“And to the diner?” Ever asked, giving him big eyes.
“Your happily ever after includes diner food as well?”
Ever nodded. “And dessert.”
“Are you trying to take advantage of me in my weakened emotional state?”
Ever grinned. “Is it working…Senya?”
“You really are a little demon. Yes, it’s working. Let’s go home.”
Home. Ever had a home. Well, he would have a home with Arsen, wherever they ended up. Hopefully back in the apartment over the garage, but if not, somewhere else. Arsen was his home. Arsen was his happily ever after.
Arsen entered the apartment just as Ever’s malicious cackle cut through the space. He smiled. Hisbesenokwas wreaking havoc online, no doubt. He glanced at the clock on the wall, a fancy piece with little mirrors in the shape of a star that Ever insisted they buy the last time they were at Walmart. That and an ugly daisy mat that kept you from slipping in the shower. Arsen had argued that the small space was what kept him from slipping, but Ever had looked him dead in the eye and placed it in the cart.
Arsen lost every fight and he couldn’t be happier about it. Between the money they made streaming and his paycheck from the shop, he could afford to keep Ever in books and ugly daisy mats for life. And he intended to do just that.
He had a good thirty minutes before Ever’s stream ended, so he headed to the bathroom to wash off the dust and grime of the day. Once he stripped down, he stepped under the scalding hot water, letting himself enjoy the way it beat against his muscles before grabbing the heavy soap he used to scrub the oil from his skin.
He took extra care this time. Once Ever’s stream ended, they could go have dinner. It was their only free night this week. Ever had remedial math classes on Monday, Wednesday, and Friday, and he worked at the bookstore on Tuesday, Thursday, and Saturday. Arsen had hoped to have Sunday together, but Jericho had sweet-talked Ever into watching the boys for them so he and Atticus could have a date night.
Arsen grabbed the coconut-scented shampoo then scrubbed his hair. He still couldn’t believe Jericho and Atticus had taken the boys from the container. Jericho had been heartbroken when they’d made the handoff to the social worker and the little boy had screamed and sobbed for him until he’d thrown up. After two days, the social worker had called and said the boy was barely eating and wouldn’t speak at all.
Atticus hated seeing Jericho so upset and had agreed to take the boys on a temporary basis until they could find a permanent home for them. But that idea only lasted roughly three days before Atticus was eating his words.
Maybe psychopaths really were narcissists because the little boy from the cargo container—the really small dirty one the older boy had called his brother—once he was cleaned up, they found he had red hair and freckles just like Atticus. And, almost by magic, Atticus seemed to forget he hated kids.
The adoption was quick and quiet, and they waited a few months before announcing to the world that they had adopted not one but two toddlers: Jett and Jagger. That was what they’d named them. Well, renamed them. At two and three years old, they were already a handful, and Jericho couldn’t get enough of their chaos.
Neither could Ever. He was obsessed with them. It made sense. They liked all the same things. Bubbles. Coloring. Games. Candy. Books. So many books. Whenever they were together, it was hard to say who was having a better time—Ever or the kids. Jericho was grateful to Ever for always making time for them, but Ever didn’t think of it as work. To him, they were family.
It made Arsen think about the future, about someday having kids of their own. Eventually. Ever had plans. He wanted to get his GED so he could go to college and become a social worker. Arsen worried it would just break his heart, but he was determined, and when Ever was determined, there was no stopping him. Arsen had learned that the hard way.
He was so lost in his thoughts that he never heard the bathroom door open and close—just felt the shower curtain shift a split second before Ever slid in behind him. Arsen smiled as hands came around his waist, Ever’s lips pressing between his shoulder blades in an open-mouthed kiss.
“Hi,” Arsen said, rubbing his hands over Ever’s.
Ever’s teeth sank into his shoulder blade, then he licked over the marks. “Hi.”
Arsen frowned. “Are you done streaming already?”
“Mm,” Ever said, sliding his hands down to trace Arsen’s hip bones, then his belly.
“Did you win?” he asked with a smile.
Ever scoffed. “I never win. I’m terrible. That’s why people tune in. They like watching me die.”
Arsen shuffled his feet until he was facing Ever in the tight space. “Now, that’s not true. They just like how cute you are when you’re running and screaming.”
“How is that any better?” Ever asked, sounding only half interested in the conversation.
“Well—” Arsen started, but then Ever’s tongue teased over one hard nipple, his fingers toying with the other. “What are you doing,besenok?”
“What does it look like?” he asked, dropping a hand to stroke Arsen’s semi-hard cock, making a happy noise as he hardened under his attention.
Arsen worked himself into Ever’s loose fist. “It looks like you’re trying to seduce me. I thought you wanted to go out to dinner.”
“We live in the city. There’s always someplace open,” he assured him.
