Chapter Five

Having Travis Heath and Brad Flynn in the same general vicinity was the worst idea ever. It had Brian's name written all over it. No way would Greg ever think of something so dramatic. It took a lot for Kyler to talk Greg into things. It seemed Brian didn't have the same problem.

Kyler wouldn't have missed the show for anything. He liked drama as long as it didn't involve him. That was why he parked his car in Brian's driveway alongside Travis' truck, which was empty, and shut off the engine. He pocketed his keys before reaching for the plate of plastic-wrapped cookies.

He wasn't that great of a cook, but he liked to bake. Brian had asked for chocolate chip, saying they were the best he'd ever had. Even if Brian had blown smoke up his ass, which Kyler strongly suspected, it still made him feel special.

Brian had a way of making Kyler feel as if he were family, and since he didn't have much of that, and the one blood relative he did have treated him like shit, it made him uncomfortable. But Brian had a way of worming under Kyler's skin and straight to his heart until he felt the warm fuzzies. All Brian did was ask for Kyler's advice on cars or came over just to tell him about a stock that should do well on the market. He had sat at Kyler's kitchen island, sipping coffee and chatting. It had started to become a once a week thing and bam, just like that, Brian was someone more than just his best friend's boyfriend. Kyler had yet to define what they were. Friends? Almost. Maybe they were staring down that road, but it would take a while for Kyler to trust.

His aunt lived two streets over, and he hardly ever saw her. Funny how they could avoid each other in a small town like Pickleville, but they both managed most of the time. Beyond seeing each other in passing around town, they didn't have much interaction. It was how his aunt preferred it, even when he had been a child. It still sent a feeling in the pit of his stomach every time he saw her, though.

While still bent over the center console, he heard the crunch of tires on gravel, and then a car door closed. When he straightened, he almost dropped the cookies. He sucked in a breath and cursed when he saw Andrew standing outside his door. He bent so he could look in like a cop would if he were trying to spot some wrongdoing. The only thing missing was a starry night, the flashlight shining in his eyes, and a sexy make-out partner.

He balanced the plate on one hand and opened the door with the other. Andrew pulled it the rest of the way open like some chivalrous knight, and Kyler got out, letting Andrew close it after he moved out of the way.

Do not engage.

He tightened his lips to keep his mouth shut. If he spoke, he wouldn't have anything nice to say even though Andrew looked like sex walking. He had the dark and handsome thing down to a science, and he smelled nice, like cologne. His black hair was shiny because he had put something in it, and his chocolate-colored eyes pleaded with Kyler for something. Neither one of them knew what. Even if Kyler did, he wouldn't give it.

But yeah, Kyler didn't have anything nice to say because, despite Andrew's handsomeness and his expressive eyes, he had a shitty personality. They would end up arguing at some point. It was inevitable. Kyler wanted to hold off for as long as possible, mostly because he didn't want the confrontation.

"Do you need help, carino?" Andrew took a step in his direction, reaching out as if he were going to touch Kyler but thought better of it. He shoved his hands into his jeans pockets instead.

Kyler shook his head and turned, walking around the car's front, heading for the door. "I'm capable of carrying a plate of cookies."

"I didn't imply you weren't. Just being a gentleman by asking."

"If being a gentleman was so important to you, you wouldn't have fucked me and left in the middle of the night." So much for avoiding a confrontation. And did he have to say that?

Andrew sighed. "What did you make?"

Kyler knocked twice before turning the knob and opening the front door. He didn't bother waiting for Greg or Brian to answer because they had an open-door policy where Kyler was concerned.

"You always walk into people's houses?" Andrew reached for the door, holding it open as Kyler walked through.

Kyler could practically feel Andrew's breath on the back of his neck. The proximity made him want to stop moving long enough to feel the heat of Andrew's body against his own. And didn't that just piss him the hell off.

Fucking Andrew.

"Family doesn't knock." Kyler sped up, heading for the kitchen because he could hear Greg comment about Brian always wanting things a certain way.

Brian was anal about some things. Somehow, Greg found his quirky nature cute.

"I stayed with Brian when I first came to town."

Kyler rolled his eyes. "I know." Even if he wasn't Greg's best friend and Greg hadn't told him Brian had let Andrew stay for a few weeks, Pickleville was a small town, and people gossiped.

No one liked to talk about the mundane everyday things when they had something more dramatic to talk about, and the new chief took center stage in that regard. Most didn't like change, so they had something negative to say about every new thing Andrew did, but he was cleaning up the shit the old chief had ignored. No one could fault him for that. And since the rapes had started, most folks changed their tune. Suddenly they liked his big city knowledge, and, according to Dustin at the gas station, folks felt safer with him leading the investigation.

Safe wasn't what Kyler felt around Andrew. Andrew was a heartbreaking bastard who thought with his dick, but Kyler was over that. And that last flaw they both shared, so whatever.

He fucking was, goddamn it.

Kyler walked into the kitchen to find Brian stirring potato salad.

"Hey, man."

