That got him to his feet, but instead of putting clothes on he pulled me into his arms and kissed my forehead. “Calm down or they will know something is up. You Adlers and your ‘resting guilt’ face.”
He was right but that didn’t do anything for my racing heart. “I’ll feel better when you have clothes on.”
“Cold, Av, cold. I thought you liked my cock out.”
I groaned. “Please.”
“Well since you asked so nicely.” He grabbed his boxers with a smirk.
“Do I actually like you or was it just the chemistry?”
“We had been best friends since we were eight. I think that means you like me.”
“The evidence would support that conclusion but I haven’t known you in over a decade. I could change my mind.”
He grabbed me by the hair and kissed me. “Still think so?”
“If you keep kissing me like that I'm going to like you a lot.”
“Avery!” my mom called up the stairs, breaking up our soft moment. “What in god's name happened to the window if you’re apparently okay?”
I shoved Danny’s shorts into his chest. “Get dressed.”
“Is someone up there with you?” my mother called sounding alarmed. “Is there an intruder?”
“Like he would be able to tell you if he was being held hostage,” Aiden said from down stairs.
“Knock once if you’re being held captive, Avery!” my mom yelled.
“I feel like an intruder would not allow him to knock,” Aiden joined in the yelling.
“His window is broken, Aiden, this is not the time for jokes.”
“You leave the doors unlocked every time you’re here. Why would anyone break a window?” Aiden asked.
“Because they were being nefarious on the roof,” mom countered.
My dad sighed. “Do we need to come up there, if you don’t answer I’m assuming yes?” The voices echoing up the hall, meaning they were all at the bottom of the stairs.
“I am fine.” I glared at Danny who had his fist in his mouth crying with laughter.
“I’m no expert, but wouldn’t you be forced to say that if there was someone in there with you?” Aiden asked.
“You’re not helping!” I poked my head out the door. “See fine.”
“Where is the rest of your body?” my dad asked, narrowing his eyes.
I stepped out of the room gesturing at myself.
“Does he have a gun on you? You can tell us?”
“And what, get myself shot?” I asked, finding this absurd.
“Who’s getting shot?” Ellie asked.
“No one.” I glared at all of them.
“What does intruder mean?” she asked.
My parents exchanged a glance.
“Why don’t we get you a glass of milk!” my dad said and whisked Ellie away.
“Is daddy in trouble?”
“No, honey, I’m fine,” I said, turning to make sure Danny was dressed.
“Who are you looking at?” my mother asked, sounding alarmed again.
“Remember Danny?” I said to her, trying to pretend neither of us was freshly fucked.
He stepped out and waved.
“Why didn’t you just say that from the beginning?” my mother looked between us like she couldn’t quite figure out what was going on.
“You were being weird.” I walked down the stairs and brushed past her.
“Why is there a broken window?” my mother asked, following me, setting a box of donuts on the counter.
“Danny accidentally broke it.”
“What was he doing? Climbing out of it?” my father asked.
“That’s silly, dear, he wouldn’t fit. His shoulders are at least double the size of that window.” My mother was not believing any of my shit.
“How did he break the window?” My dad lowered his glasses and stared at Danny.
“Yes, Danny, how did you break the window? Why don’t you tell them.” Everyone in the room was looking at him, and I felt a little bad, but after the amount of shit my parents had given me over the last few days, not that bad.
“I leaned against it. Must be an old window. But I’ll get a guy out here and get it fixed right up for you, ma’am.” Danny put on his charming smile and my mom looked flustered.
“You always have been such a sweet boy.” She elbowed my father. “Wasn’t he the best of the kids' friends?”
“Thanks,” Jensen said from the other side of the table. “So I’m chopped liver?”
My dad turned to Jensen. “Don’t sneak around with people.”
I swallowed hard, pretending Danny wasn’t just sucking my dick in my childhood bedroom. Or for two years secretly in high school, for that matter. I started to whistle.
Everyone looked at me. Danny elbowed me and handed me a donut. “Thank you, kindly. I always liked being at your house. It’s like family here.”
My dad was beaming now too. My parents were way too smitten with him. It was kind of sickening. This was more confusing than them accusing me of being held at gunpoint.
“I should get going. It was real good to catch up, Av.” Danny dropped his gaze down my body, wetting his lips with his tongue.
I was hard again of course, but did my parents notice the way he looked at me?
“Spill,” Aiden said following me into my room and closing the door behind us.
“What?” I asked holding out the tape so he’d help me cover the window until Danny’s guy got here with the new pane.
“What was Danny doing here? He showed his face at the motel, looking like he hates you, but now he’s all cheery and being your buddy? It does not add up.”
I spread out the cling wrap while he taped it down. “He wanted to clear the air.”
Aiden gasped. “You two are fucking aren’t you?”
I opened my mouth to deny it, but then it struck me. Why? Aiden knew all the shitty parts of me. All the fights. All the crap I’d dealt with in my divorce for months. “Yes.”
“New or old?”
“For two years before I left.”
We taped up the rest of the window in silence, but he didn’t leave when we finished. He sat on the edge of my desk and stared at me.
“What?” I asked.
“That’s the reason you left, isn’t it?”
I nodded.
“And none of them know, do they?”
“No, none of them.”
He gave a low whistle. “That’s some heavy shit.”
“It was a really bad time and I didn’t make the best choices, it snowballed. I’m not making excuses, you have every right to be mad at me. I tried to talk to Adam a few years after I left, but he told me it was too late and to get fucked.” I rubbed my forehead. “I should've probably tried harder. Fiona kept telling me they would’ve reached out if they wanted to be in my life, and that I was better off without Mom and Dad.” I shook my head, tears coming to my eyes. “I’m full of bad decisions, I’m so sorry.”
His arms wound round me, pulling me into a much missed brotherly hug. “Don’t cut us off again if things don’t work. I like you, and Mom and Dad have fallen in love with Ellie.”