Hunks, Hammers, and Happily Ever Afters (68 page)

Noah shrugged. “It’s not going to be an issue for them. Mr. and Mrs. M are already members of PFLAG. Having another LGBT kid won’t even make ‘em blink.” He frowned. “He’s lucky.”

Before she could ask if Noah was comparing Max’s family to his own, Max bounded back in the room, his energy filling the space. “That was Ma reminding me that I promised to fix the railing on her porch next weekend. And they’re going to have another barbecue because it’s Sangita’s birthday next week, so you guys gotta come.”

“Count me in,” Noah replied easily.

“I gotta hit the can and then we can discuss what we do for the rest of the day, okay?”

He tossed his phone onto the drafting table, knocking over the single framed photo sitting in the corner, and disappeared into the bathroom.

Hayley straightened the picture then stopped. How had she not noticed this one before? It was of Max and Noah in front of Max’s M&M Construction truck, their office in the background. She lifted it to study it closer. Max was grinning directly into the camera, but Noah’s eyes were locked on Max. She let her fingertips hover over the photo, marveling at the love clear on Noah’s face. “How did he not see it all these years?”

Noah stood behind her, stroking her shoulders. “
You
didn’t see it. Or you would have said something, right?” At her nod, he added, “People see what they expect to see. Max thought of me as a friend, figured that’s how I thought of him. So that’s what he saw.”

“How could you stand it? Loving someone and knowing they’ll never love you back.”

“But he did. Love me. Just not the way I preferred. But having him love me as a friend was infinitively better than not having him in my life at all.”

“So,” Max rubbed his hands together. “Who’s up for binge watching some Property Brothers? I’ll make the popcorn and we can throw it at anyone who complains about the kitchen not having stainless steel appliances.”

Because Noah was facing her, not Max, she saw him carefully school his expression. For the first time, she realized his face had been much more expressive this weekend. That the Noah she normally saw was a mask. One he’d donned now, so Max wouldn’t see his disappointment that their time together had ended.

Maybe there was something she could do to see the real Noah again. She shook her head at Max.

“Really? Did I once mention watching TV was part of my fantasy?” Hayley pointed at the bed. “Climb aboard, mister, I fancy a Noah sandwich this time.”

Gratitude flashed in Noah’s eyes. He stood, then sweeping one arm to the side, and clasping the other to his chest, he bowed like one of the old fashioned swashbucklers. “As you wish.”

Which completely melted her.

Until he straightened, and he grinned. “Anything for you, sweet cheeks.”

She swatted his ass. “Call me sweet cheeks one more time and you won’t be able to sit on yours for a couple of days.”

His grin widened. “Promises, promises.”

CHAPTER THIRTEEN

Max yawned and picked up the coffee Noah slid across the counter. He eyed the breakfast bar stool but chose to lean against the edge of the counter instead.

“I hurt you,” Noah said quietly, hitching one hip on the island beside him. “I should have taken it easier on you.”

“You didn’t hear me complaining, did you?”

Noah chuckled. “Not unless
fuck, holy fuck, yes
was some secret code for a complaint.”

“Nope.” He eyed Noah. “How come you’re not sitting either? Did I hurt you?” They all knew nothing they’d done after he’d returned from his mother’s phone call was about Hayley’s fantasy anymore. Especially when he’d ended up buried balls deep in Noah’s ass while Hayley blew Noah’s dick.

“Let’s say you got a little over-enthusiastic. You need to go a little slower next time you jam that fucking big rod of yours in my ass. Not that I’m complaining or anything.” Noah brushed a kiss over his cheek as he placed his mug in the sink. If he ever smelled Noah’s cologne anywhere in the future, he’d immediately remember this moment. There’d been something more than simple lust in Noah’s face when they’d both been in Hayley the second time. More than love too. It had been pure happiness, even relief. They’d ended up falling asleep until almost midnight. He’d woken to the three of them sprawled together, Noah spooning Hayley, Hayley spooning him.

“Sorry, I’ll take it easier next time.” Next time. Yeah, there would be a next time. Holy shit. He still hadn’t wrapped his head around that turn of events. Yet, it had felt so freaking right, so freaking good.

The shower turned on overhead. Hayley was up. He’d been blessed when he met her. Blessed when he’d met Noah too. And now they were in his life, he couldn’t imagine life without them. Either of them.

