Ice Fairy 4 - 9. Chapter 9

Chapter Nine

Ryan’s POV

Getting the call from Brett brought a mixed reaction from Ryan. He half wanted to dismiss it and just hide away under his parent’s loving wings; or face the full force of whatever was going on with his boyfriend.

He had to pause at that thought. Were they still together? He wanted them to be, with all his heart. His love for Caleb hadn’t waned at all; but in the past month things had become so stressed and strained that it helped bring him to his breaking point yesterday.

Bless his parents. They’d put their arms around their son and had been protecting, comforting, loving, and had either stuck around when he wanted them to or left the room if he needed to be alone. He was incredibly fortunate to have them around.

Despite all of that; he knew that the time would come he’d have to see or speak to Caleb. He couldn’t just let it go. Hell, his parents lived right next door. It was awkward enough knowing that and seeing them when he looked out his window. He didn’t know if they knew what had happened; but there wasn’t much to report, yet.

Ryan didn’t want to break up with Caleb. The big guy filled his heart like nothing he’d ever known could exist. It just all got too complicated when they took other bed partners. He had to admit his feelings for Brett got carried away and he felt on the verge of breaking the house rules and wanted his former teammate to plow him hard. He wanted to be full of love and euphoria again like he had before. Like he hadn’t been in a long time.

Clearing his face and getting dressed in jeans and a sweatshirt, Ryan finally checked his phone. It started to ring in the middle of looking at his texts.

It was Brett.

“Hey.”

“Hey, man. How are you?”

“Meh. I’m here. What’s going on?”

“We miss you at my folk’s place. You’re not cooped up on Christmas, are you?”

Ryan had to laugh to himself. His parents had celebrated that morning and his heart was only half in it so they put it on hold for a bit.

“Not so much. Done a little. What do you want, Brett?”

Cutting to the heart of it, as usual.

“Look, just come over. Please? We need to talk.”

The thought of just talking and dealing with things made Ryan shudder.

“What if I don’t want to?”

“Then I’ll come get you.”

“My folks’ll stop you.” He teased. He really did want to go; but he knew what they were setting up and he wasn’t sure he was ready for it yet.

“Look, just come over for a little bit. You’ve got some gifts over here.”

I bet. “Only a little while.” He offered. What the fuck. It was Christmas after all. “Fine. Whatever.”

“See you soon.”

“Yeah.” He hung up and sighed deeply and shut his eyes for a second. “Shit. Well… what the hell huh?” he put on some socks and shoes and after cleaning up a little, he got to the door and shrugged on his parka.

“Where ye goin’ boy?” his father asked quickly. “Headin’ out, are ye?”

“Aye, papa. To Brett’s parent’s house. They have some gifts for me, but I think there’s more going on that I’ll find out when I get there.”

Connor Patterson was not a man to fuck around with anger-wise. He was hard core Irish and loved the drink and his guns. He was a lover and fighter. “Ye tell ‘em if they feck around wid yer head they’ll be getting’ it blown off.”

Ryan smiled. “I will, papa. I will.” He spotted his mother, Anna around the corner.

“Going over there? Will he be there too?” she asked.

“I don’t know. They wouldn’t say. My guess is he will.” He sighed. “I can’t hide, mama. I won’t. This has to be ironed out.”

She kissed his cheek and hugged him. “You’re a sweet, dear boy. Be careful, okay? Stick up for yourself and show your Patterson pride.” She patted his hand.

“I will, mama. I will.”

With a last glance at his folks, he took off for Brett’s house.

*

Brett’s POV

As soon as Ryan pulled up, Brett smiled and motioned to Sam and Caleb to get downstairs.

“He’s here. Good. Now let me talk to him first and Caleb…” he looked at the big guy… “just hang tight. We don’t want him running off.”

Caleb nodded obediently. “I’ll do anything he wants. I’m the one that screwed up.”

“We’ll get it sorted today.” Sam reassured him. “At least he’s coming. He likely figured it out anyway. He’s smart as a whip.”

“Yes, he is.” Caleb stated proudly. “He’s the smartest guy I’ve ever had the honor of knowing.”

Brett patted his friend’s shoulder. “You’ll still know him, I’m sure of it.” He headed for the door. “I’ll be back.”

Quickly, Brett and Sam ran downstairs to greet Ryan. They opened the door before he could even knock.

“Hey.” He started.

“Hey.” Brett answered. “Come on in. It’s freezing out.”

Ryan stepped inside and took inhaled deeply. “Wow, what’s that smell? It’s like a forest in here or something.”

Brett laughed. “My Mom went all out this year. Pine everywhere. Take a load off. We’ve got tons of food too.”

Sam stepped forward. “Hey, Ryan.”

“Hey.”

“Um. So you wanna go downstairs?” Sam asked.

“Let’s get some food first. You look like you need a soda, dude.”

Ryan nodded. “Yeah, I could. Didn’t sleep much.”

“I bet.”

They went to the kitchen and got some snacks and headed for the basement. They all dove onto the sectional, with Ryan keeping his distance from them. Brett knew this wasn’t going to be easy, but at least he was here. He waited for them to get some caffeine in their systems before he tried to talk again.

“So.” Ryan started.

“So.” Brett echoed. “We’re sorry about everything. Part of this is our fault.”

“Your fault?” Ryan cocked a brow but slowly nodded. “I suppose. It was all of us. It seemed so harmless, ya know? Just some hot, sexy time together; swap partners. I never ever thought…” he shook his head. “I guess it isn’t that tough to consider is it? To fall in love with someone you’ve been sleeping with for months even though you tell yourself not to?”

