“You look like you are expecting the gators to pop up. You can relax—they live down on the 16th hole,” Tor told him, slapping his shoulder.

  “I suspect, looking at the crowd I see here, the gators may be more friendly,” Skylar said wryly.

  “Ha! You may be right,” Den said, taking a deep breath.

  “Den, you don’t have to do this. We don’t have to do this. Skylar, Byron, and I can go hit the diner for real food while you guys go schmooze with the relations. Don’t force it if you aren’t ready,” Aaron said quietly.

  “Aaron, hon, I am ready. You are everything to me, and I need them to know that. I don’t mean to drop you into the gator frenzy that is about to erupt, but I really need you with me. This is for me, and it’s for us. I… need you beside me everywhere, here included. Or I’m not me anymore,” Den said, shaking his head in frustration. “I’m not explaining this well….”

  “Shhh. I get it. I do. So let’s go in there and be fearless,” Aaron replied, holding tightly to Den’s hand. The love and courage in the moment made Skylar’s eyes water.

  “Fearless!” Tor and Byron chanted in unison and chest bumped each other. Skylar burst out laughing, because, really. Such total jocks, even if they were a complete surprise in many ways. The support that they and the rest of their team had shown for Den today had blown him away. And they had managed to take him from tears to laughter in seconds. He suspected that tonight’s emotional whiplash had just started.

  “You guys are such dorks!” Den exclaimed, shaking his head. “But… you are the best brothers a guy could have. Thank you all for doing this with us.”

  “You do not need to thank us for supporting you. That’s what we’re here for, little brother. Come then,” Nolan said, grabbing ahold of Skylar’s arm and taking the lead as they approached the door.

  “Yeah, come on, little brother,” Byron said, chest puffed out as he ruffled Den’s hair, then grabbed Tor’s hand.

  “Not the hair! And I already have two older brothers,” Den protested as he laughed and grabbed Aaron’s hand.

  “I think you have three,” Aaron said quietly, with a big smile on his face.

  Skylar chuckled at the antics behind him, then it was show time as they were about to enter the club. Tonight was about Den and supporting him while he made a stand. This had become his fight, and he wouldn’t let the younger man down.

  With that in mind, bolstering his confidence, he held tight to Nolan’s arm as they walked into the large room beyond. The party was in full swing, well, as exciting as it could get with everyone in formal wear and trying to look sophisticated. He felt the others enter behind him, and then an odd silence rippled around the room. Even without the “gay” thing going on, he suspected that the six of them entering together would catch everyone’s attention.

  “Mother! So good to see you. I hope Dad’s here. We’ve been looking forward to seeing everyone. We even got Tor and Den all cleaned up and presentable. Don’t they look great?” Nolan said in a bright, artificially cheerful voice as he steered them over to a woman standing near the door. She had a deer-in-the-headlights look about her as she watched them approach.

  Nolan

  HE HELD tightly on to Skylar’s hand as they walked up to his mother. She was frozen, glass in hand. Definitely not a welcoming look. He sighed, as it shouldn’t have been a surprise. He had called her and told her of their plan to come tonight. She had freaked out and told him not to attend, but he had hoped his argument of needing to support her youngest son would resonate with her when she had a chance to reflect on it. He breathed a sigh of relief as he realized she was standing next to Mrs. Amwith, a longtime client at the gallery.

  “Nolan! Dear, it’s so good to see you. I was just telling your mother how much I enjoyed the latest piece I bought from you. That dragon painting just looks divine in my sitting room,” she exclaimed.

  “I’m so glad. You should stop in sometime during the holiday event. I have a new sculptor that has such marvelous creations. I think one would be perfect for your garden,” he said as he kissed her cheek. “Mrs. Amwith, may I introduce you to my boyfriend Skylar?”

  Skylar stepped up and took Mrs. Amwith’s hand, turning it and pressing a kiss to her knuckles as she blushed in surprised delight. Definitely showtime.

  “Oh, so handsome and sweet you are! I love your tux, darling. And your hair! Do you think I could pull that look off? I’m pretty sure it would look amazing. I think I should make you my fashion consultant!”

