“Maybe. Doesn’t make anything I said less true.” He winked and wrapped his arms around Emmett, reaching back to turn the water off before settling both hands on Emmett’s ample backside.
“We can’t just… move in together,” he said weakly, knowing he wanted the exact opposite. He loved Roni, and living with her was amazing, but every day he wasn’t with Rooster felt like he was missing a limb.
Rooster grunted and gave his butt a squeeze, making him gasp. “In case Ollie and the others haven’t filled you in yet, Devil’s Hands members don’t fuck around when they find their boys.”
That was true. Emmett remembered when Ollie had met Six and how they’d basically moved in together the day they met—though it had been extenuating circumstances. CJ and Tank had exchanged letters for months, but… Yeah, pretty much the moment they met in person, Tank moved CJ into his room at the clubhouse.
Though Emmett was pretty sure there had been some extreme circumstances then too, but no one had given him details.
And Houston and Kenneth had only moved in together when Kenneth’s sister unexpectedly moved back to Michigan and needed a place to stay.
Though… he’d told Emmett he was practically living with Houston before then, but they hadn’t been official.
It was perfectly reasonable for Emmett to not to want to rush into things. It didn’t make sense to rock the boat when?—
“You coming in here, baby boy?”
He looked around, surprised to find that Rooster had stepped into the tub without him noticing and was looking extremely sexy, all relaxed and wet. Deciding he’d freak out about moving in with Rooster later, he quickly joined him, being careful not to splash water over the edge as he settled on Rooster’s lap, his back to his big chest.
Sighing, he rested his head on Rooster’s shoulder and let his eyes close. “This is nice, Daddy.”
“Everything with you is nice,” Rooster said, running his hands over as much of Emmett’s skin as he could reach. After nearly fifteen minutes, just when Emmett thought he might fall asleep, he felt so relaxed, he asked quietly, “Do you want to exchange our gifts when we get back from your parents’ on Christmas Eve?”
“That’s probably a good idea,” he said slowly, not bothering to open his eyes. “Since Ollie wants us at the clubhouse early the next day.”
“And who knows how long he’ll keep us there,” Rooster said, sounding exasperated, but Emmett knew he actually found Six’s boy mostly entertaining. And no one could say no to the charismatic guy.
Not that they wanted to say no. Emmett was only a little nervous about spending Christmas morning at the clubhouse—mostly, he was just excited to have people he cared about to spend it with.
“Thank you for coming with me,” he whispered, finding Rooster’s hands underwater and threading their fingers together.
“You’re welcome, baby.”
11
Rooster wasn’t sure if it was his presence that had set Erik off or if he was just being a jackass to Emmett because he was so used to doing it. Either way, he was fucking done.
He was so glad he’d come with his boy, his fury building the quieter and quieter Emmett had gotten as the evening had progressed and his family ignored or talked over him over and over. If this was how they treated him with Rooster right next to him… Fuck, he was going to shower his little boy with affection the moment they got home.
The shock on Erik’s face when he and Emmett had arrived had been funny to him at first. They hadn’t been close in years, but he wasn’t surprised that it had taken Erik a minute to wrap his head around the fact that his childhood best friend was in a relationship with his baby brother.
But his humor had fucking disappeared ten seconds ago when he’d realized the confused looks Erik had been giving them were because he thoughtEmmettwasn’t good enough for Rooster.
Piece of shit.
There was silence in the crowded living room after Erik’s idea of a joke had fallen flat, the words “I never knew you had a thing for chubby nerds” hanging in the air all around them. Rooster didn’t have to look to know his sweet boy was humiliated, cheeks flushed red. He loved his boy’s plump little body, but he knew he was still self-conscious sometimes. And after a whole night of little digs and getting talked over anytime he actually dared to open his mouth, he knew Emmett was at the end of his rope.
Never looking away from Erik’s face, Rooster slowly stood. “Emmett, get our coats, please.”
Emmett didn’t hesitate, jumping up and darting out of the room. His mom was the only one to go after him, throwing an annoyed look at Erik on her way out of the room.
Erik’s wife elbowed him in the side, whispering something Rooster couldn’t hear as she patted the swaddled backside of the baby over her shoulder. Based on his eye roll, she was reminding him to be a decent human being, but they weresobeyond that now.
Erik threw up his hands as he started to stand. “Jesus Christ, it was ajoke?—”
“Sit your ass back down,” Rooster said, carefully enunciating each word. He didn’t raise his voice, but his tone was ice-cold and cut through the quiet muttering that had begun to pick up.
Erik’s head jerked around to look at him, eyes wide, but he dropped back to the couch. “The fuck, man? I was going to apologize?—”
