Page 21 of Unexpectedly You (Boston Boys Bozok #1)

Chapter Thirteen

Alex

“Hey, you ready?” I ask, grinning as I see Bentley closing the door to his apartment just as I’m doing the same with mine. He’s carrying a pan of brownies that look absolutely mouthwatering, and I have a bottle of wine.

“Yep,” he replies, and we make our way up the stairs before stopping to knock on Tommy and Pierre’s door.

They’ve invited us over for a game night, which sounds pretty fun.

Despite being neighbors and working with my brother, we haven’t had much time to actually hang out the past several weeks and I miss him.

We have had one more monthly meal at Mom and Dad’s and that was nice, and Bentley and Pierre are getting better acquainted.

I was a little worried about Pierre though.

He seemed upset, but when I asked Tommy if everything was okay, he said he’d tell me later.

I’ve noticed that the smile my brother has been wearing for the past couple of months at work is gone, and his usual glower has returned, along with a sadness I don’t think I’ve ever seen reflected in his hazel eyes.

I have also noticed that the handsome older man who used to frequent the bar and clearly has eyes for my brother hasn’t been coming around lately.

I have a feeling that whatever is going on with him and Pierre has to do with that.

“Hi, guys, come on in,” Tommy says when he opens the door.

Bentley steps inside after me and I pull my brother in for a hug that I don’t think he’s expecting.

I know something is wrong when he returns it.

Tommy never lets me hug him. Well, hardly ever.

And it's even more rare for him to reciprocate the hug.

It's just not his thing, but right now he's holding on tighter and far longer than I thought he would.

“Where’s Pierre?” Bentley asks.

“Kitchen,” Tommy tells him, pulling away from me. “Getting some snacks together.”

“I’ll go find him,” Bentley says, and saunters off with his brownies.

“Everything okay?” I ask when Bentley is out of ear shot.

“No, not really,” Tommy admits. “Maybe you could stay a little bit after Bentley leaves and we can talk out on the balcony?”

I nod. “Yeah, of course.” I don’t think I’ve ever seen Tommy look so distraught. He’s usually the one who keeps everything inside while I’m the one who typically wears my heart on my sleeve. But the fact that he wants to talk to me tells me it’s a big deal.

“Just um, be extra good to Pierre. He’s having a hard time.”

“Yeah, you know I will be.” Fuck, a tear slides down Tommy’s cheek and it fucking kills me. I don’t think I’ve seen him cry since he was eight years old. Except on his wedding day and those were happy tears. “Jesus, Tommy, you’re making me nervous.”

“It’s nothing life threatening or anything,” he assures me. “I’m just feeling helpless, is all.” Fuck, I pull him to me and hug him again, and he lets out a few sniffles as he sobs gently on my shoulder.

“Should we be here if Pierre is so upset?” I ask. “And you clearly are too?”

He nods. “We need this. We need the normal. I’m hoping it’ll help distract him, maybe make him feel a tiny bit better. He’s been really down on himself lately, convinced his anxiety and depression is destroying everything. Please stay.”

“Anything you need,” I tell him, and he pulls away, wiping his tears quickly.

He takes the wine bottle from me and offers me a small smile, and I follow him into the living area.

I can hear Pierre talking with Bentley and he seems like he’s doing okay, but I know that doesn’t mean much.

People who struggle with mental illness do a great job of hiding how they’re really feeling a good portion of the time.

I hate that my brother in law can’t see what a great guy he is because our whole family adores him and would do anything for him, most of all Tommy.

But having a brain that lies to you and does its best to convince you otherwise makes it really hard to see that, I know.

I hear him laughing and Tommy’s eyes light up just the tiniest bit, like he’s not heard his husband laugh in ages. If anyone can make Pierre feel a little bit better it’s Bentley. He’s so sweet, and seriously funny, too.

Tommy enters the kitchen and sets the wine down on the counter, then turns to Pierre and slides an arm around his waist, drawing him to his side before pressing a kiss on his cheek. Pierre flushes.

“Bonjour, Alex,” he says, his voice soft. “So glad you both could come.”

“Me, too, squirt.” I ruffle his hair and he bats my hand away .

We each grab a plate and put some snacks on it. There’s cheese and crackers, chips and salsa, pigs in a blanket, and Pierre has made macarons and crepes, and set out some jam to go with them. I notice Pierre doesn’t eat much, though.

