Chapter 23 Nicholas
Nicholas has done a lot of difficult things in his life.
Making it to the NHL, being an openly bisexual player in a professional sport that hasn’t always been the most welcoming, finally deciding to cut his parents off after last week’s fucked up trip to New York City.
But knocking on the front door of Andrew’s parents’ house alone might be the most difficult of all.
He’s pretty sure he’s never been as fucking nervous about anything in his life as he is about meeting the two people responsible for raising his boyfriend, especially since he’s late.
Technically, this is his own fault. Tony texted him after he and Andrew got home earlier this week under the guise of discussing some ideas for team building and training for next season.
Given that Nicholas is neither the team captain nor a very sociable guy, he had no idea what the fuck Tony might want his opinion for.
When he said as much to Andrew, it’d earned him a smile and a kiss before Andrew succinctly pointed out that Tony probably just wanted to hang out and assumed he needed an excuse, given how difficult Nicholas usually is.
Aware that he’d been a bit of an asshole, more than usual even, this last year since being traded, he’d decided to take Tony up on the offer.
Unfortunately, Tony had to change their get together to the same day Andrew wanted Nicki to come over to his parents’ house for a belated celebration for Eden’s birthday.
The moment he realized he’d be meeting Andrew’s parents at the party, he tried to cancel with Tony but Andrew would hear nothing of it, insisting it was good for Nicholas to foster his friendship with Tony.
Given that Andrew is always right, he took his word for it, which is how Nicholas ended up spending the entire afternoon at the local brewery having pizza and beer, neither of which he usually eats, but Tony insisted it is a Santa Leon favorite.
With the afternoon running late, he’d called Andrew who told Nicholas to meet him at his parents’ place since he’d apparently decided to head over early to help set up.
He was supposed to be here at three, but with Tony running his mouth and an accident on the freeway he’s nearly half an hour late, and while Nicholas has never minded making a fashionable entrance, he really wanted to make a good impression on Andrew’s parents.
Disgruntled and undeniably nervous, Nicki stalks up the driveway, taking in the brick lined pathway and perfectly trimmed hedges.
The King family home is a stereotypical suburban house with roses under the front window and white shutters.
It’s quaint and cute and makes Nicholas worry that he should’ve brought something.
Andrew told him not to worry about a gift, that he already got something for Eden, but showing up to a party empty handed feels rude.
Nicholas has never given a flying fuck about being rude, but now he does, and he wants to punch something.
What kind of fucking boyfriend is he showing up empty-handed? A fucking disgrace.
He’s tempted to leave and go buy something, stopping only because Andrew is inside, and he hasn’t seen him since he had to leave for work this morning at eight. An entire day without his princess. It should be fucking illegal.
Lifting his hand, his knuckles barely make contact with the front door before it swings open revealing a King. Just not the one Nicholas was hoping would answer the door.
“You.”
“It’s me,” Alec confirms, hooking his thumbs in his jean pockets and rocking on his bare feet. “Anyone ever tell you that you’re charming?”
“No.”
Alec’s grin widens, the weirdly happy little fucker. He’s always so smiley and loud, and while Nicholas knows Andrew adores his little brother, Nicholas has no idea how to handle him. So much personality in such a small body. He’s like a smaller, less obnoxious Charlie.
“Come on in, Nicholas. We’ve all been waiting for you.”
The we sets Nicholas’s nerves on edge, his expression narrowing as he steps into the house and gets all but dragged into the living room by Alec, clearly stronger than he looks.
“Hey, Nicholas.” That’s Jason, the other always happy brother. All of Andrew’s brothers are weirdly happy. Must be the by-product of a well-adjusted childhood or some shit.
Forcing on a smile, he makes direct eye contact with Jason and his boyfriend Emerson, which ends up with Emerson blushing fiercely.
“It’s okay,” Jason murmurs, smoothing Emerson’s hair back and whispering something to him.
“Hey, Jason—” Alec starts but Nicholas cuts him off.
“Where’s Andrew?”
“One track mind, this one,” Alec says, tipping his head up to stare at Nicholas. “You really like him, don’t you?”
“Not that it’s your fucking business, but yes.”
“Good,” Alec grins, “by the way—how many push ups can you do?”
“Why?”
“Because I was thinking—”
“Alexander,” Theo interrupts, rising from his spot on the couch with Jason and Emerson to wrap his arms around Alec. “Maybe save the push up challenges for after the party.”
“How’d you know what I was going to say?” Alec pouts.
“Because I know you,” Theo whispers, kissing the side of his neck.
Nicholas sighs, wondering how much more of this he has to endure before Andrew shows up. “So, Andrew? Where is he?”
