Thicker Than Water - 41. Chapter 41

Packing up Kenny's old apartment was stressful. Kenny was a wreck. He didn't sleep much, with it being a new place and having not slept in an actual bed in a while. He also wanted to be held by Bryan. Around 3:30am, he considered sneaking into the other room but fought off the urge. After everything Billy and Trevor were doing for him (and had already done), it seemed too disrespectful. So, Kenny didn't get much sleep when Trevor woke him up around 8am.

Nobody warned the adults that Bryan wasn't a morning person, so they were shocked when Bryan only communicated in grumbles and huffs. Thankfully, Billy and Trevor let it go.

Billy drove everyone to the apartment about an hour later. Bryan was more awake and apologized for his attitude.

“Don't worry about it. Charlie is the same way,” Billy said.

*     *     *

Diego and Steve had to work, so it would be the first full day with the four of them. Billy said the movers would be there around noon, so they had a few hours to get Kenny's room packed. Even though no packing had started, Kenny felt that the place was already empty. The rooms were cold, and Trevor turned on the heaters. Kenny and his mom had lived there most of his life; in fact, he didn't ever remember living anywhere else.

Bryan and Kenny were put in charge of packing up Kenny's room, while Billy and Trevor did their best with the rest of the apartment. Before they started, Bryan held Kenny close and assured him that no matter what happened, they were together. Kenny had never loved his best friend more.

Around a half-hour after they started, there was a loud knock on the front door. A few seconds later, Billy cussed and there was some kind of argument. Bryan and Kenny left the bedroom and saw Quinton and James standing just inside the doorway.

“You're supposed to be in school, that's why!” Trevor said. “Your dads will kill you, and frankly, I wouldn't blame them.”

“And we just want to help our new cousin--” James started to say.

“--only cousin--” Quinton interjected and clarified.

“--move to our favorite uncles'--”

“--only uncles'--”

“--Place.”

“What's wrong with that?” They finished in unison.

Bryan finally understood that, despite not being identical, they might as well have been.

“No,” Trevor said, firmly.

“Come on,” Billy said, clearly marking himself as the softy in the relationship. “We could actually use the help, and we can explain to their dads that it will be more of a punishment than a reward; plus, they're actually doing something for the right reason...for once.”

“Fine,” Trevor said, throwing up his hands, “but you get to explain it to your brothers.”

“I love you!”

“Save that till after Ry and Charlie yell at you,” Trevor said, kissing his husband. “As for you two,” he added, pointing at his nephews, “Quinton, you help Uncle Billy in the kitchen, and James, you can pack up and clean the bathroom.”

“Why do I have to clean the bathroom?”

“Because we all know who's idea it really was to come here.”

“Actually,” Quinton said, quietly, “it was my idea, Uncle Trevor. James only came along, so I wouldn't be the only one who got in trouble.”

Billy and Trevor exchanged quizzical looks. Bryan got the feeling that Quinton never took the lead on anything until now. “Okay then,” Trevor said, recovering the situation, “Quinton, you get bathroom duty, and James, you're in the kitchen. Quinton, I want that room spotless; you got it?”

“Yes, Sir.”

Bryan and Kenny returned to the bedroom, closing the door behind them.

“They do know I'm not their cousin, right?” Kenny asked his boyfriend.

“Probably. Quinton, at least, isn't dumb enough to think so. Besides, why wouldn't you want cousins? You don't have any, anyway, so why not run with it?”

“I guess.”

*     *     *

The movers hadn't shown up by noon, so Trevor took the boys to lunch, while Billy stayed behind waiting. He also needed to call his brothers and make other calls to clients, while he was at it. Trevor took the boys to an all-you-can-eat Chinese buffet. He felt it was the most practical way to feed four teenage boys.

Kenny and Quinton talked about the new electronics Billy bought, and Quinton suggested that they stream together on Twitch, and maybe start a Minecraft server like Hermitcraft.

James and Trevor talked about sports and James joining football over the summer. It was clear they had a tight bond, and that James had a lot of respect for his uncle.

Bryan felt like the odd man out. He wished he had his phone, so he could have something to do, while everyone else talked. It had only been a day, but he missed his dads and brother. He didn't know why, but he noticed that depression was popping up more and more often, especially since Calvin started his bullshit. Some nights, he just cried himself to sleep for no reason.

“Hey, sorry I'm late,” a welcoming, familiar voice called out.

“Dad!” Bryan said, as he saw Steve walk towards the table. He jumped from his seat and ran to the man. It had been ages since an adult had picked him up, given he had been taller than Diego by 5^th grade, so he was shocked, yet pleased when Steve lifted him off the ground and held him. “I missed you,” Bryan whispered.

