Page 133 of All The Things: The Last Thing He Needs Omnibus

“So’s Gavin.”

Tina gave him a crooked smile for that, and Gavin gave him another tiny kiss with his food.

“Can I get ya a cup of coffee?” Ben didn’t know what else to offer her. Gavin seemed to have her covered on all fronts. Food, water, juice, milk. He wondered if Gavin had just set everything in front of her without asking what she’d like or if she simply couldn’t make up her mind.

Tina shook her head, “No, but thanks. It says here I shouldn’t have too much caffeine.”

When Ben quirked a brow in confusion, Gavin supplied an answer to his unasked question. “We were looking up prenataly stuff online.”

“Prenataly? I don’t think that’s a word.”

Gavin grinned at him. “It is now.”

Ben wasn’t sure if this was part of the My Fabulous Gay Life act Gavin was putting on yesterday or if they really were back to normal. Either way, Ben decided to roll with it. It felt like a fucking miracle to be back in Gavin’s good graces, and he didn’t really give a shit if it was just an act. For now, at least.

When someone knocked on the front door, Gavin stopped rinsing the dishes in the sink. “That’s Tony. He brought my car back for me. I just gotta run him home real quick.” He grabbed his jacket and pulled it on. “You ready, Tina?”

She looked up at him, a hint of disappointment on her face. “Um, yeah. I’ll finish this when we get back.” She pushed her plate away and started to get up.

“You can stay and finish your breakfast if ya want,” Ben said. Tina seemed unsure, and Ben couldn’t really blame her. “I’m nicer than I look.” Was he? Probably not. Gavin didn’t seem to think so either. He looked from Ben to Tina, worry written all over his face.

With a glance at Gavin, Tina asked, “Is that okay?”

It was so not okay. Ben could tell by the look on Gavin’s face. “Yeah, of course,” Gavin said. The liar.

“We’ll be here when you get back.” Ben slipped his arm around Gavin’s waist and planted a kiss on his temple, inhaled softly before letting him go. He wanted to let Gavin know he wasn’t going to kick his sister out while he was gone without actually having to say it.

Gavin talked over his shoulder as he headed for the door. “I’m taking Tina down to Planned Parenthood this afternoon for an exam and to find out what all’s available for her.” He hustled Tony away before the guy could even step foot inside.

Ben set his plate on the other side of the table from Tina, grabbed his coffee from the counter, and sat down across from a little girl who looked too much like a deer caught in headlights.

Chapter Twelve

Gavin

“You’ve never given me the bum’s rush before,” Tony said as he slid into the passenger seat of Gavin’s little Bug.

“Things are… complicated right now.” Gavin hadn’t had a chance to fill Tony in on everything. Or, anything, really. He’d figured he could do that on the ride back to Tony’s.

“You and Ben okay now?”

“Kind of. I mean. I don’t know. I think so. Or we will be, at least.”

“Did you tell Ben you dropped out yet?”

Gavin gripped the wheel harder. “Yes,” he said pointedly.

Tony looked surprised, but Gavin couldn’t really blame him. “I bet that went over well.”

“He didn’t say much, actually.” Gavin didn’t feel the need to tell him why Ben didn’t say much about it.

“Did you drug him first?”

“No. I just waited until he was preoccupied.”

Tony didn’t seem to need further explanation, and Gavin let the subject drop. He glanced at Tony as he pulled onto the main drag. “I still think that was a dick move yesterday, just showing up with all my shit packed.”

“Your shit was already packed. I just changed its location by a few miles.”

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