Unexpected (The Protectors 10)

“You see this?” Vincent asked as he reached into the duffel bag on the bed. He pulled out a well-worn book and handed it to me.

“The Outsiders,” I said as I read the title embossed on the front.

“David’s favorite book. He used to ask me to read it to him all the time when we were younger because his learning disability made it hard for him to both read and enjoy the story at the same time. When I told Nathan that, do you think he asked me to get rid of the book? Or only look at it when he wasn’t around?”

I shook my head because I knew Nathan wasn’t capable of something like that.

“He invited David into our lives. He hung the one picture I have of David in our bedroom. He asks me about David when I bring up things from my childhood. He refers to David as “Daddy” when he’s sweet-talking Mickey and Minnie.”

I smiled at that. Mickey and Minnie were Vincent’s cats. David had brought them home one day when he’d been at struggling and the softhearted Vincent had kept the cats even after his David’s death.

“Nathan has no doubts about how much I love him, but he’d never expect me to choose between him and David. David is as much a part of my heart as Nathan is. Anyone who loves you will never ask you to cut out something that’s forever part of you. Pierce, wherever he is, is so fucking happy for you, Everett. I guarantee it.”

I managed a nod, but nothing else. I couldn’t hold back the tears, though. Vincent’s arms went around me. He just held me for a long time, despite my protest that I was going to get his shirt wet. When I quieted, he said, “Everett, is that all you want to ask me?”

“What do you mean?” I hedged. I hadn’t actually asked him what I really wanted to, because I was so afraid to hear his answer.

“You asked me if I thought that Pierce thought you were betraying him. Are you also worried that I think you’re betraying him?”

I didn’t answer, because I couldn’t. Vincent, of course, already knew the answer.

“Because I don’t, Everett. I want this for you just as much as Pierce does. He was the brother of my blood, but you’re the brother of my heart.”

“Fuck, Vincent, don’t say shit like that,” I snapped as I pushed away from him and went in search of tissues.

Vincent smiled and followed me to the bathroom. He leaned against the doorframe as he watched me wash my face.

“So, tell me about the guard dogs, you old dog. They teaching you any new tricks?”

I rolled my eyes. “You can be so juvenile sometimes.”

“Fine. How are things going with your lovers?”

“Um, no,” I said.

“Come on, Ev, I’m about to be a married man. I need to live vicariously through you.”

“Bullshit,” I said. “I wouldn’t be surprised if you threw Nathan over your shoulder to get him down the aisle faster.”

Vincent shot me a smirk, and I knew he was definitely thinking about it.

“Give me something,” Vincent finally asked nicely. “I need to know how they’re treating you so I can decide just what to say tonight when I tell them not to hurt you or else.”

I reached for a towel to dry my face, then dropped my hands to the counter. I studied Vincent in the mirror for a moment. Then I looked at myself. I took in my appearance. I’d regained most of the weight I’d initially lost and the bags beneath my eyes were finally gone. My skin was a healthy color, rather than pale and sallow. Life danced in my eyes as I thought about my men.

“They watch Dancing with the Stars with me,” I began. “And they let me hold the remote so I can channel surf during commercials. No matter what position we’re in after we make love, they always put me between them before we go to sleep. Nash holds me really tight in his sleep, like he’s afraid he’ll lose me if he doesn’t. Gage is the last to go to sleep and he likes to touch me while he’s waiting for me to drift off. Even though we can’t touch one another during the day, they still find ways to make me feel them. Whether they look at me a certain way or send me a quick wink when no one is looking, it’s… it’s like we’re one.”

I turned so that I was facing Vincent.

“I didn’t think you get love like that more than once in a lifetime, and certainly not more than once at the same time. It shouldn’t work, but it just does.”

“Have you guys talked about what you’re going to do… once Reese is better?”

I’d explained to Vincent how things had been going with Reese as we’d made our way to Dom’s island house. He’d let off a slew of curses as he’d considered the predicament, but for once, he’d been at a loss for a solution. Like Gage, Vincent was a get-in-and-solve-the-problem kind of guy, so he was clearly frustrated that he couldn’t just fix things for me.