by Brandon Witt
Tommy grunted in understanding, but he was working out the details of an overnight trip to Bobby’s and thinking of what all they could do to each other with that much privacy and that much time together. It wasn’t doing much for the state of his erection, which was growing harder with every mental image he conjured.
They were still working on their clothes when Colleen popped her head in through the open door. She blushed and glanced away from Bobby, who hadn’t managed to find his pants yet.
“Breakfast is ready,” she said. “If you two are hungry, ya better get in there. Davey got us some bacon, and they’re about to riot over it.”
“Let ’em eat their fill. I’ll settle for toast,” Tommy told her as he opened the door farther. “Where’d Davey get the bacon?”
Colleen gave him a look before she said, “The less we know, the better off we all are. He probably found it on the back of a delivery truck, if I had to guess.” She cut her eyes to Bobby then, a look of panic on her face.
Bobby laughed and put up a hand. “I’m off duty. Hear no evil and all that.”
Colleen seemed to relax at Bobby’s words, but Tommy still had a knot in his stomach. Bobby must have caught the expression of dread on his face because he leaned close and whispered in Tommy’s ear, “If you’re gonna ask me to trust you, Tom, you’ve gotta trust me a little too.”
Tommy nodded his head. Colleen had slipped away down the hall again, probably to give them some privacy. “I’m trying.” Tommy had never learned how to bend and not break, and this was new territory for him. His sigh was weighted, heavy with all the things he wished he could have and all the things he knew he shouldn’t even bother wanting.
Bobby smiled, leaning in and catching a quick kiss. “Good enough.” Before he stepped out into the hall he added, “For now.”
THE SMELL of Colleen’s cooking greeted them before they made it down the stairs. Tommy had to weave through the living room to keep from tripping over the toys and books littering the floor. It appeared the kids had abandoned everything and made a run for it when the food was ready. It wasn’t like they never ate, but breakfast was usually just oatmeal or cereal and an egg if they had time.
Bobby was on his heels and nearly bumped into him when Tommy stopped as he swung the kitchen door open. French toast and scrambled eggs, fruit and bacon, even orange juice, had been set out on the table. “The hell?” He looked over at Davey who was sitting on the far side of the room. “I know you didn’t just find all this.”
It was one thing to look the other way when Davey lifted something they needed or maybe one little luxury every now and again, but there was no need for him to pinch so much just so they could have a big meal they didn’t need.
“Relax, Tommy.” Colleen stepped away from the stove with a big skillet in her hand, starting to serve eggs onto the plates. “I worked yesterday, remember? Ryan gave me the bread because it was too stale to serve customers, and I bought the strawberries and stuff with some of my tips.”
“All right.” Tommy pulled down two mugs for coffee. He poured a cup for himself and one for Bobby, adding cream to his and two sugars to Bobby’s. He rolled his eyes at himself when he realized what he was doing. He’d fucked Bobby McAlister last night, and now he was making his coffee just the way Bobby liked it. It should have been him in the kitchen making breakfast instead of Colleen. The idea put him in a bad mood. He grumbled, “Still shouldn’t waste your money on stuff like this. We don’t need to eat half this much for breakfast.”
Colleen narrowed her eyes at him but she didn’t comment.
He thought someone would have noticed Bobby was there by now, but then he remembered Bobby had become a frequent presence around the house.
Collin looked to Tommy with a hopeful expression and asked, “Since the twins could choke on the bacon, can I have theirs?”
“Don’t be greedy.” Tommy shot his brother a stern look. “We got company for breakfast, and Colleen and Mike worked their tails off to cook this for you, so if anyone gets extra, it should be them.”
He heard Davey mutter over his glass of juice, “I’m the one that found it.”
Bobby stepped over to Tommy and took his coffee mug with a smile. No one paid any attention to anyone else after that. All eyes were on Bobby.
Carrie grinned at him. “You can sit by me, Bobby.” She patted the rickety wooden chair next to her.
Bobby beamed. “Thanks, peanut.” After he put his coffee cup on the table, he tugged her ponytail and sat down. Zoe reached for him as soon as she spotted him, until Colleen distracted her with a scoop of eggs on her tray.
