Chapter Seven

Leo

I woke with Andy wrapped around me like his life depended on it. It had taken a little bit to calm him to sleep. He was fidgety. Mumbling under his breath about how he was a bad, terrible person. How sorry he was. But I managed to get him to fall asleep, my hands in his hair and his head on my chest. Like it used to be. Back when he loved me.

My heart hurt. Not just because I missed Andy, but because he was going through something he wouldn't share with me. I had told him everything about me, including how my parents had some horrible gambling addiction. I had Googled them once, and a news story came up about how they had run off in some weird murder-suicide pact. I had sobbed in Andy's arms. He had been there for me, and now it was my turn to do the same for him. If he would just let me.

Andy grumbled and rolled onto his back. I watched him, waiting for him to wake, but when he didn't, I leaned closer, touching his face with the pads of my fingers. Over the stubble on his strong jaw, the curve of his lips, and then into his dirty-blond hair, remembering how he used to let me touch him for hours. I would sit on Andy's lap, memorizing everything about him. Kissing him, smelling him. Yeah, it was kind of weird, but he didn't complain. I think he liked it.

I love you. I love you. I love you. Come back to me, hon. Talk to me. Let me help you.

I wanted to say those words. I wanted to whisper them into Andy's ear. But I didn't. I couldn't. I was still heartbroken about how he'd left me behind. Stopped responding to my texts. I wanted answers that he wasn't willing to give me.

Tears stung my eyes as I leaned forward to rest my head on Andy's chest. All the mornings we'd woken up like this, kissing and giggling together. The words he said to me. The things that he promised. The way we would end up tangled up in the sheets, gasping for air but never unlocking our lips. We had done almost everything except penetrative sex, but my favorite thing was kissing. Andy's mouth was pure perfection, his tongue driving me wild.

My cock twitched inside my pajama pants. The things he did to me with that wicked tongue...

"You're hard." Andy's voice was thick with sleep. Why was that so sexy?

I sat up. "Yeah, well, you know how it is in the morning." I squeaked with surprise when Andy shoved me onto my back and splayed his heavy body over mine. "What are you doing?"

"You were always horny in the morning." He dragged his nose over my cheekbone. "Begging me to touch you. Whining and writhing beneath me when I gave you what you wanted."

My traitorous dick was suddenly all in. "I don't... No, Andy." I slapped him on his back.

"You think I would try to do something without your consent?" He nearly tumbled off the bed in his haste to get up. "Leo, I would never."

I nodded. "Yeah, I know."

"Do you?" He sat down and dragged his fingers through his already rumpled hair.

I climbed across the bed and up into his lap. Andy's hazel eyes grew wide.

"You never pushed me for anything." I cupped his head between my hands. "You were a total gentleman." Even when eating my ass.

"Leo, baby, I'm sorry." He pressed his forehead against mine.

I tilted his head up, so he had to look me in the eye. "You've already said that. I need to know why you're sorry. You know you can talk to me, right? That I would never judge you for anything. Even if you tell me that you stuck your dick in every hole possible while on tour."

"I didn't... I should probably go." Andy made no move to get up. He combed his fingers through my hair, his eyes searching mine.

I stroked my thumb over his cheek, watched the way his pupils dilated. "You could stay. I'd like it if you would."

"Your brother won't like it."

"I'm an adult. Noel can't tell me who can or can't stay with me. He has two boyfriends, remember?"

Andy chewed on his bottom lip. "I need to go see my dads before they find out I'm here. They'll be mad that I don't stop by. It's been a while."

"Has it?" The sudden urge to pull his lip out from between his teeth was overwhelming. I quickly got to my feet to put some distance between us. "I could go with you. Only if you want. No pressure."

Andy huffed out a laugh. "Dad would like that."

"Mav wants to see you, hon, not me. You're his son." I folded my arms and leaned against the wall.

"He loves you like one." Andy gave a faint smile before he dropped back onto the mattress. "He's going to be mad at me."

