Chapter Thirty

Perry

"Ican't believe I'm wearing this." Theo picks up the puppy mask we got at the sex store for him to wear to the Halloween party Jack is throwing.

It's been a whirlwind week since we admitted we're in love.

Amazingly, Theo was able to get in with the eye specialist quickly, and he does in fact have convergence insufficiency, but they also found out he has deficient saccadic eye movements. He hasn't started his vision therapy yet, and of course, insurance doesn't pay for it because it would make too much sense for insurance to pay for people's needs, but between Theo, his parents, and me, one way or another, we'll make it happen.

Me, Dad, and Ty spent most of this week together. It's been cool seeing Ty with our dad, the three of us getting to know each other and, well, Ty and I ganging up on him when need be. Tomorrow we're going to lunch, with Theo and Brax too, before Dad and his wife head back to Boston. It was nice of her to let us have this much-needed time together, just the three of us.

"You have to admit it's the perfect costume for us," I reply, trying to latch the leather harness I'm wearing. While puppy play isn't part of our lifestyle, we figured it would be fun for Halloween. "I've always wanted to be a leather daddy," I tease.

"You're a dork and as far away from a leather daddy as you can get." Theo takes over for me, fastening the last part of the harness beneath my underarm.

"That's Yes, Daddy to you!"

He pinches my nipple, making me squeal.

"You're not being a very good puppy."

"Can we go downstairs and party now?"

Most of the time we stay at my house because it's quieter, but since the party is here, we decided this was the best place to get ready.

I take the hood from Theo and lower it onto his head. He's shirtless too, both of us just in jeans other than his hood and my harness. This shit ain't cheap, so we didn't go all out.

"Such a cute puppy." I smack his ass.

"How did I let you talk me into this again?"

The rap music has the floors vibrating, and it gets louder as we make our way downstairs. People are drinking, smoking, and laughing.

"Holy shit!" Casey says as soon as he sees us.

"Hot, right?" I reply, motioning to Theo, who is probably rolling his eyes at me.

"How come Casey gets to be a ninja and I'm a puppy?"

"Are you forgetting this was your idea?" I can't see his cheeks, but there's no doubt in my mind that he's blushing.

"Aw, you look cute, Theo," Casey says, then turns to me. "Some of the DIKs just got here. Looks like things are gonna start getting wild."

He slips away as I cock my head at Theo… "DIKs?"

"It's a frat. They're really delta something or the other."

"Convenient excuse. I think really everyone who goes to FU is just really fucking queer and they don't know it yet."

A group of loud guys storm the living room, quieter and to the back I see… "Is that guy a tree?" He's a big dude with arms like branches. Beside him is another guy with curly hair and pouty lips who's some kind of leaf or something. He keeps tugging on his green shirt and pushing his own leaves out of the way.

"It appears so."

"See? Our costumes are way cooler than theirs. Dance with me." I pull Theo to me, the two of us moving to the music together. We're at it long enough to slightly get sweaty before we stumble against the wall where the tree guy has his arms around the leaf guy, the two of them talking. "You guys lost a really bad bet," I tease.

"Perry!" Theo elbows me. "His brain-to-mouth connection is broken."

The tree chuckles. "I have one of those too." His branch arm wraps around his man again. "And plants are cool."

"Or…you know…dorky," the leaf says.

"What are you?" I ask.

"Poison guy-vy." He grins, clearly proud of himself for this idea.

Both Theo and I laugh, because I have to admit, it's a good one.

"I mean…I think plants can probably be pretty cool," Theo replies, poison guy-vy crossing his arms.

"Slow your roll, doggie. No hiking your leg on him. The only one who gives my man golden showers is me."

"Oh my fucking God," I snort. "I love this guy."

"Uh, yeah. Just to be clear, we don't do that. I'm Harrison and this is Benny."

I shake the branch he holds out to me. "Perry. This is my boyfriend, Theo, and no worries from him, the only territory he marks is me."

"Um…we don't do that either," Theo says. "Well…not with pee… Maybe with other stuff…I guess we have with cum but—" His words cut off completely as he realizes what he said.

