Jesse and Shaun made quick work of the dishes. Shaun washed and Jesse put everything away. The cabinets were neatly organized, and Jesse breezed through his task with little instruction. Everything was easy to find.

When they were almost finished, Ruth came into the room.

“Looks good, boys,” she said with a nod.

Jesse beamed at her. “Thanks for dinner.”

“It was no trouble for me,” Ruth chuckled as Shaun finished the last dish and handed it to Jesse. He dried it, put it up in the cabinet, and closed the door. “But I think it’s time for you to go home,” Ruth said gently. “It’s getting late. I’m sure your mother’s wondering where you are.”

Jesse was pretty sure Monica hadn’t spared him a single thought after he’d left. But he didn’t say any of that. “Shaun? Walk me out?”

Shaun shut off the water, tossed the washrag into the sink, then followed Jesse outside.

On the porch, Jesse pulled Shaun into a hug. He buried his face against his chest and breathed in his scent. “Love you,” he murmured and then closed his eyes as he tightened his arms around Shaun’s middle…He didn’t want to go home.

Shaun didn’t verbally answer, but he stroked Jesse’s hair back and kissed him gently on the forehead.

Jesse let it slide. He knew Shaun loved him. He could feel it. And he’d finally heard it, too, last night, and this afternoon…. He dropped his arms and stepped back as Shaun watched him in silence. His eyes were dark, swirling pools of emotion.

“See you tomorrow,” Jesse said softly, then he turned away and stepped off the porch.

The moon was out, and the black sky was blanketed with stars. The distant lights overhead cast everything in a silver glow.

Jesse thought about the weekend as he walked through the silver grass. What Shaun, Gretchen, and Ben had just produced was ten times better than anything Will’s band had ever played. He knew with a bone deep certainty that Shaun’s new band was going to take off.

While he was excited for Shaun and thought he deserved to follow his dreams, no matter how wild, in reality, Jesse knew the demands of a new band would mean they’d be seeing each other a lot less. Jesse had responsibilities at home. He wouldn’t be able to follow Shaun to every practice and event. Monica’s new relationship was on his mind as well. When it failed — and it would, soon enough — the entire family would suffer in its wake. Shaun kept saying they were going to get a place and that everything would be okay, but Jesse didn’t believe him.

There’d been a combination of factors that had resulted in him offering up his ass Saturday night, but the fear of losing Shaun was at the forefront. He’d given himself to Shaun. Completely. And while it had been painful at first — hell, it was painful now — Jesse didn’t regret any part of it. He wanted to be as close to Shaun as possible and letting Shaun climax inside him had been the only way he’d known how.

When Jesse got home, Monica was on the couch watching TV with her phone balanced on her knee. She turned when Jesse came in the door. “Jesse…” She frowned and turned back to the TV. “I thought you were Sam.”

Jesse paused in the doorway. “Sam isn’t home yet?”

“I haven’t seen him since Friday.” Monica checked her phone.

“Did you text him? He’s on his phone all the time now,” Jesse said with an eye roll.

Monica nodded. “I texted him last night.”

Jesse frowned. He had a feeling Sam was with Kyle and wished Monica would act like a parent and drag him home. Christ. It was close to 10 on a school night. Surely, Monica was concerned.

But she didn’t seem to be. She opened her phone, checked a message, then smiled as she began to type a reply. She obviously wasn’t talking to Sam.

“I’m going to bed,” Jesse grumbled.

“Mmhmm.”

“Goodnight.”

“Night.”

Jesse went upstairs. The twins’ door was shut and so was the nursery. He wondered if the kids were asleep or at the babysitters.

Shaking his head, Jesse went into his room and got into some PJs. He just wanted to go to sleep. He hated spending time at home, but that’s all he ever did. Sit at home.

Jesse climbed into bed and pulled the covers over his head. He couldn’t wait until morning.

He tossed and turned for over an hour before finally drifting into an uneasy sleep close to midnight.

Crash!

“Shit!”

Jesse sat up groggily as Sam fumbled through a stack of Xbox games on the floor. They’d been on the dresser when Jesse went to sleep, but now they and the dirty plate that had been stacked on top were spread across the floor.

“Sam?”

“Uh, hey, Jess.” Sam looked up frantically. “Just looking for my charger.”

Jesse didn’t know what time it was, but it was late. Or, in this case, extremely early. It was pitch dark outside. “What time is it?”

“Umm…I don’t know.”

“Did you just get home?” Jesse narrowed his eyes and peered at his brother in the gloom. “Where were you?”

“Let me turn the light on,” Sam sighed, then staggered across the room and hit the lights.

Jesse blinked in the sudden brightness.

Sam was doing the same and he shaded his eyes.

“You’re drunk again,” Jesse could see Sam’s bloodshot eyes from here.

“No,” Sam said belligerently. “I’m high.”

“Oh, even better.”

“I know, right.” Sam beamed, then he bounced across the room and jumped up on his bed. “Kyle’s awesome.”

“You spent the whole weekend with him?” Jesse grumbled.

“Yeah,” Sam said. “He let me spend the night. And we had a party. It was the best.”

“Who was there?”

“Nobody you’d know,” Sam said smugly. “Everybody was older than me. Probably older than you, too.” He fell back on his bed with a laugh. “Kyle brought out a wicked bong and I got so high.”

Jesse gave his brother a critical once over. His hair was greasy and mussed, he had dark circles under his eyes, his t-shirt was stained down the front, and one of his pockets was outturned.

“You’ve been giving me and Shaun evil looks, but now your best friends with Kyle?” Jesse shook his head. “I thought you were a homophobe.”

“Naw.” Sam looked up and met Jesse’s eyes. “I’m sorry I’ve been such a dick. I don’t care if you want to date Shaun.”

“What?” Jesse blinked in amazement. “Why the sudden change of heart?”

“Because Kyle told me to cool it,” Sam said casually. “He said Shaun wasn’t a bad guy. And that you’re a good big brother.”

“Shaun isn’t a bad guy,” Jesse grumbled. “And I think I am a pretty good brother.”

“See?” Sam smirked. “He’s right.”

Jesse scowled.

“He’s not a bad guy either. I don’t know why you hate him so much. He didn’t do anything to you,” Sam said. “You should really try to be a little nicer.”

Jesse bristled. “Fuck off, Sam.”

“Whatever.” Sam kicked his shoes off and flopped on his side. “I tried.”

“You left the light on,” Jesse said huffily. “And you forgot your charger.”

“Oh, yeah. Right.” Sam rolled out of bed and went back to the dresser. He found his charger, stumbled to the door, then turned off the lights. He grinned up at Jesse in the gloom. “Goodnight, dicklicker,”

Jesse rolled on his side with a huff and curled into a ball. The frame shook when Sam climbed back into bed and Jesse laid still and silent until Sam began to snore. He tried to sleep, but he tossed and turned and worried until he lost consciousness again. It took hours.

At the breakfast table in the morning, Sam was in a good mood and he helped Jesse with the kids without being asked, and better yet, he was pleasant and cheerful while he did it. Monica was next to useless. She lazily spooned cereal into her mouth while she texted her boyfriend.

When it was time for the bus, Jesse and Sam walked out to wait at the end of the driveway.

“When will you be home tonight?” Sam asked.

Jesse quirked an eyebrow. “Before mom shows up with the babies. Why?”

“Kyle’s coming to pick me up later.” Sam bit his lip. “But just tonight,” he finished hurriedly.

“I’ll be home at six.” Jesse sighed.

Sam smiled. “Cool.”

When the bus came, the two brothers got on and took their respective seats. Jesse stared at the back of Sam’s head as the bus rumbled down the road and stopped in front of Shaun’s place. He was worried about him, but he didn’t know what to do.

Shaun got the bus in a fitted black shirt and jeans that hugged him in all the right places. His jaw was grazed with stubble and he hadn’t combed his hair today. A dark, unruly lock hung over his eye.

“Hey, Pretty Boy,” Jesse simpered.

“Shut up.” Shaun pushed Jesse into the window as he took his seat. His cheeks were turning red.

“There’s just something about you that’s different,” Jesse said as he gazed adoringly at his grumpy boyfriend. “It isn’t the hair. It’s something else.”

“Nothing’s different,” Shaun grumbled, but Jesse disagreed.

“You smell nice again,” he said with a smile. “And your clothes are all clean and tucked in.” He poked Shaun in the ribs. “You’re trying.”

“Shut up.”

Jesse zipped his lips. He didn’t want to tease Shaun too badly.

His gaze drifted back to the front of the bus as Sam was joined by the two middle-school girls. Sam put his arms up on the seat and talked with an air of sophistication way beyond his years as the girls listened with rapt attention.

“You look like you’re thinking extra hard,” Shaun murmured. “What’s up?”

Jesse shook his head. “I’m trying to figure out what to do about Kyle and my brother.”

“Not a lot we can do,” Shaun grumbled. “You tied my hands, Jesse.”

“I know I did,” Jesse sighed. “But they spent the whole weekend together. Sam slept over at his house!”

“Does your brother know Kyle’s a fag?” Shaun snorted. “Maybe that would change his mind.”

“He doesn’t care,” Jesse huffed. “He likes Kyle’s weed. They have fun together.” He slid a hand through his hair. “Sam says he trusts him.”

“Fucking hypocrite,” Shaun spat. “And after all that shit he gave you for being with me.”

“I know,” Jesse said. “But guess what? He apologized for all that last night, too. He said Kyle told him to ‘cool it’.”

“Wow.” Shaun laughed.

Jesse hugged his backpack. “I don’t know what to do. I feel like Kyle’s messing with me. Why would he want to hang out with a middle-schooler?”

“He’s gonna try to fuck him,” Shaun said firmly. “His stepdad’s a pedophile. I wouldn’t be surprised if Kyle ended up doing the same shit. That freak is desperate for cock.”

Jesse felt a chill go up his spine as he remembered his conversation with Kyle the other night, when he’d admitted to stripping Shaun of his clothes when he’d been unconscious. He didn’t want to keep secrets from Shaun, but he felt he’d better keep this one to himself.

“I don’t know what to do,” he repeated. “My mom’s busy with her new boyfriend. She doesn’t even know what’s going on.”

“Maybe you should tell her.”

“Then what?” Jesse asked. “Sam will know I tattled on him and mom won’t be around to enforce any rules she tries to set so I’ll be responsible.”

Shaun looked out the window. “We’ve got to get our own place.”

“You keep saying that,” Jesse huffed. “But you don’t actually have any plans to make it happen!”

Shaun’s expression soured. “I do have a plan.”

“The band?”

Shaun nodded shortly.

“Shaun.” Jesse pressed his fingers into his eyes. “Didn’t you hear what Gretchen said— “

“I heard what she said.” Shaun snapped. “She’s wrong.”

Jesse groaned and buried his face in his hands. He didn’t want to argue.

They sat in silence for the rest of the ride.

Before first period, Jesse and Shaun saw Kyle in the halls, but the exchange was anticlimactic. Shaun spotted him first and nudged Jesse in the side.

“Look who it is.”

Jesse glanced up as Kyle walked down the hall between two senior girls. They were laughing and talking excitedly amongst themselves.

At first, Jesse thought Kyle hadn’t noticed them. They were at his locker, collecting books for class and the hallway was crowded with other students doing the same.

Then Kyle’s gaze locked on Shaun’s as he strolled past and a brief look of regret flashed across his face. Jesse was trying to figure out what it meant when Kyle met his eyes, smiled, and then stepped into the history room and the moment was over.

“Pussy,” Shaun growled, then glared at Jesse’s locker. “You finished? I’ll walk you to math.”

“Please, Shaun, don’t provoke him, you’ll—”

“Yeah, I know.” Shaun made a nasty face. “I’ll go to jail. Whatever, Jesse.”

Jesse shut his locker and took a deep breath. It was going to be a long day.

Class was boring and nothing interesting happened. They were still pariahs and the other students whispered behind their backs, but Jesse was over it.

When school was over, he met up with Shaun outside the school. Sweat slicked Shaun’s forehead as he stood under the unrelenting sun in his long-sleeved tee.

“I hate summer,” Shaun complained as they started down the road. “I can’t stand the heat.”

“It’s only May,” Jesse chuckled. “What are you going to do when it hits the triple digits?”

Shaun groaned dramatically. “I’ll die.”

Jesse drew back and took another look at the other boy. Long, black jeans tucked into black leather boots, sleeves to his wrists, thick, wavy hair to his shoulders… “Maybe you should try a different color,” he suggested. “Or a short sleeve top.”

“Oh, I know?” Shaun’s expression soured. “How about some flip-flops?”

“We don’t have to go that far,” Jesse laughed.

Shaun scowled darkly and shook his head.

When they got close to home, Shaun headed to his garage without comment. Jesse trailed after him. He didn’t have to be home until six, after all. There was usually nothing for him to do while Shaun practiced, but he did like to watch.

