Page 92 of Mr. Naughty List

“Son, RJ doesn’t have to be here for this conversation, but you need to be polite to him.”

“He messes with my head,” Carter whispered, shrinking in on himself. “He makes me feel…ugh!”

“Who? Aaron?” RJ asked.

“You!” Carter hissed, anxiety leaking out of him. “Youmake me feel…” He looked miserable.

Clarity hit like light on snow. Carter had some sort of attraction for him. That explained a lot actually.

Mom inhaled sharply, almost like a half-laugh. Doug squeezed Carter even tighter like he was trying to hold him together—or maybe hold him in place to keep him from running.

“Oh,” RJ said dully. “I, uh, wow. Thank you? I mean, I didn’t realize that…um, yeah, that’s…”

Mom put a hand on RJ’s forearm, shutting him up, thank God. “You’re saying that you have think your stepbrother is handsome?”

What a mild way to put the scary, squirmy feelings of youthful attraction.

Wincing, Carter’s eyes filled with tears. “It’s wrong! I know it’s wrong! Because you two are married, and he’s related to me now! Even though he’s not!” He covered his face. “I’m sorry. It’s weird. I don’t like it either. I don’t want to think about it. At least at school I didn’t have tothinkabout it.” He huffed, a small little shaking sob. “But the other day, I saw Mr. Danvers with you here. Out my window. I saw you leaving the house together, and the way you touched by the car…” He shuddered. “I hated thinking about that. Ihatedit.”

“I see,” RJ said lamely, looking to Doug for help. “I’m sorry.”

“You know that being attracted to guys isn’t wrong, right, Carter?” Doug asked. “I’m attracted to guys myself.” He glanced toward Mom, and a tender, adoring look flashed between them. It was clear that the hour they’d had in their room alone had cleared up whatever hard feelings existed about that withheld information.

RJ was relieved about that. He was starting to hope he was wrong to be so hopeless about long-term love. For a lot of reasons.

“I know,” Carter said, tears slipping down his cheeks. “I just wish I didn’t feel that way about…about…him.”

“So you told the principal that you were uncomfortable with Aaron and RJ dating because you were jealous?” Mom clarified.

“Because I shouldn’t have to sit in my English class and wonder what my teacher has done with my stepbrother!” he bit out. “And yes, I was jealous. It made it suck even worse.”

“I’m sorry,” RJ said, looking Carter in the eye. “I really am. But I’m not going to stop seeing Aaron.” He shrugged. “And while you’re a great kid, obviously you’re a little young for me. Even if we weren’t related by marriage.”

“I know.” Carter ducked his head.

“But I’ll tell you what. How about I promise to try to stop being so hot, if that helps.”

Carter huffed a funny, embarrassed laugh. “Screw you.”

“Oh man,” Mom said, jumping in. “Carter, this is a complicated thing, I know. But maybe if you get to know RJ a little better, you’ll stop thinking so highly of him.”

RJ snorted. “Gee, thanks, Mom.”

Despite his misery, Carter seemed impressed by the accidental burn.

“I won’t be around long,” RJ said. “If that helps at all.”

Carter rolled his eyes. “Whatever.”

“I know you haven’t been able to see Dr. Thorne since she went on sabbatical last month, but you know you can always talk to the other counselor in the practice. We’d be happy to—”

“I don’t need Dr. Thorne. I just need RJ to go away.”

“Hey,” Doug said.

“No, it’s okay,” RJ said awkwardly. “It’s fine. I’m going soon enough. That’s fair. In fact, if you want me to leave now, I will. Get a hotel or something.”

Carter shook his head miserably. “No. It’s your family too. I don’t know. I’m sorry. I never wanted to feel like this.”