Page 32 of Cedarwood Manny

Chapter Five

Nathan rolled onto his back and reached for Adrien. He wasn’t sure how long he’d been asleep, but holding Adrien made the night better. They hadn’t had sex yet, but they were close. Adrien was his. Instead of touching Adrien, he found a cold, empty sheet. He opened his eyes.No Adrien?Sunlight stretched across the room and the other half of the king-size bed was indeed vacant. Where was Adrien?Shit.

Nathan sat up and noticed the clock. Eight-thirty.Fuck.He should be up and moving by now. He needed to get Kyle out of bed. He scrambled to dress and comb his hair. Christ, he was so behind. He hurried into Kyle’s room.

The bed in Kyle’s room had been made, but Kyle wasn’t around.

His heart seemed to stop and the world moved in slow motion. Kyle was gone. He heard voices downstairs.Kyle and Adrien?He hoped so as he ran down to the first floor.

Adrien stood at the bar while Kyle sat on one of the stools. Kyle swiveled in his seat and grinned. “We’re makin’ pancakes.”

“You are?” He willed his heartrate to return to a normal level. Kyle and Adrien were fine and safe. “May I have some?” Did he appear freaked out? He hoped not.

“Yeah.” Kyle waggled his head. “You were sleepin’.”

“I was tired.” He sat across from Adrien and next to Kyle. “I like pancakes. How did you know?”

“I told Daddy,” Kyle whispered. He giggled. “With whippy cream.”

“You really shouldn’t tell Kyle any secrets,” Adrien said. He smiled and flipped one of the pancakes. “He told me almost everything.”

“Nice.” He didn’t care. He hadn’t mentioned anything he wouldn’t have told Adrien anyway.

Kyle slid off his chair. “Gotta go.”

“Need help?” Nathan asked.

“Nope.” Kyle darted out of the room. “I have to pee.”

“He’s been more independent this week.” Nathan folded his arms. “He’s coming out of his shell, too.”

“I don’t think he’s ever really been in one, but he’s had his coping mechanisms.” Adrien plated two of the pancakes, then put a lone pancake on another plate. “I can’t cook much, but I make decent flapjacks. There’s butter, syrup and strawberries over here. I don’t have any whippy cream.” He turned off the heat. “Be right back.”

Nathan froze. They’d served him. Adrien was helping Kyle. For a split second, he felt redundant. He didn’t touch his food. He should be taking care of them, not the other way around.

Kyle and Adrien returned a moment later. Water streaked down the front of Kyle’s pajama shirt. “I played in the bubbles,” Kyle said. “Bubbles!”

“You spilled soap and water everywhere, little man.” Adrien wiped his hands on a towel. “Eat your breakfast.”

Kyle returned to his seat and ate his pancake. His hair stood on end and he smeared syrup on his cheek.

“What happened?” Nathan asked. He dribbled syrup on his pancake. “Did you fall in?”

Kyle nodded. “Just playin’.”

“He had soap up to his armpits and water all over the counter.” Adrien turned the heat back on. “I’ve got enough for my pancake, unless either of you want another.”

“You’ve got to eat,” Nathan said.

“I will.” Adrien waved his palm over the pan. “Just wanted to be sure I didn’t eat what you wanted.”

“I’ve got plenty.” Nathan bit into his pancakes. The light fluffiness melted on his tongue. He moaned. “This is delicious.”

Adrien grinned. “I can’t make much, but I’m good with these.”

Nathan ate in silence. The family atmosphere wasn’t lost on him. He loved the scene—sweet and wonderful.

Kyle finished his breakfast and carried his plate to the dishwasher. “May I go play?”

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