The Sweetest Thing Read online

  The phone rang and Nathan reached for it, but his grandpa waved him off. “It’s your mother again.”

  Nathan took a sip of his coffee. “And you’re ignoring her because?”

  His grandpa gripped his cane and bashed it into the floor. “She’s badgering me again. Wants me to sell the house. Go into a home. It’s not enough that I have a life alert and she wheedled the neighbor into coming over once a day for this or that to check on me.”

  Nathan hid is amusement behind his coffee cup. “She worries about you.”

  “I’m a grown man.”

  “You’re a grown man who resorts to ignoring the phone.” Nathan chuckled as the phone finally stopped ringing.

  “A man does what he must to survive.” His grandpa nudged his coffee cup toward Nathan. “What are you doing in your free time while you’re in town?”

  Nathan immediately thought of Scotty and he didn’t school his face in time because his grandpa laughed.

  “It’s like that is it?”

  Nathan topped up the cup and set it in front of his grandpa. “It’s like that.” Nathan agreed. He had every intention of spending as much time with Scotty as he could. He doubted it would be much, not with the renovations and the time they would take.

  “What’s his name?”

  Nathan took a sip of his coffee and tried to decide how much he’d tell his grandpa. They were pretty close, and his grandpa hadn’t batted an eye when Nathan came out, but they’d never talked about his love life before.

  “Scotty,” Nathan said. “He’s uh, Tod’s younger brother.”

  His grandpa grinned at him. “Always did like that Scotty kid.”

  Nathan furrowed his brow. “How do you know Scotty?”

  “He used to be a bag boy at the grocery store down the street. Nice kid. Never broke my eggs or squished my bread. Can’t stand people who can’t bag groceries properly. He had a hard time a bit ago, but things seem to have smoothed over.”

  Nathan downed the rest of his coffee. It was strange to think someone in the periphery of his life, his entire life, had gone by largely unnoticed. Sure, Nathan had always liked Scotty, but in a vague sort of way that’s reserved for second cousins and best friend’s little brothers. And it fucked with Nathan a bit to think he’d learned more about Scotty from his grandpa than he’d learned from Scotty himself.

  “That delivery should be here in a minute.” Nathan changed the subject. It bothered him, what his grandpa had said about Scotty having a hard time. He wanted to know more, but he wouldn’t try to get information from his grandpa.

  “Make sure they didn’t short me anything.”

  “I’ve got it handled, Grandpa.”

  “Bah. Out with you then.”

  Nathan watched his grandpa rise to his feet and shuffle over to the coat rack.

  “Where are you going?”

  “I need a haircut.”

  “I can take you.”

  “Nathaniel, you’re a good boy. Now leave me be. I managed my life fine before you came. I’ll be fine to walk down for a haircut. I’ve got my stick,” he banged his cane on the floor again. “I’ve got my hat. You’ve got work to do. I’ll be home for lunch.”

  Nathan watched his grandpa shuffle out of the house and down the street. He still got around well, but not as easily as Nathan would’ve liked to see. Before Nathan had time to dwell on anything, the delivery truck from the building supply company pulled into the driveway.

  Nathan went outside to meet the guys from the store, and they unloaded everything into the attached garage. Nathan had moved his grandpa’s truck around the side and made room for the materials.

  After that, Nathan got busy removing the carpet on the stairs and from the upstairs hallway and bedrooms. It was dirty work, but the result would be worth it. Other than the subcontractor Nathan had hired to complete the work on the bathroom, all the work would be done by Nathan himself. At the end of the day Nathan showered the carpet dust off himself and sent Scotty a text letting him know he was on his way.

  “I’m going out for dinner tonight, Grandpa.”

  “That’s fine.” His grandpa waved him off from his recliner. “I’ve got food coming in an hour.”

  “You finally get meals on wheels?” Nathan grinned at him.

  “Pshh. I ordered Italian. Irene delivers it herself. Brings it right to my chair here.” He patted the arm of his recliner. “I’ll be alright. You go out and have fun. Tell Scotty I said hello.”

