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He’d played at the same pub twice since the group of dickheads had nearly got their faces rearranged. He knew Levi still had doubts—it wasn’t surprising when he had so much on the line. But there was nothing more Connor could do than keep their relationship on the down low. He hated it, hated being the invisible one, the one who always had to step away, who had to resist kissing either of them, but there was no doubt he’d do it. When they were alone, there were no boundaries, no walls between them. In public, they didn’t have that luxury.
The day before had wiped Connor out. He’d finally finished prepping Lee’s bike and laid it all out on trolleys ready for the big reveal, then helped one of the mechanics finish the job they’d stopped to guide him. After that, he’d backed up a full day at the garage with a gig afterwards. He couldn’t wait to show the bike to Levi, to decide on a colour scheme and then reassemble it together, but it’d have to wait until late in the next week—Levi was travelling up to the Sunshine Coast to film crocodile wrangling at the Irwin family’s Australia Zoo. Until then, Connor had a couple of days off. Sunday nights free were a luxury he didn’t pass up when his boss offered them.
Rolling onto his back, Connor stretched and yawned. The bed to his left was cold—Katy was already up. Levi lay to his right fully dressed and smirking at him. “Good morning, Sleeping Beauty.”
“Shut the fuck up.” Connor laughed, his voice still raspy from sleep. “I’m hungry. Feed me.”
“In a minute.” Levi leaned down and kissed him. Warm skin against his, strong hands on his body made Connor hum, then grumble when Levi pulled back far too quickly. “Your cousin messaged you. Wanted to know if we’re still on for today.”
Connor smiled, excited about catching up with Ford again. He hadn’t seen him in a decade, well before Connor had joined the army. He was meeting Ford’s partner too—something he hadn’t expected, not only because Ford had prided himself on being single, but because according to the online gossip rags, his partner was a bloke. And not just any dude, buttheReef Reid, current World Champion of freestyle snowboarding.
“What time is it?” He pulled Levi down to him again and kissed him slowly, sucking on his bottom lip. Lee shifted his weight, climbing between Connor’s legs and wrapping him in his arms.
“Time for you to get up so we can go celebrate Nick’s birthday,” Levi murmured against his lips between kisses.
“In a minute.” Connor bit Levi’s throat gently, making the other man moan.
“Boys, as much as I wanna join you, get up.” Katy appeared next to them and smacked Levi’s arse playfully. Connor hadn’t even heard her coming, but without hesitation, Levi reached out to her, and pulled Katy onto the bed next to them.
“No,” she shrieked, laughing as Levi tickled her. “I’ve gotta get the cake to Nick and Em’s without anyone seeing it. We can’t be late.” Connor leaned over and kissed her like he’d done to Levi and sighed happily, a goofy love-struck smile plastered on his face.
“Come on, boo. Up you get before we’re so late we miss your cousin.” Katy smiled down at him, the warmth of her smile lighting him up. When she leaned over and kissed him, her soft lips made him want to wrap her up and keep her there forever—in a totally non-stalkerish, non-serial killer kind of way.
It didn’t take long for Connor to get ready—anything at Nick and Emma’s was always super casual, so he only needed to shower and toss on some boardies and a tee. His thongs were at the front door—not that he’d wear them when they were there. Bare feet were pretty much the norm too.
Eyeing Katy’s arse in her cut-off jean shorts as she bent over to strap on her sandals, Connor’s grin faded, his libido fighting with the knowledge he couldn’t do anything to reveal they were together. Nick and Emma knew, but if anyone else found out? No, distance was the name of the game.
Levi wrapping his arms around Connor from behind had him leaning into the other man. “Hey, you okay?”
“Yeah, just thinking that I can’t touch either of you today. It’s gonna suck.” Connor sighed, and Levi held him closer.
“It will, but I’ll steal you away for a few. There’s no way I can go a day either, especially when I’m not gonna be here this week.” Levi nuzzled his back and dropped a kiss between his shoulder blades. Katy joined them, hugging Connor close.