Alec turns and points towards the entryway. “He’s right there.”
The man standing there might share the same face as his Andrew, might be wearing Andrew’s ironed khakis and favorite mint green polo shirt, but he sure as shit isn’t Nicholas’s Andrew.
“What the fuck?”
“What’s wrong?” Jason asks with an air of innocence that’s suspicious as shit.
“Where’s Andrew?”
“Andrew is right there,” Alec tries again. “You’re staring at him.”
“I’m staring at the cheap knock off version of Andrew,” Nicholas snarks. “Charlie isn’t my perfect fucking Andrew.”
“His Andrew,” Alec sing-songs.
“I told you this wouldn’t work,” Eden says, coming into the room from fuck knows where. He sits on the edge of the sofa, smoothing out his vibrant pink skirt.
“Seriously,” Charlie groans. “How the hell did you know it was me?”
“Yeah, how did you know?” Jason asks. “They look identical.”
“They really do,” Theo agrees while Emerson nods.
“The fuck is wrong with all of you? He doesn’t look like Andrew.”
“Yeah, uh—so you know they’re twins right,” Alec says. “Like identical twins. As in our parents couldn’t even tell them apart as kids. Some of Charlie’s partners in the past have even gotten them confused.”
“Not me,” Eden pipes up, eying Nicholas with an unreadable expression. “I can tell them apart.”
“Sometimes I can’t without my glasses on,” Theo confesses.
Nicholas frowns. “You’re all fucking with me.”
Judging by the expressions on their faces, they’re not.
“He barely looks like Andrew,” Nicholas seethes. “Look at his hair.”
“My hair is exactly the same as Andrew’s,” Charlie says as if that changes anything. “And my face. My everything is like Andrew’s, that’s what being an identical twin is.”
“No.”
“Yes,” Charlie challenges.
“Nope. You just—” Nicholas growls, frustrated they can’t all see it. “Andrew is superior to you in every way.”
Alec whistles, Theo and Emerson wince and Jason gapes.
“Wow, he really likes Andrew.”
Charlie moves towards Nicholas, and for half a second he expects to get punched for what he said, leaving him entirely unprepared for Charlie to throw his arms around Nicholas. “Take care of him.”
“Why the fuck are you hugging me?”
“Because you don’t like me.”
“You’re such a fucking weirdo,” Nicholas says, not sure he’s ever going to understand Charlie.
“Watch it fuckface,” Eden says with a smile that doesn’t match his words. “That’s my weirdo.”
“Aw, baby,” Charlie croons. “You love me.”
“Shut up,” Eden grumbles, trying and failing to hide a smile when Charlie leans in to kiss him.
“Does anyone else feel awkward seeing this?” Jason pipes up. “It’s kind of like watching Andrew kissing Eden.”
“Ew,” Eden frowns.
“Shut your fucking mouth,” Nicholas growls. “Andrew would never.”
“Oh, he’s big jealous,” Alec cackles.
Nicholas grits his teeth. “Where the fuck is Andrew?”
“We sent him to get the cake,” Jason helpfully answers. “We didn’t think this would work if he was here. He would’ve shut us down.”
“So naturally you violated his boundaries and did it anyway,” Nicholas frowns.
“No, well, yes,” Charlie sighs, “but you don’t understand.”
“What don’t I understand?” Nicholas demands.
“It’s not our place to tell you,” Jason replies.
At the same time, Eden opens his mouth. “There have been several assholes in the past who couldn’t tell Charlie and Andrew apart and were using Andrew to get to Charlie. These well-intentioned idiots were testing you because they love Andrew and want to protect him.”
“The fuck would I want Charlie for?” Nicholas gripes.
All of the brothers start speaking at the same time, as does Eden, which is too many people talking at once. It’s like being in the goddamn locker room where everyone talks over someone else.
“What the hell is going on in here?” Andrew yells loud enough that everyone in the room stops talking and turns their eyes on him.
He’s dressed much the same as Charlie currently is—khakis and a pastel polo.
Only Andrew’s is the familiar pale pink Nicholas saw him put on for work this morning.
Even if Nicholas somehow forgot what his boyfriend was wearing today, the idea that he might ever confuse him for Charlie is preposterous.
As if Charlie, or anyone, could ever compare to his princess.
Andrew makes pointed eye contact with each of his brothers. “What are you assholes doing? Also, for the record I’m not talking to you, Emerson. Or you, Theo. I know neither of you had anything to do with this.”
Emerson sags with unmistakable relief while Theo smiles, offering an abashed, “I did try and stop them.”