Shaun dropped his bag and started to head to his guitar when he stopped in the middle of the room.

Jesse went past him and sat in his usual seat by the tool bench. He tossed his bag aside and looked up to see Shaun staring at him intently. Jesse blinked in surprise. “What’s up?”

“Can I fuck you?” Shaun’s eyes flashed.

“Here?”

“We can’t go inside,” Shaun muttered. “Not while my grandma’s home.”

Jesse licked his lips. “Do we have lube?”

Shaun opened his guitar case. The bottle of KY was tucked inside.

“Okay.” Jesse smiled and immediately, his cock began to tingle.

Shaun grabbed the lube and strode closer until he stood over Jesse. He slipped his fingers into Jesse’s hair as he gazed down at him with his dark, serious eyes. With a gentle, but insistent pressure, he pulled Jesse against the bulge at his groin. “Get me hard.”

Jesse stared into Shaun’s eyes as he unzipped his fly and pulled his jeans down to expose his thick cock. It was already half hard and the dark-pink shaft hung slightly to the right. The fat head jerked in anticipation and Jesse licked his lips.

He wrapped his fingers around the base and guided the tip into his mouth. He bobbed his head to wet the shaft with saliva, pushing himself to take a little more of Shaun’s length with each bob of his head.

Shaun groaned and carded trembling fingers through Jesse’s hair. He was patient at first, but when Jesse’s noises got sloppier and the mess of spit and precome drooled onto Shaun’s heavy balls, he thrust his hips and forced his cockhead into the back of Jesse’s throat.

Jesse swallowed around him like he was chugging a thick milkshake. He was getting the hang of deep-throating, and was learning to control his gag-reflex. He relaxed his lips as Shaun took over.

Shaun fucked Jesse’s mouth with abandon, grunting with each pump of his hips. He looked deep into Jesse’s eyes as he pushed his cock into his throat, and a slow, menacing smile curled his lips when his eyes teared up. “Such a pretty slut…” Shaun stroked Jesse’s cheek with his calloused thumb. “You like getting your mouth fucked, don’t you?”

Jesse whimpered and pressed a hand between his thighs. He rubbed his erection with a frantic need. He was fiercely turned on by Shaun’s dominance and he was rock hard in his jeans. He was so used to being the responsible one that it felt good to surrender and let Shaun take control of his body.

Shaun let go of Jesse’s hair after a few moments and pulled his hard, shiny cock out of his mouth with a groan. “Take your jeans down.”

Jesse got up unsteadily and yanked down his jeans. He kicked them away as his cock rose valiantly to attention.

“Bend over the bench.”

A handful of screws and a mini drill were spread across the bench. Jesse pushed everything to the side with an arm, then rested his elbows on the rough, paint-speckled surface. His cock raged between his thighs as he stared at the rack of screwdrivers inches from his face. Shyly, he glanced over his shoulder.

Shaun was staring at his ass.

“Do you like my butt?” Jesse asked in a little voice.

“Yes.”

Jesse stretched up on his toes and pushed his ass back for Shaun’s inspection. His butt cheek brushed against Shaun’s stiff cock and he gasped.

Shaun stepped closer and cupped Jesse’s bottom. He kneaded the firm mounds gently, then teased them apart.

Jesse groaned as his hole was exposed to the air. He was still very sore from the other night. The little muscle was tender to the touch and sitting and using the bathroom were uncomfortable. Jesse hadn’t said anything, but he thought Shaun had probably torn him inside that first time. The pain when Shaun had taken his virginity had been sharp and unbearable. He’d tensed up and that had made everything worse.

The second time though…

Shaun slid two of his big fingers into his anus and Jesse willed himself to relax. He pushed like he was going to the bathroom. He’d done it yesterday, the second time they’d fucked, and things had gone much smoother all around. Shaun had taken things slow. He’d been incredibly patient and accommodating and Jesse’s cheeks pinkened as he thought about Shaun’s tongue in his butthole…

Shaun had more than made up for their first time. He’d done a better job with prep and he’d given Jesse ample time to adjust to his size.

On the tool bench, Shaun fucked Jesse steadily with his slick fingers.

Jesse pressed back into his hand with a moan. His asshole burned a little, but the stretching wasn’t terrible. He felt his muscles loosening with every thrust.

“Are you ready?” Shaun’s voice was throaty and deep. The sound of it made Jesse shiver.

“Yeah.” Jesse’s cock jumped with excitement. “Fuck me.”

Shaun pulled his fingers out of Jesse’s ass and Jesse looked over his shoulder to watch as he spread the lube over his shaft. He slicked his cock with a firm hand, pulling the shiny skin on his shaft tight so the length was forced upright, throbbing in time with his heartbeat.

Jesse rested his cheek against the rough tool bench with a moan. Shaun cupped his left buttcheek and rubbed the head of his cock against his sore pucker and Jesse closed his eyes tight.

“Ready?”

Jesse took a deep breath and nodded.

Shaun pushed inside with a groan of pleasure.

Jesse’s body tensed up at the intrusion. He tried to relax, but Shaun’s thick cock sparked a riot of pain at Jesse’s backdoor. His erection began to flag.

Shaun slowed down and concentrated on stretching Jesse’s sore little anus, then he reached around and pulled Jesse’s cock in long, firm strokes. He spent a couple moments masturbating Jesse and fucking just the tip of his cock in and out of his twitching hole.

Jesse groaned and panted as Shaun played with his butthole. It stung, but Shaun’s stretching was methodical, and the soreness was fading away. Shaun’s hand was doing amazing things to his dick, as well.

Shaun worked himself deeper into Jesse’s body, grunting and dripping sweat onto Jesse’s bare back as he struggled to restrain himself. When he finally bottomed out and his hairy balls slapped into Jesse’s ass, both boys were flushed with arousal and panting for release.

Shaun collapsed against Jesse’s back, his cock fully sheathed, as his breath came in hot little pants across the back of Jesse’s neck.

Jesse took slow, shaky breaths as he adjusted to the thick length inside of him. It had been a little easier yesterday, maybe it was the angle, Shaun was buried deep inside of him.

Shaun squeezed Jesse’s cock. “Okay?”

“Yeah,” Jesse moaned. “Go easy.”

Shaun kissed Jesse’s back, then he started to move. He went slow at first, but gradually increased his pace and there were a lot of sloppy, slurping sounds as he pushed his cock in and out and their balls slapped together.

“You feel so incredible,” Shaun panted in Jesse’s ear. “I never want to stop fucking you.”

Jesse’s cock pulsed in Shaun’s hand. He whimpered and dug his fingers into the wood bench below. Shaun fucked him rhythmically and the stretching sensation was warm and satisfying, but the sharp burst of pleasure he’d felt yesterday when they’d fucked in Shaun’s bed was missing.

“When this band takes off, I’m going to play my guitar all day and fuck you. Nothing else.”

Jesse laughed, but it sounded choked. “You’ll get tired of me eventually.”

“Never.”

Jesse opened his eyes when Shaun slid all the way out and moaned. In the corner of his eye, he could see Shaun gazing down at his spread cheeks. He really seemed to like looking at Jesse’s asshole and it made Jesse kind of embarrassed. He’d never paid much attention to butts before. He wondered what Shaun was seeing right now…

Shaun teased Jesse’s pucker with the tip of his cock. It stung, there were tiny little tears all around the wrinkled little entrance, but a deep pleasure grew when Shaun pushed back inside and hit his prostate by mistake.

Everything Jesse knew about gay sex, he’d figured out by adapting his experience with females. Except the male G-spot thing. Jesse had Googled that earlier in math class. He’d had no idea there was such a thing.

“There,” Jesse groaned. “Keep hitting that spot…”

“There?” Shaun’s cock sawed over his prostate a second time and Jesse spurted a little boy juice.

“Oh God!”

Shaun sped up as Jesse withered below him with pleasure. He bent over Jesse and rammed his thighs into the bench with his forceful thrusts. He slammed into Jesse’s prostate with increased regularity and Jesse’s eyes rolled back in his head every time. It felt so good.

Shaun continued to milk Jesse’s cock with authority as they fucked, and Jesse felt himself spiraling rapidly toward orgasm.

“I’m gonna come…” Jesse groaned. “Oh…shit!”

“Mmm, come on my dick Jesse,” Shaun growled in his ear. “Then I’m going to fill your tight ass with some of mine. How’s that sound?”

“Yes!” Jesse’s eyes slammed shut when Shaun nailed into his prostate again and he came across the tool bench with a shout.

Shaun growled like a beast as he brutally drove his hips into Jesse’s. He let go of Jesse’s flaccid dick and gripped his hips as he pounded Jesse’s ass to a thunderous orgasm. The tool bench shook like crazy, a couple nails pinged to the floor, and the screwdrivers rattled on the wall as he filled Jesse with his seed, as promised.

Shaun slumped into the desk chair, then yanked Jesse into his lap. “Jesus Christ, Jesse…” He pulled him close and hugged him wearily.

Jesse slipped his arms around Shaun’s neck and kissed him on the cheek. “I looked up that G-spot thing today. It’s called a prostate.”

Shaun pulled back and his brows wrinkled in confusion. “What’s it for?”

“I don’t know what it’s for,” Jesse giggled. “I just know it feels good when you touch it.”

“Shut up. I don’t care right now.” Shaun hugged Jesse tight and kissed his forehead. “Let me enjoy the moment.”

Jesse rested his head on Shaun’s shoulder and fell quiet.

Shaun tickled his fingers across Jesse’s bare bottom as he spun them in a slow circle. “Your asshole’s beautiful,” he said and Jesse looked up in surprise. Shaun stared off into the distance, visualizing Jesse’s hole, he supposed. “It’s so red and swollen. It looks like a little rosebud.”

Jesse winced. “It hurts more than yesterday.”

“You’ll get used to it.” Shaun squeezed his asscheek and Jesse flushed a soft, embarrassed pink. “If we keep doing it your ass will stretch to fit my dick. Then it’ll be a perfect fit. Like Cinderella and that stupid glass shoe.”

“Guess that makes you the prince, then,” Jesse smiled. “Come to save me from my evil biological mother and wicked half-siblings.”

“Get dressed, princess.” Shaun scooped him up with a laugh and set him on his feet. “I’ve got work to do.”

Jesse was all smiles as he hopped into his jeans. Shaun grabbed the shop towel off the tool bench and cleaned his dick, then he tossed it to Jesse. “You might want this more than me.”

Jesse caught the shop towel. It was a dirty blue rag, stained with grease. He found the cleanest portion and reached back to clumsily wipe his ass, then zipped himself away with a cringe. He’d definitely need a shower tonight.

Shaun promptly got to work, and Jesse sat on the desk chair to watch. Shaun was already working on new songs. By some miracle, his hand seemed to be on the mend, and he switched effortlessly between writing and playing.

Jesse stayed for as long as he could, but at five minutes to six, he grabbed his stuff and got up to leave. “I have to go,” he said mournfully.

Shaun was jotting something in his notebook, and he paused to look up. “What time is it?”

“It isn’t even six.” Jesse kissed Shaun over his guitar. “Keep working.”

Shaun kissed him back distractedly. “I have practice tomorrow,” he said then strummed his guitar as he thought. “I have to leave after we get back from school. We can hang out for a while, but…”

“I know.” Jesse pouted.

“You sure you can’t come?” Shaun asked. “Can’t your mom pay for extra hours at the daycare?”

“I didn’t even ask,” Jesse said with a sigh. “It’ll trigger Brian’s abandonment phobia, and for what? A couple hours out of the house? It’s not like we can stay the night. We’ve got school in the morning.”

Shaun rolled his eyes. “Yeah. Alright.”

“See you in the morning,” Jesse mumbled.

“Okay.”

Jesse dejectedly slung his backpack over his shoulder and left the garage.

The second he walked in the door, Sam jumped on his phone.

“Yeah. He just got home,” he said. “Cool. See you soon.” Sam tucked his phone away with a big smile on his face.

“Was that Kyle?” Jesse sneered. “What are you doing tonight?”

“He’s having friends over for drinks, me included,” Sam beamed. “I won’t be home until late. Don’t wait up.”

The twins flew down the stairs.

“Give me my Barbie!” Allison shrieked, chasing after Tyler, who had her doll by the leg.

“Not until you say I can use her for a science experiment,” Tyler sang.

They chased each other into the kitchen and out the back door.

Jesse pushed a hand through his hair. “Don’t wait up?”

“Yeah,” Sam was already back in his phone, texting. “And tell mom I’m studying at a friend’s house. I’m texting her now. Back me up.”

Jesse grit his teeth. “I’ve got a question for you.”

“Shoot.” Sam tossed his phone aside and threw himself across the couch, crossing his ankle over his knee. He looked impatiently out the front window. “But hurry. He’ll be here any minute.”

“Does he ever…” Jesse hesitated. “Touch you?”

“Kyle?”

