18. Vail

18

VAIL

Forest was so stunned he didn’t do more than gape at Hartley. I wasn’t sure if I should stop Hartley from doing it again or not. Obviously, he was upset. Forest wasn’t there when Hartley needed him most. Did that make him hitting his brother all right? It was a good thing Tahoe was out for a walk or he would have gotten upset.

It brought a whole wave of emotions through me, ones trying to pull me under.

“How dare you leave me like you did?” Hartley yelled. “I needed you and you flaked the fuck off while I had to handle everything.”

“Hart, I’m sorry. I couldn’t deal with it.”

“You think I could? You’re my brother and you left.” Hartley’s voice broke at the end. “You fucking left me.”

Forest pulled Hartley to him and held him close. I wanted to go to them, to see my best friend after so many years of Gil keeping me from those I cared about. I could have contacted Forest after I left Gil, but I didn’t. The thought of telling Forest everything didn’t sit well with me then.

“Why didn’t you yell at me more?” Forest asked, sounding just as upset as Hartley.

“Some things need to be said face-to-face.” Hartley’s words were muffled against Forest’s shoulder.

The longer I watched them, the more the room started to tunnel. Gil’s words moved to the front of my mind as he raised his hand to hit me. It wasn’t a slap like Hartley did to Forest. No, Gil did it when I didn’t obey him. When I caused him to get angry by merely existing.

My ass hit something. Maybe it was the couch or a table or the wall. Next thing I knew, powerful arms were around me, lowering me to the floor. I lashed out at him, didn’t want to be touched. It only led to pain.

“You’re okay, baby,” Jordan said, his voice a soothing balm to my soul, reminding me where I was and who I was with. My body stilled, recognizing him, knowing deep down he’d never hurt me.

“Oh my god,” Hartley said. His gentle hand went through my hair. “Vail, what happened?”

“You hit your brother,” Jordan supplied softly when words failed me.

“I didn’t… I wouldn’t…. Vail,” Hartley cried.

Tears welled in my eyes. I wasn’t afraid of him. The movement of his hand connecting with Forest’s face brought me back into that pit of hell I lived in for too long.

“I’m so sorry. I won’t do that ever again. Please don’t leave.”

Leave? He thought I’d walk away?

“It’ll be all right,” Jordan murmured. “If Vail thought you’d hurt him, he wouldn’t be with you.”

“V?” Forest asked. He was closer now, his voice a reminder of my childhood. Of safe spaces and warm places. Of light, love, and acceptance.

My eyes blinked open slowly, the room coming into focus. “For?”

“I’m here.”

“For.” I untangled from Jordan and launched myself at Forest, tackling him backward until I was lying on top of him, my arms around him, holding him without crushing him. Forest was always smaller than me. Leaner, not as muscled. It seemed he was even slighter than I remembered. It wasn’t surprising after Hartley telling me how Forest handled their grandfather’s death.

Forest embraced me back. “I’ve got you, V. Whatever it is, I’m here.”

Eventually, I calmed and removed myself from Forest, who had his back to the marble floor. With my weight on him, that couldn’t have been comfortable. Forest sat up, his clothes a bit big on him. His light brown hair, that didn’t have the wave Hartley’s did, hung down almost to his chin, partially covering one eye. He brushed it out of the way. Brown eyes met mine, ones with dark circles beneath them.

Reaching up, I traced my thumb under his eye. A lot of people thought I wanted Forest after I came out. But I never saw him as anyone other than my best friend. A boy who didn’t judge me and fiercely stood by my side when others didn’t.

“You look like shit,” I told him.

He chuckled. “Yeah, well. This wasn’t the reunion I had in mind.”

“I’m sorry about that. There’s a lot you don’t know, and what just happened brought me back.”

“Tell me.”

Jordan stood and reached his hand out for mine. “Why don’t you sit in the living room where it’s more comfortable? Hart and I will give you space.”

“Who said I would?” Hartley asked. He crowded against me when I stood, his hand going to the back of my neck to bring my forehead to his. “I’m sorry. I didn’t think. I should have. I didn’t mean to upset you.”

“It’s okay. You were angry. I was the one who was transported into the past.”

“Don’t leave me, Vail.” His words were a plea wrapped in fear.

I put my hands on his hips to anchor him in place. “I’m not going anywhere. I just didn’t expect it, okay?”

“It’s no excuse for what I did.” He turned to his brother without breaking our contact. “I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have hit you.”

“Yeah, you should have,” Forest replied. “You should have fucking punched me. It was the least I deserved.”

“I knew better.” Hartley faced me again. “I knew better,” he repeated softer that time.

“Hart, I love you. It’s okay.”

He nodded and gave me a sweet kiss. “I won’t do it again. And I’d never touch you like I did Forest. I actually don’t think I’ve ever hit anyone like that before.”

“Yes, you have,” Forest interrupted. “Don’t you remember your freshman year of high school when Ryan, the class asshole, called you a name in front of the entire school during an assembly? You fucking slapped him in front of everyone. Pop had to go down to the school and talk with the principal. Too bad I didn’t get to see it.”