Brian looked up from his task and scowled. "Taste this for me."

Kyler smiled and set the plate of cookies on the island along with the other food. He moved around the counter to do Brian's bidding and immediately regretted it when Andrew stood on the other side. The island between them wasn't large enough when Kyler come face to face with that smile.

"Your salad is good, vato."

That fucking smile. Damn it.

Brian bit his lip. "I think it might need more mustard."

"We'll all like it."

Kyler took the large spoon from Brian and dug in, getting a huge bite. He started to put the spoon back in, but Brian grabbed it from him before he could.

"Germs. God, Kyler."

Kyler chewed and shrugged, giving Brian a thumbs up. He swallowed enough of his food to say, "It's good."

"It doesn't need anything?"

"Nope. It's good." He repeated.

Andrew winked and opened his mouth to say something, but someone yelled, the sound coming from outside. Andrew turned to the sliding glass door and headed to the backyard.

Brian and Kyler raced after him.

The smell of grilled meat made Kyler's stomach rumble and clouded his judgment long enough to forget why he'd raced out of the door in the first place. That was until he heard flesh hit flesh, and someone grunted.

Jaron yelled, "Travis! Stop it!"

The Flynn's backyard bordered Brian and Greg's. Greg stood in front of Jaron as if ready to throw himself into the fight.

Luis and Caden stood next to Jaron. Caden had his arm around Jaron and turned into him as if he were crying.

Kyler jogged to Luis and put his arm around his shoulders. Because Kyler worked with Luis every day at the garage, they were close friends. Kyler would've gone for Luis if they had a different kind of chemistry and if Luis wasn't so hung up on Royce.

Royce had a serious problem with the age difference, and he was grouchy anyway, so Kyler totally didn't get Luis, but whatever.

Luis leaned into him. "I hate this," Luis whispered.

"It fucking sucks, man." Kyler reached out to grab Greg's arm, getting his attention.

Greg turned and met Kyler's gaze. Greg always had a stoic look on his face, but there were subtle things that changed if Greg had issues. With his parents fighting through most of his childhood, Kyler had to make sure he wasn't having flashbacks. "I'm okay."

Kyler wasn't so sure, but Brian moved to Greg's side and wrapped his arms around him. That made Kyler worry less.

Travis threw another punch at Brad, landing it on his cheek.

Brad fell back, landing on his ass. The ground was damp from all the rain they had gotten lately. The longer Brad sat there, the more Kyler could see his jeans soak up the water from the bottom.

"Get up, asshole."

Brad shook his head. "I'm not gonna fight back."

"Why not? You hit someone smaller than you, but you can't hit me." If there was ever someone Kyler never wanted to piss off, it was Travis Heath. The fastest way to do that was to do something mean to Jaron. Not that Kyler would ever do anything, especially not someone as sweet as Jaron, but knowing helped him not get his ass kicked. Ever.

Brad turned his gaze on to Jaron. "I'm sorry for everything I've ever done to you."

Travis stepped into Brad's line of sight, and Kyler was pretty sure he blocked most of his view. He leaned down until he was inches from Brad's face. "You don't get to talk to him. You don't even get to breathe the same fucking air. You got me?"

Brad nodded. "I'd do anything to go back and change it."

Travis straightened and clenched his fists. "Get up."

Brad stood, his movement slow and deliberate. The second he was on his feet, Travis took another swing. Brad grunted, taking the punch in the stomach. He didn't fall the second time but squared his shoulders to take another blow.

"Travis!" Andrew moved to put himself between the two men, but Jaron grabbed his arm, stopping them.

Jaron shook his head.

"Vato?"

"He won't listen to you." Jaron pulled out of Caden's hold and stepped around both Greg and Andrew.

Brad pushed him away after the last punch, hissing even as the top of his eye started bleeding. He wiped at the blood, smearing it across his face, and tried to blink, but Kyler wasn't sure how much it helped.

Travis took a step toward him as if he were going to punch him again, but Jaron stepped between them. He never said a word, but it seemed he didn't have to because Travis took Jaron into his arms and held him close. He didn't take his eyes off Brad, though.

Brad lifted his shirt to his face, wiping the blood from his eyes. "I'd let you beat me to death if it meant I could take back what I did to him."

"Fuck you." But some of the heat had left his voice. "I fucking hate you for hurting him."

"Me too, man. Me too." Brad shook his head. "That's the hardest part. Learning how to live with my mistakes. Hardest fucking thing about it."

"Stay away from him." Travis tightened his hold on Jaron.

"Umm, actually, Greg said he did a good job renovating his father's house, so I want to hire him to redo the mantel. You know how I showed you that picture of the dark, rustic look." Jaron's voice sounded muffled, but Kyler still heard him.

Travis looked about as confused as a man could get. "What?"

Jaron pulled back far enough to meet his gaze. "Dr. Harner said forgiveness is necessary to healing."

"Dr. Harner doesn't live in the land of reality, baby. Is he even a real doctor?"