“I only hung out with him a couple times, but he asked me for sex more than once,” Jesse said bluntly. “He asked Shaun, too—”

“Well, he didn’t ask me,” Sam said firmly. “And he’s not going to. Because I’m not gay!”

“I’m not sure it matters.”

“Fuck off, Jesse,” Sam sneered. “Why are you trying to ruin this for me? Are you jealous?”

“What?” Jesse’s mouth dropped open. “No!”

“I think you are,” Sam said heatedly. “I think you’re jealous someone besides you is getting some attention.”

Jesse curled his hands into fists. “I am not.”

“You don’t have to worry about me,” Sam drawled. “I’m tough. I can look after myself.”

“Pfft.” Jesse rolled his eyes.

“I like hanging out with Kyle,” Sam hissed. “His friends are cool, and he gives me free weed because we’re friends—”

“He’s playing you,” Jesse spoke over him. “He’s trying to get back at me.”

“By getting me wasted?” Sam snorted. “Come off it, Jesse. I’m having fun and you can’t stand it.”

Jesse shut his mouth as the twins tore through the living room. Tyler tripped going back up the stairs and Allison fell upon him and wrenched the doll from his hands.

“You’re not taking any more Barbie heads,” she spat, then kicked him hard in the belly.

“Allison!” Jesse cried. “Shit! I can’t wait to watch everyone on my own,” he bitched. “This is going to be a blast.”

“Welcome to my world,” Sam snickered.

“Oh, go fuck yourself,” Jesse snapped. “I babysat you, too. For years.”

“Whatever.” Sam’s smile fell away as he glanced out the window. Kyle’s Cadillac sat in the drive and he jumped up and brushed Jesse aside. “My ride’s here. I’ve gotta go.”

“When are you going to be home?” Jesse followed his brother to the door.

“After midnight.”

“Are you going to reply if we text you?” Jesse huffed. “You can’t fall off the face of the earth. It isn’t fair. We get worried when you don’t reply.”

“I learned from the best,” Sam quipped, and Jesse stopped at the edge of the couch and angrily crossed his arms. “And who’s we?” Sam sneered. “You and mom?”

Jesse pressed his lips together. They both knew Monica wasn’t keeping any tabs on her kids. If Jesse said Sam was at a friend’s house studying, then she’d leave it at that.

“See you later,” Sam slid out the door, a smile on his face, and shut it quietly behind him.

“Give it back!” Tyler screamed.

“It’s mine!” Allison yelled back and Jesse turned to see the twins wrestling in front of the TV, the Barbie abandoned on the carpet beside them.

“Hey! Cool it!” Jesse cried, then went to physically disperse the squabbling children because they weren’t listening.

Within twenty minutes, Monica showed up with the babies. She didn’t ask about Sam and Jesse didn’t volunteer anything, either. Once she left, Jesse went into the kitchen to make dinner – grilled cheese sandwiches and tomato soup – and after everyone was fed, he put a movie on for the kids, then started the dishes. The twins were subdued. Tyler was embroiled in the movie while Allison colored happily at the coffee table. Lissa lounged in her bouncer by the TV, but Brian joined Jesse in the kitchen.

“Can’t we go over to Shaun’s house, like last time?” Little Brian sat at the table with a bowl of ice cream. Nobody else had gotten any. Just him. It was a special treat.

“We could,” Jesse said slowly. “But what about the twins? And Lissa? I can’t leave them here by themselves. The twins would burn the house down.”

Brian pouted. “Maybe Shaun’s grandma can watch them.”

“I really don’t want to bother her, Bri.”

“I wish mom liked Shaun’s grandma.” Brian looked sadly at his bowl of ice cream. It was starting to melt.

“That’s not something you need to worry about,” Jesse said with a sigh. “Now, eat your ice cream. Before it melts.” He turned back to the dishes, at a total loss what to say to the kid. He wanted to see Shaun, too, and they’d only been apart less than two hours. Poor Brian hadn’t seen him in days.

The rest of the night passed quickly when Jesse busied himself with the kids. He gave everyone baths and a light snack before bed, then took a long shower while they ate downstairs in front of the TV.

At 10:30, Jesse got the twins into their beds.

“Goodnight, guys.” Jesse turned on the nightlight and some quiet music to put them to sleep.

“Night,” Tyler muttered.

“Goodnight, Jess!” Allison called.

Jesse turned off the light, then went to lay Lissa down. She’d already been changed. Everything was turned off and put away downstairs and Jesse was ready for bed. He wanted to get this night over with.

Brian sat on his little bed in the nursery. He had his footie PJs on, but he looked glum.

“Want to sleep in my bed tonight?” Jesse asked.

Brian perked up a little. “Yeah.”

“Go get settled in. I’ll be there soon.”

Brian jumped off the bed and flew out of the room.

Jesse smiled after him, then turned to the baby. “Okay, Lissa. Do you want lullabies or nature sounds tonight?”

Jesse and Brian were tucked in bed when Monica came home. It was just past midnight, and she was much later than usual. She stumbled down the hall and the sound of it woke Jesse from his troubled sleep. He sat up as Monica poked her head in the door.

“You’re still up?” she slurred.

“Not really.” Jesse glared at her. “Did you go drinking?”

“Cliff took me for drinks after our shift.” Monica smiled faintly and Jesse looked closer. Her soft, ginger hair was piled sexily on her head and in the dim hallway light, he noticed Monica had her scrubs on backwards.

“The boyfriend?”

“He’s such a great guy, Jesse,” Monica said dreamily.

Jesse crossed his arms. “Glad you had fun.”

“I’m going to grab a shower.” Monica backed out of the room. “Night!”

Jesse had been waiting for her to notice Sam’s absence, but she hadn’t. She shut the door and shuffled down the hall, totally oblivious.

Jesse pulled the covers over his head and checked his phone. He’d sent Sam a text when he’d laid down, maybe an hour ago, but Sam still hadn’t replied.

Jesse sighed and turned off his phone. Fuck it. He needed to get some sleep…

In the morning, he found his brother face down on the lower bunk, dressed in the same clothes from yesterday. He even had his tennis shoes on.

“Hey.” Jesse jabbed the teen in the ribs. “Wake up.”

Sam unstuck his face from the sheet. “Wha?” There was a puddle of drool below him.

“It’s morning,” Jesse said. “And it’s time for school? Did you forget?”

“Fuck school…” Sam dropped his head back on the mattress and shut his eyes.

“Oh, hell no.” Jesse’s eyes narrowed into slits. “If you stay home sick, I’m telling mom.”

“Tell her.” Sam’s voice was muffled by the sheets. “I don’t care.”

Jesse turned away with a huff and angrily got dressed for the day. Sam didn’t move once while he pulled his clothes on. No matter how much noise Jesse made while he got ready, Sam did not respond.

When he went downstairs, Monica was lounging on the couch with a cup of coffee. Her feet were up on the table and her hand was over her eyes.

“Mom?”

Monica didn’t move her hand. “What?”

“Sam’s sick.” Jesse frowned. “You need to call the middle school.”

Monica was still for a long moment. The sound of cereal pinging off the linoleum came from the kitchen, followed by the twins’ evil giggles.

The coffee cup in Monica’s hand shook and she spilled some of it on the couch seat, but she didn’t notice. She wouldn’t take her hand off her eyes. “Can you do it?”

“No,” Jesse huffed. “I can’t.”

“Fine, fine, one more thing to take care of this morning…” Monica finally took her hand off her eyes and she glared at Jesse as she set her cup on the table. “Take care of the kids in there. It sounds like a disaster.”

Jesse wanted to say something, but he didn’t dare. He bit his tongue bloody as he stalked into the kitchen to take care of the children.

When the bus came, Jesse jumped to get on as fast as he could. He wasn’t eager to get to school, but he was desperate to get away from his family.

He started crying when he took his seat on the bus, completely alone, and tears were streaming down his face when Shaun got on.

“Are you alright?” Shaun asked, sitting beside Jesse with upmost caution. “Where’s your brother?”

Jesse sniffled. “Too hungover to get out of bed.”

Shaun raised his eyebrows.

“I asked mom to call him off sick and she got snippy with me,” Jesse said. “She was hungover, too. And the kids were such a fucking handful this morning and nobody would help me.”

Shaun put an arm around Jesse’s shoulders as he sobbed into his hands. He patted Jesse’s back like you’d pat a dog. “It’s okay,” he said awkwardly. “It’s almost summer—”

“And then what?” Jesse cried. “You’ll be busy with practice and shows and I’ll be stuck at home babysitting!”

“Jesse.”

“You have to get a job!” Jesse sobbed. “Then we could make rent!”

“Jesse, I—”

“We’ll find the cheapest place possible in the shittiest part of town,” Jesse said over Shaun. “I don’t care where we live. I have to get out of my mom’s house!”

Shaun pressed his lips together and Jesse’s heart fell into the bottom of his stomach.

“You won’t do it, will you?”

“As soon as we have our setlist together, we can get paid to play,” Shaun said. “If I get a job, I won’t have time to practice or to go to shows. I’ll be busy working all the time. I know you think getting a job’s the answer—”

“Because it is.”

A fire raged in Shaun’s dark eyes, but he kept his voice calm. “It isn’t,” he said. “I’m not getting trapped in a shitty, minimum wage job. I have better things to do.”

Jesse dried his eyes. “I wish I could make you see reason.”

“No, you want to control me.” Shaun yanked his arm away and sat up stiffly. “I’m not doing what everyone else wants me to do. I’m doing this my way.”

Jesse looked out the window as the bus pulled into the school’s parking lot. They stopped outside the high school and the older kids started to get off.

Shaun stood up. “You coming?” he grumbled.

Jesse grabbed his backpack and got up with a sigh.

They were both in bad moods and didn’t talk much throughout the day, but Shaun still waited for Jesse after school and they walked home together in the afternoon heat. Shaun was especially grouchy.

“Fuck your mom,” he sneered. “I never listen to my grandma. Come to practice with me.”

“I can’t,” Jesse said. “There’s no one to watch the kids. Sam will either be asleep or awake with a headache. I can’t depend on him.”

“Then your mom comes home and finds your bitch ass brother in bed and the twins lighting up matches,” Shaun grunted. “She either misses work, or she calls the babysitter. There. Simple.”

“It’s not simple.” Jesse shook his head. “In that scenario, I come home and my stuffs on the front lawn.”

Shaun scowled. “Fuck your cunt of a mother.”

Jesse snorted. “That’s a cute nickname.”

“Yeah. Adorbs.”

Jesse laughed, but Shaun’s expression darkened.

“I don’t know if I’ll be home tonight,” he muttered. “If we drink like last time, I might crash on the couch again.”

Jesse stopped in the road. “Seriously?”

Shaun kept walking. His house was just over the hill. “I’m just telling you. In case I’m not on the bus tomorrow.”

Jesse watched Shaun climb the dip in the road. He stood on the molten asphalt until Shaun’s head disappeared over the crest, then he ran to catch up. This was his last chance to see Shaun until Thursday apparently!

He caught up just over the hill. Shaun had finally stopped, and he stood on the side of the road, in the gravel and the weeds. His back was to Jesse and beads of sweat slid down the back of his neck.

Shaun gazed moodily into the fields as the pale-yellow stalks swayed in the breeze. “I hate your family,” he grumbled.

“I’m not too fond of them either, at the moment,” Jesse said, stopping just behind him so he could feel the heat coming off his body.

“Once we get you moved out,” Shaun said tightly. “I’m not coming back for any reunions. Got that?”

“Okay.” Jesse laughed. He laid a hand on Shaun’s lower back, then pulled it away when he felt that it was soaking wet. Shaun wore his black thermal today, and it was 101 degrees. He’d started the day looking sharp and put together, but now he looked…melted.

“C’mon,” Shaun said grumpily. “We’ve got time for a quickie in the garage. If we hurry.”

Jesse’s asshole clenched in anticipation and he fell into step with the other boy as they finished the short walk to Shaun’s.

***

After the quickie, Jesse helped Shaun pack up the car. He gave him a kiss, then stood back in the driveway as he watched him drive off.

Jesse walked home in an odd sort of mood. His ass was pleasantly loose and sore. His heart floated in his chest, happy and carefree like a bird. But his mind was heavy. There were a lot of different worries bouncing around in his head.

When he came in the front door, he ran right into Sam.

“You’re home early,” he said, pulling his phone out of his pocket.

“Oh my God!” Jesse threw up his arms in frustration. “You’re calling him again?!”

“Hmm?” Sam pressed his phone to his ear. “Change of plans, can you pick me up now?” He waited a beat and Jesse heard Kyle sugary voice speak a reply. “Awesome. See you soon.” Sam hung up, then smiled at Jesse. “Kyle’s brother’s in town and he has a new blend he wants us to test out.”

“Are you planning on skipping school tomorrow, too?” Jesse snapped. “Because I’m not covering for you again.”

“Mom was hungover, too.” Sam laughed in his face. “Didn’t you see her? When she’s like that, she wouldn’t notice if I got my arm chopped off.”

