“And before you make a smart remark on the matter, I know that Google is available at your fingertips. But, sometimes, talking to a person about it, too, can be helpful. And yes,” Trevor cast Connor an unabashed look. “Given Laurence’s preferences, I have educated myself in that area as well. In the meantime, if you need help buying condoms or anything else, please ask me. I know, I know, it can be embarrassing, but it’s better to be a little embarrassed and practising safe sex.”
Connor thought his face had stayed level, but the way Trevor’s gaze sharpened told him he was sorely mistaken.
“Connor… you have been using condoms…” the question petered out. “Okay, you joked about the talk, but it’s just become a requirement. You shower, and we’ll discuss it once you’re out.”
“I don’t need a safe-sex talk.” Connor rolled his eyes. “We’re exclusive. We don’t need them.” And Connor’s instincts told him that if the next time they were having sex he rubbered up, Adonis would be distraught.
“Have you discussed it with Adonis?”
“Not technically the condom thing, but we have talked about the exclusive thing,” Connor said. And again, despite having gotten dumped in oil and fried alive by Austin’s betrayals—what the betrayal even was anymore, he didn’t know—he trusted Adonis. His devotion and affection said enough, and Connor’s own want to do nothing else but buy a boat and join him in the ocean told himself about how he felt, too.
Heavy footsteps sounded. Connor knew the quick, angry step well. He turned his head to catch Edith ascending the staircase. Trevor looked as well, and when Connor glanced back at him, he saw that his good humour had faded to uneasiness.
“I’m going to talk to Edith first, then I’ll get some tea poured for the two of us.”
Connor’s gaze lingered on Trevor’s expression for half a second longer before he looked away. His gaze landed on a family photo hanging up. One of Trevor and Edith with Laurence and Nick. Their outfits indicated it had been snapped at the wedding.
“When she walks like that, it means she’s ready for a fight,” Connor said. “I usually take it as a cue to pick one, but if it’s a conversation you’re looking for, you’d best wait a while.”
Connor felt Trevor’s gaze on the side of his face, and then his head turned to follow Connor’s gaze to the photo. “Aside from the first day you arrived, I haven’t ever seen you pick a fight with anyone.”
“Where exactly have you been looking? I’ve been fighting with everyone since I came home.”
“You rise to the occasion when someone picks a fight with you. But you don’t start it.” It was like what Laurence had said to him before about being “nice.” Delusion clearly ran in Trevor’s family. Connor had never considered himself anything but combative.
“You’re a good kid,” Trevor added.
Connor was filled with both a slimy feeling and a pleased one. He’d heard that at school from frustrated teachers. People telling him they knew he was a “good kid” if not for his personality and disposition… Edith had never called him a good kid before. He loathed to think that his attachment to Trevor had led him to try acting like someone he wasn’t.
“God, your face…” Trevor chuckled. “Forgive me, I’ll not call you a good kid ever again. You look murderous.”
“I prefer murderous to good.”
“I’m sorry, I’m sorry,” Trevor said, cracking a smile. He mused a hand through Connor’s wet hair and chuckled again as he kissed the top of his head.
“Stop laughing.”
“I’m sorry. But out of everything we learned today, everything you’ve gone through the past few weeks, the thing you can’t stand is being called a good kid?” Trevor’s amusement was intolerable. “Go on, go shower.” Trevor nudged him toward the downstairs bathroom. “I’ll throw some clothes in the dryer for you so they’re warm when you’re out.”
Trevor walked upstairs. Connor was about to go into the bathroom when headlights through the front windows caught his attention. The way the car outside pulled in was familiar. Connor had heard his dad pulling into the driveway enough times to recognise the sound of it now.
Chapter Thirty-Two
Connor darted to his room, changed, and returned downstairs. He heard Trevor’s voice in his bedroom as he passed it.
In the kitchen, his dad leaned over the sink looking out on the driveway. He glanced at Connor as he came in.
The first thing that struck Connor was the dark circles under his eyes.
Connor held his nervous apprehension in check, constructing a casual facade. He joined Ben at the counter and raised his eyebrows at him. “Been burning the midnight oil?”
“Research has been fascinating lately,” his dad answered. “And my boss is in town, so we’ve been showing him everything we’ve found, getting him up to speed.” Cessair was in town.
“Don’t you send out regular reports?”
“Some things need to be seen in person.” His dad cast Connor a long look as he turned around, facing him instead of the window. “I’m here to pick you up.”
“Pick me up?”
