Page 108 of Just Business

“You wanted me to be straight. To turn back into the studious, religious boy I’d been before every adult I had ever trusted, ever loved, betrayed me.” He shook his head.

“We didn’t...”

“Yes, yes, you did. I may have been hopped up on painkillers, but I remember what you said.”Such an ungrateful son. How could you do this to us? We didn’t raise you to be an animal.At leastnowthey had the wherewithal to look chagrined.

“I don’t expect you to accept me or love me.” That hope died years ago. “But I want this”—he gestured between them—“to stop. The snide remarks. The chatter. All of it.” He held their gazes, each in turn. “You’re adults. Act like it.”

He had expected his father to rise, to order him out of the house, but that didn’t happen. Tears fell from his mother’s eyes. “We do love you, Eli.”

The despair that lurked deep, the anger and the pain surged out of his heart and tangled his head in razor wire. “If that’s true,” he said through a throat that burned, “you’ve had an exceedingly horrible way of showing it for the last eighteen years.”

“What do you want us to do?” His father’s voice carried the same layer of anger and pain.

“Leave me alone.” Eli reached for his cane and stood. “Oractuallylove me. One or the other.”

They both rose as well. Shakily, slowly, but they stood. “Do you even care which?” His father’s anger had deepened, brought out his accent more.

“If I didn’t, I wouldn’t be here.” He walked to the hallway and pulled his coat out of the closet. “The question is, do either of you? You know how to find me.” He donned his coat, scarf, and gloves and opened the front door. “Thanks for the tea, Mom.”

“Eli—”

He walked out into the night and pulled the door closed behind him. Time to go home.

***

The front door opening startled Justin and he flinched, sending a tablet and a pen crashing to the floor next to the couch. Lavi opened an eye and flicked his tail over on the far end of the sectional.

In the front hall, Eli unwound his scarf and chuckled. “Did you fall asleep?”

He must have, given that his book was resting, spine up, on his chest.Jesus.He knew better than to study while lying down. “What time is it?”

Eli hung his coat up and checked his watch. “Nine forty.”

Holy hell. Eli had been gone for more than two and a half hours. And he’d been out... nearly as long. “Quite a walk.” He picked the book off his chest, fetched the fallen pad and pen, and placed all of them on the coffee table.

“Not really.” Eli pushed Justin’s legs out of the way and sat down on the edge of the couch. “I had a chat with my parents.”

Those were the last words Justin had expected. Eli was smiling, bright-eyed, ruddy-cheeked. Not traumatized. “How—” He choked on the word. “How did it go?”

Eli stroked Justin’s calf. “Better than I expected. For me, at least. I’m sure it was horrible for them.”

“Well, good.” Served them right.

Eli lost his humor. “I’ve always had this hope—stupid as it is—that someday, they might come to their senses. I’m not a horrible person. I gave them one last chance.”

“They ought to be proud of you. You’re perfect.”

Eli’s laugh was short. He leaned over and kissed Justin. “Flattery gets you nowhere.”

“On the contrary.” Justin stroked Eli’s cheek, then pulled him closer for another kiss. “It got you here.”

Eli huffed and sat back. “How’s the studying going?” He eyed Justin’s notepad, which was entirely free of notes.

“Good. Except for the part where I took a nap.” He shrugged. “I’ll read the chapters tomorrow.”

“It’s not even ten yet.” There was Eli’s raised eyebrow.

“I’d rather go upstairs with you.” He ran his hand up Eli’s side. Muscles quivered against his touch.