Chapter Twenty-Eight
In the weeks that followed, Dylan found himself busier than usual.
Jasmine hadn’t been kidding about giving him more responsibility.
January flew by in a whirlwind of paperwork that he’d never realized stacked up oh so quickly.
Bills upon bills. Permits. Hearings. Appointments.
Every little thing came with an average of three reminders in Jasmine’s phone, quite a literal lifeline, to ensure she never missed anything.
So, when Dylan had a free weekend at the beginning of February, he didn’t hesitate to bolt. He drove over to Rus’ apartment and hunkered up with no intention of leaving until Monday morning. He wouldn’t even step outside for food, demanding they order takeout for the convenience.
“Stop picking fights with everyone,” Rus grumbled, clicking his controller to set up his characters defensively for a battle Dylan had provoked.
Surprisingly, Rus kept his cool, merely sighing every time they started a new battle. He sat crisscross on the bed, which made for the perfect pillow for Dylan to rest his head on.
“Considering you’re the hot-tempered one, you’d think this would be right up your alley,” Kaiden said from the floor.
Dylan looked up at Rus, grinning. It helped that Kaiden unintentionally supported his teasing.
With Kaiden on the floor, Dylan kept his legs stretched over Kaiden’s shoulders, almost hugging him with his legs.
But not too tightly, since Kaiden positioned himself there so he could draw.
He camped out on the floor so he had room for his art supplies and could use the edge of the bed as a sort of brace for his back.
There was a special kind of joy Dylan found in using his boyfriends as comfy furniture. They didn’t seem to mind, and Dylan enjoyed having them to prop him up as he sank deeper into the mattress.
They continued playing for hours with Rus dropping random hidden facts about the game every time they explored a new area, and Kaiden disappearing into his artwork. Occasionally, he’d hold up a sketch to a character he knew Rus or Dylan loved.
“It’s terrible,” Kaiden said, tossing the sheet of paper back at them.
“I love it,” Dylan said, snatching up the page and studying the details.
Kaiden could profess all he wanted that he hated video games or found the fantasy stuff too confusing to keep track of, but Dylan suspected he rather enjoyed the story. Especially since he’d managed to sketch a portrait of every companion at least once.
Granted, they did play the game a lot. It helped that every time Rus and Dylan started a new game, they made entirely different choices.
Mostly different choices. Dylan couldn’t be evil in the game, no matter how much Rus tried to influence a little bit of chaos.
Personally, Dylan suspected that was the influence of Rus’ in-game murderous vampire twink boyfriend, who always wanted to stab somebody.
Dylan much preferred the honorable warlock with a chivalrous heart and the chatty wizard who never stopped rambling about something.
They didn’t want to conquer the world, merely save it.
As conversation died down, Dylan’s mind wandered to the upcoming holiday. Despite how busy he’d been as of late, he hoped to celebrate with his boyfriends.
“You know,” he said as casually as possible. “I was thinking of making reservations for Valentine’s Day.”
He looked up to find Rus’ gaze locked on the television screen.
Before Dylan could continue, Kaiden flicked his leg.
Yes, Dylan realized Valentine’s Day wasn’t Rus’ favorite holiday, and for good reason.
It carried memories he’d rather ignore. If Rus wanted to avoid the holiday altogether, Dylan would accept that, but he hoped to pry just enough to figure out if it was something they could explore anew.
“I’ve never celebrated the day,” Dylan said. “I mean, maybe in school or whatever for a class, but not like actually celebrated. Pretty sure Kaiden never has either.”
Kaiden responded by yanking some of the hairs on Dylan’s leg.
“Ow,” he muttered, before lifting his leg.
He used it to pop Kaiden in the chest with his heel. A light smack, but enough to make up for the mean tug of his leg hairs.
“I get if it’s something you don’t want to celebrate,” Dylan said, staring up at Rus, who didn’t return his gaze. “And you’re probably thinking it’s something we could celebrate without you. Kaiden and I having a fancy little dinner or something silly. But I don’t like that idea.”
“Then why bring it up?” Kaiden asked aloud, more to himself, based on his mocking tone.
“I just think if we were going to do something for Valentine’s Day, it should be as a trio or not at all,” Dylan continued. “To be clear, I’m cool abstaining from the holiday. It’s so corporate anyway. Boo to the card companies and flower murderers.”
“I don’t know,” Rus finally said with an aloof shrug. “I think it’d be nice to make new memories.”
“Yeah?” Kaiden cocked his head curiously.
“I’m well past any feelings or regrets with Lana, and maybe I’m not entirely over the day itself,” Rus explained.
“I think a small part of me will always wonder what could have been. Even if I don’t actually regret giving up the kid.
Like I would’ve been in way over my head.
Probably would’ve resented the kid or Lana or both eventually. Still, it’s nice to remember him.”
Rus ran his thumb over the Valentine’s Day tattoo on his wrist.
“But maybe it’s better to just remember him, not let the joy of the day be ruined.” Rus looked down at Dylan and grinned. “And I’m here for all the flower murders. I say slaughter ‘em all and drown them in delicious chocolates!”
Rus cackled loudly with obnoxious flair, imitating his favorite vampire character.
Soon after, they settled back into comfort, playing their game and enjoying each other’s company. Kaiden put aside his drawings and started looking up restaurants he thought they’d all enjoy.
“Do we have to do gifts?” he asked with a twinge of concern.