“You better be home by midnight,” Jesse said sternly.

“I promise, daddy.”

Jesse gaped in horror. “Do you call him that? Kyle?”

“I’m waiting outside.” Sam turned and stormed out of the house. He slammed the door behind him.

“Shit,” Jesse cursed into the empty room. “Shit. Damn. Fuck, fuck, fuck!”

“Fuck you, too!” Sam’s cheery voice came through the door.

Jesse kicked it aggressively and when Sam’s muffled laughter came through the door, he felt like having a Tyler-level tantrum. Before he let his childishness get the better of him, Jesse spun around and took himself upstairs.

Once Jesse was on his own, the twins began to act up, but he nipped it in the bud immediately and took them outside to play with the soccer ball. After an hour of hard play, they were exhausted and begging for dinner and Jesse took them inside to put a pizza in the oven.

Monica showed up in the middle of it with the babies. She didn’t ask about Sam. Again. And she was in and out of the house in less than a minute. She handed Jesse the baby, set Brian in the living room, then she rushed out the door.

Within seconds, Lissa started to cry. Hesitantly, Jesse sniffed her diaper. “Damnit.” That explained it. Lissa was sitting in a poopy diaper and that always made her upset. With a sigh, he left dinner cooking in the oven and took her upstairs for a change.

Jesse dealt with two more tantrums. One from Brian and one from Tyler. Allison tried to help clean up after dinner, but she ended up dropping a dish and nicking the edge. Jesse sent her into the living room after that.

Lissa had another poopy diaper. Tyler refused to take a bath. Brian didn’t want to wear the footie PJs anymore. Jesse laid down for bed at 11 with Brian curled at his side. He was exhausted.

“Is Shaun coming over tomorrow?” Brian asked in the dark.

“I don’t think so.”

“Is he busy with his band?”

“Yeah,” Jesse said. “He won’t be around much anymore. He’s got a lot going on now.”

“Oh.”

Jesse put his arm around the toddler. “Get some sleep,” he said, then kissed the toddler’s blond hair.

An hour later, Sam crashed through the door and Jesse sat up and watched him blindly cross the room. He stumbled over a pile of clothes, knocked the desk chair over, then fell face first on his bed and immediately fell still.

Jesse watched him for a long moment. When Sam began to snore, he turned away with a sigh and rolled over, so he faced the wall.

Maybe an hour after that, Monica came down the hall and she was on the fucking phone again.

“...I’d trail my hands down your body… mmm… and then I’d grab your— hold on a sec.” Monica’s voice floated further down the hall. A door opened and shut, then her voice faded completely.

Jesse flopped back on the bed with a sigh. He laid awake, listening to Brian’s gentle breathing and Sam’s snoring for several hours. The sun was touching the horizon, and the sky was turning a deep red and purple, when he finally closed his eyes.

“Are you sick, now, too?” Monica drawled.

Jesse jerked awake. Brian was gone and Monica stood below him, peering up into the bunk. Sam’s bed was empty. Jesse could see his rumpled sheets over Monica’s shoulder.

“Yes,” Jesse grumbled, then pulled the blanket over his head.

“I’ll call the school,” Monica sighed, then left without another word.

Jesse listened to the sounds of his family getting ready. He was tired, but he couldn’t convince himself to go back to sleep. His mind was busy with thoughts.

Shortly after the twins left on the elementary bus, Jesse heard Monica’s van start out in the driveway. He peeked out the window and saw Brian sitting in his little booster seat in the back. The toddler had a mournful look on his face.

Jesse wished he could make that little boy happy. He always looked so sad and dejected. Jesse felt like a failure.

He got out of bed and went down for a Poptart. He sat in front of the morning news while he ate. There was a rash of drug related deaths in the area. They said investigators were looking into the matter and that it was very serious.

“Fucking ask Kyle,” Jesse muttered. “He knows everything and everyone.”

Tap, Tap, Tap

Jesse swallowed his last bite of Poptart and licked his fingers as he got up.

Shaun stood on the front step, slick with sweat. “Stop skipping.” He shoved Jesse out of the way and stepped into the living room. “I got on the bus for you and everything.”

Jesse smiled gently. “I didn’t think you’d be at school.”

“Well, I was,” Shaun said. “For thirty seconds. Then I went around back and took the long way home through the woods.”

“You must really like hiking.”

“I wasn’t sure when your mom would leave.” Shaun scowled. “I didn’t want to run into her.”

Jesse slid his arms around Shaun’s middle and then pulled back immediately. “We need to get you out of these clothes,” he said, trying his best not to laugh.

“If you aren’t at school, then it’s a waste of time being there,” Shaun growled. “Warn me next time. So I don’t have to slog through this ungodly heat.”

Jesse couldn’t help it, he started laughing.

“You owe me a blowjob for this.” Shaun curled his lip. “And I’m coming down your throat.”

“Mmm.” Jesse licked his lips. “I deserve it.”

They went upstairs and took off their clothes. Jesse set Shaun’s wet garments aside. If he was willing, Jesse would run them through the wash later. They had lots of time.

Jesse ushered Shaun up to his bed and had him lay back. “Let me take care of you,” he said.

“That was the idea.” Shaun smirked.

Jesse took Shaun’s cock out and got to work. Shaun rested an arm behind his head and watched as Jesse leisurely sucked him. He stroked Jesse’s hair and touched his face and lips with gentle fingers. The look on his face was close to awe.

Jesse got a raging hard on while he pleasured Shaun’s beautiful dick. He bobbed his head faster and faster and feverishly worked his tongue along the shaft. Shaun’s breathy sounds were sending him into overdrive and Jesse rutted his cock against the mattress as Shaun neared his climax. Jesse was excited to taste his come and he sucked Shaun eagerly as he thought about what a little whore he was becoming.

When Shaun came down Jesse’s throat, as promised, Jesse came right behind him as he greedily swallowed his seed.

“Want me to help you out?” Shaun gestured to Jesse’s twitching hips, but his eyelids were heavy.

Jesse rested his head on Shaun’s shoulder and kissed him affectionately on the cheek. “No need. I just came.”

“Oh,” Shaun smiled faintly. “How’d I miss that? I guess I am tired.”

Jesse settled against his side and draped an arm over his waist.

“I got home late and then grandma woke me up at the crack of dawn,” Shaun grumbled. “I got a fucking shower for you.”

Jesse smiled. “It’s really paying off,” he said. “A couple girls were checking you out in gym yesterday.”

Shaun rolled his eyes. “Fuck you.”

“I’m not kidding!” Jesse chuckled. “I didn’t say anything because you were so grumpy.”

Coach Vance had marched the class out to the field for laps yesterday. He was obviously a slave-driver, it had been close to 100 degrees, and the class had grudgingly started their laps.

Shaun launched off from his starting point and ran as fast as he could around the field. He’d never heard the phrase ‘pace yourself’. He ran flat out for the entire session. Jesse jogged at a moderate speed and watched him make lap after lap. Toward the end of the class, red-faced and pouring sweat, Shaun ripped his hoodie off to expose a plain, white undershirt, short-sleeved for once. Shaun almost never exposed his arms in public, but he hadn’t seemed to care. He ran even faster than before with his arms pumping and his legs flying beneath him.

Shaun looked… hot. His long legs ate up the ground and his strong arms flexed with an intimidating strength. His entire body was powerful and toned and his eyes were focused and intense. He was totally possessed.

As Jesse admired him, he noticed a couple girls pointing in Shaun’s direction and started to get upset…fucking people were always pointing at them now…but then he saw the girls were fanning themselves and smiling and it was definitely hot, but the girls had been walking their laps since the beginning. He was pretty sure they weren’t fanning themselves because they were hot.

“If you’re trying to flatter me, it isn’t working,” Shaun scowled.

Jesse laughed and changed the subject. “How was practice last night?”

Shaun’s expression changed. “We worked on another song,” he said. “And we promised to meet up tomorrow night and Saturday, too, same as last week.”

“Hopefully I can come Saturday,” Jesse muttered.

“You’re coming,” Shaun said firmly. “I’ll kidnap you if I have to. I’ll beat the door down and throw you over my back.”

“You’ll have to take Brian, too,” Jesse snickered. “He’ll be so jealous.”

“That day might not be too far off,” Shaun drawled. “Gretchen knows someone at this club in Houston. She says she can probably get us an opening act.”

“Already?” Jesse’s eyes widened.

“Sure. Why not? We don’t have to be perfect or have a huge setlist. We just need to get heard,” Shaun said adamantly. “Gretchen mentioned there’s a Battle of the Bands in October—”

“Battle of the Bands?”

“I’ll let her tell you about it. She knows all the details,” Shaun said. “I guess she did it a couple years back with a different band.” He looked up at the ceiling with a faraway look in his eye. “The winner gets a pile of cash and a recording deal.”

“Woah.”

“We won’t win, but it’ll be good for the band to get on stage.” Shaun pushed his hair back. “To get some exposure.”

“Did you guys come up with a name yet?” Jesse chewed his lip. “Or are you entering Battle of the Bands without a name?”

Shaun’s dark eyes were calculating. “Defaced.”

“Where’d that come from?”

“I like it,” Shaun said.

Jesse smiled. Shaun was writing all the songs, coming up with the melodies, and he was naming the band, too. He was so fucking proud of Shaun. He kissed him soundly. “Do you want to fuck me now?”

“Oooh, can I?” Shaun smirked.

Jesse rolled on top of him. “Yes.”

Shaun bucked his hips into Jesse’s. “I didn’t bring the lube.”

Jesse reached into the slot between the bunk and the wall and pulled out his handy bottle of baby oil.

“Good one,” Shaun laughed.

Jesse poured some of the sweet-smelling oil onto his palm, then took Shaun’s half-hard cock with both hands. He stroked him hand-over-hand, pulling him long, even strokes that had Shaun rock hard and breathless in a matter of moments.

Jesse let go of Shaun’s hard dick, then stood up on his knees and reached between his thighs to finger himself. He groaned wantonly as he slid two fingers into his butthole and pushed them inside. He fucked and stretched himself thoroughly while Shaun watched with a heated gaze.

“Hurry up.” Shaun’s dick lurched against Jesse’s sensitive inner thigh. “I’m ready for you to ride my cock.”

Jesse groaned as he removed his fingers and rested his hands on Shaun’s chest. He lifted up and positioned his asshole over Shaun’s greasy cockhead.

Shaun grabbed the base of his dick to hold himself steady. “Sit,” he commanded, and Jesse speared himself on the waiting erection.

They both groaned at the same time.

Jesse raised and lowered himself with his thighs as he worked the first few inches of Shaun’s cock into his love-tunnel and felt himself begin to loosen. He dipped lower and took more. He slid up and down the first half of Shaun’s cock, his thigh muscles burning with strain, as he bounced repeatedly just over Shaun’s lap.

Shaun grit his teeth as Jesse rode him slowly. He was having a hard time letting Jesse do all the work. Hi ships bucked restlessly under Jesse’s, eager for more, deeper, harder.

Jesse was looking for his prostate, though, and he used Shaun’s strong chest as leverage to change the angle. He found it on the second try and he gasped with pleasure as his asshole clenched up tight. His cock dripped a strand of clear fluid onto Shaun’s scarred belly.

 

 

Shaun hissed and grabbed Jesse by the hair, then pulled him down and slammed his lips onto Jesse’s. He pushed his tongue into his mouth as he did the same with his cock. He arched his hips and drove himself deep into Jesse’s squirming body and touched his secret button again.

Jesse groaned and kissed Shaun sloppily as he was fucked from below. Shaun let go of his hair and grabbed his hips instead as he began to fuck Jesse in earnest. Jesse reached between their bodies for his dick and stroked himself frantically as their tongues battled for dominance, and Shaun plunged his cock into his sore butthole. Jesse was so close… Everything felt so good.

“Come on my dick, Jess,” Shaun said a deep, commanding voice. “Spray your come all over my belly so I can make you lick it up.”

Jesse whimpered and fucked his hand with abandon as he tipped over the edge and sprayed his come all over Shaun’s flat stomach. “Shit!”

Shaun growled and held Jesse’s twitching hips in place as he finished fucking him. He slammed his eyes shut and came with a bellow.

Jesse could feel the exact second when his cock exploded inside him and a pleasant rush of warmth filled his insides. Shaun fell back against the pillows when he’d finished and Jesse lifted up on his knees, dismounted with a wet, squelching sound, then rolled to the side.

Shaun licked his lips, then took a deep stabilizing breath. “That was pretty good.”

Jesse gazed at Shaun’s sweaty, come-stained chest. “Are you really going to make me lick you clean?”

“I don’t think I can make anybody do anything right now,” Shaun chuckled. “Fuck me. I think I’m going to pass out.”

“Well, I want to do it,” Jesse murmured, then he wiggled closer and began to lap up his own salty come.