“I missed you, too, Buddy.” Neither cared that people were staring; after all, Steve was very tall, and Bryan wasn't exactly short for 14. Steve didn't set Bryan down till they reached the table. James moved, so Steve could sit next to Bryan.

“What are you doing here?” Bryan asked.

“I thought I'd have lunch with you guys. Billy sent me a text this morning and asked if I could come by.”

“Oh,” Bryan said, unable to keep the disappointment from his voice.

“Something wrong?”

“No. I was just hoping you'd stay and help.”

“I wish I could, but I have work.”

“I understand. Don't worry about it.”

Steve put his arm around Bryan and asked, “Are you sure you're okay?”

Bryan only nodded and looked at his plate. He wasn't feeling hungry anymore.

Steve looked at Kenny and said, “I heard Billy got you a new phone.”

“Yep,” the boy said, pulling it out of his pocket. “Want to add your number?”

“Duh,” Steve said, playfully, taking the phone from Kenny. Once he handed the phone back, Steve asked Bryan, “Did you give Kenny your number?”

“No. I don't have my phone, remember? Dad took it after he found out that Calvin was messaging me.”

“Ah, yeah, I remember now, but that was like months ago, right?”

“Yeah, but he still hasn't given it back.”

“No, I suppose he hasn't...which is why I'm giving it back.” Steve reached inside his jacket and pulled out Bryan's phone. “Now, the same rules apply as last time, but there's also no contacting Calvin without telling me or your dad. Got it?”

“Yes, Sir,” Bryan said, a little happier. “Dad?”

“Yeah, Buddy?”

“I love you.”

“I love you, too, Bryan. I'll text between classes and can come by Billy's after work if you want.”

“You don't have to.”

“I know I don't have to, but I really do miss you. If you'd rather I not--”

“--No! I mean, yeah, I'd like you to come by...if you want.”

Steve hugged Bryan before getting himself some food.

*     *     *

“It's cool Steve is going to be your stepdad,” James said to Bryan as they left the restaurant. “He's been like an uncle to us for our entire lives, so it's like we're going to be cousins.”

“Yeah, I guess.” Bryan didn't understand the twins' obsession with having cousins. He and Caleb had more cousins than they could count. He didn't like stereotyping his family, but of all his aunts and uncles who had kids, Luis was the only one who didn't have any, while the others had at least 4 each. His Uncle Carlos had almost as many as Nick Cannon and by about as many different women. Abuela nearly had a heart attack whenever Carlos mentioned a new girlfriend. Of course, she gets on Luis about having kids, too.

Abuela would say, “Your brother is gay and has two kids, Luis! When are you giving me grandbabies?”

While Luis's usual response was, “I'll borrow some from Carlos. He's got a few spares.”

This usually resulted in him getting smacked on the shoulder by his mother.

James continued, “It sucks having a large, gay family, sometimes. Quinton, Beth and I are the only grandkids, so it feels like being an only child.”

“I can see that, I guess. Caleb and I don't know anyone on our birth parents' sides, so we only have Diego's family and soon, Steve's, which I guess, by a weird extension, includes you.”

James smiled. “Yeah, that's awesome. Maybe instead of football, I could do soccer next year and we could be on the same team?”

Bryan chuckled. James frowned. “Sorry. No, it would be cool to play soccer together.”

“Then why did you laugh?” It was clear that James didn't like being the butt of a joke, especially one he wasn't in on.

“I was thinking that, because I'm into guys and you're straight, we're not exactly on the same team.”

James rolled his eyes and laughed. “Har, har, har. What do you call a guy who has a kitchen fetish?”

Bryan looked confused and said, “I don't know.”

“Pan-sexual.”

It was Bryan's turn to roll his eyes.

“Now, we're even.” James playfully punched Bryan's shoulder.

As much as Bryan didn't like it, he felt himself becoming friends with James.

*     *     *

True to his word, Steve sent Bryan a text every 50 minutes. Bryan tried to pretend that he was annoyed by the texts, but Kenny knew better, especially when Bryan's face lit up whenever he got a notification. Kenny hoped Bryan's face looked that happy whenever he messaged.

The movers had everything out by 3pm, and with the help of the twins, the rest of the apartment was done by 4:30pm. Diego and Caleb had stopped by to see how things were progressing and to lend a hand or four. Bryan hugged his dad and thanked him for trusting him with the phone again.

“You're welcome, Chico. Did Steve talk to you about the rules?”

“Yes. If Calvin tries talking to me, I'm to tell you or Dad.”