"Yes. He is. He's a psychologist. Just because he uses meditation and stuff doesn't make him fake. Plenty of doctors think the same thing he does."

Dr. Harner didn't only use meditation. Kyler had heard from Lance Tucker that he did psychic readings as well. It was weird, but then Pickleville wasn't the place for ordinary, so whatever. The evidence of that was the chief of police watching Travis Heath beat the shit out of Brad Flynn and not doing anything about it.

Travis and Brad communicated with their fists and pretty much always had if the rumors about them were true. Travis wouldn't forgive anytime soon, maybe not ever, but the beatdown was all about starting a conversation.

"No other doctors charge for tarot card readings, baby."

"Maybe if you would have had a reading, you would know that punching Brad in the face is the wrong way to deal with your feelings."

"And aligning my chakras or whatever the shit you do with Dr. Harner helps?"

"It must if I'm the one willing to forgive."

"Dr. Harner doesn't wake up with you after you have a nightmare."

Jaron gave him a pointed look and then pulled away, turning to Brad and holding out his hand.

Brad took it, and they shook. He didn't linger over the touch, which was good considering Travis was about ready to kill him.

"I don't trust you." Jaron squared his shoulders. Travis reached for him, but Jaron turned and shook his head. "You had your say. Now it's my turn."

Travis shook his head and scowled.

When Jaron turned back to Brad, neither said anything for long seconds.

Luis leaned into Kyler and whispered, "Brad won't be the first to talk. He feels guilty."

"He should," Kyler whispered back. He hadn't been subjected to bullying and hatred the way Jaron had. By the time Kyler and Greg were in school, there were policies in place to protect students, and then he had Royce. Hell, Royce was more like a father. He was family the same way Greg and Brian were. He was one of the wealthiest guys in town and also a big dude who looked mean as hell but wasn't. Everyone knew messing with Kyler would invoke Royce's wrath. Not that there were many assholes anymore, but Jaron was proof that a person only needed one to stay miserable in Pickleville.

"So yeah, you have a lot to prove." Jaron took a step back and reached for Travis' arm, leaning into him.

"I know."

"I'm going to forgive you. Not for you but for me. It's all part of the healing process."

Brad nodded. "I've been in therapy almost my whole prison sentence. I'm still going. I won't stop getting my shit together. I want you to know that."

Jaron seemed to sag against Travis as if some of what Brad said took some burden off. "Don't do anything for me. Do it for yourself because you think you deserve it."

Brad smiled and nodded in agreement. "And my brothers."

"Yes. They deserve to know that what you did wasn't right, but it also doesn't define you. Or it doesn't have to just like getting bullied doesn't have to define me. I don't want my son to think it's okay to treat others the way you treated me. Or that it's okay to let someone do that." Jaron shook his finger. "You know Travis will kick your ass all over Pickleville and then to the county line if you so much as look at me wrong."

Brad nodded. "I'd let him."

"You should also know the police chief is my best friend and knows how to make things look like an accident."

"The rest of us have his back too." Kyler thought pointing that out might make Jaron feel better.

Brad nodded again but didn't speak. Maybe he thought there was nothing to say.

"Okay, so I think we should all eat if the food is ready." Jaron looked at Brian, who nodded.

He took Travis's hand before turning toward Brian and Greg's house.

As Jaron passed Kyler, he whispered, "Fuck. That was hard."

Luis pulled away from Kyler and turned toward his house, which was what got Jaron's attention. Jaron turned and followed Brad's retreating form with his gaze before speaking. "Would you like a plate?"

Brad turned and smiled. "No, thanks. Stomachs a little sore. I think I'll eat soup."

Jaron nodded and looked at Travis. "You'll take him soup."

Travis opened his mouth and then shut it again.

"Don't argue. You caused his pain, so you'll help him. That's what friends do."

"We're not friends anymore, baby."

Jaron narrowed his eyes. "You've been friends since grade school, Travis Heath. That doesn't change just because he made a mistake."

"He beat you with a bat, Jaron." If it were anyone else, Travis would have punched them. Kyler could tell by the way he clenched his fists.

"I know that better than anyone, but the healing has to start somewhere."

"God damn it." Travis would give in.

Kyler chuckled. He was so focused on Jaron and Travis' conversation that he didn't notice Andrew beside him until he spoke. "I should go with Travis when he delivers dinner. Make sure they don't fight again."

Kyler didn't know why Andrew felt the need to talk to him. "Do you want permission or what?"

"Making conversation."

A weight landed in the pit of his stomach, making it hurt just enough that smelling the grilled meat no longer appealed.

"I won't fuck you again, so whatever you're doing is a waste of your time," Kyler said as sweetly as he possibly could right before he jogged ahead until he found Greg. He stood beside him with his arms folded over his chest.

Since it seemed to be the land of forgiveness, Kyler should probably let up a bit, but he wouldn't. Kyler had a little bit of self-respect left. Hell, that was just about the only thing he had left where Andrew was concerned. The rest had walked out the night Andrew did.