The Half of Us (Family 4)

“Well, he seems old and he’s my teacher!” She slammed the refrigerator shut and stomped over to the pantry. “That’s gross.”

“Hi, guys,” Abe called out as the laundry room door opened. “I brought donuts.” He walked into the kitchen and set a large pink box on the peninsula.

Apparently having seen the box, Donny rushed over and grabbed it.

Wanting to avoid an argument about eating dessert before dinner, Jason tried to compromise. “How about you eat half of one now and finish it after dinner?”

Before Jason could get a knife from the drawer, Donny had the box open and he was eating a glazed donut with chocolate frosting ripped in half. “This is good,” he said through a mouthful of pastry as he walked back to the family room, carrying the box.

“Now I know to pick up Ronald’s when I want to get on Donny’s good side.” Abe stepped over to Jason and met his gaze. “Hi,” he said softly, his tone and the sparkle in his eyes saying much more than hello. “How was your day?”

“Good.” Jason turned away from the stove and brushed his thigh against Abe’s leg, needing the connection, however slight. “How was yours?”

“Fine. I’m glad to be home.” Abe caressed Jason’s arm, sighed contentedly, and then smiled at Kristen, who was fidgeting in front of the pantry. “Hi, Kris. Is that a new dress?”

“It’s a hand-me-down from my mom. It was too small, so she said I could have it.”

Jason snorted and laughed into his hand.

Abe gave him a look that was equal parts amused and scolding and then stepped away. “Are you making spaghetti? There’re meatballs in the freezer. We can heat them in sauce and they’ll be ready to go.”

“Yup,” Jason said.

“Kris, the jars of sauce are on the second shelf in the pantry. Will you get two?” Abe said as he walked to the refrigerator.

“Sure.” She paused. “Do you think my dress looks okay?”

Abe turned back around and gave her his attention. “Yes. Do you have plans tonight?”

“No,” Jason said at the same time Kristen said, “Yes.”

“What plans?” Jason asked her. “You didn’t say anything about plans.”

“I, uh, thought I should wait for Abe to get home first.”

“Why?” Jason asked.

When Kristen didn’t answer, Jason glanced at Abe, who looked similarly confused for a moment, and then his expression changed into amusement.

“Jase, I think maybe Kristen has a date.”

“What?” Jason said, more loudly than he had intended. “You’re too young to date!”

“I’m fifteen and a half.”

“Which is too young to date,” Jason insisted.

“In 1953, maybe.” She rolled her eyes and whined, “Dad.”

“No. Absolutely not.”

“Abe,” Kristen pleaded. “Will you please talk to him?”

“There’s nothing to talk about,” Jason said. “Putting on makeup and clothes might make you look older, but you’re still a kid and you’re not going out with boys.”

“Kris, you can watch the water and put the pasta in when it boils, right?” Abe set a bag of frozen meatballs on the counter.

“Yes,” Kristen said.

“Good.” Abe walked over to Jason and lightly clasped his wrist. “Come upstairs with me.”

“Why? This isn’t up for discu—”

Abe leaned forward, getting close enough to kiss but not actually making contact. “You’re still wearing your work clothes. I thought you’d want to change.”

“These aren’t the scrubs I wore in the OR this morning. I changed into them before rounds in the afternoon.”

Abe dropped his gaze to Jason’s mouth and then up to his eyes. Jason took in a deep breath and reminded himself that sporting an erection in scrubs was almost impossible to conceal. “But, yeah, that’s a good idea. I should change,” he said. “And I, uh, need to take a quick shower too.”

“Kris, can you put the sauce in a pan on low with the meatballs?” Abe asked as he followed Jason out of the kitchen.

Kristen nodded. “Sure.”

They walked toward the staircase, and Jason noticed Donny eating a strawberry-glazed donut. “That’s the last donut,” he said. “I don’t want you to spoil your dinner.”

“He has headphones in,” Abe said when Donny didn’t respond.

“Something tells me he wouldn’t answer even if he could hear me.” Jason stomped over to Donny and pulled one of the speakers out of his ear. “That’s the last donut until after dinner.”

Donny rolled his eyes, replaced his earbud, and looked at his phone as he continued chewing.

“We were going upstairs, remember?” Abe said as he caressed Jason’s hip.

Abe was close enough for Jason to breathe in his scent, which reminded him of the reason they were going to the bedroom. “Let’s go,” Jason said.

They hustled up the stairs, and he managed to keep himself in check until they were in the bedroom with the door closed. Then he grabbed Abe’s shoulders, slammed him against the wall, and took his mouth in a scorching kiss. He licked, bit, and sucked on Abe’s lips before pushing him to his knees.