“When did you get here?” Collin asked, already digging in to his food even though Colleen was still passing it out.
“I, uh….” Bobby looked pointedly at Tommy.
Right. His house, his family. He was supposed to take the lead here. “He stayed the night,” Tommy said casually, leaning against the sink and taking a sip of his coffee.
Tommy watched their faces. Carrie didn’t think anything of it, or at least she didn’t let on if she did. Collin shrugged and went back to his food. He should’ve known Davey would be the one to catch where the story veered off course. “Where?”
Clearing his throat and squaring his shoulders, Tommy said, “My room.”
Mike snorted a laugh. “You woulda been better off on the couch, Bobby.”
Bobby looked embarrassed as hell. Even his ears were turning pink, but he managed a smile at Mike before he avoided conversation by taking a bite of his breakfast.
Mike looked from Tommy to Bobby and then back again. Recognition seemed to dawn on him then. “Wait, so, are you guys like—”
Collin looked up from his plate and cut Mike off. “What?”
Davey spoke, though, God help them all. “Bullshit” was all he said at first, doing as Mike had done and looking at Tommy, then Bobby, then back to Tommy. “No way.”
“What?” Collin asked again, obviously confused.
When Tommy nodded at Davey, Mike let out a loud bark of laughter and said, “Nice. Since when?”
Tommy wasn’t sure if Mike wanted to know how long he and Bobby had been doing each other or how long Tommy had been gay. He didn’t have a chance to find out because Davey blurted out, “You guys are fags?”
If Tommy had been standing next to him, he probably would have smacked Davey on the back of the head and been done with it. Bobby looked like he was considering the same idea. Colleen was the one who took over, though. She was back at the stove and slammed the skillet down so hard it made everyone jump. She stormed over to their little brother and pointed a finger in Davey’s face. “He’s gay. Not a fag. The guy that keeps a roof over your head and keeps food on your plate and helps you with your homework and keeps you outta foster care is gay. And, so help me Christ, if I ever hear one word out of you about it, I’ll kick your ass and then throw you at family services myself.”
Bobby’s eyes were huge, watching Colleen lose control. Tommy wanted to laugh when Davey put both his hands up. “I was just askin’! Don’t get your panties tied up over it. Jesus.”
Colleen still looked murderous. “And I was just making sure you understood.” She said the words like she was thinking about knocking Davey on his ass just to make sure he got the message.
Tommy stepped up behind her, rubbing her shoulders and trying not to laugh. “Take it easy, slugger.” He pulled her back from Davey who gave him a thankful look.
Colleen pushed the hair out of her face. “It’s that goddamn skinhead he hangs out with.” She was still fuming as she jerked her chair back from the table and sat down heavily. “I’d like to wring that little bastard’s neck.”
“He’s not a skinhead!” Davey defended his friend. “He gets lice all the time so his mom makes him shave every other day!”
Carrie put her hands up and covered her hair. “I’d rather him be a skinhead!”
That got a laugh from Colleen, and Tommy figured Davey and his lice-ridden,
possibly skinhead friend were safe for the moment. He pulled a stool up to the table and grabbed his plate. “How’s your breakfast, Bobby?” he asked with a smirk, thinking Bobby hadn’t had any idea what he was getting himself into.
WHEN THE kids were done eating, Tommy sent them off to do chores and reminded them to get their rooms cleaned up and their beds made if they hadn’t done it already. None of them looked thrilled about it, but they went without arguing, for which he was grateful.
Colleen had started gathering the dishes, and Mike was helping clear the table.
“No way,” he told them. “You two cooked, get outta here.”
Mike didn’t wait for Tommy to change his mind—he tore out of the kitchen like someone had set him on fire. Colleen smiled at Tommy and asked, “You sure? It’s a big mess.”
“I’m sure, Col.” He knew she had the day off and added, “Go hang out with Wyatt or take a nap or something. You make me tired just watching you.”
She nodded and grabbed her phone as she went out the back door. Bobby was already on his feet, taking over where Mike had left off, scraping plates into the trashcan and rinsing the dishes. They were alone together after a very long, very raucous breakfast.
Tommy walked up behind Bobby, close, but not quite touching. “You don’t need to do that.”
