Like fucking me senseless into his mattress to relieve the stress from you two showing up.
My thoughts don’t really help matters when I feel my erection come back.
“Emeric, we’ve been talking to the curators of the best galleries in New York. They’re excited for your return and want to set up meetings to see your portfolio.” I’m so shocked that Arlo’s mother has a voice that I don’t even notice she calls him by a different name.
I put the information in a box to ask later.
“I’m not going back to New York. Stillwater is my home. I have a life here, friends and family.” When he says the last part, he looks at me, and I swear my heart melts into a gooey puddle on the floor.
“If you don’t come back, you will be written off your share of the family inheritance,” his dad says. “You were always a difficult child, Emeric. We adapted to you and gave you all you wanted. This is how you repay us?”
“First of all, a good parent doesn’t ask their children to repay what should be their unconditional love and devotion. We all know the only reason you allowed me to follow my passion was because you saw dollar signs, parties, and prestige.”
Okay, I’m getting really hard for this commanding Arlo. Get rid of them, baby.
“Second of all, you’re wrong. I haven’t used a cent of your money since the day I left. My trust fund is safe until I turn thirty, and I’ve checked with a lawyer. There is nothing you can do to take it away from me. That money was Grandad’s, and he left it to me and Garrett. I can do whatever I want with my share, and you have no say in it. Not a single word.”
Arlo’s parents both open their mouths as if to argue but then decide against it.
“Third of all, leave before I ask my friend’s kid to bring his pet snake over.”
They give him, and me, one final dismissive look and then turn around. Arlo doesn’t follow them but makes sure they close the door behind them.
When they’re really gone, I open my arms, and he walks right into my embrace.
“I’m sorry you had to witness that.” His voice is muffled against my neck, but I can still hear him.
“What, and miss all the new information I now have on you…Emeric?”
He groans. “Please never call me that. I hate it.”
I kiss the side of his head. “Okay. I prefer to call you mine anyway.”
He stands up straight, and I have to look up at him.
“Have I told you how much I love you today?” he asks.
“You have, but it was in the context of pancakes, so I’m not sure it counts.”
He presses me against the window ledge and gives me a kiss that takes me right back to before his parents arrived.
“Please tell me life in Stillwater isn’t always this exciting,” he says, taking my hand and guiding us to the bedroom.
“I couldn’t tell you. These days I’m as much of a newcomer as you are.”
“How about us newbies get into some trouble in this bedroom?” he asks, removing his shirt slowly to show off his gorgeous body.
“Carry on with the sexy show, and you’ll see how much trouble we can get into.”
24
ARLO
Three monthslater
I give a quick glance toward the clock on the wall. The class is coming to an end, so I check on the progress of each student.
“How's it going, George?” I ask, looking at the painting he's working on.