“I don’t want her to leave,” Max admitted.

“I don’t either.”

“What if this is our only shot with her? What if we...” Turned her off now she’s actually seen us fuck. What woman would want to commit to two men who were into each other. Could she honestly believe they could love her too?

“I thought about that all night.”

“So what are we going to do?

“We convince her to stay with both of us.”

Max blinked. Noah made it sound so simple, but despite staying awake staring at the ceiling for two nights, it was beyond him. “How do we do that?”

“I have no idea. But we can’t pressure her. We have to let her choose whether she wants to stay or go, and we have to honor her choice.”

They fell silent as Hayley’s ankles appeared on the landing. Max soaked up the sight of her bare feet, and trim ankles. She wore one of his M&M construction T-shirts—it was big enough that she could wear it like a dress, and a pair of his board shorts—she’d cinched the string waist band into a bow. A bolt of need burned in his gut. He wanted this woman. And he’d do anything to have it be long-term, to have her as a part of his future.

Her bright smile when she spotted them at the breakfast bar warmed him, encouraged him. Noah was right. They needed to be smart when approaching her about making this permanent.

“I just remembered I’m meeting my stager at the place on De Grassi in an hour, but I only have my bridesmaid’s dress. I hope you don’t mind me borrowing your clothes. I’ll wash them and give them back to you tomorrow.”

Noah shrugged. “I’ve seen people out in worse. Plus it’s a construction site, right? So you don’t have to be all dressed up like for the Bay Street types.”

“Bay Street.” She scrunched her eyes closed. “I totally for—I have a meeting with my lawyer about closing the deal on that place out by Bluffer’s Park down at the TD Center at noon. I can’t go down there dressed like this. I normally keep a track bag with a change of clothes in my car but—“

“But your car is back at your place,” Noah completed.

“Exactly. I know it’s a lot to ask but if I give you the keys could you guys run out to my place and drive my car to the house? It would make it so much easier.”

“We could run up to your house,” Max said slowly. “But if you leave it to Noah and I, we’ll pack your whole wardrobe and move you in with us.”

“Max,” Noah growled. “What did we just talk about?”

Oh right, they were supposed to ease her into the idea. Except now it was out there—“I’m serious, Hayley. Move in with us. Neither of us want this to be a one-time deal. I love you, and Noah does too.”

“I do,” Noah agreed.

“I’d drive you crazy. Besides, you’ve got a lot going on right now, Max.”

“If you’re worried I’ll decide I’m straight up gay and not attracted to women anymore, that’s not going to happen.” Not a chance in hell. He knew it, deep in his bones. If she walked out, he might never find another woman good enough, but his attraction to her would never die. “I know it’s unconventional, but we both love you, Hayley. This way you can live your fantasy every day, and you will be the center of our world. I promise.”

“You mean, have a permanent threesome?”

Shit, she couldn’t see it. Didn’t want it. They were going to lose her after all.

“Or we rent this place out and we find somewhere we can all agree on.”

“But—“

“You matter to me, Hayley. You matter to us both. We don’t want this to be a one-and-done.”

She blinked rapidly, damning the prickly heat threatening to spill down her cheeks. “You both matter to me too.”

He cupped her jaw, his touch feather-light. “We both went into this knowing that you might like one of us better than the other, and we both worried you’d like the other one. This is the best of both worlds.”

“Is it? As much as I love you, I don’t want to be the cause of problems for you with your family.”

“Are you kidding? They’ll love you.”

“I’ve seen your mother’s shrine in her living room. You can’t tell me she would be happy to learn her son is living that way.”

Shrine was a little excessive. It was a single porcelain statue of the Virgin Mary. Still, it obviously worried her. “You’ve met Jackie and Sangita.” He hadn’t been asleep when she’d been checking out his photos and knew she’d focused on their wedding photo. “Do you think Mom loves Jackie any less because she’s gay? Or blames Sangita because Jackie fell in love with her? Yeah, the three of us living together might make them blink a couple times but they already like you, and they love Noah.” He leaned his forehead against hers. “And more importantly they love me, so they’ll accept anything that makes me happy. And you, Hayley O’Connell, make me very, very happy.”

“You say that now, but mothers get protective of their sons. It might be one thing to say it’s fine when a neighbor’s kid lives an unconventional lifestyle but you? They’ll blame me for leading you astray.”

