by DJ Jamison
Tension kept his shoulders rigid when he thought of all the work he had planned to catch up on over winter break. He’d been putting off maintenance at Gran’s house all semester, too busy with studying and clinical work. Her windows needed weatherizing — they were letting far too much cold air into the house — and the railing was making a good attempt to escape the porch. He’d hoped to finally get her house prepared for the worst of winter, which usually came in the form of ice storms in January and February.
“Not exactly a ski trip in the Alps,” Trent said.
Xavier looked up to see Trent watching him carefully. They’d broken the ice between them before the meeting, so it wasn’t such a surprise Trent was trying to talk to him again. But a ski trip?
“What the fff—” Xavier caught himself before he swore at work — “heck are you talking about?”
“You know, winter break ski trip?”
Xavier shook his head.
“Instead of a drive across rural Kansas?” Trent waved a hand. “Never mind, I’m just saying you probably have more interesting things to do over winter break.”
Xavier snorted. “Yeah, like keeping Gran’s house from death’s door. Now, I’m going to have to cram in all the work I’ve put off at the same time I need to study for finals. Ski trip? It’s like you don’t even know me.”
He turned to walk away, but Trent laid a hand on his arm. “I do know you.”
Xavier glanced at him skeptically.
“It was a joke, Xav, about it not being much fun for a holiday break. I can help you study for finals, you know. It used to be our specialty.” He waggled his eyebrows, and Xavier remembered all too well their study sessions, many of which ran to X-rated content. It could be highly motivational, and in this case, highly inappropriate.
“Not going there,” Xavier said.
“We don’t have to use the old reward system, even though it was incredibly rewarding,” Trent said with a flirty smile. “Or, you know, I could help get some of that work done at your grandmother’s house. This weekend, maybe?”
No was on the tip of his tongue. Then he considered the reception Trent would receive from Gran and Twyla, two very protective women in his life. If nothing else, it would certainly put Trent’s so-called devotion to the test and be funny as hell to watch him squirm. And Xavier could use the extra pair of hands. For maintenance, he lectured his brain, which immediately tried to supply plenty of dirty suggestions for how best to use an extra pair of hands.
“It’s not like I have plans,” Trent added. “Let me help you. Please?”
Trent looked so hopeful, Xavier felt a bit guilty for keeping him at a distance. Trent had returned to Ashe after more than a decade, and his parents had moved away. Was it possible he was lonely? And if he was, should Xavier even care?
But it wasn’t in him to be heartless.
“You really want to brave Gran’s wrath?” Again, since he obviously already went once to ask about me and never mentioned it. “She’s not your biggest fan.”
Trent brightened despite the warning. “I’ll take my punishment like a big boy.”
Oh, Jesus. Xavier’s cock twitched in his scrubs, and he needed to get out of this conversation before he started showing too much enthusiasm for Trent’s flirty words.
“If you’re sure,” he said, not taking the flirt bait.
“I deserve it,” Trent said with a shrug, “and I’d like to make amends.”
Xavier smiled reluctantly. “So you keep saying. Okay, I guess this is your chance. If you’re sure? I could probably ask Zane.”
“Zane?”
The questions in Trent’s eyes were fairly obvious. Xavier wasn’t sure why, but he didn’t want to make it any easier for him.
“Yeah, the guy I live with.”
“Live with, as in …”
Xavier raised his eyebrows, and Trent looked away. His jaw tightened. “I thought you were single.”
Fuck. Now, he felt guilty for that expression of pain on Trent’s face. He deserved it, didn’t he?
Xavier relented. “He’s just a roommate.”
Trent’s head jerked up and he looked intently at Xavier. “Yeah?”
“He has a boyfriend,” Xavier said, though he wasn’t sure why he was reassuring a man he didn’t want to get involved with. “He’s a doctor in the ER. Paul Johnston?”
Trent’s smile spread across his face, wide and cocky. Xavier regretted being such a nice guy.
