Page 168 of All The Things: The Last Thing He Needs Omnibus

“You did, though.” Nora lifted her head, getting Gavin to look at her.

Gavin nodded, not exactly in agreement, but in acknowledgement. “Not like I wanted to.”

“I know,” she whispered, as if she didn’t want Ben to hear her talking about him. “But you can’t let him do that, kiddo. He’s just like his father, and all you can do is wait it out until he sees what an ass he’s being.”

“Wouldn’t it be easier if he just weren’t an ass to begin with?”

“If only.” Ben’s voice made Gavin jump as Ben shuffled into the room and sat on the other side of Nora. “Do you two talk about anything else when I’m not around?”

“Nope,” Nora said fondly. “Just you.”

“Figures.” After a beat, Ben leaned forward to see Gavin. Ben’s eyes were warm, sleepy, his hair standing at odd angles. He didn’t say anything else, but the message was clear. I didn’t like waking up to an empty bed. When he turned his attention back to Nora, he asked, “You sure you gotta go back today?”

Gavin knew how Ben felt about his mother leaving, living so far away. That was one thing he and Ben were in total agreement over.

“I’m sure,” she said finally. “I do have a life I should get back to.”

He knew that too. They both did.

“Fine,” Ben said as he stood up. He pressed a kiss to the top of Nora’s head and glanced around the room. “You all packed and ready to go?”

“Just about,” she said before giving Gavin a push. “Just need to get dressed.”

Gavin stood rather than fall off the foot of the bed. “I guess that’s our cue to leave.” He paused to give Nora one more hug. “Wish you could stay longer,” he whispered into her hair.

“I’ve been here more than a month.” Nora’s matter-of-fact tone and the way she let Gavin go told him everything he needed to know, but she still added, “It’s your turn next. Come see me in a few months. Bring Tina and Baby James.”

The idea of flying with an infant wasn’t the happiest thought he’d ever had, but yeah. It was their turn. Gavin pulled away with a nod, forcing a half smile, forcing himself to be okay. “Thanksgiving?”

“Perfect,” she said, kissing his forehead before he pulled away altogether.

“Time for breakfast before we take off?” Ben asked from the doorway.

Nora nodded. “At least coffee and toast,” she said, a teasing look in her eye. “As long as you’re not the one making the toast.”

Ben shook his head and huffed a laugh. “Coffee it is. I won’t force my toast on you.”

Gavin followed him out and closed Nora’s door behind them. He thought Ben would continue down the hall, into the kitchen, but instead Ben stopped cold and grabbed him.

“I didn’t like waking up without you,” he whispered as he pulled Gavin close, inhaled deeply against Gavin’s neck.

The sensation of Ben’s body pressed against his own sent a shock of want through Gavin. “I didn’t go too far.”

“Still.” Ben slid his hand lower, over the curve of Gavin’s ass as he opened his mouth against Gavin’s jaw, sucking gently there.

When Ben exhaled, his breath warm as he scraped his teeth against Gavin’s skin, Gavin could only nod in response. The sun wasn’t even up yet, the day not even started, and already Gavin was shuddering in Ben’s arms. “Yeah,” he muttered, not even sure why.

Ben pulled back and caught Gavin’s mouth in a tender kiss, trailed his rough fingertips against Gavin’s jaw, into his hair. They didn’t stay like that for long—not long enough anyway—but it reminded Gavin how busy and tired they’d been lately, how little time they’d had for each other.

When they broke the kiss for a breath, Ben held Gavin’s eye for a beat, something close to a smile playing on his features. “I miss you,” he whispered.

Gavin hadn’t realized it until Ben said the words, but, yeah, he missed Ben too. “We’ll have to do something about that soon.”

Ben looked like soon was about to be now, but Tina opened her door at the same moment, Baby James squirming in her arms.

“Oh, sorry,” she said quietly. Despite having lived with them for months now, she still looked like she’d walked onto a minefield every time she caught them kissing. On the other hand, this was the first time she’d seen them nearly making out in the hallway, half-dressed and ready to go back to bed. “I just needed to pump and stuff.” She looked at the floor as she spoke, and Gavin could feel Ben trying not to laugh.

“We were just about to make breakfast,” Gavin said as he pulled back from Ben.

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