Shaun groaned and slid his fingers through Jesse’s hair. “That’s really not necessary. I still need a shower.”

Jesse finished up and rested his cheek on Shaun’s warm pectoral. “We’ll get a shower when we wake up.”

“Wake up?”

“We’re taking a nap.” Jesse reached for his blanket at the foot of the bed and draped it over their naked bodies. “Shut your eyes.”

“I was joking about the passing out thing.” Shaun made a face but then shut his eyes. His hand fell from Jesse’s hair and rested on his shoulder.

Jesse smiled up at him tenderly. He watched him for a few moments in silence, then stretched up to kiss him on the lips.

Shaun frowned, but he didn’t open his eyes. “I thought you wanted me to sleep.”

“Sorry.”

Jesse was quiet as Shaun’s face slowly relaxed into sleep. He smiled gently, then closed his eyes and tried to relax.

Shaun may have struggled to get here, but Jesse was glad he’d skipped class. He really didn’t want to go back to school. Maybe Shaun was right. Maybe he should drop out next year.

Jesse quickly put the thought out of his mind as his brow began to furrow with consternation. He didn’t want to think about anything pressing. He wanted to enjoy his brief moment of irresponsibility. He slid an arm around Shaun’s waist and listened to his heartbeat until he drifted into a light slumber.

Two hours later, Jesse rolled out of bed and threw on a shirt. Shaun sat up groggily as he poked around the room.

“What are you doing?”

“I’m going to throw your clothes in the wash,” Jesse said as he collected Shaun’s damp clothes from earlier. “Then I’ll make us some sandwiches.”

“Do we have enough time for that?” Shaun narrowed his eyes suspiciously.

“It’s noon,” Jesse said.

Shaun nodded slowly. “When are we taking a shower?”

“After lunch,” Jesse said. “I’ll switch your clothes to the dryer, so they’ll be dry by two.”

Shaun nodded and that’s exactly what they did. Jesse made salami sandwiches for lunch and they ate naked on blankets Jesse spread out on his bedroom floor. Jesse turned on the TV and they watched an episode of Hell’s Kitchen.

“Fuck this guy,” Shaun sneered as Chef Ramsey ripped one of his chefs a new asshole. “If that guy talked to me like that, I’d punch him in the throat. Fuck the British.”

“Oh, you hate British people now?” Jesse chuckled.

“This cook guy is exactly the same as the other one. The asshole on that singing show.” Shaun’s face darkened. “Simon.”

“Simon Cowell?” Jesse laughed. “That was like ten years ago.”

“My grandma watched him every night,” Shaun grumbled. “She was in love with him. She thought everything he said was the word of God.”

Jesse laughed.

They took a shower after that and they touched each other languidly under the warm water but stuck to getting clean. Their time was running out and they knew it.

Jesse found something clean to wear while Shaun put his clothes on from earlier. Then, grudgingly, they went downstairs to wait for Sam to come home.

Sam chuckled when he came in and saw Shaun sitting on the couch. “You two have a nice day?”

“Lovely,” Shaun grumbled. “I must have fucked your brother...what? Five times?”

“TMI.” Sam’s face turned green. “Oh, hey, Jesse. Kyle’s coming to pick me up in an hour. You guys aren’t going anywhere, right?”

Jesse lodged a throw pillow at Sam’s fathead, but the teen easily ducked it.

“What the fuck?”

“You can’t keep abandoning me with these kids!” Jesse cried. “It isn’t fair!”

Sam looked a bit guilty, but the look vanished as fast as it had come. “I need a break.”

“You’ve had multiple breaks!”

“I don’t get to smoke in our bedroom,” Sam sneered. “I can’t even have my best friend over for a movie.”

“Oh, Kyle’s your best friend now?”

“So what if he is?” Sam inclined his head.

Shaun laughed darkly. “Don’t fucking listen to us, kid. You’re right. We’re stupid and we don’t know shit about anything.”

“What do you know that’s so important?” Sam curled his lip.

“I know that Kyle’s going to take advantage of you,” Shaun said as he turned back to the TV. “It’s what he does best. You have no idea the kinds of shit he gets up to.”

“I don’t care what you guys think.” Sam shook his head. “I’m going out.” He strode for the stairs and jogged up the steps two at a time.

“See?” Jesse sighed. “You can’t tell him anything!”

“We warned him. It’s his funeral.”

Jesse pinched the bridge of his nose. He felt like he was developing a migraine.

Sam left before the twins came home, just the way he’d planned it.

“See ya, losers,” Sam said on his way out.

Shaun glared at him viciously, but Sam didn’t care. He bounced out the door and flew to Kyle’s car.

“Shithead,” Shaun muttered.

Jesse pushed him half-heartedly. “Don’t call him that.”

When the twins got off the bus, they weren’t happy to see Shaun and they went up to their room to avoid him. Jesse was so relieved he didn’t have to deal with them.

Monica came by with the babies close to seven. She was running late, but she stopped when she saw Shaun on the couch. “I haven’t seen you in a while,” she said cautiously. “How’s your grandma? She left a couple messages.”

“She wants to watch the baby,” Shaun frowned. “Maybe you should let her.”

“I— I’m running super late,” Monica said, flustered. “I have to get back.”

“Of course.” Shaun scowled.

Monica ran out the door, leaving the babies with Jesse. Brian turned to Shaun immediately and climbed into his lap.

“I’ve got so much to tell you,” he said excitedly. “Today, in my art lesson…”

Brian ran his mouth a mile a minute, talking about his time in daycare and his never-ending battle with the twins and Shaun sat back and listened attentively. He gave Brian exactly the sort of attention he’d been craving, and Jesse loved him for it.

Jesse stuck Lissa in the bouncer as he went to the other room to prepare a meal. Brian and Shaun chatted in the living room with Lissa cooing pleasantly in the background and Jesse danced around the kitchen as he made spaghetti and a salad. He was in a shockingly good mood.

The night was uneventful, but Jesse couldn’t stop smiling. Shaun’s presence made everything better. Jesse’s annoying siblings weren’t nearly as unbearable, and Brian glowed with joy. Jesse was thoroughly pleased.

As it got later, Jesse skipped the baths for the night and let the twins curl up in their beds with their Nintendos. They’d fall asleep late, but they’d be relatively quiet until then. Jesse laid Lissa down a little early, put her music on, and got the multicolored nightlight running.

Shaun and Brian waited in Jesse’s room, lounging on blankets and pillows while Shaun flipped through the channels on TV. Jesse settled next to Shaun and Brian squished between them.

“Can you come back tomorrow?” Brian looked up at Shaun with pleading eyes.

“I can’t,” Shaun said sadly. “I have practice after school.”

“What about Friday?”

“I’ll probably be practicing at my house,” Shaun said sheepishly. “But maybe when your mom comes home, you and Jesse can come over for a while.”

Brian cheered up a little. “Okay.”

The toddler lasted through almost an hour of programing before began to nod off.

Shaun looked down at the blond affectionately. “I’d better go. Grandma will be waiting up for me.” He leaned over the sleeping toddler’s head and kissed Jesse slowly and passionately. When he pulled back, his eyes were warm with affection. “Bye Jesse.”

Jesse smiled sadly as he stood up and slipped silently from the room. The weekend couldn’t come soon enough. He hoped they’d be able to spend the night again at Ben’s Saturday. He never wanted to leave Shaun side. He hated being without him.

Once he was alone, Jesse carried Brian to his own bed in the nursery, then he dragged himself back to his room. He cleaned up the blankets and pillows on the floor, then turned off the TV and the lights. He climbed into bed, pulled the covers over his head, and slept hard until morning.

Thursday was the same as Tuesday. Jesse and Shaun had quick, dirty sex in the garage after school, then spent a few moments together, talking about the weekend. But Shaun had to get to practice, and before too long, they were packing his equipment in Eli’s car. They shared a brief kiss in the driveway, then Shaun drove off and disappeared down the road.

Jesse walked home with a longing heart. He wished he could go with him. He was so tired of being responsible all the time…

Sam left for Kyle’s as soon as he came in the door.

“I’m going to Shaun’s tomorrow night,” Jesse called after his brother. “I’m not getting stuck here this weekend!”

“Yeah, yeah.” Sam flew out the door without a goodbye.

The next day was Friday, finally, and Jesse couldn’t wait for practice tomorrow. He was even looking forward to spending time in the garage tonight because he and Shaun would get some alone time after school and then, later, when Monica came home, Jesse and Brian would go over for a couple hours for another movie.

Jesse was in high spirits and didn’t let a stressful morning with his younger siblings get him down. During school, he kept his conversation with Shaun light and stress-free. He didn’t want to bring up anything that would upset him.

On the walk home, Shaun seemed to pick up on Jesse’s good mood.

“You’re looking forward to getting bent over the tool bench, aren’t you?” Shaun snickered.

“Well, yes.” Jesse laughed. “But that’s not why I’m smiling.”

Shaun smirked. “Let me guess? A weekend away from the family?”

“An entire day away… it’ll be like a vacation.”

Shaun grunted in agreement. He strode along the road with an air of confidence and determination that was so unlike him. Jesse glanced down at his nicely toned arms as they walked. Shaun wore a white, short-sleeved undershirt tucked snuggly into his jeans. He’d taken his flannel off when they’d left the school. He wasn’t sweating anymore and Jesse was admiring his figure.

“You should show your arms off more,” Jesse said neutrally. “The scars aren’t as bad as you think.”

“How do you know what I think?” Shaun snapped. “And I don’t want to show my arms off!”

Jesse flinched. “I just figured—”

“I only took that other shirt off because it’s hot,” Shaun spat, then he wrapped his arms around himself and marched ahead. “I like wearing long sleeves.”

Jesse sighed and trotted after him. As he closed the distance between them, he closed his hand around Shaun’s wrist and pulled him to a stop. “Shaun, I didn’t mean to offend you.”

Shaun slowed to a stop, but he wouldn’t meet Jesse’s eyes. “I’m not offended.”

Jesse bit his lip to hide a smile. “I’m not lying to you,” he said softly. “You look nice, Shaun. I can tell you’re trying to take care of yourself. You don’t have to be embarrassed.”

“I’m fucking extremely embarrassed!” Shaun hissed, then hunched over his arms as his cheeks started to redden. “I don’t even know why I’m bothering. Everything I’m doing is dumb.”

Jesse looked down at his forearms again. The scars ranged from old to new. Some were white and near fading, others were light brown with even edges, the new ones were red and jagged. “No.” He pulled on Shaun’s arm, but he resisted. He kept his arms banded protectively across his chest. “The only thing you should be embarrassed about is not trying,” Jesse said adamantly, squeezing his arm warmly before he gave up and dropped his hand. “You’re trying a lot of new things lately. A relationship. A new band. A new style…”

“The style isn’t new!”

“Yes, it is,” Jesse said. “Let’s just say you were rocking the grungy-murderer look before.”

Shaun’s expression darkened.

“Now, you’re dark and mysterious and handsome,” Jesse said quickly. “You’re dead sexy.”

“Whatever.” Shaun pulled a face, then turned away and started walking. Jesse hurried to match his stride.

“Since I’m telling you the truth, you look ridiculous in long-sleeves and leather boots,” he said bluntly. “It’s 100 degrees.”

“Screw you.” Shaun sped up. “Everyone wears boots in Texas.”

Jesse had to run to keep up. “I’ve been meaning to ask you,” he said loudly. “How did you get those sexy muscles anyhow?”

“I— uh I do a lot of hunting,” Shaun said vaguely.

“You’ve gone twice since I’ve known you,” Jesse said with a laugh.

“Fuck you,” Shaun sneered. “Me and my grandpa go all the time. Before any of you are awake.”

“Do you carry your kills home on a regular basis?” Jesse teased. “Is deer-lifting a sport?”

“Once, I carried a 175-pound buck on my back,” Shaun drawled. “For two miles.”

“Wow.”

“How much do you weigh?”

“I don’t know.” Jesse looked down at his skinny body. “Maybe 100 pounds?”

“Easy.” Shaun looped an arm around Jesse’s middle and hauled him off the ground.

“Hey!” Jesse’s vision spun as he was thrown upside down and over Shaun’s shoulder.

“Shut up and hold on.” Shaun patted his ass, then started to jog. “I’m ready to fuck you now.”

Jesse yelled as he was bumped and tossed around. “Okay! Okay! Let me down! Please…”

Shaun huffed and puffed, but he didn’t slow. “Nope.”

When they got to the garage, Shaun set Jesse on his feet. Jesse pulled his shirt straight with a huff, then pushed his hair out of his face. “Very impressive.”

Shaun laughed at him.

They never actually got around to fucking. Shaun jumped on his guitar right away.

“We need three more songs before we can get on stage and play a whole set,” he said. “We’ve got a lot of work to do tomorrow.”

