“What the hell is going on in here?” Andrew yells loud enough that everyone in the room stops talking and turns their eyes on him.
He’s dressed much the same as Charlie currently is—khakis and a pastel polo. Only Andrew’s is the familiar pale pink Nicholas saw him put on for work this morning. Even if Nicholas somehow forgot what his boyfriend was wearing today, the ideathat he might ever confuse him for Charlie is preposterous. As if Charlie, or anyone, could ever compare to his princess.
Andrew makes pointed eye contact with each of his brothers. “What are you assholes doing? Also, for the record I’m not talking to you, Emerson. Or you, Theo. I know neither of you had anything to do with this.”
Emerson sags with unmistakable relief while Theo smiles, offering an abashed, “I did try and stop them.”
“There’s no stopping them,” Andrew sighs with a shake of his head, turning accusing eyes on Charlie. “This was all you, wasn’t it?”
“Aw, don’t be mad at me, Annie.”
“Did you steal my clothes?” Andrew asks, gripping the large white box in his hands.
“How about I put the cake in the kitchen,” Alec offers, taking the cake box from Andrew then making his way down the hallway with Theo hot on his trail.
“Me and Emerson will help them,” Jason announces before pulling Emerson up and off the couch to follow.
Nicholas can’t fathom how the fuck two grown men need help carrying a cake box, but he doesn’t bother voicing that out loud, beyond trying to understand how attached at the hip Jason, Theo, Emerson and Alec seem to be. Once they’re gone, it’s just Nicholas, Andrew, Charlie and Eden.
“Annie.”
“Don’t Annie me,” Andrew grumbles, the barest hint of unease in his voice. Not liking that one fucking bit, Nicholas crowds behind him, settling his chin on Andrew’s shoulder and wrapping his arms around him in a protective embrace.
“He’s like a large, tattooed guard dog,” Eden muses.
“Fuck off, Polly Pocket.”
Eden smiles, like he’s delighted to be cursed out. “You fuck off.”
“No. I’m staying. Forever.”
“Forever?” Charlie questions with a raised eyebrow.
“Forever.”
“Guess we’re stuck with him,” Eden shrugs, flopping back onto the couch. “At least it'll be fun to annoy him.”
“Be nice, Eden.”
“That’s not fun.” Eden opens his mouth to say something else when a small child sprints past them and barrels into Eden. Her long braids obscure Eden’s face when she envelops him in a hug.
“Happy birthday, Eden.”
“Sorry, the front door was open,” someone says, coming into the room carrying a helium balloon, a gift bag with a dinosaur on it and a huge purse. It’s a younger woman Nicholas doesn’t recognize. She’s clearly the child’s mother, their resemblance uncanny. The only difference is the small child has her hair done in tight braids while the woman’s hair is natural and short. “Do I want to know why Charlie is dressed like Andrew?”
Nicholas has no idea who this beautiful woman is, but he likes her immediately. Finally, someone with taste.
“Charlie was being an idiot,” Eden explains.
“Right,” the woman laughs, lowering her stuff to the ground. She turns to face Nicholas and Andrew, something appraising in her gaze as she takes in Nicholas. “You must be the new boyfriend. I’ve heard a lot about you.”
“The last andonlyboyfriend,” Nicholas corrects.
“Oh, you’re something else, aren’t you,” she laughs. “I’m Addy, Eden’s best friend.”
“It’s a pleasure to meet you, Addy.” Nicholas unwraps his right arm from Andrew’s chest to hold it out.
“He’s handsomeanda gentleman.”