Brett agreed. “It’s very tough. You guys are awesome and nice and hot. Both of you. You’re the best buds we could ever ask for in our lives. But we got too close and our emotions took the toll. Yours exploded.” He teased lightly.

Ryan smiled. “Yeah, I guess they did. I just… that night you guys came over and all the excuses went away. I knew what was going on and I’m pretty sure I know why.” His eyes rested on Sam. “He’s in love with you, isn’t he?”

Sam looked breathless, but nodded. “Yes. He told me that too. Just a bit ago.” He glanced upstairs, giving away the hiding of their friend.

“I figured he’d be here.” Ryan deducted. “I’m not stupid.”

“Never said you were.” Brett shot back as he drank more of his soda. “Just wasn’t sure you’d come if you knew.”

“To be honest I dunno if I would’ve. But I’m here now, I’m not gonna run, and the truth is out.” He looked at Sam. “Sam, I’m just relieved to know the truth. I feared this would happen all along, I really did. I was getting too close to Brett in my own mind too and nearly broke a house rule. That shouldn’t happen.”

“I agree completely. We told him it’s okay now and we’re stopping our naked escapades together completely. Cold turkey. Ryan, Caleb loves you so much. He’s scared to death.” Sam revealed.

“Scared? Him? He’s never scared.”

Brett shook his head. “Not anymore. Dude, I’ve never seen him like this and he was even crying.”

Ryan gasped. “What? Caleb doesn’t cry…I’m the one that does it. Holy shit!” He nearly dropped his cookie. “What’ve we done?”

“Nothing that can’t be undone.” Sam said. “That’s something Caleb told me a long time ago. He loves you, Ryan. More than me, more than what we all had. He’s jealous of us and being engaged.”

“Jealous?” Ryan scoffed. “We’re waiting, for the time to be right. So we can afford it.”

“Do it when it feels right, not when the money’s there. Hell, go to city hall if you need to, or a park. It doesn’t cost much to stand and profess your love and get a couple of rings. But it’s up to you guys, not us.”

“I guess so.” Ryan mumbled. “Well, do we go up to him or is he gonna come down here?”

Sam grinned. “Lemme text him. Amber and I would do this all the time.” He teased.

Not a couple of minutes later, Caleb came downstairs and stopped when he saw Ryan. The mood was tense as they looked each other over.

“Hey.”

“Hey, Rye bread.”

“Cal.” Ryan responded, moving closer. “You look like hell.”

“So do you.”

“Staying up all night confused as fuck and crying does that to me.”

“I did that too.” Caleb admitted, surprising Ryan.

“You did? But you never…”

“I did yesterday. Even stayed home when my parents asked me over. I couldn’t stand to be next to your house when this is going on. Too hard.”

Brett and Sam sat back and curled up together, just watching and waiting to provide any assistance.

Ryan sighed. “Same here. Look, Cal… they kinda gave me the short version of everything and what you told them. But I wanna hear it from you that this is over and that you love me more than Sam.”

“I love you more than anything, Ryan. Anything. This whole sexual thing got out of control and I did the dumbest thing in the world by going to bed with Sam and not being with you. I missed them a lot; but I’ve been snarky and a pain in the ass, and not the way you like it. My emotions got the best of me and I was a dick to you and I don’t deserve you at all…”

“Yes you do…” Ryan insisted as he had tears stream down his face.

“Feeling like I do? Really? Blowing you off for the past month and being pissy as all hell?”

“Something I’ve been too lately? Cal, our schedules suck, but we have to work at it. This relationship is my lifeblood. I want it to keep going, but only if you do and only if our hearts are really in this anymore. I couldn’t live through a breakup with you.”

Caleb smiled and swiped at his face. “You think I could? Ryan, Rye bread. I had it bad for you a week after we met. It took me two years to find the courage to tell you I was in love with you. I still am. I still want to live with you and when the time’s right, I wanna talk about marriage and all the other stuff. These two just had to get engaged and make me jealous as all hell of them.” He shot a look at Brett and Sam.

“Hey, don’t look at us, man. You guys getting’ hitched is on your timetable. With all the crap this wedding is doing I suggest eloping.”

Brett felt an elbow in his side. “Do you know what our parents would do to us?” Sam teased.

“All the more reason. Just be happy again, guys. Just looking at you two I can tell the love is still there. Keeping our hot asses out of your beds will help, too.” Brett knew he was being his crass self, but it seemed to be working.

“I only want one man in my bed.” Ryan moved into Caleb’s reach and looked into his eyes. “You. I just want you. If you want me.”

Wordlessly, Caleb just laughed and pulled Ryan into his arms and the two held on for a long time together. It made Brett smile and Sam sniffed.

“Awww. Damn. Now that’s sweet.”

The couple separated and Caleb took Ryan’s hands. “No more misunderstandings, no more lies or holding back and no more fear. I love you with all my heart, Ryan. Come back home with me?”

“I love you with all my heart too, Caleb. I’ll be back there by this evening for sure.” He reached his arms up and Caleb picked him up and held onto him while they kissed passionately several times.

Sam leaned on Brett’s shoulder. “That’s so beautiful.”

The reunited couple finally stopped and they clasped hands. “Thanks, guys. We mean that.” Ryan told them.

Brett and Sam hugged them both. “Our pleasure. Come on, let’s go upstairs and find those presents, huh? Amber and Colby will be here soon.”

“Sounds good to me. I’m starved. You said you have a ton of food?” Caleb asked.

“Yep.” Brett answered.

“That should just about fill me up. Let’s go.” Caleb took Ryan’s hand and they led the way up the steps and they joined the rest of their family and friends and waited for Amber and Colby’s arrival.