Unraveling Malcolm (Rebels and Nerds Book 2)

by R. Cayden

I stepped forward, grabbing Malcolm from behind and pulling him into a hug. Maddox smiled down at us, and he gave me a wink when I blew a flirty puff of air on Malcolm’s neck.

  Malcolm giggled softly, then leaned back into my embrace. “This workshop is pretty sexy,” he said. “Have you two really just been working here this whole time?”

  Maddox took off his leather gloves, tossing them to the table. “Pretty much,” he said. “But I think it’s about time we’re done for the day.”

  “Yeah,” I added, leaning forward to whisper in Malcolm’s ear. “Maybe time for some more settling in?”

  Malcolm spun around, draping his arms over my shoulders. “Only if you show me some of the things you learned on the equipment first,” he said. “I think it’s kind of sexy.”

  Maddox stepped behind Malcolm, and the three of us spun into a three-person kiss. Maddox’s thick muscles pulled me close, and Malcolm wiggled up between our bodies as our tongues and lips met and parted again.

  I might not have known what I wanted to do for a career or how I would be able to provide for the guys in a way that felt right to me. But I did know one thing. Just like Maddox said, I had all the time in the world to figure it out and two amazing guys to help me on the way.

  Chapter Thirty-Five

  Malcolm

  Three weeks later

  My mother sat across the small coffee table from me. Her favorite tearoom was filled with ornate decorations and flowing green plants, all styled to match the stunning saucers and cups before us.

  “Are you absolutely certain, Malcolm?” she asked me, setting her cup down with a clink. “Do you really think men like this will treat you right? The very fact that they’re both interested in doing this thing with two other men…”

  She said the word “thing” like she had a bug in her mouth. Thing.

  “I’m interested in doing this thing with two other men,” I said, making sure to hold my back straight. “Do you think I’m a bad person, Mother?”

  She lifted her teacup to her lips. Her hands were a little shaky, but when she put it down, there was a smile on her face. “No, Malcolm, I don’t think you’re a bad person. You know that. But don’t be confused by my presence this afternoon. Agreeing to meet with you does not signal approval for this situation or for these men.”

  I reached out to take her hand. The waiter started over, but he must have noticed that we were having a moment. “I know it’s a lot for you to take in,” I said. “And I appreciate you coming to meet me for tea.”

  She nodded and squeezed my hand before releasing it and straightening her blouse. “Your father, on the other hand, I do not think will be having tea with you anytime soon. At least not so long as all of this is going on.”

  “Which it will be indefinitely,” I said as firmly as I could.

  I could tell she was bristling from the tone. I could get away with arguing with my mother a little bit at home sometimes, but it was forbidden in public.

  Especially in the teahouse.

  The waiter spotted his moment and slid over with a tray full of small cookies. Many of them had drops of special jellies or puddings in the middle, and there were a few tasteful berries dotted around the tray as well.

  Both of our eyes lit up, and we each grabbed a madeleine cookie, biting into the light, puffy treat. When we looked back up, we each laughed.

  “Cookies have never failed to bring us together,” I said.

  Mother smiled, then dabbed at her mouth with her napkin. “Thank goodness for that,” she said. “And I suppose if these gentlemen are going to be around for a while, I should learn a few things about them, yes?”

  “Sure,” I said, my heart warming that she would ask. “What would you like to know?”

  “I’m not sure,” she said and waved her hand in the air delicately. “What are they doing right now, for instance? How will they spend their afternoons?”

  “Right now,” I said, “they’re taking care of something very important together.”

  GUNNER

  I held onto Maddox, my arms wrapped around his chest while the wind whipped by. With my face pressed close to his jacket, I could smell his pheromones and the black leather, even with my helmet on.

  I felt amazing.

  I felt like I could conquer the fucking world.

  We’d been driving out of Seattle for a couple of hours, only stopping occasionally so that I could stretch and shake out my legs. The motor rumbling between my legs was making me horny as hell, so I’d always grab the chance to wrap my arms around Maddox’s broad shoulders and feel him pull me into a kiss while we were at the rest stop or gas station.