  “Sadly, I am not as talented as all that. My friend Jared is a stylist in town and put together this ensemble for me when I needed formal wear,” Skylar replied.

  “Oh, what is it that you do, Skylar?” Mrs. Amwith asked. Nolan noted that his mother remained quiet, letting her friend handle the conversation. He wished he knew what she was thinking.

  “I own Fortress Dojo, a fitness and karate studio in town. It keeps me busy, and I’ve joined a number of the business associations of course. Hence the need for the formal wear. Otherwise, I fear, my attire is entirely suited for being in a gym.”

  Or of course at a dance club, but Nolan kept that particular thought to himself. Before he got too distracted by remembering Skylar’s attire the previous weekend, the rest of the group arrived, having diverted to pick up drinks along the way. Tor handed Nolan and Skylar each a glass, then reclaimed his own from Byron.

  “Hello, Mrs. Novac. It’s good to see you again,” Byron said to Nolan’s mother, reaching out his hand.

  Still apparently in a daze, she took his hand automatically. “Um, hello, Byron. It is good to see you as well. Victor, where is Julia?”

  “Oh, she couldn’t make it tonight so Byron volunteered to keep me company. Isn’t that great?” Tor said.

  “Yes, well, great. I’m always glad to see your friends, Victor. And you, Riorden, you look very nice this evening,” Nolan’s mother continued, obviously still flustered.

  “Thank you, Mother. I think you met Aaron last weekend when he came over for lunch,” Den said dryly. “He was gracious enough to agree to come with me tonight.”

  Nolan stifled a laugh, and grasped hold of Skylar’s hand.

  “Oh my gosh, Victoria, is this little Riorden? You look so grown up! And is this your boyfriend?” Mrs. Amwith exclaimed excitedly, oblivious to the tension in the area. Or perhaps not so oblivious, as she turned to him and winked.

  “Nice to meet you, ma’am. I’m Aaron. Aaron Seevers,” he stammered out as he shook her hand.

  Mrs. Amwith promptly pulled him into a hug, then held him at arm’s length. “I can definitely see why Riorden is so enamored, yes? So very handsome you both are. Why I think you two are the same age as my nephews. They just came over this past weekend to help me decorate. I do declare, I’ve lived here for half my life, but it still seems wrong to decorate for Christmas while wearing shorts.”

  Nolan laughed. “Missing the snow from Pittsburgh, Mrs. Amwith?”

  “No, I can’t say I miss the snow and ice. But there’s something to be said for the traditional Christmas decor with pine trees and a dusting of snow. Instead, I had my nephews sweating up a storm while they hung lights on my palm trees. Here, take a look,” she said, handing Nolan her phone.

  When he burst into laughter, Skylar looked over to see the screen. There was a large lawn with four impressive palm trees that were decked out in an eye-melting amount of lights. The bottoms were red lights that tapered up over the natural bulge in the tree, and then it switched to white lights as it cascaded up over the top of the fronds.

  “That, um, that looks… ummm,” Skylar burst out.

  “Looks just like a bunch of dicks in the yard, doesn’t it?” she said, as her frown twitched into light laughter. “My poor nephews are mortified as they thought I would switch out the lights, but I left them just like they are and pretend I have no idea what they look like and show them off to everyone. Very loudly if they happen to be around, and credit them with how well the decorations turned out. I must say, there are times when I love Christmas in Florida.”

  Just then Nolan’s stepfather approached them, drink in hand and scowl on his face.

  “Jules! I was just getting reacquainted with your lovely family. Such handsome and well-mannered young men. And they definitely do you proud with their attire this evening. And their dates are just enchanting!” Mrs. Amwith gushed.

  “So very nice of you to say, Lucy,” Jules Novac said, settling his stare on Nolan and glaring. “If you will excuse me, I need to borrow Nolan for a second.”

  With that he turned and stalked away, obviously expecting Nolan to follow him.