“I don’t think—”
“Absolutely,” Rus interrupted. “I demand only the best of presents to honor me on V-Day.”
Kaiden huffed. “I’m giving you a coupon book, and you better like it.”
“Really?”
“Yeah,” Kaiden replied. “It’ll have like one free hug and one premium massage and one silly drawing and… Hmmm. Other cool stuff. I don’t know. I don’t want to ruin the surprise.”
“I love it,” Rus said.
Not long after, they paused the game and put something random on the television for background noise. Dylan enjoyed the silence. He could enjoy anything with Rus and Kaiden.
“Speaking of upcoming holidays,” Rus chimed in to break the silence. “I have a three-day weekend coming up in March.”
“Oh?” Dylan looked up inquisitively.
“Yeah, and I was sort of considering heading home for it,” Rus said rather casually, even if the slightest crack in his voice revealed a twinge of nervousness. “I figured it might be a good time for y’all to join, too. If you wanted, of course. Not that you have to. It’s short notice.”
“It’s like a month away,” Kaiden said, perhaps perplexed by the short notice comment based on the tone of his voice.
“Yeah, I know,” Rus replied. “Probably should’ve given a bigger warning. It’s cool if you don’t want—”
“I want to go,” Dylan blurted.
“Me too,” Kaiden said, turning around so he faced them.
He was kind enough not to knock Dylan’s legs aside. Instead, he lifted them as he spun around and propped them back over his shoulders.
“A month is plenty of time,” Kaiden continued. “Plus, if the three-day weekend is related to a holiday, Alison might already have plans for closing the gallery. If not, taking a Monday won’t be the worst thing in the world.”
Kaiden rarely worked weekends with the gallery unless they hosted some gala or banquet.
“Okay, cool,” Rus said a bit sheepishly. “My mom really wants to meet you both. She keeps texting.”
“Really?” Dylan looked up at Rus.
“Yeah, so I figured a three-day weekend would be a safer bet than, like, a spring break visit. A week with my family is far too cruel, and summer would be fine, too. You’d have more time to brace yourself, but then I’d have to listen to her pester every single day until the end of the semester.”
“I think it’s brilliant,” Kaiden said. “I’d love to meet your family.”
“Mostly just my parents if we’re lucky. Maybe one of my sisters.” Rus shrugged. “But honestly, it’s just going to be my mom asking you a million and one questions. Each.”
“Is she excited to meet us?” Dylan asked with a smile, then let his smile fall into a playfully stern expression. “Or is she planning to grill us?”
“No grilling you, she’s vegan,” Rus joked.
“Don’t people grill vegetables all the time?” Kaiden asked.
“It was a cannibal joke,” Rus sighed. “You murdered it, sweetie.”
“Jokes are supposed to be funny, so looks like you murdered your own sense of humor,” Kaiden countered, a wicked grin on his face.
Rus huffed, and Kaiden leaned forward, bending Dylan’s legs well above his head, as he positioned himself close enough to give Rus a peck on the lips.
Dylan stared up at them both, his body contorted with his head pinned in Rus’ lap and his legs bent in such a way by Kaiden that his ankles practically grazed Rus’ shoulders.
“Well, hot damn. Aren’t you a flexible one?” Rus teased.
“I should’ve been a gymnast,” Dylan wheezed.
Kaiden playfully slapped Dylan’s butt. “You should’ve been a bottom with a perfect pretzel eight like this.”
“Nah, not quite perfect.” Rus grabbed Dylan by the heels, twisting his legs ever so until they sort of crossed over each other. “There we go. Perfection.”
Dylan burst into laughter, attempting to wriggle loose, but found Kaiden’s muscular grip on his sides and Rus’ firm hold on his feet made it impossible.
“Seriously?” Dylan panted.
“What?” Rus looked down at Dylan, batting his lashes innocently.
“Hey, if you’re gonna fuck me, at least let me get comfy first.” Dylan bounced a bit in place, huffing until finally they moved enough to allow him to roll over.
Before he knew it, Rus lay on top of him with his full weight.
“Feeling comfy yet?” He bit the side of Dylan’s neck, kissing and licking him.
“Almost.” Dylan adjusted himself, finding the more he maneuvered, the more he synced up beneath Rus.
Rus wrapped his arms underneath Dylan’s arms, pinning him in place.
He lined his crotch up with Dylan’s butt and playfully bucked against him.
The motion pushed Dylan deeper into the mattress.
Rus positioned his legs between Dylan’s, keeping them wider and pushing him into an almost arched position as he lay on the bed.
“Okay, okay, less comfy, but digging it.”
“Think of this as my early Valentine’s gift.” Rus leaned forward, kissing Dylan, who craned his neck to meet Rus’ lips.
The pair kissed for a while until Rus pulled away and met Kaiden. He released Dylan and began to make out with Kaiden. Before long, the three of them became entangled, kissing and cuddling and caressing each other.
Dylan had no idea where their relationship was leading, but he was thrilled to follow them on this journey.
He hoped Valentine’s Day led to more wonders, more celebrations.
He hoped meeting Rus’ family proved a treasure of an experience.
Not only for him, but for Kaiden too. They each deserved to see that not all families hated their queer children.
The three of them rolled around in the bed, and Dylan lost himself to the pleasures of their company. He couldn’t wait to explore everything life had to offer with his boyfriends.