Chapter Forty-Five

Leo

My face hurt from all the smiling I had done today. Going out with Seth and Ezra was always an experience, one that I loved. They could shop like no one else, and I was exhausted by the time we all walked into the Olson house. The smile on my face disappeared the moment I saw the somber look my boyfriend was wearing. His eyes were red, and his cheeks were stained with tears. I shoved the bags I was carrying at Seth, then hurried over to him.

"What happened?" I cupped his jaw with my hand as Andy looked up at me from the chair.

Andy's gaze went behind me to where I knew Ezra and Seth were still standing. "I'm fine," he whispered, his hazel eyes moving to my face. "Did you have fun?"

"No, no, no," I climbed into his lap and straddled him.

Andy gave me a weak smile. "You didn't have fun?"

"What? Of course I did, but that's not what I meant. Why do you look so upset? What made you cry, and why didn't you call me?"

He leaned forward so our foreheads were touching. "Because I didn't want to ruin your good time. You should be able to enjoy yourself with your friends without me interrupting that. You looked so happy when you stepped inside the house, Ricky."

"We should probably give them a minute," Seth murmured, and I heard him leaving with Ezra as I stared into Andy's eyes.

I pressed my mouth to his. "You want to talk about it?"

"My bio father might be Atlas Connors."

"Wait, you're going to need to start at the beginning. Atlas Connors?"

Andy's lips curved into a smile. "Missed you." He reached up to grip the back of my head and slanted his mouth over mine. I whimpered as his tongue curled together with mine, while his other hand dipped into the back of my pants to palm my ass. "Fuck, are you wearing lace panties again?"

"Yes, but you're trying to distract me," I scolded, then pulled back. "Talk to me, baby, please." When he tried to kiss me again, I climbed from his lap. "Andy, I'm serious."

He grabbed my hand and tugged me closer. "Can't I just hold you and kiss you instead? That's all I want right now. You're the only one who can make me feel better. I promise I'll tell you everything."

"Hon," I groaned and reluctantly sat back down on his lap again. Andy wrapped his arms around me, and I tucked my head under his chin. "Atlas Connors, huh?"

He chuckled. "Crazy, right? I guess he and my mother dated before the band got big. He wants to meet me."

"Really?" I sat back up and stared at him. The lines in his forward. His pinched lips. The guilt he was carrying. "Are you going to do it? Meet him, I mean?"

Andy shrugged. "Maybe. I don't know. My dads are cool about the whole thing, but what if Atlas is a dick and I hate him?"

"But what if he's not?" I shot back. "Hon, you don't have to do anything you don't want to. If you don't want to have anything to do with Atlas, then don't. But it might be good for you to learn more about your family."

He nodded. "Dad said the same thing."

"He's a smart man. I knew I liked him for a reason," I teased him and then brushed my lips over his. "You know how much they love you. You don't have to be scared that you're not good enough for them. They wouldn't have suggested it if they didn't think it was a good idea."

Andy hummed softly. "What if it's a bad idea? Atlas could be a total asshole. He might want the publicity."

"But what if it's not?" I combed my fingers through his soft hair. "Hmm? What if he's a really cool guy who wants to get to know his son? His beautiful, amazing, talented son." I searched his face. "You don't have to make that decision now."

Andy wrapped his arms around me and buried his face in my neck. I glanced up as Lucas appeared at the bottom of the stairs, his eyes ping-ponging between his brother and me. I gave him a small smile just as Andy lifted his head.

"Everything good?" Lucas crossed into the room and opened the refrigerator. He moved a few things around before he pulled out the milk, uncapped it, and drank right from the jug.

I wrinkled my nose. "Gross."

"What? I'm thirsty. There are three more gallons in here. You could use one of those." Lucas rolled his eyes.

"Lucas!" Maverick called out. "Use a glass."

Andy snickered. "He really has eyes in the back of his head."

"Seriously." Lucas grinned. He closed the door to the fridge and sat down. "Can I ask you something?"

I twisted around to face him, my back against Andy's front. My boyfriend's hands settled on my hips. "Is it about Parker?" Lucas flushed. "Oh, it is." I leaned forward. "Are you in love with them? Do you want to have a million of their babies?"

"What? No, shut up. I..." Lucas swallowed nervously. "I asked them out on a date, and they said no." He shook his head. "Am I ugly? Do people not like me or something?"

Andy barked out a laugh. "You're hideous, and your breath smells like garbage."

"Stop it." I elbowed him gently as I watched Lucas's face. The normal light in his eyes dimmed, and the carefree smile he usually wore disappeared. "He's lying. You're not ugly, and your breath smells fine. And everyone likes you."

Lucas thought it over for a second before he beamed at me. "So, I'm hot?"

"Jesus." Andy sighed and rested his chin on my shoulder. "You're attractive, but my boyfriend does not find you hot."

I giggled. "I mean, if I was single—"

"Ricky!" Andy gasped, and that only made me laugh harder. "Don't look at him." He covered my eyes with the palm of your hand. "Don't get any ideas."