  Nathan turned away before his grandpa could see how amusing he found it. It felt good that his grandpa liked Scotty. Nathan realized the approval of one old man shouldn’t matter, but it did. He liked that his grandpa liked Scotty.

  Nathan stopped by the deli Scotty told him about and got two chicken dinners. They smelled like heaven and his stomach growled ferociously as he handed the money over to the cashier. The few minutes it took to get to Scotty’s was a few minutes too long and he felt like a tortured man, holding a bag of food he couldn’t eat yet.

  Scotty opened the door, his smile beamed bright and cheery. “You’re here.”

  “I said I’d come.”

  Scotty grinned. “I was talking about the chicken.”

  Nathan stepped inside Scotty’s apartment and closed the door. “Should I leave you two alone then?”

  Scotty stepped closer and grabbed Nathan’s shirt. “Don’t you dare.”

  Chapter Six

  Scotty

  “According to my grandpa, you’re one hell of a bag boy.”

  Scotty stopped with his fork in mid-air. “You talked to your grandpa about me?” It felt huge that Nathan would mention him to his grandpa. He tried not to get his hopes up, though, because he didn’t know the context of the conversation.

  “He said you never crushed his bread or broke his eggs.”

  Scotty shoved the forkful of food in his mouth. “It’s not rocket science,” he said after he swallowed. “You’re staying with your grandpa while you’re here?”

  Nathan nodded. “I’m doing some work to his house. Didn’t make sense to get a hotel. And he probably would’ve killed me had I suggested it.”

  “I guess that means no late-night rendezvous at your place.” Scotty winked at Nathan.

  “God no. Grandpa is chill about the gay thing but hooking up in his house would be too weird.”

  Scotty still couldn’t figure out why Nathan would’ve been talking about him with his grandpa, but he let it go. It wasn’t important. “Did you need help with anything over there?”

  Nathan shook his head. “I have most of it covered. I’m taking care of the simpler tasks. Replacing floors, general repairs, that kind of thing. I moved him to the downstairs bedroom, and I have someone coming in to overhaul the downstairs bathroom for him.”

  “How is his health holding up?” Scotty knew Reggie’s health wasn’t the greatest, and hadn’t been for a couple of years, but the last time he saw him he’d seemed to be okay.

  “He’s all right. But mom has been driving him nuts worrying about him. He figured it was time to make some changes before she came here and checked him into a home.”

  “How are your folks? And Christian?” Nathan’s little brother had come along rather late in his parent's life. When he was young, they’d discovered he had a seizure disorder. The better treatment options in the bigger city had been the reason for their move.

  “Folks are fine. Christian’s doing well, which is probably the reason mom has time to harass grandpa. They got Christian on a new medication last year and it seems to have tamed the seizures.”

  “Oh, that’s awesome.” Scotty grinned and pushed his plate aside. There was still a piece of chicken and some mashed potatoes left, but Scotty was perfectly satisfied. “Tell them I said hi.”

  Scotty didn’t want to spend the whole night talking about Nathan’s family. He licked his lips suggestively and leaned close, pushing Nathan’s plate out of the way. “Did you come all the way over here to eat chicken wit
h me and talk about your family?”

  “If I say yes?”

  “That’s not an option.”

  Nathan cleared his throat and a blush swept down his face and throat. “Um, actually,” he exhaled. “I’m a little sore.”

  Scotty’s stomach dropped. “Oh fuck. I’m sorry.”

  Nathan shook his head and reached for Scotty. “It’s not your fault. You’re so fucking attractive, and I’ve had more sex in two days than I usually do in six months.”

  “So, it’s a good sore?” Scotty leaned across the table and kissed him.

  “It’s a good sore.”

  “There’s other things we could do, you know. I don’t always top.” The words almost didn’t want to come out. It had been years since Scotty had bottomed for someone and though he was willing to let Nathan, hell, he wanted him to, he wasn’t positive he wanted that now.

  “I had another idea.” Nathan stood and tugged Scotty to his feet. “Follow me.”

  Scotty did as he was told, which had to be a first, he thought with a smile.

  Nathan sat on the couch and pulled Scotty down into his lap, his thumb brushed over the contour of Scotty’s cheekbone.