We sit at the table with Bentley and I on one side and Tommy and Pierre on the other.

We play a few rounds of Giant Uno, and if you haven’t played with those cards, they’re not kidding when they say giant.

The things are huge and it just makes the game even more fun in my opinion, especially when you add in other rules, like slapping the deck every time someone plays a zero, and the last person to do so having to draw four cards, or being able to play out of turn if your card is the same number as the one on top of the pile.

I’m failing epically and have accumulated so many cards I can’t hold them all and everyone else is laughing as I mock scowl.

Normally I might be more irritated, but since I know Tommy and Pierre could use the laughs I don’t mind at all.

After Giant Uno we play Unstable Unicorns. The goal is to get seven unicorn cards and you do so by playing certain cards to upgrade your deck, while also playing cards to try and downgrade your opponents’ decks. And the cards are so utterly ridiculous we’re laughing all over again.

Tommy and I are merciless with each other, though we do go after Pierre and Bentley some, too. In the end, though, it’s Bentley that wins.

Bentley leaves shortly after, and Pierre perches on Tommy’s lap before kissing him sweetly.

My chest squeezes, because I love seeing them in love, even if Pierre is having a tough time.

My brother has been head over heels for his husband from the moment they met, and I know Pierre loves Tommy more than anything.

“I’m tired,” Pierre says .

“Go to bed, amor,” Tommy tells him, stroking his cheek. “I’ll take care of everything.”

Pierre gives him a soft smile. “Thank you.”

He turns to me and says goodnight.

“Night, squirt,” I tell him. “Sleep well.”

Tommy kisses him again and Pierre scoots off his lap and saunters off to the bedroom, closing the door behind him.

I help Tommy clean up the game and the snacks, and then we each grab a beer and head out to the balcony.

It’s early spring, so it’s warmer out now, but still a bit chilly.

The hoodie I’m wearing should be enough to keep me warm while we talk.

Tommy grabs a blanket and brings it out with him and we take seats on the chairs they have set up.

“So, talk to me,” I say. “What’s going on? Does it have anything to do with the older guy you two were having fun with? I couldn’t help noticing he’s been scarce around the bar lately.”

Tommy sighs. “Yeah. It wasn’t meant to be more than a good time. Started out as one night, which turned into two, and then the three of us were hooking up on a regular basis. Pierre and I have never wanted more with a third before, but there was something about Cyrus that was different.”

“Was?” I ask.

Tommy sighs again, staring at his lap. “Yeah. We haven’t been over to his place in almost two weeks, and I’m managing okay. But Pierre…” he trails off.

“What happened?” I ask.

“Cyrus said he needs time. That he’s working through some things and he’s not sure what’s going to happen, or if he’ll want to keep doing what we’re doing.

It’s been almost two months of the three of us, and just as Pierre and I were about to tell him we wanted more than just casual, he hit us with this. ”

“You guys want him to be a permanent part of the relationship?” I ask, just to clarify.

“We do,” Tommy says. He gives a soft smile.

“Honestly, Pierre and I were both scared of letting the other know that we were developing feelings for Cyrus, and it took a few days of us acting kinda weird around each other before we finally sat down and talked it out, but yeah, we’re both kinda head over heels for him it turns out. ”

“You love him?”

He nods. “Yeah, I think we both do.”

“And he doesn’t know if he wants this?”

He nods again. “The thing is, I’m pretty sure he feels the same about us, but he’s scared. Something is keeping him from letting himself have us completely, but we don't know what.”

“So you think that’s what he’s working through?”

“Pretty sure. But Pierre thinks the reason Cyrus needs space is because of him. He’s convinced he’s the problem, that Cyrus doesn’t want to be with us because Pierre’s too “fucked up” as he puts it, and I don’t know what to say or do to make him see otherwise.

But it’s killing me to see him so upset, not just about losing Cyrus, but thinking he’s responsible. ”

“Fuck, I’m sorry,” I say. “That sounds really hard.”

There’s silence for a bit and then Tommy lets out a humorless chuckle. “Did you know that I had to propose to him three times before he actually said yes?”

My eyes widen. “What?”

“Yeah, he had a really hard time believing that I actually wanted to marry him. He was so sure I’d regret it, that I'd want to leave, and he didn’t want me to be stuck with him. Wanted me to have a way out, so he kept saying no.”

“Jesus.”

