“Tod!” Stevie snapped.

“Am I wrong?” Tod asked his husband.

“Maybe not, but for God’s sake,” Stevie returned.

“We have now been together decades, when are you going to stop pretending you’re surprised at my behavior?” Tod asked.

“I’m not pretending to be surprised, I’m demonstrating my undying hope you’ll learn to behave,” Stevie shot back.

“If you wanted a man who behaved, you wouldn’t have married me,” Tod parried.

Stevie turned to Auggie and Pepper. “I hate that he’s right.”

Tod assumed a smug expression.

And yet another relationship in Auggie’s sphere where the people in it loved each other in a healthy way, even if it came with banter or bickering.

“Are you coming over or what?” Tod asked.

Aug looked to Pepper.

The instant their eyes met, she gave him the sense she was trying to see beyond them, into his brain.

She then said, “I love a good rosé.”

Yeah.

She’d read him.

Because he wanted time with her.

But he really dug Tod and Stevie. They were fun to be around. They were kind people. He knew she felt the same.

And if his mother or father knocked on his door again, he wouldn’t hear it.

He turned back to the men. “I’m making my Philly Cheese Ribeye sandwiches and I have plenty.”

Tod made his way to the fridge. “You’ll be guest chef in our kitchen. I’ll start packing the ingredients.”

Stevie did not hide his grin as he watched his husband move.

Healthy.

Loving.

In his kitchen.

Aug looked back to Pepper and raised his brows.

She got his question.

And answered, “Afternoon complete.”

Chapter Seventeen

Suspended Animation

Pepper

It was later than I’d guess we both imagined we’d leave Tod and Stevie’s, and it was later mostly because Tod got out the Yahtzee game.

We’d ended up going through more than one bottle of Freixenet while we entered a marathon Yahtzee tournament that took hours, because we were all cracking each other up during it (though Aug didn’t drink Freixenet, he brought over his beer because apparently, testosterone-fueled commandos didn’t drink sparkling wine—which was okay by Tod, Stevie and me, more for us).

I liked it that Auggie was relaxing, enjoying himself, laughing (even if it wasn’t the deep, full-throated laughter I was usually able to get out of him), and for more than that reason, I didn’t want the night to be over.

The bigger reason, I didn’t want my time with Auggie to be over.

As difficult as it was probably going to be, I also didn’t want the conversation about what happened with his parents to be over.

There was so much more to discuss. And this discussion would be centered around how important it was for him to get that they don’t reflect on him.

I mean, I wasn’t Gonzo for God or a partner-beating felon.

He wasn’t a rude, intrusive drama king.

I now got why he seemed surprised I opened my door to him, unmistakably expressing how excited I felt when he showed at my house.

But…

His folks had forgotten more birthdays than they remembered?

It was hard to think about that, even though it rolled around in my head so many times while eating Aug’s awesomely delicious sandwiches, drinking sparkling wine, and playing Yahtzee in great company.

So it was often through the night that I’d find myself gazing at him, this sweet, thoughtful, handsome man, and I’d feel my heart squeeze.

As a matter of course, I tried not to think of Juno grown up. I didn’t even like to consider the idea that third grade led to fourth, I’d blink, and she’d be in middle school. Then high school. And suddenly she’d be out on her own, making her own life, doing her own thing, living her adventures, maybe getting married, making babies.

I knew one thing about all of that, from now to whenever.

She’d be spectacular.

I’d be proud of her.

And any moment she’d give to me, I’d take it.

And like it was now, as it would be forever, every minute I got to be with her would be a gift.

How Auggie’s parents could show up at his door and act like that to him, to each other, to me, I could not fathom.

How it had to feel for him, I didn’t want to fathom.

But I had to.

I had to hear it, not that I’d ever understand it, but so I could be there for him through however he decided to deal with it.

Tod had kept the vigil, and Auggie’s folks hadn’t approached his door again (that said, throwing someone’s suitcases out onto the front walk made a statement even his parents couldn’t ignore). Their situation at the front of the house ran its course and they went off to do whatever they were going to do next.

There was only one good thing about Auggie’s parents’ visit.

It took my mind off how entirely fucked up my family was.

However, I mentally tucked away the fact that I was going to have to reflect on this.

All of it.

Because what happened with me that morning, and what happened to Auggie that afternoon, bore a shit ton of reflection.

Tags: Kristen Ashley Dream Team Romance
Source: readsnovelonline.net