Page 61 of Small Sacrifices

Everett and Max stay in his sister's guest room for two weeks before their mother files for divorce and convinces them it'll be safe to return home. Even then, Everett mostly uses that return for the opportunity to negotiate financial support for the two of them to get their own apartment.

Reid isn't entirely clear on the details, but from what Everett says, he blackmailed their mother into allowing Max to move in with him and covering the costs of their new apartment until Max turns eighteen. She also agrees to financially support any gender-affirming healthcare that Max might want.

A day after celebrating this success by pinning Reid against his apartment door and kissing him breathless, their mother leaves the country again.

Everett doesn't discuss it, and Reid doesn't ask.

Instead, he lends Max his sister so that they can go on a shopping trip for more feminine clothes while Everett and him go tour apartments.

That is how, on a Saturday four weeks later, Reid finds himself in an empty room, dressed in his rattiest clothes, painting the walls a vibrant sky blue.

His arms and shoulders ache from taping the borders to ensure his amateur paint job is somewhat tidy.

Yet, there's something soothing about the roller's steady swish across the wallpaper, even with the occasional droplet of paint that lands on him.

Everett and Max have decided to make their home colorful, to get as far away from the sterile white environments of their childhoods as possible.

No bland compromises anymore. Everett's room is going to be painted a beautiful dark teal.

The walls of the kitchen are already glowing in vibrant apricot tones.

And Max is sketching out the plans for a mural in their own room. They've told Reid that a recent class trip to the botanical garden that they were on with their new class recently inspired them. It's all flowers and vines. Even the broad strokes are beautiful.

Reid is so immersed in his thoughts that he doesn't know Everett has entered the room before he loops his arms around his waist and hugs him from behind.

The paint roller slips a bit as Everett kisses his neck, and so Reid gets to carefully put it down to the sound of Everett's laughter, still being held from behind.

He lets his head roll over Everett's shoulder and nuzzles right back into him.

"You shouldn't sneak up on me like that," he says, and delights in feeling Everett shudder where he's still got his lips grazing his neck. "That's a nice shirt. I could have ruined it."

Everett chuckles. "Ah, but the more paint you get on me, the better an excuse you have to get me in the shower."

The words send a shiver down Reid's spine, and he has to close his eyes for a moment.

They still haven't had sex yet— the moment just hasn't been right.

It's not something that Reid wants to plan.

Although he's beginning to think they may have to, because he wants Everett so much, but the stars never align for them.

Every time they're alone together, he's way too tired for that sort of thing.

And when he's not, he's usually over here and helping with the renovations, well within earshot of Everett's sibling.

"I thought we agreed not to do this here. Max—"

"Max will be fine. They're fifteen. If we close the door and put some music on, they'll understand what that means."

Reid is about to ask if music from a phone would be loud enough to cover that kind of thing when he hears footsteps. He opens his eyes to see Max leaning against the doorframe with their arms crossed, bright red paint splattered all over their black crop top. They frown.

"I swear to God, if you make me listen to you fuck, I will make you listen to me fuck. I don't care what I have to do. I'll find a way."

Even though Max's threat is clearly empty, it leaves Everett sputtering in surprise. His arms around Reid's waist loosen as he flails, protesting that Max is too young and that such things shouldn't be taken lightly. Reid has to bite his lip to suppress his laughter.

Max just cocks their brow. "Why? Because you were such a virgin at my age?"

"Yes!" Everett shouts.

There's a moment of shocked silence, and then they break.

Laughter echoes off the empty walls, one of them half-painted, the other three still plain white.

There isn't a single piece of furniture in the room yet.

But it's already starting to feel like a home.

And Reid thinks, looking at Max, whose silky ponytail swishes as they shake themselves at the idea of their brother having sex, it is going to be one.

If he's lucky, one day, it's going to be home for him as well.

***

Thank you for reading! If you enjoyed the story, please leave a review wherever you got this book. It helps me know you want more, and it helps other readers find my work.