  Now, though, we were pulling in to my hometown. It was my first visit back in years, and honestly, I was kind of fucking terrified about it.

  Maddox pulled off the highway, then found us a quiet spot to park. The town was pretty small, with just a single stoplight and not much by way of businesses. Hopping off the motorcycle, though, it felt like not a damn thing had changed.

  “How you holding up there?” Maddox asked, tucking his helmet under his arm.

  I shook my head. “I just can’t believe I’m actually back here.”

  “I’m glad you are,” he said. “It’s not healthy to keep hiding from your past.”

  I nodded, then pulled a cigarette out from the pack that was crumpled in my pocket. My hands were a little shaky when I lit it, although I wasn’t sure if that came from the ride or my nerves. “Man, it’s fucked up, though,” I said, kicking at the ground. “The only good thing about this town was my mom.”

  “I’m sorry she can’t see the man you’ve become,” he said. “I’m sure she’d be proud.”

  “I’m sorry she can’t meet you,” I said, gesturing to Maddox with my cigarette. “And Malcolm. She’d fucking love you guys.”

  “Oh yeah?”

  “Hell yeah. She’d think Malcolm was about the sweetest damn thing in the world, and she’d probably drool over you herself. After marrying a scumbag like my father, she always told me that I should pick a good man.” I studied Maddox as he wiped some sweat off his brow. “And damn, but you’re a real good man.”

  He chuckled. “I’m trying, at least. You sure there’s nothing else you want to get up to while you’re here? It’s an awful long drive to just cruise by a house.”

  I shook my head, tossing the cigarette to the ground. “I’ve been thinking about it all week, but I don’t have anything to say to my father. He told me exactly what he thinks of me, and I have no illusions that he would have changed his mind. Anyway, he knows how to get ahold of his son if he wants to.” I sighed, feeling my chest tighten. “Trying to talk to him is like arguing with a fucking wall.”

  “I know the feeling,” Maddox agreed. “Took me years to realize I wasn’t going to change my old man, but once I did, I was finally able to start moving on.”

  I stepped forward, and Maddox pulled me into his arms, then planted a kiss on the top of my head. As he held me, I felt the tremor in my body build. Being in Maddox’s strong embrace let my feelings finally rise to the surface, and my breath became heavy and choked as he stroked the hair on the back of my head. After a minute of feeling held, the trembling started to fade, and I came back to myself.

  I stepped out of his arms and sucked in a deep breath. “Thanks,” I said. “For everything.”

  He nodded. “You ready to do this?”

  “Sure am,” I answered.

  We hopped back onto the bike, and Maddox drove us through town, all my old haunts flashing by in a blur. It didn’t take long to make it to my father’s place. His house was tucked up behind the post office, and it looked like just about every single-story home in that town. Maddox pulled his bike up across the street, and we stayed seated as I pulled off my helmet and stared at the building.

  It was just like I remembered. There were a few shrubs in the front yard, and the lawn hadn’t been mowed in a while. A newer SUV sat in the drive, but my dad’s old truck was st
ill parked in the yard off to the side, probably requiring just as much maintenance and upkeep as ever.

  The truck is looking good, Pop. I can give you that much.

  Maddox reached backward, resting his hand on my knee. “You want to hop off the bike? Look around the neighborhood a little bit?”

  My chest tightened again, and for a second, I thought my voice was going to get caught in my throat. Then Maddox squeezed my knee, and I hugged his chest from behind. He was there, and knowing that he cared made me feel strong.

  I imagined that my father was home. He was probably sitting inside right then, some crappy show on the cable and the stench of cigarettes filling the room. He might even have stepped to the window to inspect the motorcycle parked across the street. I wondered if he would recognize me. A part of me wanted him to look out and to see the badass who had driven me across the state on his motorcycle.

  “You’re so much more of a man than he will ever be,” I said, still squeezing Maddox from behind. “So much more.”