  “Pardon me for just a moment. I’ll be back as soon as I can,” Nolan said, squeezing Skylar’s hand as he whispered in his ear, “Please make sure to keep Den here, no matter what.”

  “So tell me, Skylar, what type of classes do you offer?” Mrs. Amwith asked as he followed after his stepfather. He smiled to realize that he had left the group in excellent hands.

  They reached the french doors and went out onto the patio. The evening was extremely pleasant, and the lights twinkled in the back of the club area as well. In addition to the lights on the building, there was a truly impressive display of Christmas lights on the trees and shrubbery. Including the palm trees, but these were much more sedately decorated than Mrs. Amwith’s display. It would be a relaxing view, except for the man that rounded on him as soon as he stepped outside.

  “What the ever-loving fuck do you think you and your brothers are trying to do? I forbade Riorden from bringing that boy with him tonight. And what the hell is Victor thinking to bring that obnoxious friend of his along? And you? You’ve always had the sense to be discreet. I expect that you will respect my wishes and send the three stooges that you lot came with home right away.”

  Nolan struggled with how best to reply and finally settled on the straightforward approach. “No.”

  “What do you mean no? That’s not acceptable, Nolan. Your brother was told already what the implications of disobedience would be. I cannot allow you to flaunt your disrespect in front of my friends and business associates!”

  “No disrespect was intended, sir. All we did was attend the party with our dates. If you are determined in this, all six of us can leave now. Before dinner. But be warned that if we do that, we will not be coming back. Den will stay with Tor and me. I repeat, we will not be back.”

  “Nolan! No! You can’t do that. Did you talk your brothers into this? Why must you make this so difficult?” his mother exclaimed as she walked up to them.

  “Why hello, Mother. So glad to see your never-ending love and support—”

  His stepfather slapped him across the face.

  “You will not disrespect your mother or me like that!” he shouted, as Nolan deliberately caressed the red spot on his cheek.

  He sighed as Tor and Byron stepped up to flank him. He was glad that the rest of the group hadn’t arrived yet. Hopefully, Skylar and Mrs. Amwith could keep the boys distracted.

  “There is no disrespect intended. But Riorden told you what he wanted, no, what he needed from you. Telling him to stay in the closet is not an appropriate answer. I stayed discreet, yes, but that was so that you could not cut me off from my brothers. So now I must do what I need to protect them, as I always have.”

  “Nolan, I…,” Tor began, then stopped after his father turned to glare at him.

  “You will do nothing! You will walk out of here, with the rest of this lot, and leave Riorden to us. He will learn to respect the rules we have laid down for him.”

  “Sorry, but no. I have seen what type of learning that is. Unfortunately for you, I have records of it as well. From Christmas of ten years ago in fact. If you want to turn this into a fight that will get all sorts of press, I can petition for custody out of concern for Riorden’s safety. The video I have will make for interesting evidence.”

  His mother gasped as his stepfather blanched.

  “What video? What are you talking about, Nolan?” his mother asked, looking panicked.

  “The one I made using the motion-triggered camera you had given me for my birthday one year. It was right before I moved out. When I moved in with Grandma and started working at the gallery,” he replied carefully.

  “But I thought you said you were moving out to give us more room for Riorden and Victor, and because Grandma needed help.”

  Nolan laughed bitterly. “Both those things were true. But I also realized I wasn’t welcome in his house,” he said, nodding at his stepfather. Then suddenly he had a terrible thought and tears welled in his eyes. “I thought Tor and Den would be safe. He didn’t hurt you, did he, Tor? Please tell me he didn’t hurt you.”

  Tor rushed over to grab his arm. “No, he never touched me. By the time you moved out, I was already bigger than you. And I was always doing everything he wanted anyway, between school and sports. So no, I was safe. He didn’t mess with Den either, not until last weekend when I grabbed him. Don’t cry, Nolan. You aren’t responsible for any of this.”

  Nolan took a deep breath and addressed his mother. “I have the video on my phone if you don’t believe me. The one where he beat me and told me I couldn’t date boys and be part of his family. Where he threatened to cut me off from all contact with my brothers if I didn’t change my ways.”

