Gene didn’t think the man needed him to tell him that, since Ethan likely did the dirty work himself.
“I think you know that answer.”
Yeah, he did.
He and his brother really were going their separate ways from the future.
It was done and over. Callen had little hope that he’d be back. In fact, he’d bet he wouldn’t.
Now, Callen was curious, since the man was there checking on him. That had to mean his brother didn’t hate him.
Right?
“Do you think you’ll be with him for the rest of his life?”
Gene nodded.
“That’s the plan. I’m going to marry him one day, so yeah, this is permanent,” he admitted, thinking about the rings in his bag, and how he planned on giving Ethan one at dinner.
Or when they went skiing.
It was going to depend on the moment.
From where he sat, he was quiet.
“When you do, will you let me know? I know I won’t be invited, but I would like to still know something about my brother’s life.”
Gene was honest.
There was no point in pussyfooting around it, so before he answered that, it was time to deal with the pink elephant in the room.
Gene needed him to know that he knew.
“I heard what you said to him when you were drunk in the shower.”
OOF.
Well, color him embarrassed.
Well, in for a penny.
In for a pound.
Callen had been thinking a lot about it too, since he’d peeked into his cabin window and saw his brother having sex with the man.
“I’m not surprised. You hover over him, and that’s good for him. Ethan needs someone to protect him. I’m sorry I never could,” he admitted.
Gene let him talk.
He still wasn’t addressing what he asked.
“Can I ask you something? Something you will never bring up again?”
He’s not sure why he wants to do that, but Gene was willing to hear him out.
Still, he warned him.
“I can’t lie to Ethan, so if it’s about him…”
