Page 139 of All The Things: The Last Thing He Needs Omnibus

He could hear her grin into the phone. “The costar is pretty hot, so he’s fine with it.”

“Pedro Pascal is pretty hot.”

“I’m not sure how I feel about us having the same taste in men.”

Ben laughed. She wasn’t far off the mark. Derik and Gavin looked a little alike if you squinted, and when Derik was Gavin’s age, you didn’t even need to squint to see the similarities. “I promise I won’t hit on your husband if Gavin leaves me.”

“Pity,” she said. “I could probably sell the rights to that story and have my very own Lifetime movie.”

“Sorry to kill your dreams.”

“I’ll try to forgive you.”

They ended the call with a promise to talk soon, a promise for a visit sometime over the summer. Ben missed his family, missed seeing them in person, but the miles between them didn’t make them any less close. His chest cinched, thinking about Gavin and Tina. They didn’t even get that. They lived in the same state, hell, the same town, but didn’t get to grow up together, make fun of each other, support one another.

Ben still had some concerns—more than some—but that little fact anchored in him somewhere so deep it hurt.

He tossed the exercise ball Anna recommended into the cart and headed for the checkout. Ben wasn’t sure if he was ready to get back home, but he knew he should anyway. Gavin and Tina had an appointment down at the clinic, and they’d be back soon. He figured he should be there, get the rundown.

On his way to pay for everything, he saw a rack with a soft fuzzy blanket with satin trim and little ducks all over it. He dropped the blanket into the cart too.

Chapter Sixteen

Gavin

Gavin stood in the kitchen, throwing some dinner together. He and Tina had gone to the clinic earlier. They did an exam, confirmed she was pregnant—due in July—and asked her if she knew what her options were. Tina had told them she knew and she’d thought a lot about everything, but that she wanted to keep her baby. It broke Gavin’s heart, the way she said it, as though she were asking for permission. Thankfully, the nurse helping her was kind and patient. She handed Tina a stack of pamphlets about prenatal care and birthing classes, teen parent support groups, nutrition… Gavin couldn’t even keep track of them all. They also helped her get set up with medical and found her a doctor not too far from the apartment. Afterward, they stopped and picked up a few things—some comfortable clothes and better shoes, which was all Tina would allow him to buy, promising to pay him and Ben back.

All in all, it was a productive day.

He hadn’t heard from Ben since before they left, but maybe that was a good thing. Gavin had already texted him once, asking if Ben would be home for dinner, but he hadn’t gotten a response. Wherever Ben was, he was either unconscious or still needed some time to sort through his issues so he could come home and (hopefully) not be a dick for a few hours of his life. Gavin tried not to worry, but it wasn’t like Ben to ignore him when he reached out. They weren’t exactly on even footing just yet. He hoped Ben just needed to blow off a little steam, maybe have a beer, get into a fight. Something.

“I tossed a load of laundry in to wash,” Tina said when she came into the kitchen. “I hope that’s okay?”

“Of course it’s okay,” Gavin said as he grated some cheese. He hadn’t decided what to make for dinner, but it was going to be cheesy, apparently. “Think we’d make you run around in dirty clothes?” he teased.

She smiled at him and asked, “Can I do anything to help?”

“I think I have it under control.” Gavin looked over his shoulder at the avocados on the counter and changed his mind. “You remember how to make guacamole?” he asked.

Tina nodded, beamed at Gavin, and got to work.

Ben got home just as Gavin pulled the nacho casserole from the oven. He told himself he’d have to make something that wasn’t a casserole soon, but today wasn’t that day. When Ben didn’t walk into the kitchen, say it smelled good, talk about how hungry he was, Gavin tensed. He wasn’t up for any more fighting, wasn’t up for Ben to brood and stalk around the apartment until he figured out how to say what he wanted to say.

But then Ben poked his head around the corner. “Where’s Tina?”

“Why?” Gavin asked. Had he narrowed his eyes? Probably.

Ben only shrugged. “There’s only so many places she could be and she’s not in here, so…”

Gavin prickled with annoyance, but then he realized, Ben didn’t seem hopeful about her not being there. He seemed… well, the opposite, whatever that was. “She’s taking a nap. I didn’t think you’d mind if she used your bed.”

Ben took a deep breath and looked like he bit his tongue. “I don’t mind her taking a nap in our bed, Gav.” With another heavy exhale, he added, “Or on the couch or on the floor if she likes. Or using our bathroom or eating our food or… hell, anything she needs, okay?”

The tension that had built in Gavin’s shoulders eased. “Really?”

“Yes. Really.”

“You’re not gonna be a dick to her anymore?”

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