Page 37 of Unchained

Gus was sitting on the front porch. The moment Levi parked in the driveway, Jon was running. He didn’t even bother opening the door. He jumped out of the Jeep and ran up to Gus.

“How are you feeling? Everything ok?”

“Jon, calm down. It’s just been a week since you were here. Do I look like I’m on my deathbed or something?”

Levi came up behind him.

“Gus, I missed you too.” Jon watched them embrace. Levi scowled at Gus. “What the hell is going on with all of this cloak and dagger bullshit? What was this procedure you had done?”

Gus smiled at him. “You were worried, weren’t you? Well, some things stay private. Let’s just say everything went well. I’m still a little sore, but I ain’t saying no more on the matter.”

Jon’s eyes dropped. “So you still won’t tell us?”

He felt Gus’s hand on his shoulder. “Son, I’m ok. That’s all that matters right now.”

Jon felt a warmth at being called “son”. He inhaled and struggled to remember the last time his father had spoken to him affectionately. He’d never been one to show even such passing affection.

“Jon, are you still with us?”

He looked up. Levi’s hand was now where Gus’s had just been. “Yeah babe.”

“You kinda zoned out on us.” There was an uncertainty in Gus’s voice. “Was it something I said?”

Jon tried to say “no.” He wanted to say “no.” But he clearly heard his voice say “Yeah.” The hurt look on Gus’s face confirmed it wasn’t his imagination. “I mean. Not like that. You called me ‘son’, and it just kinda hit me, ya know? Gus, in the short time I’ve known you, you’ve been more of a dad than I’ve ever really had.”

Levi smiled at him and nodded.

Jon continued. “We only ask because we love you, Gus. We don’t mean anything by it.”

“I know that.” He winked. “But I also know that sometimes less information is better. Now, let’s put the curiosity aside and get in the house. Y’all need to get settled into the guest room.”

Jon took Levi’s hand, and they carried their bags to the guest room. Gus stayed in the kitchen, fussing over a large pot on the stove. Jon knew better than to ask what he was cooking. Cooking was another card Gus always played close to the vest.

“Levi, do you think you can get him to loosen up and at least tell us if it was just a test or anything?”

Tossing his bag into the corner, Levi collapsed onto the bed. “I don’t think so. I mean, I’ll try, but I think we’re better off not pushing him at this point.”

Jon fell onto the bed beside him, staring at the ceiling. “You’re right, but you didn’t hear him last week.”

Jon heard a deep exhale beside him. “I know, babe. But I also know we don’t want to get on his bad side. He’s playing a game right now, but if we keep pushing, he’ll get pissed off.”

Jon continued to stare at the ceiling, knowing he was right, but he couldn’t shake the knot growing in his stomach. He felt the bed shift, and Levi’s head rested on his chest. “It’s not fair, you know.” He ran his fingers through Levi’s hair.

“What’s not fair?”

“You are the most handsome man in the world, and the second wisest.”

Levi looked up at him. “If I’m the second, who’s the first?”

Jon smirked. “Who else? Gus! Honestly, with you two in my corner, I feel like I could conquer the world.”

Levi smiled. “I can live with that.”

A noise came from the hallway.

Jon’s eyes locked with Levi’s.

“Shit, do you think he heard us?” Jon asked, keeping his voice low.

Levi raised an eyebrow and sighed.

“Probably. Granted, I doubt he was intentionally eavesdropping. We should probably go check on him.”

Gus was trying his best to be nonchalant. He was failing.

“So how you boys liking the guestroom?”

“It’s great. Nothing like the beach life.” Levi’s face was red, and he was chewing on his lips to avoid falling into a fit of laughter. Jon felt his own will succumb to the comedy of the moment.

“We know you heard us,” Jon managed to get the words out while catching his breath.

Gus’s face fell. “Oh? What do you mean?”

Levi caught the shift in Gus’s tone before Jon did. He grabbed his arm. Seeing the look on Gus’s face made Jon’s heart sink.

“We didn’t know until after we said it, though. I really meant what I said. You are the wisest man I know. Not to mention the fact that you have been more of a father to me than my dad was in 21 years. You’d think even just the time he’d invested would’ve kept him from kicking me to the curb.”

Gus’s smile had returned.

“Jon. Levi. I know how y’all feel. You don’t exactly keep things bottled up unless it’s between each other. I’m going to say this just once. I’m not dying. If it were more serious, I would tell you. But I am not getting younger, and I won’t be here forever. Y’all are going to have to figure out this thing you have where you avoid a subject out of fear. No relationship is perfect. There are arguments and pain, but that’s what makes us know that it’s more than infatuation. Love means that you love a person the same even if in that moment you say something that hurts them and even if you say something that hurts, it doesn’t change the way they love you.”

They exchanged glances.

“Now that I’ve preserved my status as the wise one, y’all need to get changed. The gumbo’s still got to cook awhile yet, and I figure y’all could use some time in the hot tub.”

Levi shook his head. “You joining us?”

“Nah, I never enjoyed being boiled like a lobster. I will come out on the patio, though. You have to catch me up on what’s going on with the Dragon.”

“OK. But something is going to come up you don’t like. Just hear us out before you go for your pistol.”

Gus eyed him warily. “Okay. I’ll leave it inside. Just in case.”