12. Vail

12

VAIL

The phone ringing while I was trying to sleep was a common occurrence. Jordan got calls at all hours of the night. As I went to nudge him to answer the phone, I realized he wasn’t in bed. That happened too, so it wasn’t alarming for him not to be there. The ringing phone was mine or Hartley’s, and Hartley wasn’t waking to answer it.

I didn’t bother looking at the screen before answering, “Yeah?”

What greeted me on the other end of the line was my sister, brother-in-law, and nephew singing to me. A smile bloomed on my lips as I settled onto the pillow and let them serenade me. My sister had done this almost every year I wasn’t living in the same home as her, which was a long time. There were some years she tried, but Gil wouldn’t allow me to have my phone. I wasn’t going to think about that today though.

“Thank you,” I said when the singing concluded.

“We know we already celebrated with you,” my sister began. “But we had to call to sing. It’s your birthday and you deserve to be celebrated. What are you, sixty-five now?”

“Ha ha.” I was forty-seven. I was lucky this birthday though. Far luckier than I’d been. There were two men who loved me, who I loved in return.

“I’ll let you get back to sleep.”

“Thank you.”

“Happy birthday, big brother.”

I ended the call. Before I could put the phone back on the nightstand, it started ringing again. This time, I looked at the name on the screen and sat up. Hartley groaned and rolled to face away from me.

“Forest?” I answered. Hartley shot up.

“What the fuck do you think you’re doing, V?” Forest yelled into the phone. His words didn’t slur. At least he was sober. I hoped. It was also three hours earlier where he was. I quickly glanced at the clock and saw it was ten here.

“I’m in bed,” I replied without the heat in my words he had. “What the fuck are you doing?”

“That’s not what I’m talking about.”

Hartley leaned closer to listen.

“Enlighten me then,” I said. “It’s too fucking early to play games.” I hadn’t spoken to him in years, and this was the way he greeted me? Screw him.

“You and my brother…”

“Yeah?”

“How could you?”

I sighed. It wasn’t that I thought Forest would be excited about it, but to call and start screaming without even hearing us out. Not the best way to handle the situation. “What do you want me to say? I love him.”

“Fanfuckingtastic. Did you have to sleep with Jordan Altair too?”

“Is that what this is about?”

“Not entirely. You’re fucking my brother, V.” His voice slipped into the childhood whine I remembered.

“I’m not using him.”

It was his turn to sigh. “You couldn’t have told me? Sent up a fucking flare or some shit? I had to find out from Drew.”

My nose scrunched up. “You still talk to him?”

Drew was their asshole homophobic cousin. I kept clear of him when I was younger. Not because I couldn’t take him in a fight. Because I didn’t want to fight him. I didn’t hide that I was gay. Forest always stuck up for me. When Hartley came out, he was fierce in his defense of him too. Last I heard, they didn’t have much contact with that side of their family.

“Not normally. He read the news and called me raging about how Hart is still gay and now in a relationship with a mafia boss. I told him to never call me again and hung up on him. Then I went online.”

Hartley took the phone from my hand but remained close, which I was grateful for. This way I could hear Forest’s responses. “You don’t get to call and yell at Vail.” Hartley didn’t get angry often. He was now. His lips were pressed into a thin line and his hand shook as he held the phone.

“Hart,” Forest said softly. “I wish you would have told me.”

“Maybe I would have if you were sober long enough to have a conversation.”

“I’ve been slowing down.”

“Then why haven’t you called?”

“Why haven’t you?”

Hartley stood from the bed to go to the walk-in closet. He put the phone on speaker so he could slip on a pair of sweatpants. “I would have if I thought you’d actually listen to me.”

“I’m sorry.”

“You should be, Forest. Fuck, I needed you and you checked out. Flew back to California to drown in your misery while I had shit to deal with.” I could tell there was more Hartley wanted to say, more anger to get out. He held back.

“I want to see you and Vail. I want to meet Jordan.”

Hartley grabbed the phone and left the closet, dropping the phone on the end of the bed. “That’s your decision, but we’re not coming to you. I have a business to run, debt to pay down.”

“I’m selling my condo.”

His tone softened. “You love it there.”

“A lot of good it does me. Seeing you and Vail together and after everything with Pop, I miss you. I don’t want to be far away anymore.”

Sitting on the bed, Hartley buried his face in his hands. He took on so much when it came to his family. The weight didn’t need to be shouldered alone. I went to him, sitting behind him so I could gather him in my arms. He leaned heavily against me.

“I can’t take care of you, For. I just can’t. I have too much on my plate.”

“I’m not asking you to. I want to be near you again. And Vail.”

“I love you, but I can’t deal with your shit.”

“You don’t have to.”

Hartley tucked his face against my neck. Picking up the phone, I said, “We can’t stop you. We love you, but you have to want to be better for yourself. I know losing Pop took a toll. You can’t live like you were, For.”

“I’ll be better, V. Give me time to pack up and sell this place. I’ll be out there with you two soon. That’s where I belong.”

“What about work?” Hartley asked.

“I got a new job this week. Remote. I can work anywhere.”

