Chapter Twenty-Six

 

 

FORRESTER WOKE to a hand stroking his back. His eyes ached from last night’s tears, and his head pounded from all the alcohol. His mouth tasted like he’d eaten a bag of cotton balls dipped in sour apple. He bit back a gag.

In the light of morning, a deep sense of shame and loss consumed him. He wasn’t sorry for yelling at Tony, the jerk. And Joey? Well, he was up to something with Alfie, so he deserved to be yelled at. But he regretted saying all that stuff to Dino. He should’ve just punched him.

Then maybe Dino would hurt like Forrester did.

Kyle kissed his brow, his lips more heavenly than usual. “Did you sleep at all?”

“Maybe.” With a sigh, he drew Kyle back into bed with him. Kyle obliged, and Forrester pressed his face into his belly. “Do you think they told Ma yet?”

“No idea. You threw your phone out the window.”

He managed to sniff. “That’s right, I forgot. I’ll regret it when I have to pay for a new one, but I’m glad I don’t have to answer it.”

“What now?”

“I sure as hell ain’t going to Tony’s party tomorrow, that backstabbing bastard. Making a bet on me? The jerk.”

“Hon, yeah, it was a douche move, but if Tony suspected you were gay and never treated you any different, don’t you think you should give him a chance? And Joey was thoughtless, yeah, but he wasn’t cruel. I know Dino laughed, but I think they’ll come around.”

“I’m still not going to his stupid picnic.” He bristled, having had those hopeful thoughts in the last few hours but refusing to grant them quarter. His brothers thought it was all a joke.

Like Forrester was a joke.

“This wasn’t how it was supposed to happen,” he said again, voice cracking.

“I know.” Kyle released him and stood up. “Stay here, please.”

Half out of it, he watched Kyle disappear from the bedroom. When he returned, he had a damp washcloth. He pulled Forrester into a sit and, without asking, proceeded to wash his face. The cool cloth soothed his fevered skin, and he closed his eyes under the tender ministrations. The way Kyle lovingly cared for him made tears smart Forrester’s eyes.

“Shhh,” Kyle cooed. “No more crying. Let’s just try and relax today. Holly’s got the store, and she said you don’t need to come in.”

“Did you tell her what happened?”

“Yeah, I texted her and Lucas this morning.”

“What did they say?”

“Holly wants to beat up your brothers, and Lucas thinks we should call a family meeting to talk it out.”

“No. Way.”

“I know. I told them both to just sit tight and you’d call them when you’re ready.”

The morning sunlight mocked him with its cheery light. “What time is it?”

“Ten. They wanted to come over, but I said maybe later.”

Forrester lay back in their bed. “I don’t really wanna talk to anybody right now. Not with everything falling apart.”

“It’s not falling apart. It’s just some family drama,” Kyle assured him. “Don’t you guys always have that? I mean, what happened with you and Joey and your cousin Alfie in the parking lot?”

“How’d you know it was Alfie?”

“Well,” Kyle began, sitting back on the bed, legs crossed and washcloth in hand, “I had his file for a few days, remember? What’s going on with that?”

“Nothing. Alfie’s just bad news, and I told Joey to stop going to his nightclub. He was bouncing there for a while.”

Guilt burned under his skin when Kyle nodded, accepting his story.

You asshole, lying to Kyle….

Kyle leaned down and kissed him. Forrester relished the sweet taste of his mouth and drew their bodies flush, feeling revitalized. Basking in the beauty of embracing him and feeling Kyle’s muscled body wrapped around him felt wonderful. Not having Kyle in his life would be crippling to his very being.

He had to tell him the truth.

“I’m sorry,” Forrester said.

“No, don’t be sorry. Yeah, you acted a little crazy last night, but—”

He cut Kyle off with a finger to his lips. “No, I’m sorry I lied about Joey just now.”

Kyle’s face scrunched up. “What?”

Forrester spilled all of it. How Joey had been involved with storing Alfie’s boxes next door and the illegal alcohol from “some Mexicans.” And Joey supposedly quitting but still talking to Alfie.

“Wow.” Kyle sat at the edge of the bed afterward.

“Do you have to report Joey now?” he asked. “That’s why I didn’t say anything after Tony searched the shop. I didn’t want him to get into trouble.”

“Did he do anything besides pour booze into the bottles and load boxes?”

“I don’t think so.”

But with Joey, who knew what he’d gotten talked into?

“I’d like to talk to him,” Kyle said. “Maybe these Mexican guys are a lead on the heroin ring. Even if they aren’t, charges of bootlegging would be a nice thing to add to Alfie’s rap sheet.”

Forrester hesitated. “I don’t know. Joey isn’t the sharpest tack. He might say something wrong and get himself into more trouble.”

