“No, I'm okay. I just wanted to talk to you about something important,” Casen began calmly, hoping not to frighten him off by being too blunt, “I think you've noticed that Levi's grown attached to you. I thought I should find out what you think about that; how do you feel about Levi?” he asked, letting him decide how he was going to answer.
“He's great. While you and Tam have been working your asses off,” he said, giving him a teasing nudge, “we've grown close. I'd say we're best friends. Why?” he asked, looking confused and slightly worried.
Casen chewed the inside of his cheek, pretty sure that Mack wasn't getting the subtle hints he'd tried, and obviously failed, to drop. He wondered how else he could say it, without reverting to the blunt words 'Levi fancies you'. How could his brother be so stupid as to not see it for himself? “So you haven't noticed that Levi's been acting differently when he's around you? Or that he tends to blush when you talk to him?” he asked, giving as many hints as he could, to push him towards the kind of revelation he really thought he'd picked up on.
Mack smiled and looked down at the decking, before meeting his gaze. “Are you trying to tell me that Levi fancies me?” he asked quietly. He gave Casen a shoulder bump that made him smile, not sure how to answer other than to shrug. He didn't want to assume that his own twin couldn't see what he saw. “I know, Casen. I'm not blind; I noticed it about three years ago,” he said, much to his surprise.
Three years?Years? Why the hell hadn't he done anything about it? Why hadn't he said something? Why...God damn it, why hadn't Casen noticed?
“Well...what are you going to do about it?”
“Casen, there's really not that much that we have in common, but in this, we're the same. I'm not rushing anything; I'll make a move when I feel comfortable,” he explained, without any hint of malice.
Comfortable? They were living together! Casen really thought Mack would kick up a fuss or make an argument, but knowing that he'd been aware of Levi's feelings for so long had him struck dumb. “So you don't mind that he's a guy and you're a guy?” he asked, confused by his laid back attitude.
“Kid, it wouldn't be the first time,” he warned him, with a cheeky smile. He wrapped an arm around his neck and leaned in close enough to whisper, “I've been a little too drunk, more than once, and I've made out with a guy or two. Believe me, relationships have nothing to do with gender, so if this feels right, I'll do something about it.” He leaned forward to bump his forehead against his skull. “In my own time.”
“Okay. Because I think you'd be great together.” Casen couldn't stop smiling. He would love to see the two of them together and he knew Tam would like that too. They were both silly playboys who swore never to settle down, so seeing them settle downtogetherwould be something wonderful.
“Yeah? That's nice.” Mack laughed at him again, while brushing his hand over his hair, as he lifted his arm from around him. “And I guess I can tell you that we sort of had a moment, after you yelled at Grayson. That's how I first found out. He hugged me after you and Tam left, and it turned into one of those weird things where you know you're holding on too long but it feels too good to break away,” he said, with a hint of approval in his eyes. He looked so pleased with himself, as if he was proud to attract Levi's attention, that Casen just didn't have the words for it.
“Can I tell Tam?” he asked, desperate to share this great news with his husband.
“I've not decided anything yet. I need time, Casen. I need to make sure that I'm not reading the wrong signals and that I know what Levi wants,” he reasoned, with that same tone he used when he was trying to teach him a lesson in patience.
“But it's been years!” he objected, unable to hold back any longer. “If you've known for three years, how much more time do you need?” he asked desperately. He just couldn't understand it. He'd found waiting three hours unbearable, when he first met Tam. How could Mackknowfor three years and not do anything?
His twin sighed and frowned a little, just enough to say he wasn't going to answer that. “I won't answer to you, kiddo. I love you. I really do. But this is not your business. Leave it alone,” he demanded.
Taking a deep breath to calm himself down, Casen decided to drop it. For now. If things weren't settled by the time they reached the cabin, he'd take action. And he'd get Tam and anyone else he could talk into it to help. “Fine. But…can I tell Tam?” he persisted, ignoring the scolding.
“Go ahead.” Mack waved him off, clearly humouring him.
Just as he was about to change the subject, he stopped himself and offered a smile. “I love you, Mack.” He needed him to know that, because he had a feeling he forgot it far too often. He forgot that Casen was on his side. That he'd always be on his side. At least, until the day when Mack's side was the wrong side and his stubborn ass of a brother needed a kick in the right direction.
“I love you too, kiddo.” And with that Mack got up and walked into the house.
Casen didn't mind being abandoned, since he knew what he needed to know. With a happy sigh, he put his hands on his knees and looked around him. The woods were beautiful, so full of life and sounds, scents and wonder. He'd loved this place since the first time Tam brought him here. Over the years, that sense of 'home' had only intensified.
No matter what happened, this was where he belonged. Here, with Tam, and the family he'd found on a dark, raining night, just because he was late to meet Grayson and Konnor for dinner.
It was funny how life worked out when you least expected it to.