  “I… I don’t know what’s come over you. All of you! But I won’t put up with being humiliated. Take your brothers and your ridiculous dates and get out of here. I don’t care what you do with the little pervert, but keep him away from me,” Nolan’s stepfather said, glaring at him and Tor. “And don’t you dare let anyone else see that video or I’ll call in some favors, and maybe that gallery of yours won’t do so well….”

  “What the….” Tor began, rushing at his father, but Nolan grabbed his arm. “No, Tor. Let’s just walk away. We don’t mess with him, and he won’t mess with us. Agreed?”

  “Goddamn you, yes. Just get out of my sight. I don’t want you coming to me for anything, you hear me? As for Riorden, well, good luck with him. My lawyer will be in touch to finalize guardianship papers. Come, Victoria, we are done here.”

  And his mother walked off with her husband without a backward glance.

  Paybacks

  Skylar

  “I THINK you owe me something, and I believe it was supposed to be exquisite,” he said, looking at Nolan as they got into the limo. His date had come back with his brother and Byron, all three looking furious but trying to contain it. Skylar was more concerned with the red welt that had appeared on Nolan’s cheek while they were gone. They had made their excuses to Mrs. Amwith, and Nolan had bundled everyone outside.

  “Do I now?” Nolan asked, but with a flash of a smile that made Skylar take a relieved breath. The look on Nolan’s face when they first reached the limo had been devastating and he had been desperate to distract him.

  “Hey, no sex in the limo. That’s just wrong. There are things I don’t need to know about my big brother,” said Tor, getting in after them with Byron by his side.

  “Move over, guys. Dang, you two are blocking the door with your big butts. I swear we brought the entire basketball team with us rather than just the two of you based on all that real estate,” came Den’s complaining voice. Skylar smiled at the thought that the boy could complain like a typical teen after this, knowing he had the love and support of his brothers. It wasn’t going to be all rainbow unicorns and it didn’t seem like a family reunion was in the works. But Den would have the full support of his brothers and their friends, and the road in front of him wouldn’t be a lonely one filled with jagged secrets.

  While Skylar envied Den the camaraderie that came with his brothers and their extended circle, he was once again grateful for the amazing advocate his mother had been while he was growing up. Her strength and belief in him had kept him going on many difficult days, and he had to smile at her fierceness.

  “I love seeing that smile on your face,” Nolan said quietly as he squeezed his hand, then turned to the rest of the group. “We’re all going back to my house so we can let the girls collect the conquering horde and whisk you all and your grooming supplies back to the apartment. The limo will wait for you and the girls while you get your stuff.”

  “Hey, Tor, are you sure it’s okay if I crash with you again tonight?” Den asked.

  “Of course, little bro. The couch is all yours for the holidays. I really like the idea of hanging out with you for a few weeks. That will give Nolan some alone time tonight,” Tor said, with a wink for his older brother.

  “Is it okay if I stay over tonight too? My folks know where I went and I told them I would be back tomorrow. I didn’t want to make them wait up,” Aaron asked tentatively.

  “No problem. I’ll actually be going over to Jazz’s place tonight. So feel free to crash in my room,” Byron said.

  “Awesome! Thanks, Byron,” said Den.

  “Just no sex in my bed. Hard limit, man. You’re my little brother, and that would just be all wrong,” Byron hastily put in.

  “You two are all full of no-fun rules,” Skylar said laughingly. “No sex in the limo, no sex in the bed. I guess that leaves wall sex? I can be down with that.”

  Once they reached Nolan’s house, they all piled out and headed in, and Skylar made coffee while the rest of them gathered their stuff. Julia and Jazz joined him in the kitchen while he was working. It looked like the two of them had been busy fixing the chaos that had been left. And of course lighting up social media.

  “Um, so how did it go?” Julia asked softly.

  “I am going to go out on a limb and say badly. We had a wonderful chat with a Mrs. Amwith, but then the evil stepfather took Nolan out for a chat. Let’s just say we departed shortly thereafter.”

 

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