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Robert rose, and Mom let me go so he could shake my hand. “That’s great news,” he said. “You’ve come a long way since I first saw you in July.”
We all sat, and I looked over at my mother. “Mom, I heard you say Sean gave up going to Paris to stay here with me. Is that true?”
Mom glanced over at Robert and sighed. “Aye. He was supposed to meet him at different places throughout his tour, but he won’t hear of leaving you.”
I huffed out a frustrated breath. “I keep telling him I’m fine.”
“I know, lad,” Mom said, her brogue more pronounced due to her frustration. “He’s like your da in that. Stubborn as a donkey.”
I shook my head. “I wish I knew how to get through to him.”
Mom shrugged. “I think you’d have to tie him up and put him on the plane yourself.”
I snorted as I imagined myself trying to wrestle my taller, more muscular brother onto an airplane. I smirked. Marco could do it. An idea hit me all at once. “Marco,” I murmured.
“What about him?” Mom asked.
I rose and pulled out my cell phone. “I have an idea, but I need to make a phone call first.”
“I don’t think Marco will be allowed to carry him onto the plane either.”
I chuckled. “That’s not what I had in mind. I’ll let you know if my idea works.”
I went to my room for some privacy before hitting Marco’s number. It rang a few times before he picked up. “Hey, Liam. What’s up?”
Marco’s voice sounded subdued, almost sad. “Are you okay?” I asked.
“Just a rough day,” he replied. “It’s all good.”
“Okay.” I wasn’t sure I believed him, but I wouldn’t push it. “I was wondering if you could help me with something.”
“What’s that?”
“Sean was supposed to meet Jeremy in Paris this week, but he’s being an overprotective pain in the ass, and he won’t go.” I paused my rant. “I know Tony’s company takes care of Jeremy’s security and travel while he’s on tour. Do you think he could help me arrange to get Sean to Paris?”
Marco snorted. “The TSA doesn’t approve of kidnapping.”
I rolled my eyes. “Ha-ha. You sound like my mother.” I picked up a picture of Sean and me from my dresser. “I just wondered if Tony could get the plane tickets. I would pay him back after I start my job.”
Marco made a sound of derision. “First of all, Tony isn’t going to take your money, especially if it’s to help Jeremy. Second, you got a job?”
A thrill of excitement ran up my spine at how pleased Marco sounded. “Yes. I had the interview this afternoon, and they offered me the job on the spot.”
“That’s great,” he said enthusiastically. “Where at?”
“The VNA clinic in Asbury,” I replied. “They have an LGBTQ+ health center, and I’ll be working there. It’s part-time, at least for now, because I wanted to ease my way back into it, you know?”
“I hear you,” he said. “It’s always good to know your limits.”
His tone was strange, almost heavy, like he knew what it was like. I rolled my eyes at myself. Of course he knew what it was like. He’d been a SEAL. I was sure he’d seen a lot during his time in the service. “I’m doing my best,” I said.
“Yeah, you are,” he said. “Does Sean know about the job?”
“Not yet,” I replied. “I didn’t want to say anything to him until I knew I actually had the job. He would just start worrying and asking me if I was sure I was ready, and it would have messed with my head during the interview.”
“I get it.” He was quiet for a moment. “Sean’s scared. He won’t say that, but I see it. He doesn’t know what to do with it, so he wants to wrap you in bubble wrap to keep you safe from everything. You’re gonna have to be straight with him.”
It was my turn to snort. “I’ve never been straight a day in my life.”
