“Well, if you want my opinion—”
He clapped a hand over her mouth. “I know you mean well, but it’s time now for me to live my life with all the bumps and bruises that come along with it. Do you understand?”
Before she had a chance to answer, the sound of a throat clearing broke the anticipatory silence. When he glanced toward the door, a smile broke out across his face. “Hi.”
Ash leaned his long torso against the door frame, and although to the average bystander he might seem relaxed, Drew knew better. Those broad shoulders strained tense and tight against his shirt, while those silvery eyes glittered as they flickered to the bed and then back to light on his face. Heat suffused Drew’s body as he remembered how he’d been awakened this morning; then he frowned. For God’s sake, his little sister was in the room. He couldn’t have depraved thoughts while she sat in front of him, staring at him with a smile in her bright green eyes.
“I didn’t see you for a while and wondered if everything was okay.” Ash’s gaze settled on Rachel. “I’ll leave you two.” He turned to go.
“No, please.” Rachel jumped up and gave Drew a quick hug. “We’re finished, and I’m leaving.” When she passed Ash in the doorway, she stood on her tiptoes and brushed her lips to his cheek. “He’s all yours.”
Rachel disappeared down the hallway, but Drew only had eyes for Ash.
It didn’t come to him like a big bang, with the proverbial trumpets blaring. Ironically, the quiet intensity of it made it so much more real and potent. His chest ached, and his heart raced. Every hair on his body rose and quivered, his skin prickling at the mere thought of Ash’s touch. Helongedfor this man. Never in a million years had he thought another person could turn him inside out so the absolute rawness of his feelings lay right at the surface.
And the fact that he was drawn to a man? Irrelevant. The strength of that hard body coupled with the softness of Ash’s touch nearly had him whimpering out loud with repressed desire.
He loved him.
Tonight, he’d tell him. Tell this wonderfully complex man, who was brave yet fearful, honest yet still so hurt and hidden, that he loved him with all his heart.
Drew held out his hand. “I’m glad you came to find me. It’s nice to have a moment of time together, without all the negative judgment surrounding me.”
Ash pulled Drew into his chest, and Drew sank into the embrace, resting his chin on Ash’s muscular shoulder, while their hips and groins nestled together in a familiar position. Nothing gave him peace and contentment like being held in Ash’s arms.
“Is everything all right with you and Rachel? Is she okay with us?” Ash’s hands massaged Drew’s back in a soothing circular motion.
He smiled against Ash’s shoulder. “Yeah. She is. I think it’s all going to be fine.”
A brief press of lips against the top of his head and then Ash stepped away. “I think we should go back.” His normally unruffled voice sounded ragged and harsh. “People want to talk to you.”
Bemused, Drew nodded but slipped his hand into Ash’s and tugged. “Together, right?”
“Yes. Of course.”
They walked back into the living room, and he found himself surrounded by his friends. Peter and his wife were there, as well as Ryder Daniels and his husband, Jason Mallory. The couple had only married a month or so ago. They’d brought along Conner Halstead, who, as a Legal Aid attorney, had become an invaluable resource to them in navigating the convoluted mess of the child welfare system. Conner’s wife Emily had recently given birth to their first child and chose to stay home.
Drew returned to his grandmother’s side and found her in an earnest conversation with Jordan. Upon his approach, Jordan’s expression closed down, returning once again to an impenetrable icy shield.
Rachel tapped a glass filled with sparkling champagne. “Quiet, everyone.” She raised the glass in a toast. “To my darling brother, Drew, whom I love with all my heart.” She hugged him tight. “I hope you have your heart’s desire. I love you so much.”
Drew squeezed her close. “I love you, baby girl,” he whispered into her hair, loving her clean, fresh scent. “I’m working on it.”
He hugged her hard. After filling a flute with the golden bubbles, he raised his glass in a toast.
“Thank you to all who helped me through this, no matter how big or small a part you played. You must know how invaluable you’ve been to my psyche. Whatever’s left of it.”
Everyone laughed, and then he continued. “An extra-special thanks to my family, who stood by me from the beginning to now, the way families should, whether or not they agree with what I did.” He raised his glass. “To family.”
“To family,” everyone shouted.
Drew had finished his glass of champagne when there was a loud crash, then the sound of breaking glass from the far window of the living room. Rachel and Lisa screamed while his grandmother looked about, a confused expression on her lined face.
On the floor of the living room was a large brick with a paper tied to it. Keith raced over to where the brick landed. “Drew, do you have any plastic gloves and a clear plastic bag?”
Drew ran to the kitchen and opened the doors under the sink. He always kept a supply of gloves for cleaning the litter box, so he grabbed a pair, then sprinted back to the living room and handed them to Keith. The detective pulled them on and slipped the note out from the twine.
They all crowded around Keith to read over his shoulder. Drew saw the bold black letters, and his blood ran cold.
