Unspoken Vow (Steele Brothers 2)

I make my way onto the back patio and take a beer from the esky. They’ll have something stronger inside, and it’s tempting, but a small voice behind me catches my attention.

“Anders?”

When I turn, two smiles from people I haven’t seen in years greet me. Dawn and her husband, Nash, went to high school with Law and me. High school sweethearts to the extreme, they got married right after graduation. I haven’t seen them since.

“Hey.” The sight of two people from my old life—the life I crave to have back again—has my flight instincts kicking in.

Dawn throws her tiny arms around me, and Nash holds out his hand for me to shake.

“It’s been a long time,” Nash says. “Missed you at the reunion.”

Right. Our ten-year reunion. There was no way I was gonna go to that.

Hey, Anders, I’m a doctor now. I’m married, successful, and my life is perfect. What have you been up to?

Oh, you know, I had the mental strength to leave my house today, so that’s a win.

“Yeah, you know how it is. Tax season and everything. Barely get time to eat, let alone go out.”

They both look at me with confused expressions.

“I’m an accountant,” I say, and they both do the whole “Oh” thing and avoid eye contact. Their facial expressions scream Dear God, don’t let him go into the details or I’m gonna need a refill on this wine. “I’m guessing the reunion’s where you ran into Law.”

“With his boyfriend.” Nash chuckles. “Everyone was surprised. I mean, we always thought you were the gay one.”

I can’t tell if he’s joking or not, but hey, talking about my sexuality is easier than telling them what I’ve been doing for the past ten years. “I am. Law’s bi and only dated girls in high school.”

Nash’s eyes widen. “Oh shit. We thought … you guys looked exactly the same and … ah, fuck.”

“What he’s trying to say is,” Dawn cuts in, “that we thought we had you two mixed up.”

“Wouldn’t be the first time. Or the one hundredth.”

“I guess it makes sense though,” Nash says, suddenly thoughtful. “Twins. I mean, you’re identical, so …”

“So being queer is in our DNA?” I quip. Most people would be pissed at Nash’s ignorance, but fuck, give me ignorance over curiosity about my scar any day. Not that they could see it with my beard.

“I-I didn’t mean that,” Nash stutters. “It’s just, what are the odds of siblings both … err, both, you know …”

“Liking dick?” I feel horrible about putting this guy on the spot, I really do, but it’s my way of trying to take focus off me.

A short laugh comes from behind me. Brody ambles up the steps of the patio and joins us. Damn his gorgeous face, his perfectly messy hair that probably took an hour to style, and his tight T-shirt that shows off even tighter muscles that are normally hidden by his business shirts. It’s the first time I’ve truly taken him in today, and I should’ve known better than to drop my guard because he was talking with Reed.

Remember your rules, Anders. Thou shalt not ogle Brody Wallace.

Brody swipes my beer out of my hand and takes a sip.

“There’s the esky right there, you know.” I point to the ice bucket.

“Tastes better when it’s stolen.” Then he turns to Nash and Dawn. “And in relation to your question, it’s actually common for more than one sibling to be on the LGBTQ spectrum for a variety of reasons.”

“Like what?” Nash asks.

“I wish I had the time and the crayons to explain it to you, but I need to steal Anders away for a second.”

I try to hold in my laugh as Brody drags me away. “They meant no harm, you know.”

“I know, but you looked like you needed rescuing.”

Brody keeps dragging me around the side of the house, away from everyone at the party.

My pulse increases, but I tell myself to breathe through it. “What’s up?”

“Law said you still don’t have a new place yet.”

“How would he know? Maybe I’m getting a roommate instead of moving.”

Letting someone I don’t know into my space? So not happening. Brody doesn’t know that though. Law would, so I guess I have my answer.

“You guys tell each other everything. If you had a new apartment, he’d know.”

“Your point?”

“Law also said you’re not the type to ask for help when you need it, so here’s me offering my apartment again. It’s two bedrooms—”

“No. Not a good idea.”

Brody keeps going. “I’m hardly ever home, and the offer’s there. I know you don’t want to have to move in with your brother while he and Reed are still”—he screws up his face—“in the ‘we just got a new house and have to christen every single room with nakedness’ phase.”

“Eww, thanks for that visual.”

“I mean it. You can stay with me until you work something out. If you need it.”