“Yes, but we want to know before you send any messages, got it? No more surprises.”

“Yes, I got it, and I doubt I'd ever want to talk to him again after Saturday, anyway.”

Diego wanted to encourage his eldest to not have contact with Calvin, but knew it was really up to Bryan to make that call. “That choice is yours, Chico. You're getting old enough to start making some decisions on your own, but don't feel pressured into having a relationship with him. He has to earn it.”

“I know, Dad. The only good thing that man ever did was leaving us with you.”

“Don't make me cry!” Diego said, taking a steady breath.

“Why? It's what the audience wants.”

“Wasn't it Billy Joel who sang Leaving a Tender Moment Alone?” Billy interjected, as he walked by.

Bryan looked confused and asked, “What Green Day song is that?”

All three adults groaned.

*     *     *

Charlie and Ry came by the house around 6pm to get the twins. Neither was thrilled that their sons skipped school, again, even if they were doing it with good intentions.

“You're grounded, btw,” Ry said, taking their phones.

“What else is new?” James asked.

“What did you say?” Charlie asked sternly.

“Sorry.”

“You wouldn't be grounded if you did what you know you're supposed to do.”

“Would you have let us help if we asked?”

“Yes, actually. In fact, we offered, but Uncle Trevor said you weren't needed.” James looked shocked at this revelation.

“Well, I was dead wrong,” Trevor said. “I don't think we could've done it without them, to be honest, at least not in a single day.”

“That's good to know,” Ry said, “but you two still didn't ask permission to leave school and took off on your own. Something could've happened and nobody would've known until it was too late.” There was a strain in Ry's voice that Bryan picked up on but didn't know what it was. “You guys can't do that to us.”

“I know,” James said, looking sad. “I'm really sorry, Papa.”

Ry hugged his son and said, “We love you so much, James.”

“I love you and Daddy, too.”

Sensing the tension was too thick, Billy asked, “Are you guys staying for dinner?”

“Are you cooking?” Ry asked suspiciously.

“Fuck no. I was going to order pizza.”

Trevor chuckled and said to Bryan and Kenny, “Billy and Charlie can't cook for shit, so if they offer to make you food, at least try to be polite about it.”

“Excuse me,” Billy said, clearly offended. “I can microwave a burrito without it blowing up now. Fuck you very much.”

“How much of it's still frozen when you're done?” Ry asked.

“I was talking to my husband if you don't mind,” Billy said, mockingly waving his brother-in-law off.

Trevor, again, said to Bryan and Kenny, who were greatly amused, “Billy has burnt water before.”

“What?” Bryan replied. “I learned how to boil water when I was six.”

“Well, weren't you just a little over achiever,” Billy laughed.

“Hey, don't pick on my kid,” Steve said. “His old man won't put up with that crap.”

“My bad, my bad! Not all of us had Michelin rated parents growing up.”

“Yeah, but you had Ry living with you since we were 12, so there really isn't an excuse.”

“Yes there is! We had Ry to cook, so why would Charlie and I need to learn how?”

“Love you, too, Billy,” Ry groaned. “Anyway, we can't stay for dinner. Mom is coming over soon, and she wants to see the twins for some reason.”

“It's because we're her favorite--” James said.

“--Only--” Quinton interjected.

“--Grandsons.” James finished.

*     *     *

"How do you think the twins found your apartment?" Bryan asked, changing into his night clothes.

"Quinton said they have a parental tracker as part of their phone plan. The adults can track their locations, and it works in reverse, apparently."

Bryan pulled back the blankets and got into bed. He looked over at Kenny and smiled. “You look so sexy,” he said, as Kenny finished applying his overnight acne cream.

“Shut up,” Kenny giggled. Once finished, he got in bed next to his boyfriend. “I missed you last night,” he said, curling up to Bryan, resting his head on his love's chest.

Bryan kissed the top of Kenny's head and said softly, “Same. I'm glad my Dads were able to convince Trevor to let us sleep together.”

“Too bad it's only sleeping.”

Bryan chuckled and ran his hands through Kenny's hair. “You're a naughty boy.”

“Sorry, Daddy,” Kenny said, then laughed.

“Uh! Well, if there was a mood, you just killed it.” Bryan tickled Kenny, causing his boyfriend to laugh almost too loudly. “Anyway, do you think you'll be happy here when I leave?”

Kenny purposefully tried not thinking about it. “Maybe. We'll see.”

“Well talk to the 'rents and see if you can stay the night this Saturday.”

Kenny replied with soft snoring. Bryan kissed the top of Kenny's head again and closed his eyes. He fell asleep running his hands through Kenny's hair, glad they were still in a good place.