The tree and poison guy-vy crack up laughing while I pull him close. "Silly puppy. I love it when you word vomit embarrassing shit."

We hang out with Harrison and Benny for a little while longer, but I have to admit, once Harrison starts talking about pollination it's hard to keep my mind out of the gutter…then when he goes into all of the cool things plants can do, my attention starts to fade. They're both cool guys but I don't get the plant thing.

"Don't you work at Shenanigans? I think I've seen you there," Benny says, and the way he's looking at me, I'm pretty sure he knows he just saved me.

"Yeah. I'm a bartender."

"My friend Marshall works there. I'm surprised I haven't seen you," Harrison replies.

"Oh! You're the British roommate who's not British!" That earns another round of laughter and some more conversation before Avery makes his way to us.

"Your brother and his boyfriend just got here. They're looking for you guys."

"Thanks," Theo replies.

"We're gonna head out." Benny upnods us. "Nice talking to you guys."

They disappear just as Ty walks up. He's in an angel costume, which obviously couldn't be further from the truth. Brax is in jeans, with his black leather jacket over a T-shirt.

"You're not dressed up," Theo tells him.

"Yes, I am. I'm Asshole Bartender."

"Yeah, not dressed up," I confirm and turn to Theo. "He used to bartend at Shenanigans, and before they got together, Ty's friends called him Asshole Bartender."

"I remember hearing about that," Theo responds.

"We both decided to come as ourselves," my brother adds, fluttering his lashes and smiling like he's trying to look like the angel he's totally not.

"Him, yes." I point to Ty. "You, no."

"I thought brothers were always supposed to have each other's backs?"

"Come on. I'll take you to get a drink."

"I already forgive you!" Ty sings playfully as we leave Theo and Brax together.

"Maybe some of Theo's sunshine will rub off on Daddy B."

"Your boyfriend better not rub off on mine. There are a lot of things I'm willing to share, but he's not one of them."

We fill our cups with beer. Theo and Brax aren't where we left them, so we end up in the backyard, looking for them. I don't know who any of the people are since they're all in costumes, but it's clear with all the roughhousing and dancing that everyone is having a good time.

"I'm glad you're here," Ty says, surprising me. We're on the porch, just the two of us, everyone else in the grass, and…wow. Two guys are on two other guys' shoulders, and they're fighting. That doesn't look real safe.

"At my boyfriend's party?" I ask.

Ty rolls his eyes. "No, in San Luco, dumbass. Dad said he offered for you to move back to Boston. I would have understood if you did. I want you guys to get close, but I'm glad you're here. It's been…" He looks down like there's suddenly something interesting in his cup. "Getting to know you, getting close to you…it's better than I could have hoped. This isn't easy because of Dad. I still have a lot of guilt that he was with me and not you, but you've never made me feel bad about that."

Well, shit. Looks like we're having this convo in the middle of a party, with him dressed as an angel and me a Dominant. I guess that tracks for us. "It is hard sometimes. I can't pretend I've never been jealous…or wondered if there's something wrong with me because he didn't want me, but that's not on you. I can't make other people responsible for my feelings. I'm the only one responsible for those."

"Shit, man." Ty turns to me. "It's not you. It was never you. You can always talk to me about that stuff. I'm here for you no matter what. And if I ever do anything to make you feel that way, I want you to tell me, and I'll fix it."

"I know." There's no doubt in my mind about that. "I'm working on it, and I feel better about everything. I think letting myself start to have a relationship with him will help. The one thing I'm sure of is that I lucked out in the brother department."

"True." Ty nods in agreement, a playful smile on his face, before adding, "I did too."

I wrap my arm around him, tug him close, so damn grateful for him and Theo and all the other changes in my life since moving to San Luco.

"There you guys are," Theo says, as we pull away. Brax comes out of the back door right behind him.

"Hey, Puppy. We were looking for the two of you."

"Daddy tried to escape, but I wouldn't let him," Theo teases.

"Oh, Jesus Christ. Not you too." Brax rubs his forehead like we're all giving him a headache.

"I mean, you're lucky I haven't called you that," my brother taunts.

"Don't you dare, Lacrosse."

