Page 73 of Seal the Deal
He’s scared, Andrew realizes, watching the way Eden’s nails dig into his wrists as he looks at Nicki. He thinks back to how distrustful Eden had been of Jason, his giant teddy bear of a brother, when he first met him. Of how distrustful Eden is of most men given his history. Eventually, Eden had warmed up to Jason, but it’d taken multiple meetings and seeing how loving and tender Jason is with Emerson before Eden stopped being afraid of him.
There’s nothing soft or gentle about Nicki, who is also bigger and stronger than Jason. He’s also covered in tattoos and has a resting bitch face to rival Eden’s.
“Maybe if we just all take a minute to calm down,” Andrew tries.
“I’m fucking calm,” Eden says, anything but.
Andrew’s eyes track the room, clocking everyone’s body language and expressions. Jason, Emerson and Theo all look completely confused. Alec looks one second away from joining Eden to face off with Nicholas. It’s only Theo’s hand curling around Alec’s hip that seems to be keeping him in place. There’s obvious confusion and distress in Charlie’s eyes, whether because Andrew’s been keeping something from him or because he’s worried about Eden is unclear. Probably both, knowing Charlie.
It’s Eden whose body language is the easiest to read—his fear palpable. Andrew thinks back to the scared, angry version of Eden he’d first met all those months ago. Thinks about how far he’s come in trusting, not just Charlie, but Andrew, too. Eden isn’t just Charlie’s boyfriend, he’s Andrew’s little brother now,and the need to console him takes precedence over everything and everyone else.
“I need to talk to Eden,” Andrew says. “Privately.”
As expected, Jason and Theo start whispering, Alec moves off the couch closer to Charlie, and Emerson remains quiet as always.
“Don’t worry, Annie, we can keep a good eye on your boyfriend,” Charlie grins, slinging an arm around Alec’s shoulders. The both of them are smiling at Nicki, which is really nothing but a recipe for trouble knowing them, but he’s more concerned with Eden right now. Besides, Nicki is a big boy and he can handle himself.
“Behave,” Andrew whispers to Nicki.
“I don’t want to,” Nicki grunts.
“Please,” Andrew says, aware he’s all but throwing Nicki to the wolves by leaving him with Charlie and Alec. The nosy fuckers.
“Fine, but if they’re rude I’m going to be rude back,” Nicki says.
“I’m never rude,” Charlie gasps.
“You’re kind of accidentally rude sometimes,” Alec points out. “But you mean well so we love you.”
“I love you too, Ally.”
Nicki and Eden both look like they’d like to be anywhere else, but between the two, only one of them is a flight risk, so Andrew moves towards Eden and tugs him into his side, guiding him towards his bedroom.
No sooner has the bedroom door swung shut behind them then Eden starts to pace. “How did you two meet? Through Charlie or at work? Whendidyou have time to meet someone, and have them become your boyfriend? Especiallyhim.”
“Nicki isn’t as bad as he seems,” Andrew tries, earning him a reproachful glare.
“Does he have something over you? Or is he hurting you? Are you safe?”
The fact that that’s where Eden’s mind goes when a new man is involved makes Andrew impossibly sad, but he does his best to school his expression, knowing Eden well enough to know anything he perceives as pity right now will trigger his fight or flight response.
“I’m okay, Eden. I promise.”
“But this isn’t like you,” Eden says, sounding so young. With his hardened life experience and no nonsense personality, it’s often easy to forget how inexperienced he is in the way of family and being loved.
“I know.”
“I know I’m not really your brother, but I thought if you were seeing someone?—”
“You’re my little brother Eden, in every way that matters.” Closing the distance, Andrew pulls Eden into a hug, wrapping his arms around his much smaller frame and holding on tight when Eden begins to shake. He doesn’t let go, even as the minutes tick by and Eden’s grip on his hoodie loosens. Eventually his back starts to ache, but Andrew doesn’t move a muscle until Eden steps back, wiping at his running mascara with the back of his hand.
“I don’t like him. He’s a fucking asshole.”
“He is an asshole,” Andrew agrees, smiling at Eden. He doesn’t get a smile back, but he didn’t expect one. “But he’s other things, too.”
“And you really like him?” Eden asks, plucking at one of the friendship bracelets on his left wrist.
“I—” but Andrew stops, finding it impossible to lie so directly to Eden. Not after what he’s been through, not after how far they’ve come. “It’s complicated.”
