Stacy’s face is red and her lips are thinned. She’s clearly pissed, but I think it’s because I hit it right on the nose. She’s coming back to the guy she thinks is most likely to take her back because her other man, or men, have decided they don’t want her either, and she can’t stand that. I honestly don’t know why I was ever with her in the first place, except that she was so persistent and I had a hard time telling her no, and maybe also, because I was lonely. Well, meeting Alex and his family, and having more time to spend with Peyton because I’m not with Stacy has made me realize that what I really needed this whole time was family, and a sense of belonging, and I think I’ve found that.
Her fists clench, her lips thinning. “Bentley–”
Peyton steps in now and I let her. “I think he told you to leave.”
We both stare at her. Well, Peyton glares, and Stacy huffs, then spins on her heels and walks out the door.
Chapter Thirteen
Alex
“Hey, you ready?” I ask, grinning as I see Bentley closing the door to his apartment just as I’m doing the same with mine. He’s carrying a pan of brownies that look absolutely mouthwatering, and I have a bottle of wine.
“Yep,” he replies, and we make our way up the stairs before stopping to knock on Tommy and Pierre’s door. They’ve invited us over for a game night, which sounds pretty fun. Despite being neighbors and working with my brother, we haven’t had much time to actually hang out the past several weeks and I miss him.
We have had one more monthly meal at Mom and Dad’s and that was nice, and Bentley and Pierre are getting better acquainted. I was a little worried about Pierre though. He seemed upset, but when I asked Tommy if everything was okay, he said he’d tell me later. I’ve noticed that the smile my brother has been wearing for the past couple of months at work is gone, and his usual glower has returned, along with a sadness I don’t think I’ve ever seen reflected in his hazel eyes. I have also noticed that thehandsome older man who used to frequent the bar and clearly has eyes for my brother hasn’t been coming around lately. I have a feeling that whatever is going on with him and Pierre has to do with that.
“Hi, guys, come on in,” Tommy says when he opens the door. Bentley steps inside after me and I pull my brother in for a hug that I don’t think he’s expecting. I know something is wrong when he returns it. Tommy never lets me hug him. Well, hardly ever. And it's even more rare for him to reciprocate the hug. It's just not his thing, but right now he's holding on tighter and far longer than I thought he would.
“Where’s Pierre?” Bentley asks.
“Kitchen,” Tommy tells him, pulling away from me. “Getting some snacks together.”
“I’ll go find him,” Bentley says, and saunters off with his brownies.
“Everything okay?” I ask when Bentley is out of ear shot.
“No, not really,” Tommy admits. “Maybe you could stay a little bit after Bentley leaves and we can talk out on the balcony?”
I nod. “Yeah, of course.” I don’t think I’ve ever seen Tommy look so distraught. He’s usually the one who keeps everything inside while I’m the one who typically wears my heart on my sleeve. But the fact that he wants to talk to me tells me it’s a big deal.
“Just um, be extra good to Pierre. He’s having a hard time.”
“Yeah, you know I will be.” Fuck, a tear slides down Tommy’s cheek and it fucking kills me. I don’t think I’ve seen him cry since he was eight years old. Except on his wedding day and those were happy tears. “Jesus, Tommy, you’re making me nervous.”
“It’s nothing life threatening or anything,” he assuresme. “I’m just feeling helpless, is all.” Fuck, I pull him to me and hug him again, and he lets out a few sniffles as he sobs gently on my shoulder.
“Should we be here if Pierre is so upset?” I ask. “And you clearly are too?”
He nods. “We need this. We need the normal. I’m hoping it’ll help distract him, maybe make him feel a tiny bit better. He’s been really down on himself lately, convinced his anxiety and depression is destroying everything. Please stay.”
“Anything you need,” I tell him, and he pulls away, wiping his tears quickly. He takes the wine bottle from me and offers me a small smile, and I follow him into the living area. I can hear Pierre talking with Bentley and he seems like he’s doing okay, but I know that doesn’t mean much. People who struggle with mental illness do a great job of hiding how they’re really feeling a good portion of the time. I hate that my brother in law can’t see what a great guy he is because our whole family adores him and would do anything for him, most of all Tommy. But having a brain that lies to you and does its best to convince you otherwise makes it really hard to see that, I know.
I hear him laughing and Tommy’s eyes light up just the tiniest bit, like he’s not heard his husband laugh in ages. If anyone can make Pierre feel a little bit better it’s Bentley. He’s so sweet, and seriously funny, too.
Tommy enters the kitchen and sets the wine down on the counter, then turns to Pierre and slides an arm around his waist, drawing him to his side before pressing a kiss on his cheek. Pierre flushes.
“Bonjour, Alex,” he says, his voice soft. “So glad you both could come.”
“Me, too, squirt.” I ruffle his hair and he bats my hand away.
We each grab a plate and put some snacks on it. There’s cheese and crackers, chips and salsa, pigs in a blanket, and Pierre has made macarons and crepes, and set out some jam to go with them. I notice Pierre doesn’t eat much, though.
We sit at the table with Bentley and I on one side and Tommy and Pierre on the other. We play a few rounds of Giant Uno, and if you haven’t played with those cards, they’re not kidding when they say giant. The things are huge and it just makes the game even more fun in my opinion, especially when you add in other rules, like slapping the deck every time someone plays a zero, and the last person to do so having to draw four cards, or being able to play out of turn if your card is the same number as the one on top of the pile. I’m failing epically and have accumulated so many cards I can’t hold them all and everyone else is laughing as I mock scowl. Normally I might be more irritated, but since I know Tommy and Pierre could use the laughs I don’t mind at all.
After Giant Uno we play Unstable Unicorns. The goal is to get seven unicorn cards and you do so by playing certain cards to upgrade your deck, while also playing cards to try and downgrade your opponents’ decks. And the cards are so utterly ridiculous we’re laughing all over again.
Tommy and I are merciless with each other, though we do go after Pierre and Bentley some, too. In the end, though, it’s Bentley that wins.