Jesse left a little before six because he had to. He gathered his things, then kissed Shaun goodbye. “What time are we leaving?” He was already planning out his morning, so he didn’t end up waiting listlessly for Shaun’s arrival. He knew when the sun came up tomorrow morning, he’d be chomping at the bit to leave.

“Around one,” Shaun said. “Grandpa and I have a date early tomorrow.”

“Hunting?”

Shaun nodded. “We like to stock up on meat during the summer so we can beat the rush during hunting season.”

Jesse kissed Shaun again. “Have fun, wild man.”

When he left the garage, Kyle’s Cadillac sat in his driveway.

“Fucking Kyle,” Jesse muttered as he rushed through the tall grass. As he neared the house, Sam burst out the front door and ran for the car. “Sam! Wait up!” Jesse yelled.

Sam stopped at the car and turned his head.

“Where are you going?” Jesse staggered out of the grass. “Where are the twins?”

“Watching cartoons,” Sam said, and Jesse peered behind him. Kyle smoked a cigarette behind the wheel. He saw Jesse looking and he waved. “You always come home at six,” Sam said snottily. “It’s six. I don’t see what the big deal is.”

“I’ve never left you guys on your own so I could party.” Jesse stormed up on his little brother and poked him hard in the chest. “You’re an asshole!”

Sam fell back against the Cadillac. “I knew you were coming—”

“No, you didn’t,” Jesse hissed. “I could have easily blown you off if I wanted!”

“You wouldn’t do that.” Sam sneered.

“But you would?”

Kyle got out of the car with his hands up. “I’m the one to blame,” he said sheepishly, the cigarette burning between the first two fingers on his right. “I showed up early and texted Sam to come wait outside with me. We weren’t going to actually leave, Jesse.”

“I don’t believe you,” Jesse hissed.

“Well, it’s not like we’re staying now,” Sam said in exasperation. “You’re here and the twins are inside. Can I go now?”

“What are you up to tonight?” Jesse crossed his arms. “Cocaine and heroin?”

Kyle laughed. “I wouldn’t give coke to a thirteen-year-old.”

Jesse’s eyes narrowed.

“C’mon,” Sam groaned. “Let’s go before he starts threatening to tell mom.” He slid into the passenger seat and promptly pushed the lock down with his finger.

“Catch you later, Jess,” Kyle said cheerfully, then he got in the car and punched the gas. Sam stuck his tongue out obnoxiously as the car rolled out of the drive.

“Screw you!” Jesse grabbed a handful of rocks and threw them after the Cadillac, but he missed by a mile.

He stormed inside and found the twins at the window. They looked up guiltily as he stepped into the room. “Go play upstairs,” he snapped.

Giggling, the twins ran for the stairs as Jesse sank onto the couch and buried his face in his hands.

Monica dropped the babies off twenty minutes later and said she’d be home early. “We’re overstaffed tonight,” she said. “They’re sending people home after break.”

Jesse’s mood lifted significantly.

“I’ll text you if I get sent home,” Monica said, and she was already checking her phone.

“Okay,” Jesse said, hoping for the best.

Monica left and Jesse went about making dinner and entertaining the children. He couldn’t help checking his phone, over and over, as the time ticked by on the clock, but Monica never texted him.

When the clock hit 9:00, Jesse grudgingly started the nighttime ritual. Snacks, baths, pajamas. It was half past 10 when he finished tucking everyone in.

There would be no movie at Shaun’s tonight and Jesse dragged himself to the bathroom and took a long, scalding hot shower. He tossed on a t-shirt in his room then crawled into bed. He was depressed, but he focused on tomorrow. He fell asleep thinking about Shaun’s new band.

“Shhh! You have to be quiet,” Monica hissed from the hall and Jesse blinked his eyes open.

“Is everyone asleep?” whispered a deep, male voice and Jesse sat up in a daze as heavy footsteps plodded after Monica’s.

“All snug in their beds!” Monica sang.

The voices faded as Monica’s door shut behind them. The house was quiet for a moment, then the sound of creaking springs floated down the hallway.

“Ugh!” Jesse flipped on his belly and crushed a pillow over his head. It blocked out the noise, but he could barely breathe…he chose suffocation over the sounds.

Jesse woke up with his arm hanging off the bed and his pillow on the floor. Sam snored softly on the lower bunk in a pair of boxer briefs and nothing else. The sun slated through the shades and left long, horizontal lines in the gentle curve of Sam’s lower back. Jesse narrowed his eyes… there were small, finger-shaped bruises along his spine.

The bedroom door opened.

“Jesse?” Brian looked up sadly. “I had an accident.”

“What?”

“Me and the twins were playing with their ball out back. They were being really nice,” Brian sniffled, then across the room. “But when I said I had to go potty, they locked me outside.”

“What?” Jesse sat up and pushed a hand through his hair. “Why?”

“They made me poop my pants,” Brian said tearfully.

Jesse climbed out of bed and picked up the toddler. “It’s alright. I’m not mad at you.”

Brian whimpered. “I’m sorry, Jesse.”

“Where’s mom?”

“She said she was busy and to leave her alone,” Brian said as tears rolled down his round cheeks. “She’s been on the phone all morning.”

Jesse sighed. “Let’s go get you changed.”

It didn’t take long because Brian was extra helpful. He was so embarrassed. He hadn’t had an accident in several months now and Jesse wondered if the twins had planned this or if it had been a spur of the moment kind of thing. Either way, he was furious.

He carried Brian downstairs and found Lissa was in the bouncer, Monica on the couch, and the twins were in front of the TV. The twins burst into evil giggles when they saw Brian in Jesse’s arms and they leapt up and ran out of the room before Jesse could discipline them.

Shaking his head, Jesse turned to Monica. “Hey, mom.”

Monica’s hair fell in romantic waves as she looked up from her phone. “How’d you sleep, kiddo?” She wore a low-cut tank top and skin-tight jeans. She was all dolled up and Jesse glowered at her.

“Not so good,” he said. His slumber had been interrupted so many times this week…

Monica quirked an eyebrow. “Do you have plans tonight?”

“Yes.” Jesse tensed up. “I’m leaving in an hour.”

“Damn.” Monica tossed her phone down. “That changes things a bit.”

“Ow, Jesse, you’re squeezing me,” Brian whined.

Jesse loosened his hold on the toddler, but he didn’t put him down. “Sorry, baby.”

“I’m trying to make dinner plans in the city.” Monica stood, then strode into the kitchen.

Jesse followed her into the room and saw the twins making faces through the sliding glass door. “Get off the glass!” Monica gave them the finger and the twins dashed away. She walked to the fridge, unfazed, and grabbed the list of phone numbers secured with the Disney World magnet. “Guess I have to call the daycare,” she grumbled.

Jesse sighed. Brian had done alright staying overnight last weekend, but he wasn’t going to be happy. He was filled with so much guilt. “Sorry,” he muttered. “I thought I had the weekend off. You said I could.”

“Did I say that?” Monica snipped, then she took the numbers back to the living room. “Well, Cliff came up with the idea last night. He wants to wine and dine me.”

Jesse stopped in the doorway and watched as Monica flopped back on the couch.

“He’s such a gentleman,” Monica cooed, pressing the list of numbers to her chest.

“You mean the gentleman that snuck in your room last night?”

Monica sat up indignantly. “I’m allowed to have visitors, Jesse.”

“He sounds like a sleezeball.”

“You’re one to talk,” Monica said nastily. “What about that weirdo you hang out with? He reeks to high heaven.”

“At least he’s actually here,” Jesse said as Brian began to squirm in his arms and Jesse finally set him down. Brian ran to the armchair and climbed on the seat. He pulled his knees to his chest and peered over them shyly. “Nobody helps me anymore,” Jesse ranted. “But Shaun does. Shaun helps me,” he said. “And he loves Brian. He doesn’t tease him or put him down or purposefully try to exclude him from things. He cares about him.”

“I don’t know what that’s supposed to mean.” Monica tossed her hair. “I love Brian like he’s my own.”

Jesse laughed. “That’s not saying much.”

Monica narrowed her eyes. “If you aren’t happy here—”

“Then I can move out, right?” Jesse laughed. “I guess I’m going to have to get a job on the weekends so I can save up some money. Since I’m an adult now and I can fend for myself. And Brian.”

Brian looked between Monica and Jesse with wide, fearful eyes.

“I’m going to come home one day and your stuff’ll be gone,” Monica said bitterly. “Just like every other man in my life.”

“Fuck you, mom.” Jesse started for the stairs. “And when you’re watching the kids, how about you actually watch them? The twins are terrorizing Brian again,” he said, gesturing to the toddler in the armchair. “I can’t always be here. I have a life. Fuck you for making me worry about him while I try to enjoy my single night off all week. I’ll be back tomorrow. Ready for more. Can you at least make sure he isn’t mistreated?”

Monica pressed her lips together. “I have to call the daycare.”

“C’mon Brian.” Jesse sighed. “I’m leaving soon.”

Brian leapt out of the chair and followed him back upstairs. They found Monica’s tablet in the twins’ room then went back to Jesse’s.

Sam had rolled onto his side, but he was still fast asleep. Jesse saw more bruising on his upper arm. “What is going on with you?” he muttered.

“What Jesse?”

“Nothing.” Jesse helped Brian up to the top bunk and loaded it up for Brian to play. He was watching him mess with the Angry Birds app when loud, distinctive knocking came from downstairs.

Sam sat up with a jerk. “Wha?”

Brian giggled into his hand. Sam’s hair was a rat’s nest.

“That’s Shaun,” Jesse said, then turned to the blond nestled beside him. “I’ve gotta go.” He kissed the boy on the head. “And you’ve got to go to daycare again tonight. Remember what I said.”

“Do you really have to go?” Brian pouted.

“Yes,” Jesse said. “I promised Shaun I was coming.”

Brian put his little arms around Jesse and hugged him tight. “Love you, Jesse.”

“Love you, too.” Jesse hugged him back. “I’ll see you soon, buddy.”

“What time is it?” Sam asked groggily as Jesse climbed down from his bunk. Sam rubbed his face and groaned. “It’s way too bright. Turn off the light.”

“That’s the sun, retard.” Jesse went to the dresser and quickly picked out something to wear.

“Where are you going?” Sam sneered, watching with red, blood-shot eyes as Jesse dressed in the middle of the room.

“Out.” Jesse yanked his t-shirt over his head. “It’s my turn.” He zipped up his jeans, then stepped into his shoes by the closet.

“With Shaun?” Sam made a face. “Everybody’s obsessed with that freakazoid. You should hear some of the shit Kyle says about him.”

“I can imagine,” Jesse cringed, then he waved up at the toddler. “Bye guys.”

Jesse’s worries fell away as he stepped out of the room. He bounced down the stairs, beaming when his gaze landed on Shaun, waiting by the door with his arms crossed.

Monica had let him in, but she was busy talking on the phone. “Yes. Tonight.” Monica listened to a reply, then huffed. “Are you new or something? This isn’t the first time I’ve use the overnight service. I need to drop them off around five.”

Shaun met Jesse’s eyes as he crossed the room. He had a dark lock of hair over his right eye, but he’d combed it again and it looked luscious and sexy. He wore a short-sleeved band tee, and his arms were out again, like yesterday. He still rocked the boots but had a pair of distressed jeans Jesse had never seen before paired with his belt.

“See you later, mom,” Jesse muttered, his gaze on Shaun unwavering as he glided past the woman.

Monica waved him off. “I know there’s an extra fee. I’m aware. Yes. For the second time, I’m looking for overnight care.”

Jesse and Shaun slipped out of the house and Jesse let out a breath he hadn’t even known he’d been holding.

“Let’s get out of here,” Shaun said and Jesse nodded.

They got in the car and sped down the road. Jesse promised himself he wouldn’t worry about his family while he was away. He had plenty of time to do that. Tonight, he was getting wasted and then, laid.

“Your mom’s going out again?” Shaun grumbled.

“Yeah,” Jesse sighed. “Sounds like poor Brian’s stuck at daycare again.”

“Why does your mom have so many kids is she can’t keep up with them?” Shaun glared out the windshield. “She should get her tubes tied.”

Jesse snorted with amusement.

They got to Ben’s thirty minutes later. Gretchen’s Jeep was parked on the curb, the grass was freshly mowed, and Angela’s flowers were blooming. Everything was in place and the flowers smelled wonderful.

“Hey, guys!” Ben said when he answered the door. “We’re all set up downstairs.”

Jesse and Shaun followed him down to the basement.

Gretchen was behind her drum kit. She wore a pleated skirt with chains and a tiny red tube top. “Hey, kid,” she called, smiling at Jesse.

“Hey.” Jesse smiled back.

Shaun unpacked his instrument while Jesse found a place to sit.

“Wait until you see what we’ve come up with, Jess,” Ben said as he grabbed his bass. “It’s solid stuff.”

“You’re our first audience,” Gretchen said. “Unless you count Angela. And nobody’s counting her,” she grumbled. “Bitch.”