He rolled his eyes. “This doesn’t change anything with us, you know.”
“Uh-huh, but it sure as hell improves the odds for me, doesn’t it?”
“No.”
Trent’s smile didn’t falter. “I’ll see you Saturday at your gran’s house. Say 10 a.m.?”
Xavier considered retracting his agreement, but he could use the help. And Gran and Twyla would do a better job of wiping away that smile than Xavier ever could.
He agreed, walking away with a smile on his face when he thought of all the things his family would have to say when Trent Cavendish dared to show his face.
Chapter Five
Trent remembered the way to Gran’s house nearly as well as the path to his parents’ old place. It was strange to be in Ashe and see another family coming and going to the sprawling Ranch on El Dorado Avenue, but he couldn’t say he missed living there. It had been too quiet, too clean. He’d loved the warmth and coziness of Xavier’s house so much more, even if it was a bit of a handyman special.
He pulled up exactly five minutes before 10 a.m. with a full tray of coffee and a carton of doughnuts. He wasn’t sure if Xavier’s sister would be there, but he decided to play it safe.
The door opened before he could knock, and none other than Gran herself stood in the doorway. She was a petite woman at five-foot-three, and her silver hair was drawn back into a ponytail that looked too playful for her age. Xavier’s mother had been young when Twyla and Xavier were born, but Gran had to be in her seventies now.
She looked more stern than the day he’d briefly talked to her late last summer. She’d been more surprised to see him that first time.
After he’d bumped into Xavier, he’d waited a couple of weeks so his ex could cool off and then sought out his Gran’s house to see if he could talk to him.
Xavier didn’t live there anymore. Not such a surprise after so much time. He’d hoped his grandmother might give him a new address or phone number, but she’d refused. Told him to watch his step and reminded him that while she’d always liked him, he’d hurt her grandson and that meant he wasn’t welcome.
He was pushing it by returning here, even with an invitation from Xavier.
“Trent Cavendish,” she said, “I see you’ve come crawling back to my house again.”
None of the warmth he remembered from his teen years was present in her voice.
He bit back the urge to deny he’d come “crawling” anywhere. It was close enough to the truth.
“Good morning,” he said, forcing a smile. “I brought coffee. Xavier did tell you I was coming by to help with a few maintenance projects, didn’t he?”
She sniffed and glanced at the tray in his hands. “He did, and don’t think your little bribe is going to score you any points.”
Trent remembered a time when Gran had been like a grandmother to him, too. She’d let him gorge on cookies and other treats, and had praised his hard work and his positive effect on Xavier’s grades, which climbed steadily once they started doing homework together every day as an excuse to hang out.
Even when they’d ventured into make-out and then sex territory, Trent had insisted on homework first. Which is how they’d come to invent the sexual reward system when studying for finals. That had been some of the best studying he’d ever done. Watching Xavier slowly lose an item of clothing at a time. Winning a kiss. Feeling Xav’s mouth on his cock. Jesus, just thinking about it threatened to give him a hard-on. It’d been so innocent and playful, even while being incredibly erotic.
It was a little sad to see Gran’s disapproving look now. He realized he’d probably hurt her, too, when he hurt Xavier. She’d welcomed him into her family and he’d thrown away the privilege. He’d have to find a minute to apologize for that when he could.
“Gran, just let him in already,” Xavier called from inside.
She stepped back grudgingly, and he edged through the doorway.
“Bless you,” Xavier said fervently as he grabbed a cup out of the tray. “Caffeine is always welcome.”
Gran harrumphed. “I make you tea whenever you want it.”
Xavier exchanged an amused look with Trent. Gran had never approved of coffee, and he remembered that had been a bone of contention when Xavier got hooked on it his senior year of high school.
Their eyes met, and in that small moment they connected as they used to do so easily. He felt warmth spread through his chest when Xavier smiled.
Trent had half-expected hostility from his ex, but with Gran covering that ground he’d returned to the friendly guy Trent remembered.
