Mannies Incorporated, Michael, Sean [novels for teenagers txt] 📗

stepped in his way, hands on his hips. "What?"

"What what?"

"You have that look."

"What look?" He didn't have looks.

Drake snorted. "The one where I end up being the bad guy even though I have no idea what I've done."

"You're being a butt. You're the grumpy one." You said I was sanctimonious.

"I thought I was rumbly?"

"A little." He couldn't help but smile. "It's hot, though."

Drake's stiffness relaxed slightly "It is?"

"Uh-huh." Sort of wildly, a little bit.

"Huh." Drake growled at him.

He blushed and went to put the canned goods up.

Drake chuckled. "I might have to do it a lot more now that I know it makes you blush."

"Blush? Me?"

Drake rumbled at him again.

"Stop it, butthead." He put the sodas in the bottom of the pantry.

"It's a good look on you." Drake looked like that cat that got the canary.

"In the pantry?" He could flirt, too.

Drake chuckled. "Yeah, baby. In the pantry."

"Dork." He stood up, leaned back against the pantry door, ready to tease. "Are you cooking supper?"

"Sure. You want Chinese or pizza?"

He wrinkled his nose. "I'm tired of pizza, man."

"I'm not much of a cook, man. Especially with that gluten-free stuff."

"Yeah. You…do you grill?" It was something he totally sucked at.

"Fuck, yeah. I can burn meat."

"Steaks? Burgers? The kids would love burgers and hot dogs."

"I can do that." Drake moved in. "How long before they're up from their nap?"

"Nowhere near long enough. Kiss me hello."

Drake's hands cupped his cheeks, tilted his face, then the man brought their mouths together, lips hot, firm, and just what he wanted. For someone that wasn't big on kissing, Drake was damned good at it. The hands on his cheeks pushed back into his hair, cupping his head. Slayde leaned back, opened up, wanting more. Drake followed, stepping closer and deepening the kiss.

God, he was in trouble with this man. Deep trouble.

"Unca Drake, you're kissing Slayde!" Christian stared at them.

Drake froze and jerked away. "Oh fu--" Drake slammed his hand over his mouth, stopping the expletive.

"He was. Would you like a snack?"

Christian shook his head. "Can I watch SpongeBob?"

"Sure. I'll get it turned on for you." Calm. Cool. Collected. No one was doing anything wrong. Everything was okay.

"I'll finish putting away the groceries." Drake's voice sounded a bit strangled, but he moved, grabbing a can and shoving it in the pantry.

"Okay." He got Christian set up, the little boy settling on the sofa.

The show took up Christian's attention and there weren't any questions about why Drake had been kissing him. Slayde went back toward the kitchen, but Jenny started crying, and he ended back upstairs to change her. When he went back downstairs with her, Drake was nowhere to be seen.

He did find a note on the counter when he got out Jenny's sippy cup.

"Gone to get propane for the grill."

Huh.

Slayde grabbed his phone, dialed Joey. "You are so fucking fired."

"Hello to you, too!"

"I can't believe you two. Jesus, are you trying to get me in trouble?" He filled Jenny's sippy cup.

"You're the one fucking the sexy man. And he is sexy. God, Slayde, a stud."

"Still, he's not out. Don't be a jackass, okay? I like him." Like a lot. More than that, Slayde had to live with him.

"Oh, God, Slayde…you're falling for him."

"Shut up."

"You are!" Joey crowed at him, but his next words were sober. "Him not being out is trouble, honey."

"It's not like he's staying here, Joey. He's a cop. He lives in California. He's a passing for straight cop who's just here for his sister." There wasn't a long-term here, no matter how stupid he was about the guy.

"He's not leaving anytime soon, though, is he? And the more you're involved with him, the more your heart is going to hurt when this is over."

"Just stop. The kids are up. I'll see you two Saturday?"

"You will. You need us." Joey blew him noisy kisses. "Be careful, honey."

"I'm fine. I'll talk to you this weekend." He hung up, then dropped Jenny off with her brother so he could go get Maggie.

Maggie blinked at him, her hair mussed from sleeping. "Want Unca Dake."

"He went to the store. He'll be right back."

"'kay." She leaned into him, letting him pick her up and carry her downstairs. "Juice?"

"Yes, love. Juice."

It was all so normal; no reason for Drake to run off, to startle and swear. It sucked, hiding who you were. Who you loved.

He got the kids settled together in front of the TV. They were all quiet and dozy, the hot day keeping all of them from being too rambunctious despite their naps. One day, it would be fall. Right? Right.

He'd dozed off when the front door opening and closing woke him, Christian jumping up and calling out, "Unca Drake! Where'd you go?"

"Unca Drake!" Maggie barreled off the couch. Drake had certainly made inroads there, Maggie having moved him to the top of her favorite adults list.

Drake grinned and picked her up. "How's my girl?"

Maggie started yammering, babbling happily at Drake, patting him. Drake chuckled, coming in to sit down on the big chair next to the couch, nodding at her as if he could understand every word she said. Christian sat close and Jenny came to Slayde, settling in his lap. It felt great, like they were a family.

He looked over, smiled at Drake. God, he was going to have to be careful. Drake smiled back.

Oh yeah, very careful. Because Joey was right. He was falling for Drake. Hard.

***

Drake grilled burgers and hot dogs, eating two burgers and three hot dogs all on his own. He was not thinking. He was not thinking about kissing Slayde. He was not thinking about having two strangers in the house on the weekend. He was not thinking about having to go back to Mindy's bedroom until they'd gone. He was definitely not thinking about Christian having caught him and Slayde in a clinch.

Nope. Not thinking about any of it.

After supper there was Dora and bedtime stories, teeth brushing and lots of tucking in. Slayde was going to come down any minute