“Hey, no name calling,” Ben scolded cheerfully. “It’s in the rules, remember?”

Jesse spoke up. “Rules?”

“Didn’t Shaun tell you?” Ben chuckled. “Angela wrote up a list of rules for practice.”

“She wrote a list of rules for your practice?”

“No fighting, no yelling,” Gretchen listed. “No name-calling, no smoking, no drinking.”

“Except on the weekends,” Ben said smartly.

“Yeah, under conditions.” Gretchen rolled her eyes at Jesse. “We can only drink if we’ve got the go-ahead. If Ben has anything scheduled Sunday morning, then this house is drier than a nun’s vagina.”

Jesse cringed. “That sucks.”

“We aren’t following those fucked up rules, are we?” Shaun said darkly.

“We didn’t drink Tuesday or Thursday,” Ben said.

“Yeah, because you had a fucking curfew.” Gretchen poked a finger at him.

“I work. Eight to four,” Ben said. “Some of us have normal, boring lives.”

“So what? He’s in high school and he doesn’t have a curfew.” Gretchen swung her finger in Shaun’s direction. “You need to grow a pair and stand up to your wife.” She dropped her hand and picked up a drumstick. “She’s going off the deep end.”

“She’s stressed because of the—”

“Wedding,” Gretchen crashed her stick into the cymbal. “We know.”

Ben rubbed his face.

“Let’s get to work,” Gretchen snipped. “Before you piss me off more.”

“How did I piss you—”

“Play!” Gretchen snapped.

Shaun viciously began to strum and Ben, wide-eyed, rushed to catch up. Gretchen started in right behind him and somehow, the melodies meshed, and Shaun started to sing.

Jesse watched in awe as they played through a new song. He thought it was even better than the one last week.

The band practiced until six. And then, they only stopped to order Chinese and for Gretchen to run out for booze.

“I finally got around to seeing my girl,” Ben said when he, Jesse and Shaun, were alone in the basement, waiting for Gretchen’s return. “You know, the one on the corner?” Ben waggled his eyebrows.

“Oh, right. I gave you money,” Shaun said with a nod. “I remember.”

Ben pulled a carefully rolled baggie out of the coffee table. “It’s good stuff. I think you’ll be very pleased.”

Shaun took the baggie with a grin. “Right on.”

Gretchen returned soon after with the beer and the food. “Anyone want chopsticks? Or should I grab some forks?”

“I’m not eating with sticks.” Shaun’s lip curled with distaste.

Gretchen rolled her eyes, then went upstairs to fetch some cutlery.

They ate and started drinking. Practice resumed and the alcohol continued to flow. By nine, everyone was feeling the buzz. The band broke down for the night and they joined Jesse on the sectional while Gretchen made a pitcher of hard lemonade at the wet bar.

Gretchen brought the glasses to the coffee table. “When I say go, my guy at the club will pencil us down as an opening act,” she said smugly. “I talked to him yesterday.”

“It won’t be long until we’re ready,” Shaun said. “I’ve got a lot of ideas.”

“I looked that place up on Facebook. It looks legit.” Ben took a glass of lemonade and cautiously sampled it. He immediately pulled a face. “Sour.”

“Fuck you, it’s the perfect blend of tartness.” Gretchen took a large swig of her glass.

“I’m sticking to beer, thanks,” Shaun said darkly, raising his can.

“As I was saying,” Gretchen said loudly, giving Shaun a heated look. “The Foundry has a beautiful setup. The sound is to die for and the light show is impressive. We’ll look so cool all lit up on stage.”

“I didn’t get to see it,” Shaun grumbled. “I don’t have a phone.”

“You have a computer, right?”

“I hate computers.” Shaun sneered.

Gretchen elbowed Ben. “What’s with this guy?”

Shaun bitterly crossed his arms.

Jesse took his phone out and googled The Foundry in Houston. He pulled up a social media account, then handed his phone to Shaun. “Look.”

Shaun scanned through a page of thumbnails. There were multiple shots of a stage outlined in neon lights, huge crowds of excited metal fans, and different local bands. Shaun scrolled through the page with his index finger, then handed it back with a nod.

“What do you think, Pretty Boy?” Gretchen sneered. “Does it meet your exceedingly high standards?”

“I guess,” Shaun drawled.

Gretchen rolled her eyes.

“Oh, come off it,” Ben chuckled. “We haven’t played anywhere but dive bars and biker joints. That club looks amazing.”

“It’s alright.”

Gretchen and Ben picked on Shaun for a while, but it was all in good fun. Gretchen was loud and opinionated, but Jesse thought she was cool.

“We’re going with Defaced?” she asked.

“Shaun came up with everything else,” Ben said. “Let him name the band.”

“We could have voted or something,” Gretchen grumbled. “I don’t know how I feel about it.”

“Nope. This isn’t a democracy,” Shaun growled. “This is my band.”

“Anything else I should know, dear leader?” Gretchen huffed.

Shaun boredly finished his drink.

“I think the power’s going to your head,” Gretchen snapped.

“Why? Because I named my band? This is my project. If you don’t want to be a part of it, then there’s the door.” Shaun jerked his thumb over his shoulder and Gretchen’s expression darkened.

“I’ve been in bands with power-hungry tyrants,” she said. “It gets old fast, never getting a say.”

“I already let you write your own parts,” Shaun spat. “What else do you want?”

Gretchen tapped her chin as she thought. “I think we should add corpse paint to the act.”

“Fuck no,” Shaun said immediately. “I’m not wearing makeup.”

Jesse looked up corpse paint on his phone. “Reminds me of that 80s band,” he laughed. “Kiss.”

Shaun looked at the images over his shoulder. “It’s a gimmick.”

“No, it adds to a group’s stage presence,” Gretchen said. “I can design everybody’s costumes—”

“Costumes?” Shaun barked a laugh. “This is what I’m wearing. I’m not letting you dress me up.”

“Fucking Hitler,” Gretchen hissed.

“Maybe you should let her have a little fun, Shaun,” Ben said. “She knows a thing or two about getting attention.”

“How do you do that?” Shaun rolled his eyes. “By sticking your leg out on the road?”

“I have a website,” Gretchen huffed. “And I have a massive online following on Twitter.”

Shaun’s eyebrows climbed into his hairline. “For drumming?”

Gretchen crossed her legs and lit up a cigarette.

Ben waited for Gretchen to speak. When she continued to hold her silence, he filled Shaun in. “She’s pretty popular for that cam stuff.”

Shaun chuckled. “The porn?”

“My best video had over a million views,” Gretchen said proudly as the cigarette burned between her painted lips. “I made the down payment on my house with the money.”

“Is your cunt made of gold?” Shaun sneered.

Gretchen held up both her middle fingers. “You’re just jealous.”

“Of what?” Shaun quipped. “I could jerk off online if I wanted to, I have a ten-inch dick.”

“Yeah. I’m sure.” Gretchen laughed.

“It’s true,” Jesse piped up. “It’s impressive.”

Gretchen didn’t look convinced. “Impress me.”

Shaun stood up.

“That is so against the rules!” Ben shielded his eyes. “Shoes, shirt, and pants are required.”

“Was that actually on the list?” Jesse giggled.

“See for yourself.” Ben pulled a red piece of laminated construction paper out of the drawer and handed it across the couch. There was a sheet of cream-colored stationary on top of the red and on it, a list of twenty-four rules inscribed in neat cursive. The clothing requirement was number five.

“Wow,” Jesse said. “It is in the rules.”

“I wouldn’t want to get in trouble.” Shaun sat back down. “You understand, Gretch.”

Gretchen’s eyes twinkled. “Totally.”

Angela pounded on the door at the stroke of midnight. “Practice is over!”

Gretchen took that as her cue to leave. “We’re meeting Tuesday again?”

“Sounds good,” Ben said. “Tuesday, Thursday, Saturday. Mark it down on your calendars, guys.”

As Gretchen cleared out, Jesse made puppy-dog eyes at Ben.

“Is a sleep-over against the rules?”

“Not if you’re out by 8am,” Ben said. “Rule number fourteen.”

“Gotcha.”

Ben left them on the couch as he stood and headed for the stairs. “Night, fellas.”

The second the door closed behind him; Jesse fell on Shaun. “You’re oozing sex tonight,” he moaned. “I’m craving your dick.”

“Mmm.” Shaun held Jesse’s face still and kissed him deeply. Their lips locked together as their tongues met and twisted in a passionate dance. Jesse looped his arms around Shaun’s waist as the kiss went on and on. He was lightheaded and he was afraid he would fall.

Shaun ripped his mouth away and rested his forehead against Jesse’s. His breath came hot against his lips. “I never thought they’d leave….fuck…get naked.”

Jesse stripped down to his birthday suit while Shaun kicked off his boots and stepped out of his jeans. He left his shirt on, but Jesse wasn’t in the mood to complain.

Shaun shoved him back on the couch, then loomed over him with his cock thickening between his thighs.

Jesse sat up and sucked Shaun into his mouth. He wrapped a hand around the base and focused on working the head with his tongue. Shaun quickly got hard in his mouth and he bobbed his head as he eagerly sucked the length.

“That’s enough,” Shaun growled, then pulled his wet dick out of Jesse’s mouth. He nudged him back. “Roll over.”

Jesse rolled onto his belly and gasped when Shaun rudely spread his cheeks. Then, a hot, insistent tongue probed his anus. “Shaun!” He sat up on his elbows so he could see over his shoulder and groaned.

Shaun pressed his face between Jesse’s sweet cheeks and aggressively ate his asshole. He plunged his tongue deep into Jesse’s tight channel and thrust the muscle in and out of his clenching hole. Jesse felt him worm a hand under his belly and groaned when Shaun gripped his cock. He stroked Jesse in time with his tongue-fucking.

Jesse dropped his head onto the cushion as his asshole squeezed around Shaun’s hot tongue. His cock was incredibly hard, and it leaked sticky fluids onto the upholstery below. Jesse gasped and grabbed onto the pillows as Shaun used his tongue and his hand to bring him to a messy orgasm.

When Jesse was spent, Shaun pulled his come-stained hand from under his weary body and smeared it on his red, straining cock. “Get on your knees.”

Jesse moaned and pulled himself up on his knees, so his ass hung over the edge of the chaise lounge.

Shaun slid inside with a hiss. Jesse was so relaxed; Shaun was able to bury himself balls-deep on the first try.

Jesse groaned in a combination of relief and pleasure. There was no pain. Shaun fucked him steadily, grunting in rhythm with his strokes, and Jesse’s dick began to stiffen as his asshole was repeatedly stretched and filled. Within minutes, he was fully hard again and incredibly aroused. His erection smacked wetly against his belly with every thrust of Shaun’s hips, but he didn’t think to touch it.

Shaun plastered himself to Jesse’s back and nuzzled his ear from behind. “This ten-inches enough for you?”

“Yesss.” Jesse’s asshole tightened with excitement.

“Nice and full?”

“Mmm,” Jesse groaned.

Shaun took Jesse’s cock in hand and squeezed the shaft in a death grip. “Shit. I’m gonna come.” He dropped his forehead onto Jesse’s shoulder and panted with the force of his orgasm.

The steamy breath on the back of his neck sent delicious shivers down Jesse’s spine. He pressed his ass back onto Shaun’s softening member, then thrust his rigid cock into Shaun’s loosening grip. He whined, he was so, so close…

Shaun kissed him on the back of the neck, then firmed his grasp again. He cradled Jesse from behind as he stroked him to completion for a second time.

Jesse cried out sweetly when he came. He fell on his side, gasping for breath as he recovered, then peeked up curiously at Shaun.

Shaun was studying the come on his fingers. He took an experimental taste with the tip of his tongue, then licked it off, his expression neutral.

“There’s napkins from the Chinese place,” Jesse said helpfully.

Shaun grabbed the napkins off the coffee table, quickly cleaned his dick, then tossed some in Jesse’s direction.

Jesse stretched out on his back and pulled his knees to his chest. He wiped his leaky butthole while Shaun watched him with a heated gaze. Jesse wadded the napkins up when he was done and set them aside to pick up later. Shaun’s eyes were still on him, and he started to flush. “What?”

“You taste good.”

“My come?” Jesse laughed.

“Yeah,” Shaun mumbled. “Your asshole, too. I like tongue fucking you.”

Jesse’s cheeks flamed. “Uh, thanks?”

Shaun looked away. “I’m being weird, aren’t I?”

“No,” Jesse said quickly. “Well, maybe a little.”

Shaun crossed his arms with a huff.

“It’s okay.” Jesse touch Shaun’s arm. “I don’t mind. I want to know all your weird fantasies and kinks…so I can satisfy you.”

Shaun’s dark eyes flashed. “I want to do bad things to your body.”

“Like what?”

Shaun shook his head. “Worse than eating your asshole...”

Jesse blushed again as he wondered what sort of plans Shaun had for his body… Shaun wouldn’t say though, so Jesse let it drop. He figured he’d find out later, at some point.