“I just want to go back in time and throat punch everyone who made him feel like he was a problem and not worth caring about or fighting for. Everyone who saw him as a burden because he struggled. I think that’s what finally won him over, me being a persistent asshole.

I just wore him down, I guess.” He chuckles again and takes a sip of his drink.

“He loves you, you know that.”

“I do. I just wish I could get him to see that he’s not just his struggles.

That he’s so much more than what he gives himself credit for, and that being married to him is the best thing that ever happened to me.

Maybe if he believed that, it would be easier to believe Cyrus cared for him, too, and that Pierre didn’t push him away. ”

“You think he’s safe? He wouldn’t harm himself would he?”

“I don’t think so, but I have been checking up on him more the past few days.

It helps that he doesn’t like to be alone so he’s always out somewhere, either with Toby or over at Mom and Dad’s doing school work if he’s not making a video for his OnlyFans.

He’s been so anxious lately, though, that both of those things are suffering.

Mom has been helping some, trying to distract him by taking him out to lunch, or shopping, or getting his nails done, and Toby texts a lot to see how he's doing if they’re not together. ”

“He could come down and hang with us at the bar,” I suggest. Pierre used to hang out at the bar all the time when he and Tommy met, and whenever Tommy wasn’t serving a customer he’d be talking with Pierre. It was kinda adorable watching their love story unfold right in front of me.

“Yeah, I might suggest that. I’m not sure it would help though since that’s where Cyrus used to hang out and doesn’t anymore. Might make it worse for Pierre, not better, if he’s blaming himself. ”

I sigh. “That’s tough, man. You know I’m here for you guys if you need anything at all.”

He gives a soft smile. “I know. And just talking about it helps. And Pierre has been talking to his therapist, too.”

There’s a pause before Tommy speaks again. “So what’s going on with you and Bentley?”

I blink. “Nothing.”

He snorts. “Right, yeah, okay.” He takes a swig of his beer.

“We’re just friends,” I insist.

“Friends who flirt non-stop, huh? And look at each other with heart eyes?”

I gape. “I don’t…I haven’t.”

He laughs. “You absolutely have and do. Watching the two of you is nauseating.”

“Hey, look who’s talking, Mr. Can’t Keep My Hands Off My Man,” I retort, and he laughs.

“Look, it’s been clear to everyone that you and Bentley have feelings for each other since that first dinner at Mom and Dad’s. So why aren’t you doing anything about it? He’s a great guy.”

I scoff. “He’s straight.”

He eyes me. “So you admit you have feelings for him?”

I flush and scowl. “I didn’t say that.”

“You didn’t deny it, though.”

“Ugh, fine. Yes, I have feelings for him, okay? I guess I’m coming out to you as bi now, or whatever. But it doesn’t matter because despite what everyone thinks, he doesn’t have feelings for me.”

“Wrong.”

I scowl at my brother again. “What makes you so sure?”

“Like I said, I have eyes. You should tell him how you feel.” He takes another drink, while I’m just holding mine, my grip on it tightening as we talk .

I shake my head. “I can’t. He’s my friend. My best friend. I can’t risk losing him by saying something.”

“You won’t lose him.”

I grit my teeth. “I can’t know that for sure, and besides, wouldn’t it be cruel to tell him how I feel knowing he can’t reciprocate?

It’s pointless and it would just make him uncomfortable.

And I would rather have him as my friend than not have him in my life at all because I can’t keep my mouth shut. ”

“It’s not pointless if he feels the same way.”

“He doesn’t.”

Tommy sighs. “So you’re bi, huh?”

“Pretty sure, yeah,” I say. “Took some time and experimenting to figure it out, but yeah, I’m definitely into men, too. I don’t know how I’m just now figuring that out, though.”

He shrugs. “It’s different for everyone. I’ve known I was gay since I was twelve. But figuring it out later in life doesn’t make it any less valid. And you don’t have to put a label on it if you don’t want to.”

I take a sip of my drink and we sit in comfortable silence for a bit longer. I say goodnight to my brother fifteen minutes later and head back down the stairs to my apartment. As soon as I step in the door I get a text from Bentley.

Cowboy: Peyton’s birthday party is next weekend and you’re invited. She goes to the same Karaoke bar every year with her friends. You can ride with me. Though I probably won’t stay very long, because people

I chuckle.

Me: Lol, sounds good, cowboy