“My brother will be there too.” The disapproval in Katy’s tone rang loud and clear. She and her brother, Jonathan, didn’t get along. Connor had always wanted a sibling, so he’d never understood how someone as loving as Katy could have it in her to avoid her brother like the plague, especially when she saw her parents regularly. But then he’d met Jonathan, and he understood why. The total opposite of Katy’s playful, laid-back feistiness, her brother was high-strung and critical of everything. Judgemental was his middle name. He had hoped they’d be able to put off the inevitable reunion a few more months, but Nick was big on family, and he’d insisted on inviting his other cousin to his party. So now, he not only had to keep his distance, but listen to Katy’s brother and his wife brag on about how wonderful their life was, and how he’d need to get himself a career so he could live the great Australian dream, whatever the hell that was supposed to be. If he asked Jonathan, his first suggestion would be to stop living in peoples’ spare rooms.
Levi drove as Katy balanced the box containing the cake on her knees and Connor sat in the back. He’d laughed when he’d first seen Katy’s creation. Nick was the eldest of the cousins, and apart from Mike who was a few weeks older, he was also the oldest in their group of friends. And apparently, at thirty-two Depends underwear and Viagra were critical. Katy’s recreation of both in the form of a two-tiered cake was pretty ingenious and about as photo-realistic as you could get when icing was involved.
Levi had managed to get the cake stored in the cupboard Emma had cleared for them when Nick barged into the kitchen. “Hey, guys. Didn’t realize you’d arrived. Come on out back. Con, you can put your guitar down anywhere and that beer’ll go in the Esky outside.”
Motioning for Emma to go first, Connor followed, Levi and Katy bringing up the rear. Most of the guests had already arrived. Mike and his kids, together with Nick’s brother Brett and his twins were in the pool, Jonathan and his wife, Elsie, sitting off to one side. There were a bunch of other people too. Connor didn’t know them, but they seemed friendly enough, raising their beers to him as he followed Emma out onto the deck. Lined up in the shade were some coolers filled with ice and bottles of drinks. “Pop your beer in there, Con.” Emma motioned to them. On his knees, he opened the six-packs they’d brought and shoved the bottles in the ice.
“I’ll get some music on, hey, babe?” Nick asked Emma, holding her close.
“I’ll do it, mate,” Levi replied. “You enjoy.”
“Cool. I’ll get the barbie started in a few. Might have a game of footy first though. You up for it?”
“Absolutely.” Katy grinned, making Connor shake his head and laugh.
“Great, I’ll grab the ball.”
Flo Rida’s “Good Feeling” pumped out of the sound system Nick had hooked up outdoors. If the little old lady who lived next door to Nick wasn’t rocking out in the backyard with them, Connor would be worried she’d complain about the noise. Instead, Connor smiled and wandered across the grass to say hello to Cam and Maxi. But he was distracted by the sight on the other side of the fence. Soaking wet, two men hugged hard, totally oblivious to the world around them as they kissed each other like their lives depended on it. The blond one had his hands in the other’s long hair, while the darker-haired dude slid his into the taller one’s boardies. They were beautiful together, so fuckin’ passionate and full of life and love. Connor’s heart skidded to a halt as did his footsteps while he watched them. God, he longed for that—to be able to stand in the middle of the street with Levi and Katy and kiss the ever-loving-fuck out of them. He didn’t want to hide. He didn’t want to be their dirty little secret, but what could he do? It’d never change. And he knew that going into this thing with them. Didn’t mean he couldn’t wish for it all.
The men moved, turning towards them and Connor’s mouth dropped open.Holy shit.He grinned and jogged out of the gate, yelling out, “Ford, my man. That you?”
Connor watched his cousin break away reluctantly, but the smile he flashed at Connor let him know he hadn’t screwed up by interrupting them. “Connor, great to see you,” Ford greeted him, his British accent not as strong as the last time they’d spoken years ago.
“Likewise.” He grinned, so damn happy that his only family—well, the only one he wanted to see anyway—was standing before him. Ford stepped away from the man Connor recognized as Reef Reid and hugged him hard. “It’s been far too long.”