  “What are you doing?”

  Nathan pulled Scotty’s mouth down to his. “This.”

  Scotty returned his kiss and he found himself smiling against Nathan’s lips. “You want to make out like horny teenager?” Scotty leaned in for a kiss, but at the last second, he moved away and made Nathan chase him.

  He felt Nathan’s breath on his lips, so close he could taste him. “Yeah, why not?” Nathan chased him for a kiss and Scotty let him win, for a few moments of toe-curling bliss. Nathan licked his way inside Scotty’s mouth. His arms wrapped around Scotty’s waist, trapping him where he sat. Nathan pulled Scotty tighter against him, then so slowly Scotty almost didn’t notice, not with the way Nathan kissed him like he was consuming him. Nathan laid him down on the couch and stretched out over top of him.

  Scotty laughed breathlessly. He’d pictured this moment so many times since he was a kid and had discovered that girls were fun to be friends with because they had the same interests as him, boys and makeup.

  “You’re not supposed to laugh.” Nathan scolded him halfheartedly. His mouth worked its way up Scotty’s jaw.

  “Sorry.” Scotty wound his arms around Nathan’s neck and threw himself into another kiss. He pressed upward, arching his back, exploring Nathan’s mouth with his tongue, imprinting every bit of him into memory. This was by far the stupidest thing Scotty had ever done. His coworker and best friend, Kate, had cautioned him against this very thing. It was too temporary, and Scotty was too invested. Too into Nathan to deny himself what could be his only chance to fulfill every dirty fantasy he had of him.

  And so what if it was only the dirty ones he’d get to experience. It wasn’t like Nathan would be around long enough to give him the other ones, the more mundane ones. Waking up in the morning. Being tangled together on the couch, drinking coffee and flirting. Going for walks through the neighborhoods. Maybe he’d come with Scotty when he did some of his house calls. He had a whole life pictured with Nathan, and it was stupid to do this.

  Wanting Nathan was an illness. A sickness that invaded his rational thought and had beaten it to death. He didn’t care that Nathan was only here for a few weeks. Okay, so he did. He knew Nathan was leaving, but he wasn’t gone yet. He was there, on top of Scotty, grinding his cock against Scotty’s. He groaned in Scotty’s mouth.

  Nathan mouthed Scotty’s neck and panted, trying to catch his breath. “I’m going to come in my pants if we keep this up.”

  “Then it really would be like we were teenagers.” Scotty laughed and pulled Nathan’s ass down. He thrust his hips up and writhed underneath him.

  “What are you doing?” Nathan asked, his voice tight and hoarse. Despite his question, he made no move to stop Scotty.

  “Making you come in your pants.”

  The force Nathan kissed him with was unexpected, but not unwelcome and Scotty returned it in the strength he used to grab Nathan’s ass. The thrusts and writhing motions of his hips. And when they came, it felt like the universe had expanded so big it had no choice but to collapse in on itself. Scotty and Nathan were in the center of the implosion, riding the shock waves into oblivion.

  Nathan buried his face in the crook of Scotty’s neck and laughed. “Oh god. I haven’t done that in years.”

  “I don’t mind.” Scotty kissed Nathan’s earlobe. “It means you can shower with me. And I’ll send you home in some clean sweats, and you’ll have to bring them back. Which means we’ll get to do this again.”

  “Oh, so it was all part of your evil plan.”

  “Absolutely. Can you blame me?”

  “Mmm. Can you blame me if I willingly fell for your diabolical plan?”

  “I wouldn’t call sex diabolical.”

  “Have you fucked your ass lately? Your cock is evil. Delicious, but evil.”

  “I don’t know that I like having a diabolical dick.”

  “Trust me, it’s not a bad thing.”

  Scotty didn’t know what to say to that, so he kissed Nathan soft on the lips. “Shower with me. You can’t go to Reggie’s smelling like cum.”

  “You have a point.” Nathan climbed off Scotty and he followed Scotty to the bathroom.

  “Do you want to start the shower while I scrub my face?” Scotty grabbed a makeup removing wipe out of the package and started wiping his makeup off.

