Isaac and his truth is important speeches.“You’re such diplomat, Guapo. Alain, we want to know if you’d like to move in with us. Here. Be a triad, a family.”
“Share a home. It’s fast, it’s not logical maybe, but you’re special and we know it. We feel it.”
“I ain’t got a lot of money to help out. Y’all know that, right? I can help out in a ton of ways until I find a job—cooking, cleaning, laundry, whatever—but you need to know it.”
That was dear as all get out, and Neil loved to hear it.
“We’re not worried about that. What we want to know is if you…want us. If you want to stay here. Everything else aside, little one. What do you want?”
“I want y’all. Both of y’all. I want to be here where I belong.” Alain glanced between them, and Neil couldn’t help his smile.
“You really are a gift, Alain. I don’t know how to explain it to you, but you are.” Isaac took Alain’s chin in his fingers and kissed him gently.
Alain melted between them, hand sliding on Neil’s belly, petting him. Such a sweet boy.And he was staying. That had been easier than he’d thought, both the conversation with Isaac and the moving them both in at once. Super sweet.
Mmm…
Sweet.
Neil snagged a beignet.
13
Isaac yawned and sighed as he got dressed for work. Last night, all three of them had been restless sleepers, fluffing pillows and rolling over, which, even with the king bed, made it challenging to get any kind of deep sleep.
It wasn’t a big mystery as to why—both he and Neil were back to work today. It was the first day of what normal was going to look like for this big, new relationship. He was ready to return to the job, but not ready to leave the safe little cocoon they’d all been in for the last week. He knew Neil had to be feeling the same, with the added awkwardness of coming back after a short suspension.
Poor Alain wasn’t used to being home alone all day either, but he and Neil had put together chores that included shopping and making dinner, and that would be challenge enough for the first day. Going out into the world alone wasn’t something the boy had done for a while, but they’d been together a couple of times, so it wasn’t an unfamiliar place.
He’d told Cyrus not to worry about Alain for the weekend, and today he would make that call and Neil would go pick up the rest of Alain’s things, if he had any, from Cyrus’s apartment. And, Isaac supposed he should give Brandon a call to check in on him and give him the good news. That was exciting too. This was all very real now.
He needed coffee though. And maybe some ibuprofen. His neck was stiff, and he rolled his shoulders and head to try to release some of the tightness.
Hard, callused hands landed on his shoulders, thumbs pushing in hard to release his muscles. “Mornin’, Guapo.”
“Oh…” he groaned and relaxed into the touch. “Good morning. We need a bigger bed.”
“We do. I’ll set Alain to looking into it.” Neil kept massaging, and the touch eased him deeper than just the physical.
“Good.” He sighed, not sure what to say, he and Neil communicated so well without words. “Big day.”
“Yeah. Hate the first day back, but it has to be done. I’m hoping to be home by seven at the latest. You?”
Home by seven. He loved hearing that, it was boring and domestic maybe, but it was new for him—the idea of having someone to come home to. “I’m ready, and not. I’ve got people counting on me, so that makes a difference. I should be home by six or so, as usual.” He grabbed Neil’s hand and kissed it. “Be careful today.”
“I will. You have my word.” Neil squeezed his fingers, holding on for a second. “I’ll check on our little kitten today. Make sure he’s occupied.”
“Thank you. I worry about him being here alone. I’ll ask Cyrus if you need to stop by and grab anything Alain might have left behind. God, I need coffee.” He turned and kissed Neil quickly, then pulled on his shirt.
“Yeah. I hear that.” Neil stepped into his sensible, heavy shoes, looking like…a detective.
“Hot.” He grinned at Neil and let his appreciation for his lover’s fit cop-body show, before making his way to the kitchen. “Good morning, Alain. I smell coffee.”
“M’sieur. Coffee and eggs and bacon and biscuits. Y’all need good food before you head away.” Alain seemed—at peace. Puttering around and cooking and taking care suited the boy.
His fingers itched to touch, so he went to Alain and pulled the boy in for a kiss. He’d known Alain for some time; he knew everything the boy had been through in gruesome detail. He’d had an urge to protect the boy, to take care of him from the very beginning. But he hadn’t understood the connection then. “Thank you, boy.”
“Oh, mon coeur.” Alain nuzzled him, humming deep in his chest. “You’re more than welcome.”