He was concerned, though, to see the bags under Xavier’s eyes.
“Are you okay, Xav? You don’t look so good.”
“Way to flatter a guy,” he said, raising the cup to his lips and taking a long drink.
Trent could easily flatter him. Xavier looked good in faded blue jeans and a snug T-shirt. It wasn’t his sexy club wear, but it showcased his body nicely — his shirt molding over a nice set of pecs and those jeans stretching tight over strong thighs — especially considering Trent hadn’t seen him in anything but loose-fitting scrubs in weeks. His dreadlocks were pulled back as usual, but in a casual ponytail rather than a bun, and those moments when a few dreads swung over his shoulder to brush against his throat were like little teases designed to drive Trent wild.
None of which he could say. And the fact remained, Xavier didn’t look well, even if he looked good.
“I’m serious,” Trent said. “You look worn out.”
“He works too hard,” Gran said, her tone softening now that Trent had expressed some concern for her grandson. “I tell him, but he won’t stop. He has a job, full classes and then nursing clinicals. Then he comes over here and fixes my house when I could make do—”
Xavier lowered his cup. “You can’t just make do!”
“And how many times have I told you to teach Beau and have him start helping?” she said, placing her hands on her hips. A challenge if Trent ever saw one.
“He’s just a kid,” Xavier protested.
“Someone say my name?”
Trent turned to see a pajama-clad teen with bedhead and sleepy eyes. He looked to be 14 or 15 years old, over five foot tall but still slender and boyish.
“Hey, Beau,” Xavier said with a smile.
“Are those doughnuts?” he asked, zeroing in on the box under Trent’s arm.
Gran took the tray of coffee from him. “Let’s take the bribe to the dining room.”
Trent let Xavier’s nephew take the doughnuts, and the kid had the lid open and was pulling out a chocolate-frosted twist before they’d made it more than two steps.
“That’s Twyla’s oldest, right?” Trent asked.
“Yep, he’s 15 now, and Maggie’s 13.”
“Jesus, that makes me feel old. I think he was 2 when I saw him last.”
“Join the club,” Xavier said with a sigh.
Trent was struck again by his low energy.
“Seriously, Xav, if the rural trip is too much for you, I could talk to the director—”
As much as Trent wanted the bonding time with Xavier, he didn’t like how rundown he seemed. The man was seriously stressed, and he realized his sudden presence in Xav’s life probably hadn’t helped with that.
“Don’t say anything,” Xavier said hurriedly. “I’ll be fine.”
“Rural trip?” Gran asked as they settled around the table.
By the time Xavier had finished explaining, Beau had eaten three doughnuts and Twyla and Maggie had arrived in the dining room. Judging by their presence so early, he assumed they lived here. He knew Xavier didn’t, though, and assumed he lived in an apartment because he’d mentioned a roommate — after giving Trent a heart attack by letting him think Zane might be a boyfriend. He’d thought for a moment he might have lost his chance to win Xavier over.
It scared the shit out of him, actually. He hadn’t realized how much he’d already invested in Xavier. He wasn’t just hoping for forgiveness at this point, he was desperate for another shot at a relationship. He couldn’t imagine giving up on Xav, but his ex might not give him a choice.
“Morning, Trent,” Twyla said curtly.
She’d never liked him, even before he split with Xavier. She’d seen his nice car and clothes, made some rude comments about how he was a spoiled rich boy, and had implied he was slumming it with her brother. He supposed he could be viewed as rich, but he’d never felt spoiled so much as ignored, and he’d been head over heels for Xavier. So, mostly she was wrong. But the way they’d split probably hadn’t improved her opinion much.
“Trent?” Beau said with wide eyes, only now showing an interest in who the man feeding him glazed treats might be. “Like Uncle Xavier’s ex-boyfriend?”
“That’s the one,” Xavier said. He glanced at Trent. “Ready to get to work?”