  The spray started up and Scotty watched in the mirror as Nathan stripped out of his clothing. A fantasy he never dreamed came true, Scotty thought to himself. The little things were what he found himself craving from Nathan. The sex was great. Phenomenal. But it gave him butterflies of a different sort when Nathan did simple things, like strip naked while Scotty removed his makeup. Or talk about his family during dinner.

  Yep. Scotty was stupid and Kate would tell him as much when he filled her in on all the details the next day at work. But Scotty found the things in his life that felt stupid in the moment were the things that felt right in the long run.

  Scotty stepped into the shower and wrapped his arms around Nathan from behind. He rested his cheek against Nathan’s shoulder. “What’s on your agenda for tomorrow? You could come for dinner again?”

  “I told Grandpa I’d eat dinner with him.” Nathan sounded a little sad about having agreed to eat with his grandpa, but Scotty couldn’t be upset over Nathan wanting to spend time with Reggie.

  “You could come over a bit later. Or on the weekend. Surely you’re not going to work yourself to death over there.”

  “I’m not. Grandpa won’t let me. But I’m hitting the batting cages with Tod on Saturday.”

  Scotty tried not to be petulant, but he couldn’t resist poking a little jab at Nathan. “Don’t want to blow my brother off so you can blow his little brother?”

  Nathan turned and Scotty took note of the odd look on his face. “Tod is already pissed about this. Let’s not rub salt in the wound.”

  Scotty reached for his shampoo and squirted some into his hand. “What’s his deal anyway?”

  “He thinks if shit goes south, I won’t come around.”

  Scotty nodded, but refrained from saying anything.

  Then, Nathan looked at him again and his fingers brushed down the side of Scotty’s face.

  “What?”

  “I haven’t seen you without your makeup since I got here.”

  “And?” Scotty raised an eyebrow. “Do I pass muster?” Scotty asked as he scrubbed the shampoo into his hair and worked up a lather.

  Nathan’s lips caressed Scotty’s. “You always look good, Scotty.”

  Scotty was unequivocally fucked, and Kate was going to murder him for how deep he’d gotten, but there was no putting on the brakes now. “Come over after the batting cages.” Scotty rinsed his hair then draped his arms around Nathan’s neck.

  “I’ll be here.”

&nbs
p; For now, Scotty reminded himself as they kissed under the spray.

  Chapter Seven

  Nathan

  Tod was already at the batting cages when Nathan arrived. He leaned against his car, arms crossed over his chest. It struck Nathan then how much Scotty used to look like Tod. The backwards hats, the loose shorts, the endless supply of t-shirts. Scotty had looked like a miniature Tod. There had been no mistaking they were brothers.

  Scotty had morphed into an entirely different person since Nathan saw him last and what struck him the most was how Tod hadn’t mentioned any of it. He never talked about Scotty. And now that Tod knew Nathan had slept with Scotty, he couldn’t ask about him without ringing Tod’s alarm bells. Nathan climbed out of his truck and went over to Tod. They embraced in a quick hug. Tod slapped his back a couple times.

  “You’re late.”

  “Sorry. Grandpa forgot his prescription. I ran to the pharmacy for it.”

  “How’s he doing?”

  “Cranky. As always.” Nathan smirked. “He’s got a lot of fire in him, yet. He’s fine.”

  “Cool.” Tod motioned toward the cages. “Let’s get in there.”

  When Nathan hung out with Tod they didn’t need to talk. They could hang out and do things together. He’d always liked that about their friendship. Tod was there if he needed an ear, but Tod didn’t expect Nathan to prattle on about nothing to fill the silence.

  After the first twenty swings, however, Nathan noticed the silence wasn’t the comfortable kind of silence where nothing was being said because there was nothing to say. It was awkward and his relationship with Tod had never been awkward before. It made Nathan curious. Was Tod still angry about the Scotty thing? And why didn’t Tod talk about him? Could he risk asking Tod about his brother without pissing him off? It seemed a new question about Scotty popped into Nathan’s head every day.

  “I’m kicking your ass, Nate.” Tod was the only one who called him Nate.

  “I’m a little rusty. I’ve been spending too much time working.”