Page 63 of Men of Fort Dale: The Complete Series

“What?” Oscar demanded.

“I said you’re an idiot,” Gabriel repeated.

Gabriel’s eyes, shaped and colored so much like his younger brother’s, were filled with wry amusement. “Well, it’s nice to know my brother is dating someone who can go toe to toe with him. I bet you’re not afraid to give him shit.”

Gabriel shook his head. “I didn’t call my brother an idiot because he’s gay or because he’s dating you.”

“Then why am I being insulted?” Oscar asked, sounding torn between annoyance and confusion.

Gabriel stood up, and Troy realized the man was a few inches shorter than Oscar. “I called you an idiot because you thought it was necessary to keep this to yourself for so goddamn long.”

Oscar’s emotion turned to confusion. “Huh?”

“First of all, I’m your goddamn older brother, and I’ll love you no matter the fuck what.

Second of all, when the hell have I given you any idea that I would give a shit where you stick your dick or who you share your bed with?

Third of all…” Gabriel continued, punctuating his final point with a smack on the side of Oscar’s head.

“Ow! What the fuck, Gabriel!” Oscar protested, rubbing the offending spot.

“You’re an idiot,” Gabriel repeated.

“Fuck you. You were the one acting like you were pissed off,” Oscar snarled.

Gabriel frowned. “I am pissed off, Oscar, especially after hearing more of the story. I’m pissed that you thought you needed to keep this from me, and I’m doubly pissed because you went through some stupid martyr quest over it.

I hate that you kept this a secret, and I’m worried about what I did that made you think you needed to.

Fuck’s sake, Oscar, I help people make peace with who they are for a living.

Why would that suddenly stop with you, my goddamn brother? ”

Oscar looked to Troy, who shrugged helplessly. “Sorry, babe, but I’m not going to be much help here.”

He’d been expecting more of a tirade, maybe some things being thrown.

From how badly Oscar had feared Gabriel knowing about them, Troy had anticipated an absolute disaster.

From the visible confusion on Oscar’s face, though, it looked like Troy wasn’t the only one lost as to what to say or do now it looked like Gabriel was perfectly fine with the news.

Oscar blinked. “Uh, I mean...what the hell am I supposed to say here?”

“You’re supposed to say you’re sorry for keeping this from me while admitting you’re an idiot and then introduce me to the guy who somehow managed to rope my brother and tie him down,” Gabriel offered.

Oscar’s mouth flapped uselessly for a moment until he found his voice. “I’m sorry, Gabriel. I never thought you would, but I should have. So, I’m sorry I didn’t trust you enough.”

Gabriel raised a brow. “And?”

Oscar snorted. “And I’m an idiot.”

Gabriel reached out and pulled Oscar into a tight bear hug. “You’re damn right you are, you miserable bastard. I just want your grumpy ass to be happy for once, you got me?”

Oscar returned the hug, burying his face in his brother’s neck as he did so.

Troy’s eyes stung as he watched the brothers embrace, and he took a step back out of the room.

It was clear this was the right time for him to give them the moment of solitude they desperately needed, and Troy made sure his departure was as quiet as possible.

Still smiling, Troy walked down the hallway to Oscar’s room. He knew sooner or later, Oscar would realize he wasn’t there anymore and would want him back. Undoubtedly, the three of them would sit and talk, and Troy would finally get to know the other man in more than just stories or comments.

Best of all, Troy could feel the tension released from his chest, the same feeling that had been there for six years.

The ‘secret’ might not have been out to everyone, but Oscar finally came out to his brother.

Troy realized he’d always wished his brother had been the one person Oscar had confided in, taking a chance to tell him the truth.

The rest of the world was secondary to Oscar’s greatest fear of being found out, and now the first was taken care of.

Troy was happy to wait for Oscar, feeling warm at the thought that maybe everything would finally be okay.

Gabriel reached out and took Troy’s hand, squeezing it and shaking it. “Thank you for being there for my brother this whole time.”

“I don’t know about the whole time,” Troy said, glancing over his shoulder to the living room.

Oscar shrugged. “Just take the compliment, so I don’t have to listen to another explanation of how I’m an idiot.”

“Well, he is an idiot, but he’s an idiot who learns,” Gabriel said with a wink.

Troy gave Oscar a smile. “He does alright.”

“Thanks, babe.”

Gabriel finally released Troy’s hand. “It’s just nice to know he has someone finally, and for good this time, I hope. Dumbass has been alone for so long. I can rest easy knowing he’s got someone watching his back...and maybe giving him a little hell too.”

Troy laughed. “Well, that I can definitely manage.”

“Been managing,” Oscar corrected.

“At least now I don’t have to wonder if I need to come by and check on him,” Gabriel said.

Oscar frowned. “Yeah, speaking of, what the hell are you doing here early anyway? You weren’t supposed to show up till next week with the whole brood in tow.”

Gabriel grimaced. “Well, when you make the mistake of telling your very worried wife that your little brother seems to be having a hard time by himself, she has a way of getting you to go check on him. Even if that check involves flying a few states over and dropping in unexpectedly on him and his boyfriend naked in bed.”

“Wait, Anne is the reason you’re here?” Oscar asked incredulously.

“Look, if you want to take issue with it, you go right ahead and call her. There’s no way in hell I’m going to argue with that woman when she’s got her mind set on something,” Gabriel said.

Oscar shook his head. “Don’t look at me. I’m not fucking doing it.”

“Well, then, now you know.”

Troy hummed thoughtfully. “Do I get to meet the woman who managed to terrify both of you into submission?”

“Submission? Like hell!” Oscar protested.

