“Nathan told me what you two talked about yesterday.”
Everett’s fingers played with the handle on the mug. “He shouldn’t make the same mistake I did,” the older man murmured. “I wanted him to know what waiting even a day too long could cost him.”
I knew what he was talking about. On the few occasions Everett would have a little too much to drink, he’d get nostalgic and start talking about how he would have done things differently. Not a day went by that I knew he wasn’t regretting not coming out while he was still in office. It would have caused a stir, but he would have been able to acknowledge his relationship with Pierce. And whatever firestorm he would have had to face, he’d have had my brother at his side when he’d done it. The fact that Pierce had left the military was a sign that he’d been all-in and ready to expose himself to the world as the man the leader of the free world was in love with.
As for Nathan, I had no idea what his plans were for when his life got back to normal. He’d embraced his sexuality here in the safety of my home, but out there in the real world? I shook my head as I thought about what he’d have to face.
And how he’d have to do it alone.
“Nathan will do what’s best for him,” I said.
“You’re what’s best for him.”
Pain radiated through my chest at Everett’s declaration. They were words I hadn’t allowed myself to admit.
For the same reason I’d made Nathan promise he’d walk away when this was all over.
Because I was terrified that I wasn’t strong enough to let him go.
“I’m not having this discussion with you,” I said as I began preparing breakfast.
“It’s been years since the last attempt…” Everett said as I turned my back on him to get the stove going.
“We both know there’s no expiration date on revenge,” I muttered. “Let it go, Everett.”
“So what, Vincent? You’re going to live like this for the rest of your life?” he asked, his voice uncharacteristically heavy with anger.
“Yeah, Everett, I am,” I snapped as I turned back around. “Because there’s no getting out for me! And he’ll pay the price,” I ground out as I pointed towards the stairs. I froze when I saw Nathan standing in the entryway to the kitchen. I held his startled gaze for a moment, and then turned back to the stove and tried to focus on getting the omelets going.
“Morning,” Nathan said as he entered the room.
“Morning, Nathan,” Everett said.
I stiffened when Nathan came around to my side of the island. I expected him to confront me about what I’d said, but instead, he leaned in and kissed me softly on the mouth. “Morning.”
“Morning,” I managed to say back. He grabbed the coffee pot and a mug and then went to sit next to Everett.
Nathan and Everett made small talk as I cooked, but when I asked Everett if he was staying for breakfast, he waved me off with an excuse about having already eaten. I didn’t believe him, but I kept my mouth shut. I watched as he and Nathan said their goodbyes. I hated how worn down my friend looked, but I wasn’t sure what to say, so I kept my mouth shut. He came around the island to give me a quick hug and then he was shuffling out the door.
“I’m worried about him,” Nathan murmured as he came around the island and began picking at some of the diced ham I’d set aside for the second omelet.
I nodded. “He’s usually better at hiding it.”
“Hiding what?” Nathan asked.
“The fact that he’s still in mourning.”
“Have you ever talked to him about it? About trying to move on?”
“Yeah, a couple of times. Keeps saying he’s too old and he’ll only ever love one man in his lifetime. It’s the reason he never bothered coming out.”
“What do you mean?” Nathan asked as he leaned against the counter.
“I think it’s his way of hanging on to my brother’s memory, you know? Like coming out means he’s starting a new chapter…one without Pierce.”
I glanced at Nathan to see him studying the spot where Everett had been sitting. “What about his son?”
“He told you about Reese?” I asked in surprise.
Nathan nodded. “He said Reese accused him of having an affair. He said Pierce was his commanding officer.”
I nodded because I’d heard the story from Everett about Reese walking in on him and Pierce so many years ago. “It probably ate Pierce up,” I mused.
“He said Reese works for someone in Seattle…it’s not your friend, is it? Beck’s uncle?”
I stilled at that and lifted my eyes to meet Nathan’s. “What?”
Nathan tensed. “You didn’t know?”
I shook my head as things finally fell into place. Everett had always been tight-lipped around me about how he and Ronan had met, and I’d accepted that. But I’d had no clue Reese had somehow ended up working for Ronan. And I had no doubt that he was the man Nathan was talking about, not Dom. I’d known enough about Reese before he’d disappeared to be aware that he’d hooked up with some mercenaries after leaving the military. The mercenaries had been less interested in being patriots and more interested in making some easy money. If Reese had made one wrong move with guys like that, it would have spelled disaster.