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Elliot swallows roughly and glances up at me. And I can’t help but just smile at him.
When Ma finally lets go of Elliot’s hands, he turns toward Anne, who is leaning against a porch post, and a pink blush tints his cheeks. He’s probably remembering when he thought I was dating her. Like I could get over Elliot so easily.
Pfft.
“Hi, Eli. I’m Anne,” my sister-in-law says, holding out her hand.
Elliot takes it tentatively and shakes it. “Nice to meet you.”
She cocks her head to the side and then asks, “I’d like to paint you one day. You’re gorgeous.”
Elliot’s cheeks darken even further, and I ruffle Anne’s hair. “Back off, sis. Making him nervous.”
She rolls her eyes and then sighs. “It was just an offer. If you want to give it a go, just give me a call.”
Elliot nods, and my ma clears her throat.
“Well, I made cookies,” she says and then looks at me pointedly. “And you will not eat them all, Luke. Save some for Elliot.”
“’Course I’ll save some. Sharing is caring,” I tell her as we trudge inside. Liam trots in a moment later, shooting off questions about our trucks and then going on a tangent about electric cars. I do my best to listen between shoving my face with cookies. How does Ma make them so good? What kind of magic is in these? I gotta get the recipe and try to duplicate them.
A few times, I peek over at Elliot and see him talking with my parents, and even Anne, and my heart is so fucking full. He fits right in, even though he looks all stern and serious. I can tell he’s still very nervous.
Our eyes meet, and I waggle my eyebrows at him. His eyes narrow back at me.
My dick twitches, and I move behind the counter to hide my erection. Damn him and that serious look he gives me.
“So that potato gun…” Liam says, interrupting my wayward train of thought. “I blasted some shit up with it the other day, and damn, bro, you should have seen it. I was thinking we could––”
“Excuse me,” a voice says to my right, interrupting what Liam was about to say.
The two of us turn to face Elliot, and he blushes slightly.
“I’m sorry for interrupting, but could I speak to you, Luke.”
I shove the rest of my cookie in my mouth and nod.
“Sure thing,” I say, pushing up from the counter and eyeing my brother. “Hold that thought. You know I’m down to blow shit up.”
Liam smirks at me as I follow Elliot down the short hallway, and when we’re far enough away that no one can see us, he stops abruptly and faces me.
He straightens his shoulders and meets my gaze with a serious one of his own.
“What’s up, Eli. You okay?”
“Why aren’t you touching me?” he blurts, and my eyebrows meet in confusion.
“Huh? I was just eating cookies…and shooting the shit….”
“Yes, I know. I can still see the crumbs on your shirt, but you haven’t put your hands on me once since arriving. Are you…are you embarrassed by me?”
“What the hell?” I ask, standing up a little taller.
His voice lowers. “Is this because I’m trans? That’s it, isn’t it? I knew it. Knew this would happen….”
All of that assured posturing disappears, and he literally sags under the weight of his worry.
My eyes widen at the words coming out of his mouth because what in the hell is this dude talking about? I’m so fucking confused.