Lucas snorted. "Relax, bro, you have nothing to worry about. Leo's not my type. He's cute and all, but I've never thought about him in that way."

"Damn right, he's mine." Andy growled as he removed his hand.

I preened. "Parker really said no?"

"Broke my heart, you know? I thought we had a connection after that night I spent in their bed, but I guess... Shit." Lucas sighed. "It's not like that."

I raised my brows. "What is it like? You're just friends, or is it something more?"

"I want something more, but Parker, they... I don't know. They're like a candy with a hard shell and gooey center. When they open up, it's amazing, but now? Now they've just sort of shut me out. I even offered to go over to their house and officially meet their parents." Lucas paused to scrub a hand down his face. "Parker said that they don't have time to date."

He looked heartbroken. "I'm sorry," I told him. "You are a catch, Lucas Olson, and someone is going to realize that and snatch you up."

"Thanks," he murmured, but it didn't sound like he believed me. Lucas leaned back in the chair. "Maybe I came on too strong. I should have left them alone."

Andy squeezed me tighter. "You're not a stalker." He paused. "Wait, Lucas, you're not stalking Parker, are you?"

"No." Lucas dropped his gaze to the table. "I just wanted to make sure that they were safe. Driving past their house, and—"

"Lucas!" I hissed. "You can't do that! No wonder they said no."

He blushed. "I just...I like them. After that night they were attacked, I'm worried something else is going to happen. Something worse. I want to be there in case they need me. Parker is special. Delicate. And I want to wrap them up so no one else can touch them. Never again."

"That's actually kind of sweet. Creepy, but sweet." I clasped my hands over Andy's. "I'll tell you the same thing I told RJ about the twins. You need to court Parker. If they don't want to go out on a date, don't force it. Make it about being friends, hanging out and doing stuff together. But make it romantic. You could bring flowers, send nice text messages, and just ask them how they're doing. No more stalking. Don't drive by their house or hang out wherever they are without their consent."

Lucas sighed. "I suppose I could do that. Parker did say they wanted to be friends. That they had fun with me."

"You're so smart, baby." Andy nuzzled my neck. "Maybe you'll win Parker over, and they'll fall madly in love with you."

I leaned back against Andy. "And you'll be happy like we are."

"You went skating on your first date, right?" Lucas lifted his hip and removed his phone from his pocket. "Maybe Parker would like that."

"Maybe Parker would like what?" Ezra asked as he walked into the kitchen with Seth and Maverick. "Are you dating now?"

Lucas shook his head. "No, but I want to be." His eyes went wide. "Ezra, maybe you could—"

"No," Maverick cut him off. "Don't get any ideas from Ezra or Seth."

Seth clasped a hand over his heart. "Are you saying that we're a bad influence? Are you ashamed of us now, boo?"

"I'm an adult." Lucas was typing into his phone. "I can do whatever I want."

Maverick clucked his tongue against the roof of his mouth. "I suppose you are. My boys are all growing up." He sighed.

"I thought that you and Pop were going to be fostering more kids? What happened to the brothers you mentioned?"

"We're still working on that." Maverick smiled. "But someday you'll be married and won't live here anymore. Then what do I do?"

Lucas looked up from his phone. "Then you'll have a house full of grandbabies to watch over. Duh."

"And we're not going anywhere," I assured him. "Andy and I have no plans to move away. We like it here, Dad."

Andy hummed in agreement.

"I just invited Parker to go skating tomorrow night, and they said yes." Lucas looked terrified as he looked down at his phone. "I didn't think that would happen. I figured they would just say no thank you and move on. Shit, what do I do? Is Pop going to be mad?"

Maverick moved toward him and wrapped an arm around his shoulders. "You're going to be fine, kiddo. I promise." He ruffled his hair. "And I can assure you that your father isn't going to be upset. He loves this sort of thing."

"Andy, will you and Leo come with me?" Lucas leaned into his father. "I mean, if you're not busy. I just... I don't want to fuck this up. Maybe everyone can come. The twins, Dad and Pop, Ezra and Carson. Seth and his guys. Everyone. Or not. It's cool if you don't want to."

Seth grinned. "Can I help you pick out something to wear?"

"Oh, yes!" Ezra clapped his hands together with excitement. "And I'll help you with your hair and make sure you smell good. Parker will never be able to say no to you. Trust me."

Lucas blinked in surprise. "Uh, sure, I guess. I mean, do I need help with either of those things? I think I smell okay." He lifted his arm and sniffed to make his point. "And is there something wrong with my clothes?"

"Makeover!" Ezra squealed. "This is going to be so much fun! You're going to love it, Lucas, I promise."

I chuckled as Seth and Ezra fussed over Lucas, talking about his hair and what clothes would fit him perfectly. Maverick nodded in agreement from time to time. I snuggled into Andy and heard him sigh happily. Everything was going to work out perfectly. The way that it was supposed to. I could just tell.