“I can talk to him privately,” Kyle suggested. “See if there’s enough reason to bring him in for a statement.”

“You sure he won’t get in trouble? He didn’t know it was illegal to sell booze that way, and he isn’t working there anymore.”

Kyle sighed. “More than likely, Alfie’s club will simply lose their liquor license. Alfie was his employer, but Joey can still be held accountable for illegal alcohol distribution. Though it’s unlikely. The prosecutor wants Alfie’s supplier, not a former employee pouring illegal booze. If he makes a statement, I’m sure it’ll be fine.” Kyle frowned. “I wish you would’ve told me about this sooner.”

The disapproval in Kyle’s gaze was like a knife in the heart. Forrester collapsed back on the bed and covered his face. “I couldn’t get Joey in trouble, and when Joey quit and you were off the case, I thought it didn’t matter. I only told you now because you’re the only one who loves me anymore. Please don’t be mad. I don’t wanna lose you too.”

“You think I’m gonna dump you over this?” Kyle said. “Nice to know you think I’m such a stand-up guy.”

He stared at Kyle, fighting a grin. “You’re not mad?”

“I’m not pleased, but if Joey makes a statement, then it should be no big deal.”

“Yeah, okay.” Hopefully, his brother wasn’t into anything more serious. “I should send them a message,” Forrester decided. “Can I borrow your phone?”

Kyle picked it up from the bedstand and unlocked it. When Forrester saw the picture on the screen, he drew up short. It was him and Jasper sleeping downstairs.

“When did you take this?”

“The other night,” Kyle said with a soft smile.

He felt a little calmer seeing that Kyle wanted him and Jasper on his phone like that. He thought about his brothers’ cell numbers, then sent an MMS to all of them.

This is Forrester, don’t any of you say anything to Ma. You owe me the chance to do it myself.

You get a new number? How come? That was Joey.

No, this is Kyle’s phone, so don’t blow it up with stupid questions. Just keep your yap shut to Ma.

Whatever, Joey returned.

You gonna show your face at my party?

Tony.

It gave Forrester a sick thrill to type: Nope

Then he dialed Amanda, unsure if she would answer.

“Hi, Kyle,” her pleasant voice sounded. “How’s Frankie?”

“I’m fine.” He’d forgotten they swapped numbers at the club. Had that only been three days ago? It felt like a lifetime.

“Oh, hi, sweetie. How are you, really?”

He sighed, not wanting to cry. “I’m not good. Joey’s an idiot, Tony’s an asshole, and your asshole husband thinks my life is some kind of joke. How are you?”

“Hey now, Dino doesn’t think that.”

“When I said I’m gay, he laughed at me and said that’s messed-up. He literally couldn’t stop laughing.”

She was quiet for a while, and he heard all the noise on the other end of her phone. “Try to see this from Dino’s perspective. He wasn’t laughing at you. You shocked him, that’s all.”

“How about seeing it from my perspective? He owes me an apology.”

“That’s not fair to put it all on him. And you shouldn’t have said all that stuff. Talking about sperm or whatever.”

“I’m sure as hell not apologizing. I didn’t do anything wrong.”

She sighed. “You talk to Ma yet?”

“No. I’m taking her for chemo Tuesday. I guess three hours of sitting will be plenty of time to talk.”

“I take it you’re not coming to Tony’s party?”

“Nope. That fucker owes me an apology too. And so does Joey, for that matter.”

“Yup, it’s all their fault, isn’t it?”

Her sarcasm shocked him. “I thought you were on my side.”

“I am, but you’re being a whiny bitch.”

“You serious?”

“Yes. Man up and confront your idiot brothers and move on with this. Ma’s got ca—” She stopped her tirade short. “You know…. Well? She’s gonna need all of you meatheads to get along. I’ve been reading online that if there’s tension in a family, then people don’t heal as well. You want that?”

“That’s a low blow,” he began, stunned.

“But it’s true, whether you like it or not.” Her voice softened. “Listen, I can’t understand how hard this is for you. You gotta remember I’ve watched you all these years, knowing the truth, so my perspective is different. Same with Tony’s.”

“What do you mean Tony?”

“We were talking last night—”

“You were talking about me?”

“Don’t you dare yell at me, Forrester Giordano.” She sounded so much like Ma, he snapped his trap shut immediately. “Of course we were talking about you. Have you met a Giordano before? You’re always talking about each other. So yes, I was talking to Tony, and he’s suspected since high school, though he wouldn’t tell me why.”

“Did you tell him about Nick Anderson?”

“Hell no,” she said, then yelled at the kids, “Don’t jump on the couch or you’re all getting the spoon! Look, Frankie, your brothers love you, and this won’t change it. There’s just gonna be a period of adjustment.”

