Hide & Seek - Nicole Edwards Page 0,5
and dad. No brothers or sisters.”
Reese knew it was going to have to happen sooner or later. And the truth was, he would rather meet them before Thanksgiving. Talk about a truly awkward situation for him to be introduced to the fam over a major holiday. He could see it now, Brantley walking him into his parents’ house, announcing his live-in boyfriend was there to meet all twenty-whatever of them there probably were. Oh, and by the way, Reece only recently realized he’s gay for me and me alone.
No, thank you.
While Reese was having a miniature panic attack, Brantley was staring at him, a huge grin on his face.
“Have I told you how hot you are when you’re tongue-tied?”
Reese glared.
Brantley laughed. “Okay, I’ll make you a deal.”
That got his attention.
“If you’ll agree to meet my parents, I’ll buy a couch.”
Reese glanced over at the sparse living room then back to Brantley. “And a TV.”
“Fine. And another TV.”
“And a dining room table.”
“Okay.” Brantley chuckled. “You drive a hard bargain, Tavoularis.”
“Plus some furniture for upstairs.”
Brantley’s eyes narrowed, then he shook his head, turned back to his food. “Nope. Never mind. No couch, no TV, no parents. We’ll continue to live in this empty house, just like it is. My folks’ll keep right on wonderin’ why I’m hidin’ you. And my nephew’ll think of you as candy from here on out.”
It was Reese’s turn to laugh, and this time he felt lighter than before. “Fine. But a couch, TV and a dining table. I pick them out.”
Brantley peered over, gave him a quick once-over. “You’re kinda new to this whole gay thing. You think you can color coordinate?”
Reese smiled so hard his cheeks hurt. “I’m sure I’ll figure it out.”
Brantley winked. “Deal.”
Reese wasn’t sure what it was about this man. Since the day he met Brantley Walker, he’d been in way over his head. The fact that he’d fallen for the guy when he hadn’t even realized he was interested in men said a lot. Then again, he got the feeling he wasn’t interested in men. He was interested in this man. Only Brantley.
“You want more?” Brantley offered, snatching his own plate before heading back to the stove.
“I’m good. Thanks.” Reese watched him. “You’re not at all worried about meetin’ my family?”
Brantley turned around with his plate full once more. “Why would I be?”
Reese shrugged. “It’s not weird?”
“No. What’s weird is the fact that we live together and neither of us has met the other’s family.”
He had a point there. Not that Reese regretted the fact they’d decided to move in together. It felt right to him. Or it would once he managed to convince the man to actually go out and buy some furniture. Maybe a pool table for the upstairs game room. Probably wouldn’t hurt if they had a guest bedroom.
Baby steps, he reminded himself.
An hour and a half later, Reese was crawling into bed beside Brantley.
“You’re not mad at me, are you?” he asked, feeling a tad vulnerable after their dinner conversation.
Brantley clicked the remote to turn off the television, the weather guy’s face disappearing in an instant. “No. Why would I be?”
Reese shrugged, then flipped off the lamp on his side of the bed. It pitched the room into darkness, not making his insecurities any better.
He flopped back on his pillow, stared up at the ceiling although his eyes hadn’t adjusted and he saw only black.
“I want to meet your parents,” he said, hoping to reassure Brantley that this wasn’t some fucked-up crisis he was undergoing. God knows he’d had enough of those lately.
“No, you don’t,” Brantley teased, his big arm sliding over his chest as Brantley eased up to his right side. “But that’s normal.”
As usual, he let the foreign sensations wash over him. The man was big and hard, a far cry from the women he’d been with in the past. Reese could feel the hair on Brantley’s leg as it brushed his, the scent of his musky body wash. Initially it had been awkward, this insane attraction he had to Brantley. Now it settled around him, comforting in its familiarity.
“Is it?” Reese turned his head toward Brantley. “Normal?”
“You said you’ve never met the parents before, right?”
“Yes.”
“So what stopped you before?”
“Never felt like the right time.”
“Does it now?”
“Yeah.” Reese relaxed again, staring up at the ceiling. “It does. Now it’s just nerves.”
“They’re gonna love you.” Brantley’s lips brushed his shoulder. “As much as I do.”
Warmth churned through him, filling his chest. Ever since they had declared their