“No problem.” He opened the door for Wright to get in the truck. It wasn’t as big as Patrick’s truck and now that he wasn’t hurting, he could pull himself into the seat easily. The bruises were still healing, but they didn’t hurt much anymore. Sitting on the seat with Xander standing on the ground, he was just slightly taller than him now. “This is a new dynamic.”
“Me being on top?” Wright asked jokingly. Xander rolled his eyes and Wright laughed, the first real laugh this morning. Xander shifted closer, folding his arms over Wright’s knees. “So… I got the all-clear today.”
“I heard,” Xander said. He rested his chin on his hands and flicked his eyes up at Wright. It was the same look he’d given him last night. His hair was out of his face today, brushed back by his fingers and where the ballcap had been. Wright had studied his face many times, awake and asleep. Calm, tired, laughing. No matter what the expression, he enjoyed looking at him. Wright reached up and ran his hand through Xander’s hair. He was the gorgeous one. Wright was just lucky. “Can I ask you something?”
“Go for it,” Wright said easily. He started back at his forehead and trailed his fingers through his hair again. Xander closed his eyes for a moment and Wright heard a soft hum.
“Do you want to keep living in the guest house? With me?” Xander stared at him, waiting for an answer. Wright could feel the way he tensed his arms, waiting for the response. Wright smiled, but he knew what his answer was.
“I’d like to,” Wright said. “But I understand if it’s too much. I appreciate everything that you and your family have done for me.”
“You’re never too much,” Xander said, stopping him from rambling. Wright’s heart nearly skipped a beat at that. He could have just saiditwasn’t too much. Instead, he said Wright wasn’t too much. It was small things like that which had Wright’s insides melting. He felt like he belonged when Xander looked athim. When he talked to him, held him. “I would like for you to stay with me. I don’t want to hold you back, though, gorgeous. If you want to go to school or find your own place, I’d understand.”
“I haven’t even thought about school in weeks,” Wright said. “I’m sure I missed a deadline or something. But yes, Xander, I would like to still live with you. If you aren’t tired of me yet.”
Xander smiled and moved his arms to snake around Wright’s waist. He pulled him closer to the edge of the seat, burying his face against his stomach. Wright smiled, laughing softly, as he wrapped his hands around the back of Xander’s head and bent forward to kiss the top of his head. They stayed like that for a solid minute before Xander pulled back and stood up straighter. He was smiling big now, the crow’s feet around his eyes evident.
“Okay, now that that is done. Let’s go get you this phone. Don’t argue with me. Then we’ll pick Paxton up and go home.”
“Home.” Wright couldn’t help but smile at the single word. He lived in a house all his life. It hadn’t been a home for a long time.
“Home,” Xander repeated and then shut the door.
When they got back after another two hours in the city, Wright had one of the newest models of smartphones, per Xander’s insistence, with all of the Lawson family contacts already in it. He didn’t have any other use for it, so he turned it off and stuck it on the dresser before walking back to the main house. Tracy was out on the porch when they walked across the gravel parking area.
“Welcome back,” Tracy said. “Everything go well?”
“Clean bill of health,” Wright said. He didn’t mention the therapist she was recommending, hadn’t mentioned it to Xander yet either. He didn’t want to ruin the whole living together thing.
“Said that his shoulder healed nicely. Thanks to me.” Wright rolled his eyes, but warmth spread across his neck and cheekswhen Xander wrapped his arm around his shoulders and pulled him closer to him.
“I don’t recall her saying those exact words,” Wright said. He waited another beat before pulling away and joining Tracy on the porch swing. Xander made himself comfortable in one of the rocking chairs. The house was nice, homey. It was two stories and the porch ran the length of the front. There were plenty of windows to let in natural light all around the house in different points of the day. Wright knew with the size of the ranch and the sheer size of the barn alone that they had money and plenty of it. Brett gave him the history of the Found Family Ranch and how it was started, where Patrick had fronted half a million for the non-profit.
“Either way, I’m glad you’re okay now.” Tracy patted his knee and smiled warmly at him. “And has Alexander here asked you what your plans are now? Living wise.”
“Contrary to popular belief,ma’am, I am old enough to handle these things.” Wright looked at Xander and then back to Tracy. She was the only person that called him by his full name. It annoyed Xander, but in a funny way. They were all close. “Yes, I did ask.”
“And I said that I would like to stay here, if it isn’t too much.” Wright helped him out. “I want to help out though, in any way I can. Contribute and all. I don’t expect to stay here free.”
“You’ll have to talk to Patrick about that, hon. But I don’t see any problem with that. We can give Paxton more time off to train and have some time with her friends before she starts college. Did you want to keep staying in the guest house? We have one of the houses opening up in August if you want it.”
Wright shared a look with Xander and they both smiled at each other. Wright knew he was blushing again. He didn’t know how to answer that without making everything awkward and making the whole thing more than an innocent question. “Okay,okay. That look between you two just answered my question. If, for any reason, you need a break from the overbearing nice guy, just let me know.”
“I’m more than okay with overbearing nice guy,” Wright said with a smile. “Lord knows I’ve had enough of the other side of that.”
“You’re here now,” Tracy said. She wrapped her arm around him and pulled him to her side. She was wearing a flowy blouse and jeans today, her hair braided down her back. “And you’re family.”
“Alrighty!” Patrick’s voice interrupted the moment. The screen door opened and Patrick walked out with two plates, one with some sort of meat piled on it and another with kebabs. “Xander, help me with the grill will you?”
“Yes, sir.” Xander stood up and grabbed one of the plates.
“Hey, Wright. I’m assuming all good news today. If you don’t mind, I’m going to steal my little brother away for a bit.”
“By all means,” Wright said. “I think I’m going to go change out of these clothes anyway. Do you need help with anything?” He looked between Patrick and Tracy.
“No, sweetie. You go and do what you need. Supper will be ready in a few hours.”
“I’ll text you when it’s ready,” Xander said quietly when they walked down the steps side-by-side.