I resisted the urge to go to him. Climb back onto his lap and... I shook my head. "Why is he going to be mad, hon? I've never met someone as proud of their child as Maverick is of you. Jackson, too, for that matter. They love you so much. They're the best parents anyone could ask for."

"Because I haven't seen them in almost a year," he whispered and dropped his gaze.

"What!" I exclaimed, and Andy jumped. "How could you go that long without seeing them? They're your parents. Get dressed. We're going over there right now. No excuses, Andy."

He groaned. "I'm such an asshole, Ricky. Dad calls me all the time, and I pretend I'm busy. I don't talk to him. I answer his texts now and then, but God, the guilt I feel. For leaving." Andy sat up. "You know that he begged me to stay. Told me that touring was going to test my mental health more than I realized. He said I didn't have to do anything. I could just live at home and make music. The whole band. Why didn't I listen to him? He was right, because of course he was. Dad is always right. About everything."

"Put your clothes on." I waved a hand at him. "I'm taking you to see your fathers. No excuses. Come." I reached for his hand. "We'll go together. I got you, hon."

***

Andy was practically shaking in his boots on the front porch of his parents' house. There was only one other time I had seen him this nervous and that was when he'd broken up with me. Andy had tried to convince me more than once that we should turn around and go back to my place. Or anywhere other than his parents' house. I didn't know what he was so worried about. Maverick was going to be thrilled to see his eldest son. If only Andy would talk to me. That was all I wanted from him right now. Maybe his father would have better luck prying information out of him.

He shook his head. "I can't, Leo. Please. Let's just go."

"Yes, you can, hon," I assured him and gave him my brightest smile. "They love you so much. No one is prouder of you than Maverick and Jackson."

He stared at me with curiosity written all over his face. "You still talk to them."

"Maverick, mostly, but yes. He was like a father to me when Noel wasn't sure how to handle it. I mean, Ezra is my best friend, the one who helped me discover myself, but Mav...he was the father I always wanted. He's such a good man. It's kind of weird for me to go over there without you, so I usually just call him or text. He seems to understand."

Andy chewed on his lip again. "They're still close, right? Ezra and Dad?"

"Surprisingly, yes. Although there were a few moments when I thought their friendship wouldn't last. But they worked it out. Ezra doesn't blame Maverick anymore."

"Then he already knows I'm here."

I knocked lightly on the front door despite Maverick telling me over and over I could just walk inside. "You're probably right. Ezra loves to gossip, and you're a hot topic for him."

The urge to touch Andy had me shoving my hands into my pockets. I had done too much of that already. He could hurt me again in ways I might never come back from.

"Leo, you know you don't have to knock. It's good to see you." Maverick gasped when he saw me in the doorway. "Come in. I was just going to start lunch for the boys. You want to stay and eat with us? I'm making pizza." My stomach growled at the thought of Maverick's food. He was an amazing cook.

I smiled. "Is it okay that I'm not alone? I don't want to intrude." Andy had moved just out of view of the door, his arms wrapped around himself. That lip worried between his teeth again.

"A friend?" Maverick asked, and his smile faltered for a second. "Uh, of course. Are you seeing someone? Not that it matters. You're always welcome here." He started to open the screen door just as I reached over to grab Andy's hand.

I tried to tug him into view, but Andy didn't budge.

"I'm not," I assured Maverick. "Seeing anyone, I mean. I'm much too busy for a relationship." Or really, anyone who isn't your son . But I didn't say that last part.

"Oh, well, if you were seeing someone, that would be fine. You know I want you to be happy... Andy?" Maverick's emerald-green eyes went wide, and his jaw dropped. He looked like he had seen a ghost. Andy wasn't kidding when he said it had been a while. The shock on his father's face was proof of that.

I squeezed his hand. "Go to your father," I whispered.

"Jackson! Jackson, get in here right this second!" Maverick called to his husband as Andy moved to wrap his father in a hug, lifting him off his feet.

I felt my throat tighten, and tears filled my eyes just as Jackson appeared in the kitchen. "Is someone dying because I was in the middle of—Holy shit."