“I was suspended for two days.”

“Yup.”

“Shit, I forgot about that. Okay, so twice in my life I’ve hit someone.”

I chuckled, grateful to be out of the memory of my painful past.

“I love you too,” he told me.

“I know.” This time, I kissed him.

“Enough of that,” Forest said. “God, I knew you were together, but seeing it is fucking weird.”

Hartley rolled his eyes, pulling back. “Get used to it. We’re not going anywhere. This is how we are now. In love and not a bit sorry for it.”

Jordan ushered us into the living room, but before sitting, I took his hand in mine and tugged him toward Forest. “We didn’t have a formal introduction. Jordan, this is my best friend and Hart’s brother, Forest Weathers.”

“Yes, we all know how my name sounds,” Forest stated. “I was teased about it relentlessly as a kid.”

“He leaned into it,” I told Jordan. “For Halloween one year, he dressed as a tree with a puffy rain cloud above his head.”

“Until it rained, and it ended up a mess on my head and face.”

Hartley laughed. “The blue dye ran down your cheeks.”

“Fun times.”

“Anyway,” I said. “Forest, this is the man Hart and I have fallen madly in love with, Jordan Altair Sr.”

Jordan extended his free hand. “It’s nice to meet you, but if you hurt either of them, I won’t be responsible for my actions.”

“Really?” I asked.

“The point needed to be made.”

“Uh huh.” I shouldn’t have been surprised. Jordan would protect us, regardless of who he considered a threat.

Forest shook Jordan’s hand. “I get it. You love them. I do too. Although it will take some getting used to, plus that they’re in a relationship with you, a known criminal.”

Jordan cocked an eyebrow. “While I let Hart and Vail say whatever they please, this is a reminder that you’re in our house. I will not be disrespected here.”

“I’m not afraid of you.”

Jordan squeezed Forest’s hand harder and leaned in. “You should be.”

“Okay, enough.” I pried Forest’s hand from Jordan’s. For all his too thin frame, Forest didn’t back down. “Why don’t I go into the kitchen and make us breakfast? I’m starving.” Pointing out the obvious about Forest’s weight wouldn’t do any good. It was better to offer him food and hope he ate.

“Yes, please,” Hartley said. He wasn’t shy about appreciating my cooking. “For, where are you staying while you’re here?”

“There’s a hotel over on Lincoln I got a room at.” I knew what place he was referring to. It wasn’t the best, but it also could have been worse.

Hartley turned to peer up at Jordan with sad eyes.

Jordan sighed. “I’ll have one of my guys get your shit. You can stay here.”

“What makes you think I want to?” Forest crossed his arms.

“Seriously?” Hartley asked. “You’ve been here for less than an hour, see how nice it is, and you’re giving up a free room?”

“It would be an apartment on a lower floor,” Jordan stated. “It’s fully furnished.”

Hartley pointed at Jordan. “See? Why would you want to stay at a hotel when you can be here with your brother and best friend?”

“And a criminal?”

“Jesus, Forest, get over it. I have. Vail has.”

“Raiden?” Jordan asked. “Get me a keycard for an available apartment on six and let Barry know Forest will be staying.”

“Yes, sir.”

With that settled, I turned toward the kitchen, grasping Forest’s forearm to take him with me. If not, Jordan would find other ways to threaten him into compliance.

Forest leaned against the island. “Tell me what happened with Gil.”

It was easier talking to him, pouring out the memories I hated revisiting, while I kept my hands busy. Hartley could have filled his brother in, but it didn’t feel right. Forest deserved to hear it from me. For years, I didn’t tell him what happened, and while I didn’t go in depth like I did when Lana was here, I said what Gil did to me. It wasn’t more than Jordan knew. If I ever exposed my soul like that again, it would be to him. Hartley had already heard my first-hand account.

Words fell from my lips while I cracked eggs, stirred pancake batter, and sliced fresh fruit. I hadn’t realized Forest was closer until he hugged me from behind, his cheek to my back.

“I’m so sorry, V. If I had known?—”

“I didn’t want anyone to, but the cops, and they didn’t do shit for me until the end.”

“I would have been here.”

I grasped his hand on my stomach. “I know.”

“I’m glad you got away from him. They love you so much. It’s obvious.”

“I love them too.”

Forest moved to lean against the counter by the stove so we could continue talking while I cooked. “How’s Cat?” She was much better territory.

I filled Forest in on everything Cat and Dana, as well as their kids. I’d have to take him to see her. Cat didn’t know Forest planned on moving here. Why tell her when I wasn’t certain if he’d follow through with it?

I was glad Irene had the morning off so I could cook. I’d love to do it more often but understood she had been with Jordan for a long time. At least if I couldn’t take over all our meals, I could prepare them for the other people in the building.

The four of us took seats at the table when breakfast was done. Jordan’s phone rang repeatedly. He’d answer, keep it brief, and focus on us again. He’d have to leave when we were done. Hartley would too. And I had work to do in my new space downstairs.

As I glanced at Forest, happy in conversation with his brother, I was glad he was here. I missed him something fierce. It was obvious Hartley did too.