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I clenched my jaw so I wouldn’t open my mouth. As an adult, she should’ve known that telling anyone’s personal business was wrong.
If I said anything to them, that woman would leave here in tears.
While Thomas showed them out, ever the hospitable one out of the two of us, I made my way to the bedroom.
And my heart fell right out of my chest and shattered like glass at my feet.
Danny was curled in Noah’s arms, sobbing his heart out. His phone had fallen from his hand, lying on the floor beside them, the screen cracked. I ignored the device and gently nudged Noah aside. He sniffled, his own tears on his cheeks as he slowly released Danny. Danny lifted his head, his glassy, bloodshot eyes meeting mine. His chin wobbled.
“Theo,” he croaked.
I ran my hand over his hair before curling my arms beneath his body and lifting him against my chest. “I’m here, baby boy,” I soothed as I stood back to my full height. “It’s going to be okay.”
“It’s not,” he whispered, his voice cracking as he pressed his face into the curve of my neck. I laid him on the bed and pulled off his shoes before sliding onto the mattress behind him. Thomas gently led Noah from the room, which I was grateful for. It would be easier to take care of Danny without having to worry about upsetting Noah. Noah was so soft-hearted. He felt everything so deeply. And he was so dependent on Danny that his moods tended to reflect Danny’s if Danny’s mood wasn’t happy and content.
“Talk to me, baby,” I murmured, tucking his body in close to mine. I pulled the covers over us, cocooning us in a tiny little nest the best I could. It would help him feel safe, which was my goal. He’d just lost something important to him; that was clear. And my guess was that his parents had just disowned him. But I couldn’t do anything to help him until I had everything confirmed.
Danny turned so he was facing me and burrowed against me like he was trying to get beneath my skin. Honestly, if it were possible, that was exactly where I’d put him. Right beneath my skin so I never had to be without him.
His fingers curled into my shirt, and he began undoing the buttons until his hands were on my bare skin. I shuddered, squeezing him tighter to me. Danny was always solid. Always had his shit together. But this showed that even he could be needy. I expected it from Noah. Never expected it from Danny. But fuck if I didn’t crave him needing me like this now that I’d experienced it.
“My parents are strict Christians—very religious,” Danny rasped. I nodded. He’d told me that once a few weeks ago. “It took them a while to come around to me being gay, but they liked Noah, so they supported me despite their dislike of the LGBTQ+ community.” His palms pressed harder against my body, like he was trying to find a way to sink his hands into my chest cavity. “I’ve been avoiding talking to them because they can always tell when something’s up. I knew when they called earlier, I couldn’t avoid it anymore.”
I smoothed my hand over his blonde hair, my other arm still bound tightly around him. He nuzzled my bare chest with his nose, deeply inhaling my scent. We were pressed so tightly together, I could feel his heartbeat thudding from his chest, through his hands, and into my own chest.
“Mom was crying. Said she didn’t know where she went wrong in raising me. Dad demanded I come home and allow them to send me to a conversion camp.”
“Like hell,” I growled, my body vibrating with rage. I clutched him to me tighter. I knew my grip had to be hurting him, but he didn’t voice it. “No. Out of the fucking question.”
“I’m happy,” Danny said softly. I stroked my hand over his blonde hair. “I’m happier than I’ve ever been in my life. I don’t have to hide who I am. I don’t have to worry about who will have something to say about who I choose to be with.” He swallowed thickly. “I told my dad no. And he disowned me. Said he was writing me out of his will and our contact was through. Said he can’t stand to have a disgusting son like me.”
Danny burst into tears again. “I’ve done everything I can to please them, Theo,” he croaked, clinging to me. “I’m a good son.”
“You’re a good person altogether, baby boy,” I rasped, burying my face in his hair. I hated that I couldn’t take his sadness and heartache and make it my own. I hated seeing him anything but happy. It was ripping me apart inside. “I don’t understand Christianity. I don’t even pretend to. Everyone seems to have their own views about what’s wrong and what’s right. But just know that I know you’re fucking exceptional and amazing. I love you, and I will do everything in my power to make you happy for the rest of our lives.”
He sniffled. We were quiet for a while, words not needed. All he needed was this—me holding him together. His tears seemed to be slowing, which I was thankful for. Every tear he shed made me feel like I was being ripped apart.
Danny eventually yawned, and I glanced down at him to see his eyes shutting. “Stay with me?” he mumbled, his words suddenly heavily tinged with sleep. No doubt this morning had taken its toll on him. He’d been running on pure adrenaline since Noah called him panicking. And then he called me panicking about Noah. Add this shit on top of it… He had to be running on fumes.
“I’ll stay,” I promised him. He never even had to ask me that. All I wanted was to be right here with him.
“Want Noah and Thomas, too,” he mumbled.
I grabbed my phone from my pocket and shot a text off to Thomas before shutting my own eyes. A nap didn’t sound half bad, honestly.
The door opened, and a moment later, the bed dipped as Noah crawled up behind Danny, snuggling tightly to his back. I went to move my arm from behind Danny’s head, but Danny whined, so I left it there.
“It’s okay,” Noah whispered to me, burrowing his face between Danny’s shoulder blades as Thomas slid under the blanket behind Noah. “He needs you.”
This sweet boy…
A soft snore left Danny’s lips. I brushed my lips to the top of his head before meeting my brother’s eyes. Thomas frowned and reached over Noah, settling a hand on Danny’s waist. “How bad?” he whispered.
I sighed. “Bad. But he’ll be okay.”
Thomas nodded and shut his eyes, leaving his arm draped over Noah and Danny. Danny threw a leg over mine, and I smiled into his hair.
He would be just fine. I’d make sure of it.
