Derek chuckled. “Have you run this idea past Lucas?”
“Why would I? He’s been taking his liberty with you these last few days. He can’t say a damn thing about it if I want to take my turn.”
“What if he wants to join us?”
Bailey shook his head. “Nope. I want you all to myself.”
“You’re fucking adorable.” Derek slid his arm around Bailey’s neck and tilted his face up, dropping a warm kiss on his lips. “Lucas would fight to the death for you, and I can’t blame him one bit.”
Bailey gazed at him with a small smile. “Are you thinking Patrick might be someone you could feel that strongly for? Someone you would fight for?”
Sighing, Derek turned his head and looked up through the boughs of the tree. “That’s how it feels right now. But the longer we’re apart… maybe that feeling will go away.”
“Only if the feeling isn’t for real.”
“How long until I know?”
Bailey shrugged. “I don’t know. A few days, probably. Time apart will give your heart a chance to sort out what it truly feels.”
“Gideon said as much.”
“Gideon is a smart man. You should listen to him.”
“I am.”
“Is that why you gave your phone to the twins?” Bailey laughed softly.
“They told you?”
“They tell me everything.”
Derek smiled. “To answer your question,yes—that’s why I gave them my phone. I don’t have the willpowernotto call him. Not without help.” He shrugged. “I’m weak. I admit it.”
“Not all weaknesses are bad. If this turns out to be the real thing, then it means you’re weak for the one you love. Most everyone is.”
“You’re weak for Lucas?” Derek asked, amused.
“Shit,yeah.He’s my everything.”
Derek laughed and kissed his head. “Like I said—fuckingadorable.”
Bailey shifted. “So? You’ll come stay with me for a couple days? We can talk about Patrick… fuck a little bit… talk… fuck some more.”
“Sounds like a plan.”
Pressing against him, Bailey trailed his fingertips along Derek’s inner thigh. “Go pack a bag and let’s get this party started.”
“Yessir.” Derek kissed him and rolled out of the hammock. “I’ll be ready to roll in ten.”
Bailey rolled off the opposite side and walked around the tree. “Make it fifteen, I need to give Lucas a parting gift.”
“Fifteen it is.” The two bumped fists as they headed for the house.
. . .
Patrick was surprised to discover his dad at the house when he returned around 2:00 p.m. He’d just started a new contracting job downtown and wasn’t usually home before five or six in the evening. Eileen Weber alternated between working mornings and afternoons at the library. Today was an afternoon shift, leaving him home alone with his father.
Since coming out, Patrick had spent very little alone time with his dad. And when they were together, Patrick couldn’t relax. He didn’t “fear” his father, but the man caused overwhelminganxietyin his son.