Bobby glanced over his shoulder. “I know.”
Tommy bumped his shoulder against Bobby’s back. “If you wanna take off, it’s cool, ya know?” He didn’t wait for a response. Instead, he opened the dishwasher and started to load it.
Bobby passed him a rinsed plate. “Is it cool if I don’t wanna take off?”
Considering his answer for a beat, Tommy let his gaze rake over Bobby’s body, feeling a quick rush of want ride through him. He stepped closer again and dipped his head so his face was nearly touching Bobby’s. He inhaled and then whispered in Bobby’s ear, “Sure, but take a shower. You smell like sex.” He could hear Bobby’s breath catch.
“What are the odds of us getting enough privacy for you to join me?” Bobby looked like he’d already forgotten the dishes.
Tommy grunted a laugh. “Slim to none.” He slid another plate into the dishwasher. “Even if the kids were gone, I wouldn’t wanna risk them coming home and walking in on us. Plus, ya know, one bathroom, eight people. Ten, if Cal and Cheryl are around.”
Looking resigned but not unhappy, Bobby turned back to rinsing the dishes. “Good point.” He passed another plate to Tommy and asked, “Have you heard from them? Cal and Cheryl, I mean.”
“They were gone for a few weeks, but they turned up again the other night.” Tommy couldn’t help a huff of annoyance as he remembered the phone call at three in the morning. His father had been wasted and Cheryl was whining at Tommy for a ride home. He hung up on them and unplugged the phone, but they still managed to find their way back. “Not sure where they are now, but I’m sure we’ll get another visit soon. They’re worse than herpes, can’t get rid of ’em for long.”
Bobby laughed as he said, “I hope you’re not speaking from experience.”
“Guess you’ll have to wait and find out.”
“Asshole.” Bobby didn’t sound put off; he sounded like he knew Tommy was giving him shit and was prepared to give it right back. “I guess I should’ve mentioned it last night, but I picked up a raging case of crabs a week or so ago. It’s probably all cleared up, but….”
“Now who’s the asshole?” Tommy slapped Bobby’s ass for that, laughing when he jumped.
The dishes were loaded and the counters wiped down. The kitchen wasn’t perfect, but it was good enough.
“Guess you’re rubbing off on me.” Bobby was leaning against the counter, drying his hands on a dishtowel.
Tommy stepped closer, pulling the cloth from Bobby’s fingers as he pressed against him. “I know I’d like to be….”
He leaned in and was just about to kiss Bobby when the door to the kitchen swung open with a bang. He and Bobby both flinched at the noise, but they didn’t pull away from each other. Tommy had to remind himself he wasn’t doing anything wrong and there was no reason the kids shouldn’t see him stand close to Bobby or even kiss him. “Don’t slam the door like that,” he told Collin, who was dragging a bag of garbage through the kitchen.
“Sorry, Tommy.” Collin paused to look at them, his expression undecided for a minute, but then he shrugged and continued on out the back door and off to the trashcans outside.
Tommy watched him go before he turned his attention back to Bobby. “You sure you wanna hang out here all day?” He smiled and kissed Bobby quickly before they could be interrupted again.
Bobby relaxed against him, making a sound in the back of his throat that had Tommy’s pulse quickening. They both groaned and pulled back when they heard the back door open again. Collin trudged through and didn’t pay them any attention, but the moment was lost.
“I’m sure.” Bobby stepped away from the counter. “But I think I’m gonna run home for a quick shower and change and then be back.”
Not liking the way his stomach dropped at Bobby’s words, Tommy nodded. “Sounds like a good plan. You work tonight?”
“I’m off till Monday. This is my one guaranteed weekend a month.” Bobby looked hopeful as he asked, “What about you?”
Tommy was leaning against the stove, standing opposite Bobby. There wasn’t much space between them, but it was more than he liked. Now that he’d given himself permission to touch and kiss Bobby, it was all he wanted to do when they were in the same room together. “Nine till two.” He worked his lip between his teeth before adding, “I’m off tomorrow, though.”
Bobby stood up straighter at his words. Tommy could tell by the look on Bobby’s face he was formulating a plan. “Any chance you could just come back to my place after work tonight?” he asked, stepping closer to Tommy, putting his hands on Tommy’s waist.
