Page 136 of All The Things: The Last Thing He Needs Omnibus

When she looked up again, she had tears in her eyes. “I didn’t know where else to go.”

“I get that.” And he did. At the same time, though… “But, that’s part of what looks kinda shitty from my end.” Maybe Gavin was right to look so worried when he left. “I just wish you’d reached out for him before you were in some kind of crisis, I guess.” Or not brought the topic up at all.

“That’s not…. You don’t know what it’s like at home. You can’t blame me for… It’s not fair.”

That was one point they could both agree on. “I know, and I’m sorry.” None of it was fair. It wasn’t fair that Tina and Gavin had been raised by assholes, and it wasn’t fair that Tina probably had no idea how to handle this. It especially wasn’t fair that he had to shove his worry and his misgivings aside to make room for a kid who needed more than a plate of food and a safe place to sleep at night. As much as Ben wanted to toss her out and pretend none of it had happened, that wasn’t an option. He might be an asshole, but he didn’t even know the word for someone who would do that. Ben took a deep breath, tried to gentle his tone, and said, “Look, I’m not—”

“No, you’re right.” Tina sniffled and wiped her eyes, but more tears fell. “I didn’t think about what it would look like or what… I just didn’t know what else to do, and I knew Gavin would…. We were always close, and I missed him so much. I just thought if I could find him, maybe he could help me figure out what to do.” Ben was about to apologize, tell her of course they would help her, but Tina hopped up from her chair, her chin quivering. “I’m so sorry.”

It was no surprise to Ben when Gavin walked through the door just in time to see his sister running toward the bathroom, her eyes puffy and red, tears streaming down her cheeks.

Between them, they had the shittiest timing on record.

“What did you do?” Gavin looked like he was ready to hit him.

“I didn’t do anything.” Not exactly. “We were talking and things were fine and… then she asked me some stuff and… I just answered her honestly, that’s all.” Right? Was he a dick? Probably. But he hadn’t meant to be, and that should count for something.

“Great. Your honest answers are about as subtle as Miley Cyrus dry humping a wrecking ball through the living room wall.”

Fair point. “Look, it’s not my fault she asked me why I had a problem with her. I was perfectly happy talking about Anna’s kids and you and… I just didn’t expect her to ask me why I hated her.”

“You told her you hate her?”

“No,” Ben tried to keep his voice down. Gavin was hissing at him, so Ben matched him. “I told her I don’t hate her. I told her—”

“Never mind,” Gavin whispered sharply. “I should’ve just taken her with me.”

Ben had to try, right? “Gav, look. I know she’s your sister and you love her, but… what do you know about her? I mean, really?”

Gavin’s face twisted, a look of pure disbelief. “What is that supposed to mean?”

“It means… I don’t know. Christ. I just… You’re looking at her like she’s your long-lost family, like she’s gonna stick around, and you’re already picturing yourself as the doting uncle and the knight on the white horse to her damsel in distress and…”

“She is my long-lost family, Ben. What else matters?”

“I… Do we even know what she thinks about all this? About your folks, about us and our homosexual agenda? Has she ever actually said the words I don’t believe all that stuff? Or has she just said she needs a place to stay? Would she go back home if she could? Because if you get attached to her and that kid she’s gonna have and then Daddy Dearest has a change of heart and comes to collect her, save her and his bastard grandbaby from your evil clutches, what then? How’s that gonna hit you?”

“Ben,” Gavin said softly. “Just stop.”

He turned his back on Ben and stalked toward the bathroom.

Chapter Fourteen

Gavin

Yeah, subtle as a wrecking ball. On top of that, Ben was right. Tony was right too, for that matter. Gavin wondered if he’d ever get a turn. He knocked on the bathroom door. “Teeny, it’s Gav. Lemme in please.”

He could hear Tina sniffling, but she turned the handle on the door. She was sitting on the toilet lid, blowing her nose into a handful of tissues. Gavin sat down on the edge of the tub, his knee touching hers.

“You okay?”

“No,” she said, her eyes swimming with tears again. “I can’t stop crying.” She paused to blow her nose again. “I’m so sorry, Gav. I just… Ben seems like a really nice guy—please don’t be mad at him.”

The verdict wasn’t in on that one, but Gavin didn’t say it. “What happened?”

“We were talking and, like… We laughed and stuff and… I found some dirty pictures on your tablet, and he helped me and made a joke and…”

Gavin cringed. He should’ve thought of that, dumped the photos or password protected them or something before leaving her with his tablet. Knowing Ben, he was going through every nook and cranny in the apartment right now, getting rid of the porn and making sure there weren’t any stray dildos out where she might find them. Damn him.

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