Chapter 3
Three Days Later: Sunday
“Iwant to talk to you about Levi.”
Tam stopped packing for their trip to the cabin and turned to smile at his husband. “So you noticed too, huh?” he asked, having known for a few days that this conversation was inevitable.
“If you mean the way he turns beetroot whenever my brother looks at him, then yes.” Casen laughed that sweet laugh he loved so much.
Tam ducked in to kiss his lips, appreciating the way Casen pushed himself up on his tip toes and opened his mouth beneath his, for an all too brief kiss.
He broke away with a moan and took a minute to open his eyes again. “I was thinking that I should speak to Mack,” Casen said, returning to the conversation, though that was the last thing he wanted.
“Okay. And say what?”
“That Levi fancies him.”
Tam blinked a few times, not sure he was on the same page as his husband. “What? Levi's never fancied another guy in his life,” he argued, not sure how he felt about his friend doing an emotional one-eighty on him, without even the slightest hint of a warning. Why hadn't Levi come to him, if he was questioning his sexuality? Tam gently pushed Casen back a step or two, so that he could breathe. His husband, patient as ever, simply stood there and waited for him to take it all in.
“Can you support him, if he does start dating Mack?” he asked, raising an eyebrow that said he had better answer positively.
“You think Mack would go for it?” Tam asked, surprised that wasn't the first thing they should consider. Mack was a ladies man, although he noticed that he was paying less attention to the ladies since he'd left college. He figured that was just because he was too busy with work, and he was no longer the new toy for the girls to play with.
“My brother's a raging ball of hormones. Who knows what he's done or what he's willing to do. I'll leave him to figure that out.” Casen waved it off with a smile, putting his hands behind his back and waiting for his answer.
“I guess…I mean, yeah, of course I'd support him. I don't care who he dates. He's my best friend.” He swore that would never change. He didn't care what happened or when, whether he and Mack made a go of it or not. He would always be there to support Levi, the same way Levi had always been there for him.
“Wonderful.” Casen beamed and stepped up close, to kiss his jaw. “I'm going to go talk to him now,” he said, turning around to head out again.
“Wait.” Tam wrapped his arm around his waist and pulled him back into his arms. Casen let out a sweet giggle as his back met his chest. Tam had to lean down to reach him. “One more,” he whispered, before kissing his lips.
Casen kissed back once, then brushed his fingertips over his jawline, and left the room.
With a sigh, he went back to packing, leaving Casen to go out onto the back decking and deal with his brother. Levi and Mack were chilling with beers on the new decking, since they claimed they'd pack when they got back to their apartment. Not that Tam believed them. They'd only come over to be a pain in the ass and get away from the noise of a neighbour having work done. Still, how could he turn family away, even when he had other things to do?
***
Casen felt better after his chat with Tam. He walked out onto the decking to find the boys talking animatedly about some movie they'd gone to see recently. He couldn't help but roll his eyes; they were practically dating and living together, but neither realised they were already in a relationship. They were missing out on the good stuff – the kissing, the sex, the emotional connection of a real relationship, but they still had the dating and the trust that such a thing required. He couldn't believe how naïve they were.
It was time to talk to Mack about the whole Levi issue; he'd like it cleared up before dinner and, ideally, before they ventured to the cabin. It was already a risky enough trip, what with secrets still to be revealed and hard times still to be forgiven. The last thing he wanted were emotions flying from an unsettled relationship.
They looked so comfortable, leaning in close to each other and talking quietly. It was sweet to see them together. Levi was smiling as Mack talked to him. It was clear that he didn't give two shits about the evaluation of the film Mack was giving; that look said that he only cared about the sound of Mack's voice. He knew, because he'd seen it so often in himself, in Konnor and his friends.
“Mack, can I have a word?” Casen called out, so they didn't think he was eavesdropping.
As soon as they looked up and saw him, they snapped to attention. They both stood up, as though he'd caught them doing something worse than talking.
“Yeah. Coming,” he called back.
Levi appeared with his hands in his pockets, while Mack walked behind him. Both of them looked guilty, though he couldn't understand why. “I'm going to help Tam pack, if you don't need me,” Levi said, as if he was desperately trying to get away from him.
“Thank you. I just need a quick brotherly chat,” he promised, reaching for Mack's hand.
His brother smiled and took his hand willingly, as he walked Mack back to the decking area and took a seat beside him on the bench that would keep them close. With a view into the woods behind the cottage, it was a nice, comfortable place to sit while they talked.
“What's going on?” Mack wondered, taking the seat next to him. “Is it too much? With Tam's folks fawning all over you?” He chuckled, giving his hand a squeeze.
He could feel his support and love through the touch, telling him that Mack was willing to stand up to Tam's family if he felt overwhelmed. But Casen loved spending time with them and having Tam's brothers stopping by for chess games or to take him on a run or even just to ask if he wanted to help on the farm. When he wasn't working at the museum, he loved being surrounded by his new family on the farm. It would never be suffocating to be so loved by so many people.