  “You too, Gunner,” he said. “Even if your dad never opens his eyes enough to see that, you are.”

  We sat there in the silence while the clouds passed over the sky. When I was good and ready, I patted Maddox’s chest.

  “Last chance to knock on the door,” he said.

  I shook my head. “I’m good,” I said confidently. “There’s nothing for me here.”

  “In that case, let’s make our way back to the highway. I want to find a good diner before we head to the city again. Once we’re back, I’ve got something I want to show you and Malcolm.”

  “Oh yeah? What’s that?”

  He turned over his shoulder, then kicked on the motor again, the rumble of it echoing down the street. “Come on, Gunner,” he joked. “You have to let a guy keep a little mystery.”

  I rested my head on his shoulder, feeling suddenly content. “Maddox,” I said, “I’m pretty sure you’re going to keep surprising me for a long time.”

  MADDOX

  When I pulled my bike up to the house in Seattle, Malcolm was already waiting there. Standing on the corner in a light purple cardigan and gray trousers, he looked absolutely delicious.

  Save the dirty fantasies for later, I told myself.

  After all, I was hoping to have the rest of my life to play with him.

  Gunner and I hopped off the bike, and I threw my arm casually over his shoulder while we made our way to Malcolm. He rose up on his toes to greet us each with a kiss.

  “How was the trip?” Malcolm asked, wringing his hands together. “Did it go okay?”

  “Sure did,” Gunner said, shoving his hands in his pocket. “Got just what I wanted.”

  I cocked my eyebrow. “And what’s that, exactly?”

  He shrugged. “Just a reminder that I don’t owe that man anything.”

  I squeezed his shoulder. Gunner probably had a lot more to think about and move through, but that would all come in time.

  “How about you?” Gunner asked Malcolm. “Your mom starting to come along?”

  He shrugged but kept smiling. “Kind of. I think it’s going to take her a while, but I know we’ll get there.” He looked down at the ground, almost bashful. “We care about each other, you know?”

  “That’s good,” I said. “That’ll make the difference.”

  Malcolm gestured over his shoulder at the two-story house behind us. We were in a quiet neighborhood, and the place had a few giant trees lumbering in the front yard. With big wide stairs and brick walls, it looked sturdy in the shade.

  “So what’s this about?” Malcolm asked. “When I followed the address you gave me, I thought I was going to some other weird biker restaurant or something.”

  I chuckled, then tugged at the front of his cardigan. “I see you dressed the part, too.”

  Malcolm laughed, then struck a pose. “I’m not pretending to be anyone except for exactly who I am,” he said.

  His confidence warmed my heart and made the idea of stripping off those clothes later even more enticing. “Come inside,” I said. “We’ll check it out.”

  The guys exchanged a puzzled look, then followed me to the porch. I pulled the key out of my pocket, and when I opened the door, my heart started pounding. I had no doubt that I had made the right decision, but still, showing Malcolm and Gunner the house I had decided should be our home was enough to give even me anxiety.

  The place was empty, and my voice echoed through the rooms and off the hardwood floors. They followed me as I gestured to the large sitting room, the creaky stairs to the top floor, and the long hallway that lead to the kitchen and the backyard.

  “What is this?” Malcolm asked, turning slowly as he took it all in.

  “Well,” I said, rubbing my hands together, “I thought it could be our house.”

  “What?” they each yelped at the same time, snapping their heads to face me.

  I chuckled at the expressions on their faces and started feeling more excited than nervous. “A friend of a friend was selling the place, and I managed to get a great deal from him. There’s still some work that has to be done on the structure, but with three big bedrooms and a huge backyard, I thought it was too good a deal to pass up. Not to mention we have a pretty solid work crew between the three of us.”

  “You’re asking us to move in with you?” Gunner asked. “Holy shit, Maddox, that’s fucking wild!”

  Malcolm laughed, grabbing Gunner’s hand. “How did you afford this, though? From your welding jobs?”

