Pushing the Limits (Secrets Kept 2)

“I miss us,” Lane said softly.

Pain started in the center of my chest and echoed outward.

I miss us too.

Then in the background I heard Jayden ask, “Why are you hiding up here? Who are you talking to?” and my muscles immediately tensed up.

“I’m not hiding. I’m talking to my brother,” Lane told his boyfriend.

I ended the call before I said something I couldn’t take back.

“Jayden sure is on his phone a lot,” Helena said to Lane. I’d noticed the same thing, but I didn’t trust myself to say anything about the little slimeball. I didn’t like him. I didn’t trust him. Not just because I was jealous as fuck either. He was weirdly possessive over Lane, clingy, and kept trying to talk to me when I could tell he knew I wanted him to fuck right off.

“He’s busy with his work. There’s always something going on, and he’s not very good at taking time off. He really wants to make a bigger name for himself,” Lane said just before Jayden came back inside.

“Sorry about that,” Jayden said.

“We never get away with working during family time,” I said, trying to be an asshole.

“Isaac.” Lane frowned.

“You always say my name like it’s a warning and I’m about to get into trouble for something.”

“Because you usually are.”

“I’m sorry. I didn’t realize,” Jayden said.

“It’s okay. Isaac just likes to be a tattletale.”

“Isaac just likes to keep it real,” I countered.

“I’m going to check the food.” Dad stood, and I did the same.

“I’ll go with you.”

We headed to the backyard, where he’d been smoking ribs all day. He peeked at them, then closed the lid. “You don’t like him.”

“I don’t think he’s good enough for Lane,” I replied. “There’s something about him I don’t trust.”

Dad eyed me for a moment like he was trying to figure me out, then nodded. “Yeah, he doesn’t really seem Lane’s type. The art stuff, yes, but he’s so…” Like me, actually. I mean, I wasn’t a slimeball fuckface and he was, but I could tell we both thought of things from a money-and-numbers standpoint in a way Lane didn’t. I’d always seen him with someone creative, who could lose themselves for hours or days in their art, not someone just trying to make money off it like Jayden.

“I get it,” I replied, without Dad having to continue.

“But he must mean a lot to Lane for him to have brought him home. This is a first, so we need to respect that.”

“Yes, sir.”

I was on my best behavior after that, which mostly meant being quiet. Lane kept watching me, and Jayden kept watching him. We were halfway through the meal when Jayden was telling some story about the two of them. I missed most of the details, instead imagining all the horrible things I wanted to do to Jayden, but then I heard, “It doesn’t matter what’s going on, he can lose himself in the middle of anything. I can’t tell you how many times I’ve woken up and he’s gone, so I have to go and drag him out of his studio and back to bed. I can’t believe I’ve kept him out of the attic all night while we’ve been here.”

My gaze snapped to him. “Why does it matter if he paints at night?”

Jayden’s eyes widened, this sort of doe-eyed cross between Oh shit, I fucked up and You’re a real fucking bastard, Isaac.

Helena reached over and touched my hand. “I’m sure that’s not what he meant.”

“But it’s what he said. And that’s who Lane is. That’s always who Lane has been.”

“I didn’t mean it that way. Of course I support Lane. I want what’s best for him and his career.”

I ignored him. “You haven’t been to the attic this week?” That space was Lane. He’d spent more time there than in his own bedroom growing up. It was where he worked every time he came home.

“I’ve been to the attic. But if I hadn’t, it wouldn’t be a big deal. I’m on vacation, and I’d like to have a good night’s sleep. That’s all.”

“You always get inspired at night,” I countered.

“Then I’d go upstairs if I wanted. I’m a big boy, Isaac. I don’t need you to defend me like I can’t make my own choices.”

“Isaac,” Dad warned. I was really getting tired of my name sounding like that.

“I’m sorry.” I looked at Lane, not Jayden. “It’s none of my business what you do or don’t do. I should have kept my mouth shut.”

The mood for the rest of the meal was subdued. I was betting Lane wished he hadn’t called and asked me to come. I know I did.

I noticed Jayden stayed off his phone most of the rest of the night. After dinner we sat in the backyard for a while, talking—Helena and Dad telling Jayden stories from when Lane and I were young.