“Good,” I told him. “Get your shit together and we’ll be here when you’re ready to move.”

“Thank you. I’m sorry I yelled. I was… hurt you two didn’t tell me. I understand why.”

“Apology accepted.”

“See you soon.” He hung up.

I kept my arms around Hartley and leaned back so he was lying on top of me, where I could easily soothe my hands over his warm body. He was still bare from the waist up.

“I don’t trust him to take care of himself when he’s here,” Hartley murmured. “Or to actually follow through and move.”

“If he wants a change and to be near us, he will. It’s up to him. No one has ever been able to make Forest do anything he didn’t want to.”

“I gave up trying a long time ago. I wish I had him to lean on when everything was falling apart.”

“I’m sorry he wasn’t there for you.”

Hartley nuzzled closer to my neck, as close as he could get. “Thank you. And, Vail?”

“Yeah?”

“Happy birthday.”

“Thanks, Hart.”

I wasn’t sure how long we stayed like that before the scent of breakfast floated to us. I swore Irene stood down there with one of Jordan’s expensive bladeless fans next to the food to coax us out of bed so we’d eat.

Hartley slipped a T-shirt over his head, and I got dressed in the lounge pants he made for me and one of Jordan’s plain white tees. I loved putting the shirts on. They were tight on me, hugging my body when he wasn’t here to do so. If I tried to do that with one of Hartley’s, I’d rip it.

The elevator doors opened as we got to the bottom of the stairs. Jordan exited, freshly showered, which I really didn’t want to think about the reason for. The only time he came upstairs like that was when he had to do something I didn’t need the details on. I pushed it aside. It was part of being with him. While I’d love for him to stop doing… that, I couldn’t walk away.

Jordan’s smile at seeing us could have lit the room. That was saying a lot.

“Vail, happy birthday,” he said and opened his arms. I readily went into them, holding him. Worrying about Jordan was becoming second nature. He did too many dangerous things. While I didn’t want to know where he was, I was grateful he returned to Hartley and me in one piece.

“Thank you.” I pressed my lips to his neck. He was warm, solid, and embraced me perfectly.

“While I want to hold you all day, I don’t want Irene to tap her foot at us.”

I chuckled. “We wouldn’t want that.”

Jordan graced me with another kiss before placing one on Hartley’s lips. The three of us took seats at the table where Irene had a feast spread out. Eggs, bacon, sausage, pancakes, three kinds of syrup, biscuits, gravy, and much more.

“How are we supposed to eat all of this?” I asked.

“Whatever you don’t finish, I’ll pack up and take downstairs for the boys,” she said. “They could always use more food.”

“They get plenty while they’re here,” Jordan stated.

For those who lived in the building, they had their own kitchens where they could prepare their meals. For those on duty, Jordan had food delivered so they could eat on their breaks. Plenty of restaurants in East Dremest were happy to bring their food here and stay on Jordan’s good side. It also meant more business for them. If the guards loved it, they’d visit the establishments during their off hours.

“Forest called,” Hartley said before taking a bite.

Jordan cocked an eyebrow. “And?”

“Apparently, he’s selling his condo and moving here.”

“Here, as in my building?”

I laughed. “We didn’t ask for details.”

“He wants to live close to us,” Hartley clarified. “Well, Vail and me, which means close to you as well. He should meet you.”

“I’d like to meet him as well.”

“You can’t?—”

Jordan cut him off. “I won’t hurt your brother as long as he doesn’t hurt either of you.”

Hartley nodded and dug back into his food. “I will never tire of your cooking, Irene.”

“Thank you, dear.” She bustled into the kitchen to grab scones.

When we were done with our meal, Jordan placed an envelope on the table, sliding it toward me.

“I thought we weren’t doing this.” I told them not to get me anything.

“I didn’t say I’d listen.”

The white envelope had no writing on the outside, and the back wasn’t sealed. I slid my fingers inside to withdraw a piece of folded paper. Opening it, I scanned the document, trying to figure out what I was looking at when it clicked.

“A pool?” I asked.

He nodded. “There’s a parcel of land behind this building. I enjoyed having the space separating the properties. Until now, I didn’t have an idea for what to put on it. More housing didn’t seem right, given the apartments here already. So, I decided to use it for a pool.” I should have expected this. Jordan didn’t do anything in small measures.

“You remembered the one time I said I missed swimming.”

“I did. I remember everything you and Hart say. That’s why I’m also putting in a sauna and a luxurious hot tub. No expense will be spared.” Jordan didn’t need to say it, but he was making up for missing Hartley’s birthday last month. We were sick with the flu and Hartley didn’t mention it. I completely forgot, which I felt like shit about.

Hartley sat back in his seat. “I can’t wait to feel those jets beating against my body.”

“We need a place to unwind,” Jordan stated. “It will take some time, but once it’s done, it will be ours.”

“The guards can use it too, right?” I asked. It wasn’t fair if they didn’t get to.

Jordan’s jaw clenched. “If that’s what you wish.”

I grinned. “They’ll be happier.”

Hartley leaned over to put his hand on mine. “I’ll give you your gift later.” He winked and waved his other hand down his body. Happy birthday to me.