an eyebrow. “I could just stand up. You’re not that heavy.”
“No, you’re not.” I put my hands either side of his head, penning him in. “Spill. Are you uncomfortable with West visiting?”
“I don’t know.” He sighed, his hands coming up to rest on my waist. “A little, but not for the reason you probably think.”
“Is it because we’ve never had guests before?
” I asked as I ran through a mental list of reasons.
That was the first one that flagged, since I couldn’t remember anyone ever staying here since I’d moved in.
I assumed there’d been a few overnight stays when I’d been out of town and Laurie had brought hook-ups over, but they didn’t count because they weren’t really guests.
Although I was sure Laurie had still offered them tea and breakfast because that was who he was.
I tried not to giggle because the whole idea was adorable and I was trying to be serious.
“It’s not that,” Laurie said.
“Is it because of the short notice?”
“Not particularly, although I would have appreciated it if you could’ve planned better.”
“Sorry,” I said. “It just kind of happened. West said he’d be in York, and I said that wasn’t too far from us, and then next thing I knew I was inviting him to stay. Sorry, I should’ve checked with you first. I know you appreciate your privacy.”
“It’s fine,” he said, leaning forward to kiss me. “I forgive you. But yes, next time a little more planning would be nice.”
“Okay.” I nuzzled my nose against his, still racking my brains for ideas. “So, if it’s not the short notice and it’s not the no guests thing, what is it? Is it because it’s West?”
Laurie tensed and I knew I’d struck gold.
I wanted to let out a triumphant Aha! But I didn’t because it wasn’t a competition and, more importantly, because I was confused.
Did Laurie have something against my brother?
He’d been fine when I’d introduced them—maybe a little frosty, but I’d put that down to Laurie being shy.
“Don’t you like him?” I asked, sitting back slightly so I could watch his face, moving my hands down so they rested on his chest instead.
“I don’t know him,” Laurie said. “Not really. All I know is what you’ve told me.
” He thought for a second and I didn’t push.
“From what you’ve told me and from what I’ve seen recently, West is…
nice. Very nice. And I’m happy that you’re getting closer to him and able to message and game and actually be brothers, without any of the bullshit from your past getting in the way, but…
all I can think about is the first day he emailed you and finding you in my office.
You were so upset, darling, and I was so frightened.
I’d never seen you like that before, and it terrified me.
I hated that someone had done that to you.
I think if West had actually turned up rather than emailing, it would’ve gone very differently.
I don’t think I’d have been able to control my reaction. ”
My heart did a funny little flip and my insides twisted. I hadn’t considered what seeing me like that must’ve been like for Laurie, and it was obvious he wouldn’t trust West easily because of it.
Well, that and everything else I’d told him about my childhood.
But the funny thing was the more I’d gotten to know West, the less I associated him with my parents.
It was strange and didn’t really make any sense, but somehow I’d been able to separate them completely.
Sure, West was my brother and he’d been fed all sorts of shit by our parents about me, but he was so different from them it was easy to put them in isolated boxes in my head.
West was West, my silly, funny, sweet baby brother, who shared my love of stupid zombie movies and gaming, who loved gummy worms and roller coasters and throwing himself at other men for fun.
We were more alike than I’d ever realised, and I was glad he’d reached out because it meant I could add to the patchwork over the spot in my heart for family where I’d placed all my friends from work and Heather Bay.
West had slotted in there so easily, it was almost like he’d never been gone.
“I’m sorry,” Laurie continued. “I shouldn’t have said that. I want you to have a relationship with him. I’m just making mountains out of molehills.”
“You’re not,” I said. “You’re just protecting me.
That’s what you do.” I leant down and kissed him, drawing it out and running my tongue across his bottom lip.
“I get why you’re scared too—I’d be the same if I were you and someone random from your past popped up.
I’d fucking kill for you, or maybe I’d get Noah to kill them.
He’d definitely get away with it.” Laurie smiled and I felt him relax.
“I wasn’t expecting talking to West to be a good thing,” I continued. “But it is. I mean, we could both do with a fuck ton of therapy but we’ll live. I think it’s been good for me, though, almost healing. And I like having someone else to play games with.”
“I’m glad.” Laurie pulled me closer against him, gazing up at me with gentle adoration.
“All I want is for you to be happy, my darling. If having a relationship with West makes you happy, then I’ll support you.
Ask him what sort of food he likes and I’ll make something nice for dinner.
I assume he’ll be exhausted after the match. ”
“You’re the best,” I said. “I love you so much.”
I kissed him again. How had we gone so long without doing this? It seemed so silly that we’d avoided it. We were perfect for each other and we’d wasted so much time denying the obvious.
We’d just have to make up for it.