  I shook my head. “I’m selling the place in the mountains.”

  “What?” they both yelped again.

  “I know, the place seems pretty special,” I said. “But the houses in that gated community are way overpriced, and the property taxes are through the roof. I can make a huge profit selling it now and have more than enough to remodel this place and get a new life in the city started.”

  “But you love the mountains!” Gunner objected, his brow furrowing. “You love the garden and the quiet, and you love the welding studio—”

  “And I love you,” I said, interrupting him. I took Gunner’s face in my hand, turning it up to meet my eyes. “I love you, Gunner.” I turned to Malcolm, placing my hand on his chin and doing the same. His lip was quivering, and he was blinking behind his glasses. “And I love you, Malcolm.”

  “I love you, too,” Malcolm said, his voice trembling. He turned to Gunner. “And you. I love you, Gunner.”

  Gunner grinned. “Holy shit,” he said. “I fucking love you both.”

  I laughed, then threw my arms over their shoulders, pulling them in for one of our three-person kisses.

  “But I still can’t believe you bought this house!” Malcolm said, stepping back and looking at the place again. “Are you sure you want to do that?”

  I nodded. “Trust me,” I said. “I don’t do a damn thing if I don’t want to. But I’m not just moving out here for you. I’m moving out here for me.”

  “How do you mean?” Gunner asked.

  “The past couple of months have been some of the happiest of my life. Most of that is because of the two of you, but I have to admit, I’d gotten pretty lonely out in the mountains. I’m ready for a new chapter, and I’m ready to start building a life that I share, instead of a life that I keep hidden from the rest of the world.” I cracked my knuckles, a little nervous about how they might react to the next part. “I’m also ready to start talking to my family again.”

  “Holy shit,” Gunner said. “Are you sure?”

  “And are you sure that’s safe?” Malcolm asked, his face scrunching up.

  “I am. I didn’t tell you this right away, but I did catch one of my uncle’s goons scouting out Malcolm’s apartment. It was probably just a hunch on their part, looking to see if there was any connection between the investigation from the city and the missing cash.”

  Gunner fidgeted when I said that last part, and Malcolm grabbed his hand.

  “I didn’t think you wer
e in danger,” I continued, “but I did go back to the office to talk to my uncle and check it out. And when I was there, I saw my little cousin. He was a teenager, although I hadn’t seen him since he was a toddler.”

  “You want to be in your cousin’s life,” Malcolm said, nodding slowly. “That makes sense to me.”

  “I need to,” I said. “For one thing, I’m pretty sure the kid is gay, and I know what it’s like to grow up in that family. More importantly, though, I realized something else. My family might be criminals and pricks, but that doesn’t free me of my responsibility to them. I can still offer something to the kids in that family, but not if I’m hiding away in the mountains like some outcast.”

  “You’re a good man,” Malcolm said, stepping back into my embrace.

  “I’m trying,” I said. “But anyway, what’s the word?”

  They stared at me for a second, uncertain what I was asking.

  “Come on,” I said, laughing. “You going to move in with me or not?”

  “Fuck yeah!” Gunner said, jumping forward and throwing his arms around us. “Are you kidding me? This place looks amazing.”

  “Of course,” Malcolm added, almost whispering the words. “Of course I will.”

  I started walking them forward, an arm over each of their shoulders. “Then let’s check out this backyard,” I said. “It’s big enough for a nice garden and a good workshop. I’ll rent out a studio for my actual welding jobs, but I figure we can all make use of the space here.”

  I pushed open the door to the back, and a soft breeze blew through. The yard was big, with a tall wooden fence wrapping around the edges and some small trees dotting across the lawn.

  Gunner let out a loud, laughing yelp, then jumped in the air, swinging from a tree branch. “This is amazing! You’re telling me I don’t have to spend all my time in a shitty apartment anymore?”

  I laughed, watching his legs swing through the air. “That’s right. I’m still fielding offers to sell my place in the mountains, but we can move in here as early as next week.”