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“You two sounded like me and my sisters,” Robbie said, a wistful expression crossing his face. “And believe it or not, I’ve had to sit through Little Women too. I think it’s a rite of passage for mothers to read it to their daughters. We were just the unfortunate bystanders.”
“I think you might be right,” Julien said, and then heard himself add, “I’d like to meet them one day. Your sisters.”
Robbie screwed his nose up and then started to laugh. “Uh, full disclosure. They’re kind of crazy, just like Jacquelyn was.”
As soon as he said it, Robbie froze. The use of past tense was a destroyer of all things light and playful, as the reality of why Julien had been talking about Jacquelyn in the first place crept back in.
“Nooo…” Priest drawled, making both men snap out of their moment and turn to look at him. “I don’t believe that’s possible. You have crazy siblings? But you’re so levelheaded and reserved.”
The tension in the room leaked out then, like the air from a pinprick in a balloon, as Robbie moved up to his knees and shoved Priest in the arm. “You’re just so funny tonight.”
Priest caught Robbie’s wrist and tugged on it until he was crawling up on the couch between them.
“That’s me,” Priest deadpanned. “An absolute riot.”
Julien caught the seriousness in his husband’s eyes as he pulled Robbie onto his lap, and knew that Priest was casually steering them away from a topic that was starting to make Julien’s anxiety spike.
Robbie burrowed into the crook of Priest’s arm, and Julien pulled his legs up over his thighs and ran a hand up and down the material covering them.
This is nice, being here like this, Julien thought, as Robbie reached for his hand and entwined their fingers.
“Thank you,” Robbie said, when Julien looked his way.
“For?”
“For sharing a little bit of her with me tonight.”
Julien leaned over as Robbie sat up, and then took his face between his hands and kissed his lips. “Thank you for listening.”
“Anytime,” Robbie whispered, and as Julien went to pull away, Robbie added, “I mean that. Anytime, Jules. I’m not going anywhere.”
As Julien nodded and sat back, he felt Priest’s eyes on him and looked up to see him placing a kiss to Robbie’s head. He’d lost that cautious expression he’d had before and now wore one full of adoration and wonder, and Julien knew it was for both himself and the man now covering a yawn.
“That’s actually a lie,” Priest finally said, and Robbie pulled away to look up at him. “You are going to bed. We all are. Last night was rough. Today was long. And I think we all need a good night’s sleep.”
Robbie snorted. “Says the man who doesn’t sleep.”
“You know what I mean. Don’t be mouthy.”
“Or?”
“Or,” Priest said as he shifted forward on the couch, “I’ll turn you over my lap and it will be just as difficult for you to sleep tonight as it will be for me. But for very different reasons.”
“Fine. I am a little tired. So I’ll behave,” Robbie said, and then looked at Julien. “When is he going to understand that a spanking is so not a threat?”
But before Julien could answer, a delighted squeal left Robbie, as Priest surged to his feet with him in his arms.
“Why, Mr. Priestley,” Robbie said, and placed the back of his hand on his forehead, imitating a swoon, “first the threat of a spanking and now this high-handed behavior. I demand you put me down right this instant, you brutish man.”
One of Priest’s eyebrows rose as he stared down at Robbie. “Brutish?”
As Robbie began to laugh, Julien stood beside them.
“Yes, you know? Savage, beastly, roguish. Ohhh,” Robbie said, and looked at Julien. “With this beard, he totally looks like some rugged Scottish Highlander who throws logs in his spare time. Doesn’t he?”
Julien walked up to stand opposite Priest, so Robbie was being held between them, studied Priest’s handsome face, and nodded. “I was just thinking earlier that he looked very roguish tonight in this lighting.”
Robbie plastered an I told you so smile on his lips and aimed it up at the man they were discussing.
“You’re supposed to discourage him, Julien,” Priest said. “Not encourage.”
Julien ran his eyes over the bold angles and strong features that made up the face he loved, and then he leaned across Robbie to brush a kiss over Priest’s lips. “When he’s right, he’s right.” Julien kissed Robbie and squeezed Priest’s bulging bicep. “I’m going to grab a quick shower before bed. I’ll see you two in there.”
Priest gave a clipped nod, and Robbie did also, both men understanding that Julien needed a moment to collect himself after today’s events. And as he headed off to the shower, Julien heard Robbie whisper, “Will he be all right?”