“Yeah, so they can get over it.”

“And you can get over this defensive attitude of yours. You’re being as stupid as they are.”

“I didn’t call to get into an argument, Amanda. Can you please just lay off? Do you have any idea how I feel?”

“No, sweetie, I don’t. But I can imagine you’re some kind of mixed-up ball of anger, embarrassment, fear, relief, and sadness. And your brothers not taking this seriously has got to hurt.”

Yes, that was exactly how he felt.

“Frankie, I love you. You’re my brother too. But nothing is going to be like it was until all of you talk it out, or punch it out, or whatever. All this tension is giving me heartburn.”

He chuckled, somehow feeling more loved and accepted by her no-nonsense attitude than if she’d been calm and conciliatory. “Sorry, I don’t wanna give you heartburn.”

“Then come to Tony’s party, okay?”

“I can’t, Amanda. It’s all just so… raw right now. You understand?”

She sighed. “How’s Kyle?”

He plopped back on the bed, calming at her casual chatting tone. “He’s good. He probably thinks I’m crazy.”

“Well, you were kinda crazy last night. Everybody was talking about you yelling at Dino. Britany Mitchel was playing darts and heard it all.”

“Lemme guess, I was the brunt of everybody’s jokes, right?”

“No, not after Joey popped Larry in the jaw for calling you an F-A-G,” she spelled.

“What?”

“Yeah, that kinda ended anything, that I heard anyways.”

“Joey punched Larry?” he clarified.

“Yeah, that’s what I’m telling you. This is why you need to give your brothers a chance. Yeah, Dino laughed at you, and Tony made a bet, but all of you are always acting like idiots. Why should this be any different?”

“Yeah, yeah, okay.”

“What was up with you picking a fight with Alfie?”

“Long story. Can I talk to Natalia?” Talking to his goddaughter always made him feel better.

“Of course.” Then she shouted her daughter’s name so loud he had to hold the phone away from his ear. “She’s coming.”

“Burst my eardrum, why don’t ya?”

“Here she is,” Amanda said, and there was a shuffle as the phone was handed over.

“Ciao, Uncle Forrester.”

“Hey, bella bambina.” His voice choked at the sweet sound of her voice. “Come stai?”

“I’m okay, but why do you sound sad?”

He bit back tears at her sweetness. “I’m just sleepy. How’s your summer?”

Her innocent chatter about her new My Little Ponies soothed his tension, eased the ache in his chest.

“You wanna talk to Daddy?” she asked after a while, and then just like her mother, she screamed, “Daddy! Uncle Forrester’s on the phone!”

“No, no, bambina,” he said quickly. “I gotta go. I’ll talk to you later, okay?”

“You gonna be at the party?” she asked hopefully. “Daddy bought sparklers. And DJ got a new Super Soaker. We’re gonna get Uncle Joey.”

He chuckled at the image of his nieces and nephews soaking Joey, but his heart gave a pang as he said, “No, I’m sorry.”

“Why aren’t you coming?”

“I can’t. I gotta work at my store.” He felt bad lying to her.

“Can I come and visit your store again?”

“Of course. You can meet my friend’s dog, and we’ll have a picnic. Would you like that, bambina?”

“Do DJ and Giovanni have to come?”

“No way.”

Once she was satisfied the day would be all about her, he said, “Ti voglio bene,” then goodbye.

When he hung up, Kyle was smiling at him in the doorway. “Feel better?”

Forrester smiled. “Maybe a little.”

“Hopefully things calm down.”

Groaning, he sat up and rubbed his face. “You’ve met my family. Calm isn’t in their vocabulary.” He scrolled back to the group text he’d sent his brothers and sent a message to Joey only. Why’d you punch Larry?

He answered right away. That dumbass called you a f** so I popped him one.

Forrester sniffed a laugh at the asterisks. His brother had listened to his outburst about homophobic slurs and obviously got the point. Thanks

No problem :-)

“I like seeing that smile,” Kyle said.

When Forrester told him what Joey did, Kyle said, “See, that’s a good sign.”

“Yeah, I guess it is,” he agreed.

“You know what you need?”

“What’s that?”

“Pizza and a TV marathon.”

He grinned and glanced out at the perfect day outside. “Yeah, maybe. And something for my headache.”

With a pat on the thigh, Kyle kissed his cheek. “How about a Queer as Folk marathon?”

Forrester shrugged. “I guess we could do that. You ever see the UK version?”

Kyle let out a bark of laughter and held up the DVD of the original series. “Um, which version did you think I was referring to?”

Then Forrester’s grin was genuine. “Damn, I love you. I’ll order the pizza. And no vegetables this time.”