He watched her leave, almost in tears. Focusing back on Armando when he had banged that car against his shin. “Ouch…”
Armando just smiled at him and raced the car down that aching leg.
Next day, Cassie said her goodbyes, hugging Armando tight. “I’ll see you soon, little brother. Pronto, si?” He nodded, hugging her neck. She let him go and kissed Damian and Gabe. “I hope I can come soon. Take care.” She turned to Damian. “I’m so happy for you, Dad.” Her eyes had welled up, and he just hugged her tight. Grateful that she had not drifted away, even if he deserved it so much.
Gabe was next, packing his travel suitcase. He put his uniform on, and Damian just watched him slide the clothes on his body, button his shirt, pull his pants up. They wrapped around his ass, and Damian had to swallow at that rush of warmth on his skin.
Gabe turned to him when he was done. “Like a man in uniform?”
“Asshole…” Walking close, kissing that teasing mouth. “You didn’t say it’s an overnight.”
“Big deal. Flight there. Hotel. Flight back. Serving whiskies to assholes in first-class.”
Damian’s eyes darkened. “Touché…” His hands glided on Gabe’s ass. “Keep this safe.”
Gabe smiled. “Of course. It’s yours, remember? Yours only.” He kissed him, feeling Damian hold him tight. He pushed at his chest. “I have to go. See you tomorrow, late. Just sleep, don’t wait for me.”
“Alright…” His eyes darting to the living room where Armando was playing on the rug.
Gabe had guessed his stress. “He’s your son. Not some sort of wild little imp, ok? A kid. You had two already.”
“Like I cared about them…”
“You’ll do great.”
“Sure…” Swallowing that stress, he watched him leave, pulling that suitcase to the door. Gabe waved at them, and left.
Damian faced Armando, who had stopped playing, watching him like a small rabbit. He forced a smile above all that dread. “Hey… it’s just us… uh… you want to play with the garage?”
He nodded, and they sat next to that huge garage Cassie had bought. Playing for hours until the sun dipped behind the horizon, that vast sky of orange, red and blue glowing in the room.
Damian rose and held his hand out. “Time to bathe. It’s getting late and we need to eat. What would you like?”
Armando didn’t answer and went straight to the bathroom, waiting. Damian sighed but ran a bath, sitting on the side until Armando played in that thick foam. Dialing room service, he ordered a pizza, hoping it would be fine.Kids like pizza… fuck…Helping Armando put his new pajamas on, pushing that guilt down that he’d scarcely done it with Cassie or Kevin. Don’t feel guilty, Dad…. Don’t fuck it up. But he was bathing in that dark guilt and was dead scared of fucking it up. Watching the boy’s silent eyes. Damian took his hand and led him to the table. Opening the door to the valet, shoving a generous tip in his hand.
They ate in silence, and Damian rose then, and brought Armando to the bathroom to brush his teeth. Smiling at him in the mirror. “You don’t talk much.”
Armando’s eyes went to him, but he just brushed his teeth like a tiny adult, rinsing. Walking straight towards Cassie’s room but Damian caught him. “No. Cassie is gone. You can sleep in your room?”
That dread seeped in Armando’s eyes, and fat tears appeared in them, rolling down his cheek. Silent.
Damian’s heart rushed. “Ok… ok… don’t cry… it’s ok…”
Armando wiped at his tears, small hiccups as he tried not to cry.
Damian crouched down to him. “Hey… I mean… you can cry… it’s ok to cry…” A sudden idea in him. “You want to sleep with me? In our bed?”
He nodded and laced his arms around his neck, crying silently.
Damian held him tight and stood, walking to the bed. He tucked Armando in, smoothing the cover on him. “I’ll shower and change, and I’ll be with you, ok?”
He nodded, clutching the sheets.
Damian looked around and grabbed that plush pig off his pillow. “Look. You won’t be alone until I’m done. It’s a pig.”
“Cerdo!” He grabbed it and hugged it tight.
“Yeah… cerdo… great. I’ll be back.”