Trent leapt on the excuse to get out of the grilling sure to come. “That’s why I’m here.”
“Are you boyfriends again?” Maggie asked.
Leave it to the kids to get to the nitty-gritty. Trent wished it could be so simple as just proclaiming them boyfriends again. He’d commit to Xavier in a hot second. He’d already made that commitment, really, when he re-evaluated his life and realized his crossroads moment had come when he’d left Xavier behind by taking the wrong fork in the road. If only he’d followed the path Xavier had wanted to set for them.
Would they be together still? Married even? Or would the pressures of school and distance have torn them apart? He’d never know, but he regretted his choice all the same.
“Just friends,” Xavier said firmly.
Friends. He’d take it over the scorned lover position he’d been occupying recently. But he sure as hell hoped he could get out of the friend zone at some point.
“Beau, go get dressed and help them,” Gran said.
“But I have plans to meet Nate and Ker at the skate park.”
“Beau,” Twyla said, shaking her head.
“Let him go,” Xavier said. “He’s still a kid.”
“He has to start growing up sometime,” Gran argued. “You were shouldering more responsibility at that age.”
Xavier’s sad smile wrenched at Trent’s heart.
“There was no one else to do it. But I’m here, so he can enjoy being a kid a while longer. Nothing wrong with that.”
Beau wasn’t dumb. He got out of there while the getting was good.
Gran sighed. “You can’t keep doing everything. I’m worried about you.”
“I’m fine,” Xavier said curtly before turning to Trent. “Let me go hunt down some tools, and we’ll get started.”
Trent considered going with him, but Gran turned her sharp eyes on him. He stayed to hear what she wanted to say. Once Xavier was out of the room, she didn’t hold back.
“You want him back, you need to prove yourself. Keep that man from killing himself on this work trip of yours.”
“You want him back?” Twyla said, looking dismayed. “No, uh-uh. Not happening, Doctor man. My brother is too good for you.”
Trent looked between them, the two most important women in Xavier’s life. They were so protective of him, and he was still putting them above everything in his life. How could he have ever expected Xavier to go off to school with him and leave them behind?
“You’re right, Twyla. Xav is too good for me, and I’m really sorry for the way I hurt him when we were kids,” he said. “I hope I can be worthy someday.”
Twyla looked skepti
cal, but Gran smiled. “You made a mistake. Mistakes can be set right.”
“That’s what I’m hoping,” he said. “I’ll watch over him on the trip. If there’s anything I can do to ease his burdens …”
He trailed off as Xavier re-entered the room. His ex-boyfriend took one look at the three of them — they’d fallen noticeably silent when he walked in — and rolled his eyes.
“Let’s get started. I want to get the windows weatherized. The utility bills are going through the roof because too much cold air is coming in.”
Trent excused himself to go start earning Xavier’s trust back, one chore at a time.
***
The day went surprisingly well. Trent was handier with tools than Xavier would have expected. The idea of working with his hands—outside of the OR, at least— had never been his cup of tea in high school. He used to sit around watching Xavier do home maintenance while telling him there were repairmen you could call for that sort of thing.
Xavier had lied and said he enjoyed doing it. He didn’t want to admit they could hardly afford the parts, much less pay for labor. Trent had replied that Xavier needed to put his energy into studying, and usually Xavier had caved and put the maintenance off until Trent left because he knew where studying led, and he was a teenage boy who was horny 24/7.
They had transitioned into studying for a bit today, too, but without the shenanigans. It was less fun, but he felt a lot more prepared for his final weeks of classes. Studying with a doctor who knew a lot of the material— though not all because there was plenty of stuff doctors didn’t have to worry about day-to-day— had been helpful, too.
They had just finished Xavier’s review when Gran bustled in and offered to make tea. Xavier usually drank coffee—mostly for the caffeine boost— but when at Gran’s, you drank what Gran offered. They both agreed, and she headed into the kitchen.
“She’s warming up to me,” Trent said with a small smile.