“They’ll blame
me
,” Noah corrected. “Having your son living with a woman is a lot less objectionable to having your son doin’ it with another guy to most people.”

Max huffed in frustration. “They won’t blame anyone, damn it. Here, I’ll prove it.” He pulled out his phone, dialed his parents and turned on the speaker so Hayley and Noah could hear too. The moment his mother answered, he said, “Hey, Ma, I’ve got a quick question for you. Hypothetically, what would you and dad do if I told you I’m going to be living with both Noah and Hayley?”

“Max!” Hayley covered her face with her hands.

“Do you mean you’re renting her a room or is she moving in with you like a girlfriend?” his mother asked cautiously.

“I mean that she’d be moving in and dating both me and Noah. At the same time.” He heaved in a breath and met Noah’s gaze. “And Noah and I would be dating too.”

He held his breath. Shit, his parents were basically the only family Noah had now. If he’d misjudged them, he might have just destroyed that relationship.

“Are you...What...What are you telling me, Max? Are you trying to tell us you’re gay, honey? ”

“I’m asking what you would do if
hypothetically
Hayley, Noah and I lived together. In every sense of the word. Would you ban us from your house?”

His mother huffed. “Don’t be silly. We didn’t ban Jackie and Sangita, why would we ban you? You’re our son, we love you.”

“What about Noah? Would he still be allowed to come over? Or Hayley?”

“Max? What’s going on? This isn’t hypothetical, is it?”

“I’m just trying to prove a point, Ma.” Or maybe he was trying to convince himself he wouldn’t lose his family.

“Uh huh.” Her skepticism came through loud and clear. “Max, I will always love you.”

There was a click as the extension was picked up and his father’s voice boomed over the line. “Your mother and I don’t care if you’re sleeping with the Maple Leafs, son, as long as you stay safe and are happy. Now what’s going on? Are you coming out, Maxie? Because if you are, you know your mother and I will love you no matter what. Same as we love your sisters.”

“Thanks, Dad.”

“Are you finally coming out, Max?” his mother asked, “because you don’t have to worry we’re going to disown you or anything. We’ve had our suspicions you might be gay, or at least bi, since you were in high school.”

Holy fuck. He collapsed on the bar stool. They’d seen it even before him?

“Noah’s a nice boy,” his father continued, oblivious. “We’ve always thought he was good for you. And you’re good for him too.”

“And I suppose if you and Noah want to share a woman, especially a nice girl like Hayley, who are we to judge?”

He pressed his thumbs against his eyes to stem the tears that threatened to spill. “Thanks, Mom. Dad. That’s all I needed to know.”

“Oh, and Max? You’re still coming over for dinner on Tuesday like we discussed, right?”

“Yeah, I am.”

“Good. Make sure you bring Noah and Hayley with you then.”

The connection ended and the phone returned to the home screen. Which was probably good because he couldn’t stop staring at it.

Why hadn’t he realized his parents would see through him? How can they have suspected he loved Noah for that long and not said anything? Not clued him in? He dismissed his question. It didn’t matter. Not anymore. He cleared his throat, and croaked, “See, they don’t have a problem with it.”

“You really think a permanent threesome is the answer? You can’t be serious.”

“We’re deadly serious. It’s not something I’d joke about.”

She buried her face in her hands for a moment. “I keep waiting for one of you to break down in laughter and yell “gotcha!” Except you’re not going to, are you?”

“No. It’s no joke to me. I love you. I want you in my life permanently. And my family would be—”

She held up her hand to stop him. “Max, you said hypothetically. How else were they supposed to respond?”

“In my experience ‘get out of my house and don’t ever darken the doorstep again’ is the usual response,” Noah muttered.

Max started, wheeling to gape at Noah. “I thought you said your father kicked you out because you didn’t want to work for him.”

“He did. It was Patricia—wife number four—who used the ‘get out of my house’ line when she discovered me with a guy in my room. To his credit, Chuck didn’t agree with her, and told her it was his house and he was the only person who could ban people, especially his son. He told her having a gay son lent him a certain cachet that he could cash in with the LGBT community. There was some screaming and plate throwing, and then it came out he was diddling some new woman and suddenly it didn’t matter that I slept with guys anymore.”