He was fast for a man of his size, engulfing both his husband and son in his arms. It was heartwarming to see, and I turned away to give them some space.

I wondered why Andy had been hiding from his parents. Was he scared, or was it something more? I had so many things I wanted to ask him, but they would have to wait. I stared at the refrigerator as I listened to the soft murmurs of Jackson and Maverick talking to Andy, telling him how happy they were he was home, how skinny he looked, that they had missed him, and how proud of him they were. They would never tell him anything but that. They loved their son something fierce.

"Leo." I turned around, and Maverick crushed me against his small frame. "Thank you. Thank you for bringing him home to me," he whispered softly.

I caught Andy's gaze as he spoke to Jackson. "You're welcome."

"Come with me for just a second." Maverick grabbed my hand. "We'll be right back."

He dragged me toward the basement door and downstairs to where Andy and Princess Bungalow used to practice.

"Are you two back together? Is that what this is? You know how happy that would make me. No pressure, of course."

I shook my head. "No, we're not."

"But you're talking. So, what is this?"

"I don't know what this is. He came to see me on Saturday night, and well, here we are."

Maverick smoothed back the hair on my forehead. "I can't believe he's here. Leo, I just... Is he okay? Has he told you anything? I know that he's been keeping things from me and his father. I don't like that he feels like he can't talk to us."

"I wish I knew, but he hasn't told me much."

Even if I knew the answer to that question, I wouldn't break Andy's confidence like that. We used to tell one another everything, and some of what he said to me, I would take to the grave. I glanced around the room, realizing nothing had changed. The drum kit was still set up in the corner. The amps stacked up by the wall. I had spent hours sitting in this room watching, listening, and just being around Andy. My stomach cramped at the memories as I tried to push them away. Maybe this had been a mistake.

"Leo, please." Maverick touched my shoulder.

I sighed softly. "You need to talk to him, Mav. Get him to open up to you. He won't tell me anything. Something had to have happened to upset him like this."

"Mav, huh?" His brows raised. "What happened to you calling me dad?"

I shrugged. "You still want me to call you that? Even though Andy and I aren't together anymore?"

"Boo, you're always going to be my second baby." Maverick smiled and hugged me again. "I love you, you know."

I hugged him back. "I know, and I love you, too."

I had missed this. Noel was a great big brother, but Maverick was so much more.

"You're so handsome. I'm proud of you, too." Maverick patted my cheek. "You know you can come by more. We'd love to have you over for dinner any time."

I wasn't sure that was going to happen any time soon. "I know, Dad."

"Dad?" Andy's deep voice drifted through the room. "Uh, Pop wanted me to tell you the pizza is done." His hazel orbs landed on me and our intertwined hands. A faint smile tugged at his lips, then he looked away.

Maverick squeezed my fingers lightly. "You're both staying, right? Please, please, tell me you're not leaving. You can spend the night if you want. Your rooms are exactly the way you left them."

"We'll stay," I assured him. "Right, Andy?"

He nodded. "Ricky's right, we'll stay."

The smile on Maverick's face was nearly blinding. "Come on, come on, your brother is going to be so excited to see you. Felix and Ford should be back soon, too. They had plans this morning."

I bet they did. I opened my mouth, then clamped it shut before I could say something. He disappeared upstairs, leaving me alone with Andy.

"Thank you, Ricky, for bringing me here." He chewed on his bottom lip again. "I—"

I waved a hand at him. "I know." I couldn't stand to hear him say he was sorry again. Not without giving me a reason. "Let's go eat. I've missed your dad's home-cooked meals."

Halfway up the stairs, I turned to find Andy standing at the bottom, watching me. He wasn't checking me out or gawking; his eyes had a faraway look to them. Like he was lost in thought. I went back down and took his hand. He dropped his gaze to where I had tangled our fingers together.

"Ready?"

Andy nodded. "Yeah, okay."

He was most definitely not okay, but I was going to do my best to find a way to help him without having my heart broken again at the same time. Hopefully, being home with his parents would do him some good.