Chapter 11
Rooster wasn’t sure if it was his presence that had set Erik off or if he was just being a jackass to Emmett because he was so used to doing it. Either way, he was fucking done.
He was so glad he’d come with his boy, his fury building the quieter and quieter Emmett had gotten as the evening had progressed and his family ignored or talked over him over and over.
If this was how they treated him with Rooster right next to him…
Fuck, he was going to shower his little boy with affection the moment they got home.
The shock on Erik’s face when he and Emmett had arrived had been funny to him at first. They hadn’t been close in years, but he wasn’t surprised that it had taken Erik a minute to wrap his head around the fact that his childhood best friend was in a relationship with his baby brother.
But his humor had fucking disappeared ten seconds ago when he’d realized the confused looks Erik had been giving them were because he thought Emmett wasn’t good enough for Rooster.
Piece of shit.
There was silence in the crowded living room after Erik’s idea of a joke had fallen flat, the words “I never knew you had a thing for chubby nerds” hanging in the air all around them.
Rooster didn’t have to look to know his sweet boy was humiliated, cheeks flushed red.
He loved his boy’s plump little body, but he knew he was still self-conscious sometimes.
And after a whole night of little digs and getting talked over anytime he actually dared to open his mouth, he knew Emmett was at the end of his rope.
Never looking away from Erik’s face, Rooster slowly stood. “Emmett, get our coats, please.”
Emmett didn’t hesitate, jumping up and darting out of the room. His mom was the only one to go after him, throwing an annoyed look at Erik on her way out of the room.
Erik’s wife elbowed him in the side, whispering something Rooster couldn’t hear as she patted the swaddled backside of the baby over her shoulder. Based on his eye roll, she was reminding him to be a decent human being, but they were so beyond that now.
Erik threw up his hands as he started to stand. “Jesus Christ, it was a joke—”
“Sit your ass back down,” Rooster said, carefully enunciating each word. He didn’t raise his voice, but his tone was ice-cold and cut through the quiet muttering that had begun to pick up.
Erik’s head jerked around to look at him, eyes wide, but he dropped back to the couch. “The fuck, man? I was going to apologize—”
“No, you weren’t.” He wished he were wearing his cut; his club’s colors resting on his back would have helped him feel a little calmer, instead of wanting to give in to the raging anger lighting up his veins. “And I’m done listening to you treat him like shit.”
“Whoa—” someone across the room started to say, but Rooster ignored them, talking right over the affronted voice.
“Since the moment we arrived—if you’ve even bothered to speak to him—you’ve made nasty comments about things he likes, talked down to him about his job, or made rude remarks about what he was eating.
” He cast his eyes around the room, not surprised when most of them looked away, some with bright red faces.
“I didn’t say anything because he asked me not to, but we’re done.
Until I’m sure he will be treated with the kindness and respect he deserves, we won’t be back. ”
“Now, Grayson,” Mr. Moore began, trying to push to his feet but struggling because of how he was wedged in next to two of his grandkids, who were staring at Rooster with shocked eyes.
“None of you deserve him,” he spat, not bothering to wait to see what Emmett’s father would say to try and defend his other children and himself.
He headed out of the room, finding Emmett by the front door already wearing his own jacket and Rooster’s over his arm.
His head was down, his mom speaking to him in a low voice, but Emmett was just shaking his head.
When he saw Rooster approaching, he gave him a weak smile and held out his coat. “Thank you, baby.”
Emmett blushed at receiving the endearment in front of his mom, but his smile turned more real.
Rooster shrugged into his jacket and looked at Mrs. Moore, her hands wringing in front of her in an achingly familiar way.
He just wished she were upset on Emmett’s behalf, but he knew her, and she was embarrassed over him and Emmett making a scene.
She was fucking lucky his little boy had made him promise not to do exactly that, or he’d have really ripped into these jackasses the second one of his sisters asked if Emmett was sure he wanted a second roll at dinner.
“Merry Christmas, Mrs. Moore. Thank you for dinner, but we won’t be coming back anytime soon.”
Her mouth dropped open in shock. “I know you’re upset, Grayson, but you can’t just keep Emmett away from his family over a silly comment. Erik didn’t mean anything by it.”