He wanted to say yes. “For the night?”
Bobby tipped his face up and kissed Tommy’s jaw. “For as long as you can,” he whispered.
Another surge of desire raced through Tommy at the idea, but a night away from the house was a bad plan for too many reasons. “I don’t know. If Pop and Cheryl come home in the middle of the night, or if something goes wrong here and I’m not around….”
Sighing again, Bobby pulled back and caught Tommy’s eye. “How about we make sure Colleen has my numbers, and if your folks show up before you get off work, we abort the plan. But if they don’t show up and everything is okay around here, you drop by for a few hours after your shift?”
Tommy was grateful Bobby seemed to be suggesting an alternative, not pushing him. “All right, I think I can swing that.”
Bobby gave him another quick kiss for his answer. “Good. Now I’m gonna run home and get cleaned up.” He pulled back before anyone had a chance to walk in on them.
“Need a lift?”
He smiled at Tommy and said, “I’ll jog. Need to get a run in anyway.”
Tommy laughed at that. He only ran when he was being chased.
TOMMY HAD managed to get the house in order, hook up with Kelly to make sure she got her cut of the money from his deal the night before, shave, shower, and start a load of laundry before Bobby got back. Not bad for a couple of hours. He was sitting on the front step smoking a cigarette when Bobby pulled up in front of the house.
Max and Zoe were playing in the yard, and Bobby stopped to greet them, picking Zoe up when she reached out to him. He carried her up the walkway.
“Looks like you’ve got a fangirl,” Tommy pointed out, laughing. He took one more drag off his cigarette, blowing the smoke away from them, before he crushed it out and dropped it in the bucket of sand he kept out there for his butts.
“Maybe I should keep her.” Bobby pulled back to look at Zoe’s face. “I can put her in my pocket.” He kissed her hand when she tried to grab his nose and said in a playful voice, “You wanna help me catch bad guys all day, Zoe?” When Tommy shot him a
look, Bobby corrected himself. “The actual bad guys. Not the guys just trying to get by.”
A few thoughts ran through Tommy’s head. He considered accusing Bobby of swooping again, and he tried to beat down the fear skittering through him at the little joke about Bobby keeping her. Instead he said, “Careful what you fill their heads with. Mike and Davey already got records. I doubt they’d make it past the background check if they decided to sign up.” Tommy stood up and walked down the last couple of steps to Max. He picked him up and kissed his cheek.
Bobby looked somewhere between hurt and worried before he spoke. “Juvenile records can be worked around or expunged,” he told Tommy as they headed into the house. “They just need to be careful as they get older,” he added, still sounding like a whole battalion of O’Shea cops was a possibility if they applied themselves. When Tommy stopped and stared at him, Bobby asked, “What?”
Tommy shook his head and laughed as he put Max down by the toy basket. “Nothing.”
“No, what?” Bobby pressed him, looking playful but curious.
Tommy gave in and told Bobby what he was really thinking. “You’re too much of an optimist to be hanging around here.”
“Maybe you guys need a little optimism,” Bobby countered, taking up the challenge.
“That’s the last thing we need. Who do you think has to pick up the pieces when they get their hopes up and then get the rug pulled out from under them?” Tommy wasn’t nettled, his words weren’t edged with anger, but he felt strongly about what he was saying.
Bobby was still holding Zoe close, looking at Tommy like he couldn’t believe what he was hearing. “What if the rug doesn’t get pulled out from under them?” he asked softly, sitting down on the battered couch and bouncing Zoe on his knee.
“Look around, Bobby.” Tommy huffed in frustration. “Our whole life is one shitty scenario after another.” When it looked like Bobby was about to comment on that, Tommy cut him off before Bobby could get started. “The best chance I’ve got is to get Colleen through high school, get Mike and Davey into a trade school at some point, and make sure they know how to do something that’ll keep ’em going. They’ll be plumbers or mechanics or some shit, but at least they won’t be shiftless bums. Assuming I can keep ’em in school and outta jail that long, which is touch and go, if you haven’t noticed.” Bobby was quiet, looking like he disagreed but wasn’t about to argue, so Tommy added, “That’s as close to optimism as I get.”