Gabriel winked. “We’ll be coming by next week. I’ll be sure to tell her all about you, and I know she’ll want to sit down and get to know you even better. I hope you like to talk for hours on end.”

“I would say he stops when he’s sleeping, but actually, he sleep talks,” Oscar said dryly, glaring at Troy accusingly.

Troy gasped. “That is a lie!”

“Right, because you didn’t have a full conversation with me once during a nap. About cat sailors,” Oscar said, arching a brow.

“It was cat fishermen, and I maintain that cats would make perfect fishermen once you got them over the whole fear of water thing.”

“Because cats aren’t known for that or anything.”

“Hey, I had a cat we had to keep out of our swimming pool growing up. It can happen,” Troy protested.

“You were dreaming. Just own up.”

Troy turned back to Gabriel with a shake of his head. “All lies.”

Gabriel chuckled. “Right, well, you two seem to have a handle on things. I should probably head out. I have a flight in the morning, and I don’t want to be jet-lagged by the time I get home. Oscar, be ready for a thousand questions from the kids and a whole new lecture from Anne when she shows up.”

Oscar groaned. “Is there any way you could make her, you know, not do that?”

“Not a chance in hell.”

“Great,” Oscar sighed.

Gabriel reached out and pulled his brother in for another tight hug. “Take care of yourself, Oscar, okay?”

“Don’t I always?” Oscar asked, hugging him back.

“Not as good as you seem to think,” Gabriel said, kissing Oscar’s cheek.

Oscar laughed. “You two sound so much alike right now, and it’s a little creepy.”

“Just don’t get any weird thoughts, and it’ll be alright,” Gabriel said.

Oscar wrinkled up his nose. “Gross.”

Gabriel laughed and said his final goodbyes, which took another fifteen minutes before the man finally left the apartment. Alone with Oscar, Troy finally turned to the man, ready to speak. He was startled when Oscar turned to him and wrapped him up tightly, holding Troy against his chest.

“Jesus Christ,” Oscar muttered, pressing his face against the top of Troy’s head.

Troy smiled, wrapping his arms around the other man and holding him tight. “It’s okay, Oscar.”

“It is now,” Oscar whispered.

Troy could feel the sag of relief as Oscar’s tension bled out.

Troy rubbed his back, savoring not only the strength of Oscar’s body but the knowledge that the man was taking refuge in the comfort Troy could give him.

He had no idea how long they stood there, holding onto one another, but the soft smile and the tears in his eyes never left.

Oscar finally pulled away, his own eyes watery. “Thank you for staying.”

All Troy had ever wanted was to know he’d always be allowed to be there for Oscar, no matter what happened to them.

He’d left the apartment sure he’d just watched his chance at happiness crumble.

Troy would never entirely be able to explain to Oscar what it meant to see the man chasing him down, pleading for him to stay.

It was then he knew they might actually be okay, for good this time.

Oscar stroked his cheek. “I think I need to lay down for a little while. Join me?”

Troy chuckled. “Yeah, how’s your hip?”

Oscar cocked his head. “Better than usual. That wasn’t my medicine you gave me, was it?”

Troy shrugged, turning away so Oscar couldn’t see his face. “I have no idea what you mean. There’s no way I would happen to have a stash of medicine that I shouldn’t have for unknown reasons.”

“And I’ll pretend I believe you,” Oscar said as he followed Troy to the bedroom.

“Good,” Troy said, flopping onto the bed.

Oscar lay beside him, wasting no time curling himself around Troy and pulling him closer. Troy grinned as he bent himself to fit perfectly in the curve of Oscar’s body.

“I can’t believe that went so well,” Oscar said softly.

Troy grinned. “I’m really glad it did.”

“Yeah, me too. I spent so long worried about how Gabriel would react to the whole thing. I never even considered that he wouldn’t care,” Oscar admitted quietly.

“I’d say he seemed relieved,” Troy said gently.

“Yeah, maybe. Relieved to know the truth. I’ve never been very good at talking about myself, even to him,” Oscar said.

Troy smiled, rolling over so he could face Oscar. “And now you don’t have to worry about it. He knows, and he’s on board, so you no longer have to be afraid.”

Oscar reached out, stroking his cheek. “And I guess I should admit you deserve some credit.”

“For what?” Troy asked with a gentle laugh.

“For being there for me, for staying, for somehow knowing it was going to be okay.”

“That assumes I wasn’t freaking out right alongside you when I realized who he was.”

Oscar leaned forward, kissing him gently. “No, that was because I was freaking out, not because you were. You’ve always been there to remind me everything wasn’t going to fall apart just because someone knows I’m gay.”

“Don’t know if ‘remind’ is the right word, so much as harp on it,” Troy admitted with a cringe.

Oscar smiled, kissing him again. “Maybe, but I’m hard-headed and need to be yelled at once in a while.”

“I’ll take that as permission from here on in.”

“As if you needed it.”

Troy laughed. “Okay, fair.”

Oscar pulled Troy’s face against his chest. “And when it’s all said and done, I’m glad it’s over. Well, maybe not completely over.”

Troy peered up at him as best he could. “What’s that mean?”

“It means I have an idea.”

“Scary thought. Care to share with the rest of the class?”

Oscar kissed the top of his head, closing his eyes. “Not right now. I want to sleep on it and sleep with you.”

Troy wanted to push for more information, but considering the day they’d had, he knew Oscar deserved a break.

He wrapped his arm around Oscar’s midsection, closing his eyes and settling in.

The day had started with one hell of a scare, but now Troy could finally see the source of light that had always lurked at the end of the tunnel, waiting for them.

“It’s gonna be alright,” Troy murmured.

“I promise,” Oscar said.