"You guys wanna go hang out in the secret smoke room?" Theo asks.

"I mean, we wouldn't say no," Ty answers.

We only make it halfway across the yard before the girl I recognize from my internet stalking says, "Theo?" Ah yes. The ex-girlfriend who gave up the greatest guy I've ever known. Her gaze darts to our clasped hands, then back at Theo's puppy face. "Wow. You've…changed."

I'm stiff beside him, wondering if she's going to say something that pisses me off and hurts him, worried that he's embarrassed of this, and how she sees him, but Theo's hand on mine only gives me a comforting squeeze.

"I don't know that I have. I'm just finally letting myself see who I am."

Whitney smiles, and finally, I can breathe. "That's good. I heard you have a boyfriend now. I take it this is him."

"I do. He makes me really happy."

"Then I'm happy for you. I feel bad for how things went down, but it looks like everything turned out for the best."

Theo nods. "Yeah. I hope you're doing well too."

Whitney confirms she is before a guy calls her name. "I should go. It's good seeing you, Theo." And then she walks to the guy, and Theo begins tugging me away.

"Well, that could have been awkward," Ty teases, making us laugh.

The four of us sneak around the shed, and Theo unlocks the door. He turns the lights on, each of us taking one of the beanbag chairs, while he packs the bong.

"I like this party a whole lot better than the one out there," Brax says.

"It's always the four of us," Ty argues.

"Which I like better, Lacrosse. Do you even know me?"

We share another round of laughter, then start passing the bong around. When it's dusted, we all sit back, gazes darting between each other.

"I want to try on the puppy hood." Ty bounces around in his chair. Theo picks it up from beside him—he'd taken if off to smoke.

Ty takes it from Theo, jumps onto Brax's lap, straddling him, and tugs it onto his boyfriend's head.

"What the fuck," Brax says, but he doesn't argue or try to take it off. He's clearly used to Ty's shenanigans.

"Hey, I kinda like this. Can we borrow it tonight?" Ty asks.

"Fuck no," I answer before Theo can. "No sex games in my puppy's hood."

"Pfft. I thought brothers shared everything." Ty pouts as Brax takes it off and tosses it back to us. "I'm high."

"No shit," I reply.

Theo giggles. I have no idea why, but of course it makes me do the same, followed by Ty, then Brax. I don't know how long it lasts, the four of us sitting out here, laughing and talking, but again I'm reminded how fucking lucky I am…how happy.

I tug Theo closer, so we're both sorta lying on the beanbags, with his head on my shoulder and my arm around him.

Ty says, "You were right, Sunshine. This party is better."

Yeah, yeah it is.

We hang out for a while before Brax and Ty say they're ready to go home. Brax orders a car service to pick them up. "You guys gonna go with us?"

I look at Theo, waiting for him to answer. "I can't move."

My little lightweight. "We'll stay here. Thanks, man."

They nod and leave, and Theo begins nuzzling my throat. "Can we sleep out here tonight? I don't want to be around everyone else. We can watch anime, and you can fuck me. I have lube in my pocket."

"My dirty boy," I tease, then press a kiss to his forehead. "No chance I'm saying no to that."

We lock the door and put all the beanbags together. It's not going to be the most comfortable thing in the world, but I don't think either of us cares about that.

We cuddle up together and start the second season of our show, and…look who was right. The two male lead characters start fucking. Score for me.

We watch a few episodes, the party raging outside, but in here, we feel like we're in our own little world.

I fuck Theo doggie-style, late into the night, my puppy biting on the beanbag chair so he's not too loud.

We collapse together, likely getting jizz all over the place, but again, neither of us cares.

"Every moment with you," Theo says softly, and I frown.

"Huh?"

"You asked me once about my most vivid memory, and at the time, I couldn't think of one, but now I know—it's all of them that I share with you, and when we're older, sitting together on the beach or whatever, my most vivid memories will still be all the ones I shared with you."

My heart swells so big, I'm pretty sure it might break a few ribs. "Jesus, I love you. So fucking much." I take his face in my hands and kiss him, so thankful that a mix-up led me exactly where I belong.