“Are you sure? Because I’m still a little confused,” Declan admitted. “Obviously, I’m glad I’m not dead, but I don’t want anyone to die because of me.”
“No. Flanigan was a hitman and he died because he was on his way to kill an innocent man over a petty grudge,” Atlas said, his tone severe. “I had to make peace with the fact that I saw it coming and did the minimum just to make sure my ass was covered. But you shouldn’t lose a moment of sleep over this. Lavender certainly isn’t.”
“Right…” Declan’s cheeks puffed as he tried to mentally flush the guilt. “It doesn’t seem like you did anything wrong either, then. You still did the right thing, even though you knew there was no stopping Lavender. And I think anyone would feel the same if someone they cared about was in danger.”
“It took me a little longer to accept that,” Atlas said, holding up his hands defensively. “I’m supposed to stop crimes from happening, even if they happen to violent criminals.”
“‘There can be no justice as long as laws are absolute,’”Declan reminded him.“‘Even life itself is an exercise in exceptions?’”Declan continued, swaying closer and offering his lips.
“Something like that.” Atlas growled as he kissed Declan. “Let’s get your meds and figure out what we’re ordering for dinner. I was going to see if you wanted to meet my parents for beer and burgers, but I don’t want to go anywhere.”
“Your parents?” Declan repeated hoarsely. “Do they know that we…?” His hand flapped as he floundered. He hadn’t thought about what would happen when they found out. “Oh, God… I need my Xanax,” he said.
“Please don’t panic,” Atlas begged, taking Declan by the wrist and towing him from the room. “I was going to play it by ear and ask if I thought you’d be up to it. They know it was a ‘maybe’ thing,” he explained.
“They know? How much do they know?” Declan asked as Atlas opened the other door on the left side of the hall.
“Everything…” Atlas said warily. “Please don’t panic,” he repeated as he picked up Declan’s backpack and passed it to him.
Declan’s brows pinched together in confusion as he yanked open the zipper. “Everything?”
“Of course. I always tell them everything, if I think there’s a chance they’re going to meet someone I’m into. Can you imagine how mad my mom would be if I just turned up with you and told her you were the love of my life?” He shook his head quickly. “She’s my rock and my dad is my best friend. I tell them everything and Paul snitches and gives them whatever I’ve left out.”
“Oh. That’s…lovely.” Declan swooned as he took out the pill bottles and clutched them against his chest.
Atlas raised a shoulder. “My dad’s my hero too, and I tell him everything because I can’t take it if I know I’ve let him down. But I called my mom as soon as I knew I had a crush on you.”
“Not the part about my dad and Frank, though. Or about me being a worm,” Declan said hopefully, then hissed and recoiled in horror when Atlas nodded.
“Yeah… I told themeverything, Declan. Except the part about the worm. Paul beat me to that. They don’t care because they believed me when I said you had nothing to do with your father or your brother and that you couldn’t hurt anyone. They know you’re a good person and they’ve been dying to meet you.”
“Really?” Declan asked, but all that had come out was a breathless squeak. He hadn’t told his mother because he didn’t think she would care. She was happy playing Mickey Winterstone’s widow down in Florida and had been disappointed when Declan changed his mind about joining the priesthood. And she told Declan she didn’t want to hear about it when he tried to explain that he was pansexual and what that meant.
“Really. They gave me until Thanksgiving to prepare you,” Atlas warned, dragging Declan back into the hall and guiding him to the kitchen. “We’ll have to find a way to split the day between here and Lake Cliff,” he said as he got a glass and filled it from the tap on the refrigerator door.
“Thanksgiving?” Declan was lightheaded at the thought of all the people he would want to spend the day with. And they all wanted to spend the day with him. “Mom used to make a big dinner when I was little and Mickey still came around. But it’s been years. I usually took her to Houlihan’s because it was too much work for just the two of us.”
“Oh, no, no, no… You won’t get away with that here. We’re going to have to show up on Wednesday night so we can help. Mom does most of the cooking and we’ll have to stay out of the way, but we’ll have to help set up the dining room, chop stuff, watch football with Dad…” Atlas said, then gestured for Declan to take his pills.
“All of that sounds awesome.”
“It is. Dad and I usually watch the ‘Charlie X’ episode and he likes to crack jokes about the turkey,” Atlas said, making Declan laugh as he drank. He coughed as he fanned in front of his face.
“Is it synthetic meatloaf?” Declan asked.
“See?” Atlas leaned and angled his head so he could kiss Declan’s cheek. “You’re going to fit right in.” He nipped Declan’s earlobe, making him shiver. “I told them you were perfect and they can’t wait to meet you.”
“I’m still nervous but I can’t wait to meet them,” Declan said. He meant it and smiled at Atlas as he swallowed his pills and washed them down with a gulp of water.
“How about we play it by ear this weekend?” Atlas asked as he took Declan’s glass, then pulled him into his arms.
“I think I’d like that.” They kissed and it was better than anything Declan could have ever dreamt as they began to sway. There wasn’t any music, but they rocked from side to side to the same slow, sultry beat. Then, a deliciously nerdy thought came to Declan. “Do you have any costumes? I’ve always wanted to make out with a Starfleet officer,” he murmured, raising a brow at Atlas.
He hummed drowsily as he nodded and Atlas was hard as he backed Declan out of the kitchen. “I do and I think that can be arranged.”
ChapterFifteen
If there was any doubt that Declan could overthink a thing until it gave him an ulcer, the new car was enough to settle any doubts and prove just how easy it was to trigger his anxiety.