“Of course. When were you thinking?” Gabriel reached over and turned one of the zucchini sideways, batting at the careful organization Joel was working on.
“Tonight?” Joel looked up at Gabriel, hope shining in his eyes. He licked his lips, pulling his lower lip between his teeth before he smiled. Gabriel could see the indentation his tooth had left in the tender flesh.
He reached up and tugged at Joel's lip, leaning down for a kiss. Joel pressed up onto the balls of his feet to meet Gabriel's mouth. The kiss deepened as Gabriel slanted his mouth over Joel's, licking his way inside. Joel moaned into Gabriel's mouth, and Gabriel's lips curved into a smile.
“Tonight?” Gabriel repeated Joel's question back to him, pressing a soft kiss to his lips.
Joel nodded, smiling against Gabriel's mouth before lowering his head so Gabriel would press a kiss onto his forehead. He did.
“Of course it's fine. Your friends are always welcome here. This is your home too, okay?” Gabriel tilted Joel's chin up and kissed the tip of his nose. Joel’s face lit up with a huge smile, and Gabriel reeled as if he had been punched in the chest.
This was wrong.
Holy shit, this was so wrong. Everything he had done that led him to this exact moment had been wrong. The way he’d manipulated Joel and Joel’s life. Joel was overjoyed by the prospect of having friends over for dinner. His smile made it look like he’d won the lottery and Gabriel finally understood, it was because of him Joel had found such little happiness during the past year. Gabriel had grown selfish in his quest for Joel, and had been blind to the depths of Joel’s suffering until now. Gabriel thought he might hate himself.
“Are you sure? You look like it’s not really okay.” Joel reached up and touched the space between Gabriel’s eyebrows.
Gabriel cleared his face of self-hatred and felt the skin under Joel’s finger smooth out. “Of course I’m sure. I’m sorry. My head went elsewhere for a moment.” Gabriel didn’t lie as he leaned down to kiss the top of Joel’s head before pulling back to look at his face.
Another smile split across Joel's face and he took a step backward, raising his eyebrows as he walked toward the front door. With one hand on the knob, Gabriel watched Joel's lips form the words,thank you, and then he opened the door, letting the red-haired tornado that was Athena inside.
“Wow!” She did a quick spin, taking in her surroundings, “Nice digs you’ve got here, handsome stranger.”
Gabriel steeled himself for the unexpected company and forced a convincing laugh at the endearment. “Athena, good to see you again.”
“Same, same. This is my brother, Adonis.” She gestured over her shoulder toward the open door.
Standing next to Joel was a kid who was definitely not an Adonis. Joel was slender, but average height, and he towered over the black-haired boy standing in the doorway. Donny couldn't have stood more than five and half feet tall. He was skinny, and it looked like he might have not yet hit puberty. The boy tried to hide his frame with what looked to be layers and layers of clothes. He smiled a tentative grin at Gabriel as Joel sneezed.
“Fuck,” Donny and Joel both said at the same time.
“Sorry! Sorry!” Donny blurted out, unzipping his hoodie to reveal a crisp white t-shirt underneath. He stepped into the hallway, dropped the hoodie to the floor, and then removed his baggy jeans to reveal a much more form-fitting pair of plaid skinny cut pants underneath. Donny quickly closed the door, leaving his pile of outerwear in the hallway.
Gabriel barked out a laugh.
“Athena made me bring non-cat clothes. She said you’re allergic.” Donny shrugged, his eyes darting between Joel and Gabriel.
Joel walked into the kitchen, pushing past Gabriel, and realigning his zucchini. Gabriel handed him a knife.
“Athena, Donny, can I get you anything to drink?” Gabriel asked, giving Joel's hand a squeeze before he stepped away.
“I would love a Shirley Temple, handsome stranger. Do you have any grenadine in this well-stocked bar of yours?” Athena had wandered over to the wet bar and was dragging her fingers across the top of Gabriel's whiskey bottles.
“I can manage you a Shirley Temple, but only if you stop calling me handsome stranger.” He winked at her, then turned his stare to Donny.
Donny shook off his stare and blinked. “Water is fine.”
“You’re a quiet little thing, aren’t you?” Gabriel gestured his head in Donny’s direction while he poured Athena her drink.
Donny smirked. “Not so much, no. I’m just trying to figure you out.”
“I think Joel could use some help with the zucchini, if you want something to do, Donny. I need to speak with Gabriel alone.” Athena locked her stare onto her younger brother as he accepted a glass of water from Gabriel. He nodded again and disappeared into the kitchen.
Athena crossed the dining area and headed into the family room. She plopped her weight down onto one of Gabriel's couches and patted the cushion next to her.
“Make yourself at home, Athena,” Gabriel chuckled.
“Oh, I will.” She eyed him, speculating, and raised an eyebrow before swallowing some of her pink drink. “That's what you had Joel do, isn't it?”
