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I slid into the water. “Even in the middle of December?”
“It will be a heated pool,” Leo assured me, then let out a shriek of excitement when I tugged him into the water, his legs instantly wrapping around my waist.
I nuzzled his neck before I tipped his head back. “Whatever you want, Ricky. I only want to make you happy.”
My eyes flew open as my heart leaped into my throat. I was so fucking stupid. I never should have listened to my brother. I should have fought harder. Kept Leo close to me. Then we’d be happy now. Maybe we would be married already. I struggled to climb to my feet, my breath coming out in heavy pants.
“Andy?” Dad sounded panicked. “What’s wrong?” His hands were suddenly on my face as he spoke in a whisper to Pop. “It’s all right, just relax.” Then I was lifted, and Pop was carrying me inside the house.
I wanted to tell him to stop. That I was too big, too old, to be carried around like a ragdoll, but instead, I clung to my father, my face buried against his shoulder. I was crying again, sobbing so hard I felt like I might throw up. Hands smoothed down my hair, Dad’s husked voice was in my ear, and Pop cradled me against him.
“I shouldn’t...Let go.” I struggled against my father, but he only held tighter. “Pop, please, let go of me. I can’t...Stop it!”
Dad cooed softly in my ear. “You’re okay, kiddo. We’re here. No one is going to hurt you.”
“Please.” I heard myself beg, and then I relaxed against my fathers. Both of them now comforting me as I began to calm down. Then shame niggled its way inside my brain. For acting the way I did. For crying and trying to push them away when all they wanted to do was help me.
Dad gave me a small smile as I met his emerald orbs. He pushed the hair back from my forehead as he sat up and folded his legs beneath him. I crab walked away, yanked my legs up to my chest, and wrapped my arms around myself.
“I need to be alone.”
“No.” Dad shook his head. “That’s not what you need. You either start talking right now, Andrew or—”
“Sweetheart.” Pop reached over to touch Dad’s shoulder. “You can’t push our sons to talk to you, no matter how hard you try. Andy is an adult now. If he wants his space, we’ll give it to him.”
Dad’s lip trembled before he raised his chin, climbed off the bed, and popped his jaw. “Fine.” Hurt flashed across his face.
“Wait, just wait.” I looked between the two of them. “I don’t want you to leave. I just want to... Shit, I don’t know what I want.” I let out a long breath as my thoughts swirled around inside my head. “I think that something is wrong with me.”
Dad was back on the bed in a moment, his arms around me and his face pressed into my hair. “Nothing is wrong with you, baby. You’re perfect.”
I shook my head, and he pulled back.
“You’re my perfect baby boy, do you understand? Whatever you’re going through, whatever is happening, I can promise you that we’ve been there. Me, Pop, everyone. You’re not alone in this.”
“He’s right, Andy.” Pop nodded. “But that doesn’t mean you have to talk to us or tell us anything you’re not comfortable with. You can talk to Uncle Tom or Uncle Dean. Or maybe a friend.” He gave me a soft smile. “Like Leo.”
Leo was the last person I wanted to burden with my problems. “Yeah, sure, maybe.” No, never. Not going to happen.
“I can call him. Ask him to come over to help you.” Dad’s fingers combed through my hair. “Or we can just hold you, like when you were younger, and you had those terrible nightmares.”
Pop moved closer. “Squeeze you until the scary stuff is all gone.”
“I always liked that,” I admitted.
Both of them lunged forward to hug me, protecting me as best they could. The nightmares I had when I first came to live with Dad and Pop didn’t last long. The first one scared Dad so badly that he’d slept outside my room for weeks, thinking I hadn’t known. I never told him how much it meant to me that he cared. That he was worried that much.
We might have stayed that way if soft footsteps hadn’t filled the air. I smelled Leo the second he stepped into the room. His sweet cinnamon scent hit me hard, then he joined us, his smaller, lean body pressed against mine. My cock instantly took notice as Leo pressed over it, his warmth traveling through my clothes and over my skin.
“It’s been such a long time since we had a cuddle party.” Leo giggled, once again, but my dick was being more than inappropriate.
He wiggled closer, and then I heard the sharp intake of his breath. His pupils were blown wide when he glanced up at me, and I suddenly wished that my dads weren’t here. That it was just the two of us, wrapped around one another under the covers.
I touched Leo’s cheek, and when he moved into my palm, I felt myself relax more than I had in a long time. I felt a smile tug at my lips as my body hummed with contentment. He leaned down, tucked his head under my chin, and I swear the world stopped. This was what I needed. Leo had been missing from my life.
“Mavs, we should leave them be alone,” Pop whispered.
His weight disappeared from the mattress, followed by Dad’s, and then I heard the sound of the door closing behind them. Then the only sound I could hear was my heartbeat as it thumped against my chest.