Jesse set an alarm on his phone for a quarter to eight, then they got dressed, just in case. They curled up on the pull-out section of the couch with Jesse as the little spoon. Shaun held him tightly as he relaxed into the embrace and they fell asleep within seconds of each other.

The alarm made for an unpleasant awakening.

It was much too early for Sunday morning, but Jesse and Shaun knew better than to overstay their welcome. Shaun packed up his equipment while Jesse picked up their disposed napkins, stacked the empty glasses from the night before, then did a hurried spot clean on the couch cushion he’d stained.

“Shit, it isn’t coming out,” Jesse murmured. He’d stolen a bottle of water from the mini fridge and dabbed some on the stain.

“Don’t worry about it. It’s yummy sauce from the chicken last night.”

“Yum-yum sauce,” Jesse corrected with a laugh.

“Fucking yuck-yuck,” Shaun sneered. “Hurry up already.”

“Alright!” Jesse tossed a throw pillow over the stain and ran after Shaun.

They went up the stairs and the house was quiet and still. The boys shared a look of confusion.

“Morning, guys.”

Shaun whirled around. “What the hell!”

“Woah.” Ben held his hands up. He was barefoot and wearing a pair of sweats low on his hips. “Sorry. Did I surprise you in my house?” he asked as he moved away from the bottom of the second-floor landing.

Jesse gazed appreciatively at his bare chest. “How’d you sleep?”

“And where’s your crazy wife?” Shaun bared his teeth.

“Angela indulged in some drinks last night.” Ben’s smile faltered. “She got pretty excitable. I hope the noise didn’t keep you up.”

Shaun slowly shook his head.

“It was pretty quiet last night,” Jesse added.

“Oh, well, you were lucky, then.” Ben ruffled his fingers through his dark hair. “I thought for sure you guys were hiding down there…”

“Is she okay?” Jesse asked. “What happened?”

“Everything’s fine,” Ben sighed. “But we had an argument. I mentioned something about the sex and she flew over the handle and blew it way out of proportion and suddenly we’re screaming at each other about the guest list for the reception.”

“I bet you’ll be relieved when it’s done and over with,” Jesse said, patting Ben on the shoulder. “Hang in there.”

“Or don’t,” Shaun sneered. “Fucking break it off already.”

“Shaun…” Jesse shook his head.

“She isn’t even putting out,” Shaun hissed. “Ben’s had blue-balls for months!”

Jesse’s expression turned grave. “Are you guys having problems?”

“You could say that,” Ben said sheepishly. “But, seriously guys, this isn’t the best time.” He looked up the stairs. “I should get back to her…”

Shaun scoffed and started to say something else, but Jesse took his arm.

“Let’s go,” Jesse whispered, then, over his shoulder, “See you, Ben. That was awesome last night.”

“Bye, Jess. Come whenever you can,” Ben said warmly. “You’re our honorary fourth member.”

Jesse beamed as they stepped outside on the porch. He felt so privileged.

The sky was gray, and it was drizzling. The streets were slick and there were little puddles everywhere. It was oppressively hot and muggy, and Shaun turned the A/C on before he even touched the wipers.

“I guess we should go to my house.” Shaun backed out of the driveway and started down the road. “We can smoke in the garage. Maybe we can fuck around…We’ll see.”

“How much weed did you get?”

“A gram?” Shaun grumbled. “It’s expensive over here.”

Jesse pursed his lips. “How much did you pay?”

“You don’t want to know,” Shaun said darkly.

Jesse gazed out the window as they pulled out of Ben’s allotment. He’d forgotten Shaun was trying to buy weed. Seeing Ben hand him a baggie of bud after practice had been a total surprise. It’d been on his mind all night.

“Was that the last of your money, then?” he asked.

“Yes.”

“What are we going to do when we run out?” Jesse asked.

“Guess we’ll have to smoke with Ben. If he’s willing to share.” Shaun turned onto the main road as a blue Acura pulled out of the shopping center on the corner. Shaun slammed on the breaks and let her get ahead of them. “Bitch,” he grumbled.

“Please, don’t drive like a crazy person,” Jesse said under his breath. “We’ll be home soon enough.”

“I should have brought my bowl,” Shaun huffed. They were a mile from the highway. The on ramp was straight ahead and Shaun used the middle lane to speed past the blue Acura. They bumped through a deep pothole full of water and it splashed across the windshield. “Damnit!”

“Be careful,” Jesse said in his gentlest voice. “The roads are slick.”

“Shut up, Jesse!”

Jesse worried his lip as Shaun flew down the road, approaching the on-ramp at top-speed. “I just wish we could smoke on our own.”

“We’re going to,” Shaun’s hand clenched on the steering wheel. “When we get home.”

“Yeah, but, you got a gram,” Jesse said, looking out the window at a burger joint on the corner. “We’ll blow through that in three days.”

“Guess we’ll have to cut back, then.”

“I just wish we had money coming in,” Jesse sighed.

“If it’s such a big deal,” Shaun growled. “I’ll borrow money from my grandpa.”

“For weed?” Jesse laughed.

They reached the on-ramp and Shaun took it hard.

“Ow!” Jesse slammed his shoulder into the window. “Watch it!”

“What are you trying to say, Jesse?! Is this another conversation about getting a job?!”

Jesse winced and rubbed his shoulder. “Tell me the truth. How much did you just spend on the weed?”

Shaun stepped on the gas. “Eighty bucks.”

“Slow down!” Jesse grabbed onto the doorhandle. “And eighty dollars is a lot of money when you’re broke! We should have talked about this!”

“We did! I said I was going to buy from Ben, Jesus Christ!” Shaun swerved into the fast lane and gunned it to 90. “I’ll make more money. You’re acting like it’s the end of the world.”

“Please, slow down.”

Shaun growled as the needle on the speedometer inched toward 100.

“I’m sorry, okay! The party’s over and now we’re going home,” Jesse cried. “Reality’s hitting me in the face. We’ve got school tomorrow and I’ve got a bunch of responsibilities to take care of.” Hot tears collected in the corners of his eyes. “I don’t want to go home! My stomach’s in fucking knots!”

Shaun cursed under his breath. “Jess…”

“You should just drop out of school now,” Jesse sniffled. “So you can spend more time writing songs. If that’s how you’re going to make money, then you need to commit.”

“I told you,” Shaun grumbled. “I’m finishing the year.”

“What’s the point? You don’t have to come for my sake.”

“I’m doing it for my grandparents.”

“Finishing the eleventh grade? Wow.”

The car started to hydroplane, and Shaun grabbed the steering wheel in a death grip as he pumped the breaks. Jesse clutched the door handle in fear.

“What the fuck do you want from me, Jesse?!” Shaun screamed. “I told you I’m going to be a musician! That’s the only thing I know how to do!”

“My hands are tied!” Jesse cried. “I could try to get a job, but how am I going to realistically make this work. I’ve never had to take care of Brian on my own.”

“He’s not your responsibility,” Shaun hissed. “

“I have to take him with me.” Jesse bit his tongue until he tasted blood. “I can’t leave him here.”

“So what? You’re going to kidnap him in the middle of the night?” Shaun sneered. “I’m sure your mom would love that. She’ll probably fight you to the death. She collects kids, apparently.”

“I don’t even think she’d notice he was gone,” Jesse murmured.

Shaun fell silent.

“I don’t know how much longer I can stay at my mom’s,” Jesse said glumly. “I can’t go through another breakup. I have to figure something out.”

“Yeah.”

They didn’t speak for the rest of the ride, but Shaun slowed down and Jesse tried to relax. He was watching the rain track down his window when they pulled into Shaun’s driveway.

“Who’s that?” Shaun pointed at Jesse’s house and he sat up to look.

There was an unfamiliar car in the driveway, a sleek black Mercedes.

Jesse got out of the car. “I know who it is.”

“Do you got family in town?” Shaun asked as he got out, too, and looked uneasily across the yard.

“No,” Jesse said, then started across the lawn. “I’ve got to go.”

The damp grass was slimy against Jesse’s exposed skin as he sprinted toward the house. He heard laughter and childish cries from the backyard, then caught a flash of Brian’s platinum hair through the trees bordering the yard. What were the kids doing in the rain?

Jesse glanced at the car as he leapt up on the front step. “Fucking doctors,” he muttered under his breath, then pulled the door open.

There was a well-dressed man seated beside Monica. He had neat, silver hair and a trim beard. He had kind blue eyes and perfect white teeth. When Jesse came in the door, he stood and rounded the couch with his hand outstretched.

“Jesse? Nice to meet you, finally.”

Jesse couldn’t help himself. He glared at the man.

Cliff’s smile faltered as he stopped in front of Jesse. “I’m—"

“Cliff,” Jesse said flatly. “Mom mentioned you a couple times.” He didn’t take Cliff’s hand.

Cliff tried to save himself the embarrassment. He smoothed his hair back and dropped his hand awkwardly. “We just got back from breakfast. We tried to invite you.”

Monica leaned over the back of the couch with a huge smile. “Maybe he didn’t get my text.”

Jesse took his phone out of his pocket, but there were no texts from Monica.

Laughing, the twins tore out of the kitchen and ran the living room for the stairs.

“Where’s Brian?” Jesse frowned.

Monica looked around the living room. “Brian?”

Jesse strode across the room, shaking his head as he approached the kitchen. He was halfway there when the back door slid open.

“Mommy?”

Jesse stepped into the room. “Oh, Brian.” He covered his mouth. “What happened?”

The toddler was covered head to toe in mud. It was all over his clothes, his bare legs and arms, and it was caked on his face, too. His little blue eyes peeked out from under the muck and they were filled with tears.

“Jesse?”

Jesse opened his arms, then thought better of it. “Let’s go outside, buddy. We need to get those clothes off.”

There was a horrified gasp.

“Oh my God!”

Jesse turned and Monica and Cliff stood behind him in the door. Monica had her hand over her mouth and her eyes were as wide as dinner plates. Cliff had a faint smile on his lips.

“Did you fall in the mud, little guy?”

Brian sniffled. “Allison pushed me in a puddle.”

“What did— how are you— what is—” Monica struggled to form a sentence as her eyes bugged out of her head.

Jesse glanced at the floor and saw thick, muddy footprints leading from the door. “I’ll clean it up, mom. Let me get him in the bathtub first.”

“You can’t take him through the house like that!” Monica shrieked.

“Monica.” Cliff looked at the woman in surprise. “He’s in tears.”

“Don’t worry, Cliff. I’m going to hose him off on the patio,” Jesse muttered. He was actually kind of touched. It wasn’t often that one of Monica’s boyfriends showed an interest in the kids.

“Oh,” Monica sighed in relief. “Good idea.”

Jesse shepherded Brian to the door.

“Oh, hey,” Monica called. “Do you know where Sam is? I texted him, too, and he didn’t reply either.”

“Did you actually text him?” Jesse sneered. “Or did you just say that to get brownie points.”

“I texted him,” Monica said, giving him the evil eye. “Just like I texted you.”

“I must have got lost,” Jesse drawled. “And Sam’s probably at another party. He’s got a new friend.”

“The Cadillac guy? What party?”

“When you figure it out, let me know.” Jesse stepped out onto the patio and shut the door behind him. The rain pattered against his face and it was cool and refreshing.

“Am I in trouble?” Brian asked in a little voice.

“Nope.” Jesse knelt down and squeezed Brian’s muddy shoulders in reassurance. “But the twins are. When we get back inside, they’re both going to sit in time-out for an hour.”

Brian smiled a little. “Will you play with me then?”

Jesse smiled. “How about we go see Shaun.”

“Yeah!”

Jesse stripped the boy down, then hosed him off. Brian giggled when the water splashed him in the face and Jesse made a game of it. They had a lot of fun playing in the rain.

When they went inside, Jesse tossed Brian’s wet clothes in the wash, then got into something dry while he ran a hot bath for Brian. He found an old bath bomb in the back of the junk drawer and dropped it into the water.

“Did Shaun have a good practice?” Brian was in chin deep bubbles. He gathered them into a pile on his chest as Jesse squirted some shampoo in his palm and scrubbed the little boy’s hair.

“Yes. He’s got a good band.”

“I hope I can see him play soon,” Brian said hopefully.

Jesse brushed some of the bubbles away, then leaned in to kiss the toddler on the forehead. When he pulled away, Brian giggled.

“You’ve got bubbles on your chin!”

Jesse wiped them off with a laugh.

As he watched the little boy play in the bath, Jesse smiled wistfully. He wondered how Shaun would react when he found out their dirty family secret.

Shaun loved Brian. There was no question in Jesse’s mind about that fact, but would Shaun still love Jesse once he knew the truth?

Jesse wanted to be with Shaun more than anything, but Brian was his flesh and blood. Brian was his biological son. And Jesse couldn’t leave him behind. Shaun had to understand that and Jesse had to find a way to tell him.