Out of the corner of his eye, he saw Emmett’s shoulders sag in defeat, chin dropping to his chest. Rooster reached over and grabbed one of his hands, threading their fingers together and giving him a tight squeeze. “With all due respect, ma’am, he absolutely fucking did.”
She gasped at his language, and Emmett slapped a hand over his mouth to stifle what sounded like a hysterical giggle.
“And because I actually love your son, I can and will keep him away from this family as long as I feel you are toxic to his mental and emotional well-being.” Emmett’s fingers twitched in his hold at the L-word, but Rooster just kept going, wanting to say everything he had to say so they could get the fuck out of there and go home.
“Until this family can do better, my family and I will step in and treat him how he deserves.”
She looked back and forth between them, mouth moving soundlessly.
“Goodbye, Mrs. Moore,” he said, giving Emmett’s hand a small squeeze.
“Bye, Mom. Tell Dad I said bye too, please.”
Still looking like someone had hit her in the face with a shovel, she nodded loosely and stepped back, giving them enough space to open the front door.
She didn’t stop them as they left, quietly closing the door behind them, even though Rooster was still pissed and would have preferred to slam it himself.
He got Emmett settled into the passenger seat, absently buckling for him and asking if he needed his hat before moving around to the driver’s side and getting in.
Once he got them going, Emmett reached over and lightly set his hand on Rooster’s shoulder.
He expected him to say something, maybe even tell Rooster he’d overstepped and Emmett would go back to his parents’ without him next time.
But he didn’t say anything, just slid his hand a little farther up and tucked some hair behind Rooster’s ear, petted the side of his face, then rested his palm back on his shoulder. They were almost home before Emmett said anything.
“I love you too, Daddy.”
Sucking in a shaky breath, Rooster pulled over in front of a random house three streets from home and threw the car in park.
Emmett was already moving, unbuckling himself, so as soon as they were stopped, Rooster pulled him into a hug over the console, burying his face in his warm neck.
His hands were fucking shaking, so he held his little boy tighter.
“Don’t ever make me do that again,” he finally said, not lifting his head.
“Go to my parents’? Honestly, I don’t think we’ll be invited back anytime soon.”
He grunted. “No. Don’t ever make me sit there and listen to people be mean to you without saying anything. I won’t do it, Emmett. I can’t.”
Emmett’s arms tightened around him. “I won’t. I’m sorry.”
Some of the tension eased out of him at the fast, easy response. “Good.” He took a few deep breaths, pulling his boy’s sweet scent deep into his lungs, then sat up so he could look into his face. “I really do love you.”
Eyes glassy, Emmett licked his lips and nodded. “I know. I think I’ve been in love with you since you brought me pancakes and put whipped cream on them, even though you didn’t approve.”
Rooster huffed. “You earned whipped cream tonight, baby. Let’s get home and make cocoa, then you can open all your gifts. Seeing how much you like what I got you will make up for how awful your family was.”
Grinning, Emmett sat back against his seat. “Well, if that’s what will make you happy, Daddy, I guess we can do that.”
“Sassy boy,” he said, waiting until he was buckled in again before easing back onto the road.
“You love it.”
“Damn right, I do.”
“You got me too much,” Emmett said sometime later, sitting on the floor in front of Rooster’s tree with all his opened gifts around him.
He ran his fingers over a large stuffed dragon that would be perfect for snuggling when Rooster was on shift.
His boy had complained recently that one of the worst parts when Rooster worked a twenty-four-hour shift was sleeping by himself.
Hopefully, the enormous thing helped. “I thought we agreed on a limit.”
Rooster smirked as he sipped at his lukewarm cocoa. It was his second cup, Emmett’s second one going down just as fast as the first and putting just as big a smile on his face. “No, you proposed a limit, and I agreed you shouldn’t spend more than that on me.”
Emmett’s brows furrowed as he squinted up at him. “I don’t think that’s what happened.”
He shrugged. “It’s a daddy’s prerogative to spoil his little boy. Especially when they’re as good and sweet as you are.”
Cheeks flushing a cute pink, Emmett pushed to his feet and carefully stepped over his new dragon, giving it a pat on the head on his way past. Rooster finished his cocoa and set his mug aside, recognizing the look on his boy’s face.
Arousal began to build in him, shivering down his spine and settling in his balls.