Unwritten Law (Steele Brothers 1)

Messy doesn’t begin to cover it, and I have no idea what I’m doing. With Anders or Law.

Something changed between Law and me the other night. Or maybe I’m reading into it. Fuck, why does he have to be the straight one? He’s perfect. A little damaged, but aren’t we all?

The thing that’s worrying me the most is even after hearing Anders’ story from Law, Law is the one I want to be there for. I want to pick up his broken pieces. Shouldn’t the guy I’m sleeping with be the one I want to look out for?

Brody’s easy smile is begging to be wiped off his face.

“You know,” I say, “if you hadn’t avoided me for the first few weeks of me being here, I wouldn’t have had to play nice with others.”

“Where’s my entertainment in that? Besides, I … I didn’t know how it was going to be … seeing you again after five years.”

“You left me.”

“You could’ve come with me.”

“Are we really going to get into this?” I ask. “We agreed to be friends when you left for uni. High school relationships rarely work out as it is, let alone ones that have to endure long distance. And being closeted.”

“Two and a half hours isn’t long distance. It’s … an annoyance. And you could’ve come here for uni too.”

I shake my head. “God, if I’d done that, I never would’ve forgiven myself leaving Mum and Dad and losing them only a few months later.”

Brody’s smile turns grim. “I’m sorry I wasn’t there for you when that happened.”

God, I don’t want to talk about my parents right now. “We made the right choice back then, and it’s not like you have feelings for me anymore.” I swallow hard. “Right?”

“Honestly? I was worried it might all come back when I saw you, but the truth is, you’re butt ugly now you’ve aged.”

And just like that, it’s easy between us again. “Thanks, man.” I wish I could say the same about him, but that would be a lie. He fills out a suit nicely, and his brown messy hair contrasts the stuffy lawyer vibe his suit gives out. “I bet the only reason you get laid is because you work for the biggest criminal law firm in Australia. Guys see dollar signs.”

He knows I’m lying and smirks. “Do you want my honest opinion?” Brody asks. Before I can answer, he keeps talking. Guess it was a rhetorical question then. “You need to end it with the hook-up. It’s just sex, yeah?”

“Yeah. He’s not very talkative.”

“Lucky bastard,” Brody says. “Where can I find a guy who doesn’t talk and blows me?”

“Get your own. Anders is mine.”

“But he’s not the one you want.”

“I could want him,” I argue. “If we got to know each other outside of bed. Maybe.”

“Answer me something. When you’re with Anders, who are you picturing?”

“Anders.” I think.

“When you’re with the other one—”

“Law.”

“Law … seriously who are their parents? Their names are just plain mean.”

“Hey, at least they’re not named after a weed.” Reed is not a fun name to grow up with.

“True. Maybe they’re your match. Maybe they’re into twin—”

“If you say kinky twin shit, I’m leaving.”

Brody smiles. “I’m wondering if you’re projecting the relationship you want with Anders onto Law. Anders gives you the physical stuff, the other gives you all the horrible shit like common interests and”—he shudders—“intimacy.”

I gasp. “You said a bad word. You haven’t changed at all. Still emotionally stunted.”

“Yes, but my big dick makes up for it.”

“If you say so.”

It’s great to be laughing and joking around with Brody again like old times, but I don’t want to admit he’s hit the nail on the head. Anders and I have fun, but I’m connected to Law on a whole other level. We’re passionate about the same things. Even though he was reliving his own personal hell the other night, he stayed by Davis’s side when he didn’t have to. He’s a great teacher, selfless, and isn’t too serious all the time. We have fun too, just not the same type of fun I have with his brother. Law is the type of guy I want to be with. I wonder if I’m letting Anders continually come over because he can give me what his brother can’t. Or maybe it’s the other way around and I’m taking from Law what I want with Anders.

“You look like you’re going to throw up,” Brody says.

“You look like someone who’s about to be punched.”

Brody laughs. “I’d like to see you try.”

“Hey, I’m learning karate. I might be able to kick your ass.”

He reaches across the table with his long arm and pats my head. “Sure you could.”

I ball my napkin up and throw it at him. “Asshole.”

“You’ve missed me,” he quips.

“A little. It’s good to have my best friend back.”