Next Day

"Who are you talking to?" John asked as Cody typed like a madman on his phone

"Phil. He wants to hangout today."

"Aren't you hung-over?"

"Yep but I'll be fine after I have something to eat...and a beer." On the other side of the bed Randy and Evan laughed

"Hair of the dog...that's my boy." Randy said

"I'm learning." Cody responded

"What are you doing today Randy?"

"I'm going to the store to pick up the stuff for Codes' comic collection. The vision came to me in a dream so I'll be working on that today."

"Both of you are going to be busy...what will I do?"

"Where are you friends?"

"At work."

"How come you're not going to work?"

"I don't have to go in. I can do the work I have from home."

"I'll be home John but I'll be downstairs putting the shelves and cases up."

"Yea but you're going to be busy."

"What the fuck then? I don't know what you tell you."

"I'll just be in my office." Randy rolled his eyes then looked at Evan

"What are you doing Ev?"

"Nothing."

"Boom – you and John can hang out then."

"I mean that's a possibility but J has work to do."

"Pretending to type on his computer is not work." Cody and Evan laughed while John growled

"What are you going to do with my comics Ran?" Cody asked finally putting his phone down

"It's a surprise. You'll see it when you get home."

"What if it's not done by the time I get home?"

"Then you'll wait boy."

"I'm a man." Cody said with a whimper

"I meant boy as a term of endearment. I know that you're very much a man Codes."

"Oh...I didn't want to have to show you." Randy gasped as Evan and John laughed

"You're such a little jerk." Cody smiled and sat up

"Move over Evy." He said already crawling over the smaller man to climb atop Randy

"What do you want you weasel?"

"Nothing Ran." Cody said wrapping his arms around the older man

"Cody what – that's my," After that John and Evan listened to Randy moan deeply

"He just rolled right over there and took him."

"Crept right in." John added

"I would storm out dramatically but this bed is really comfortable so I can't get up."

"You know, since the first night I slept on it I'd been meaning to ask Randy where he found this thing. It's the devil and I'm slowly beginning to think this bed is sucking the souls from us all."

"And you continue to sleep on it night after night."

"It's sucking my soul and good sense apparently."

"Apparently." John looked at Evan from the corner of his eye then reached over and flicked his ear. "Ow." The small man said as he laughed. "Are they going to have sex or what?" Evan asked resting his head on John

"I'm not sure. You never know with the two of them because one minute they're talking then they're kissing then they're naked and squelching." Evan burst out laughing. "Uh-oh." John said when Randy and Cody stopped what they were doing and looked over

"Did you just say," John covered Evan's mouth

"We were having a thing over here and you two ruined it."

"J made a joke."

"You threw me right under the bus...and it wasn't really a joke."

"It was. No one says squelching seriously."

"What? Squelching?" Randy repeated. "Maybe the two of you shouldn't hang out together. You seem like you'd be trouble together."

"That's the best kind of person to hang out with." John said. "And looking at our appearances who would ever suspect the two of us of anything?"

"Me." Randy said reaching up and feeling his neck. "Did you give me a hickey?" Cody smiled

"I was just marking you." He said hopping off the bed and running to the bathroom

"He gets me every time. I'm starting to think him being an idiot is just an act...more like idiot savant."

"I hope that this doesn't come out wrong but if he's playing an idiot then he's been doing it for a really long time." Randy and John started laughing

"There's no way that couldn't have come out right."

"No," Evan said. "I love the guy but he's been pretty clueless about life for as long as I can remember. When he wants to know something or when he learns something he's so focused and really good at it but otherwise," The small man made a whooshing sound and moved his hand over his head

"Is Cody autistic you think?"

"What?" John asked looking at Randy

"No, he could be high functioning like,"

"Cody is not autistic." The older of the men interrupted. "Didn't he have classes with you Evan?"

"Yes."

"Are you autistic?"

"No."

"I was trying to come up with a reason for him being the way he is but I guess he's just an idiot then."

"Stop calling him an idiot."

"What about idiot savant then? That's not necessarily a bad thing."

"Idiot savant," Evan said using the dictionary on Cody's phone. "A person who is highly knowledgeable about one subject but knows little about anything else."

"He's highly knowledgeable about more than one subject." Evan and Randy looked at John. "He's knowledgeable." John sighed. "He's not autistic and he's not an idiot so stop saying that or I'll hurt both of you."

"My first threat of bodily harm from J. I really feel like a part of this wacky family now."

"Not the vacations but the threats huh?"

"Yea...anyone can pay for a vacation but the threats really mean you care."

"Aww, well that really makes my heart feel warm."

"Can the two of you stop verbally making out with each other and you might be having a heart attack John." John laughed

"I am not having a heart attack. Evan and I just had a moment and you saw fit to ruin it with your jealously." Randy scoffed

"Jealous? Jealous? I think not. I am not the jealous type."

"Sure you're not." John said getting up and letting Evan's head flop to the mattress. "Sorry Evan." He walked to the bathroom but stopped when he saw the steam filtering out from underneath the door. He turned around and just left the room

"Do I sound jealous Puppy?"

"Yes because you are." Evan said sitting up and looking at Randy who smiled. "What?"

"Your hair is all over the place and it looks so cute." The small man ran a hand over his head

"I think I'm going to cut it a little." Randy shook his head

"No. It looks good this way but the shorter side swoosh was definitely my favorite...and the way you had it when I first saw you."

"I've gone through a few hairstyles so I don't even remember what that looked like."

"I don't know how to describe it...regular boy haircut."

"Oh yes, my regular boy."

"Stop being smart and come over here so I can have a kiss."

"Why should I kiss you now? We were cuddling and you let Cody push me away so that he could suck all over you."

"Now who sounds jealous?"

"Well I am and I can admit it."

"Cachorro," Randy said reaching out and rubbing his hand over Evan's leg. "I don't want you to feel that way."

"I know you don't and Cody doesn't either which is why I didn't make a big deal out of it. It's fine. We all share around here."

"Yea but I still don't want you feeling jealous. I'm sorry." Evan groaned

"You look so sexy lying there like that." Randy smirked. "Also, you know that sorry is not the way I accept apologies." Without warning Randy pounced on Evan tackling him to the bed and kissing him

Later: Home Depot

"Do you think I should go with wood or glass shelving?" Randy asked Steven as he walked beside him in the home improvement store

"What's easier for you to clean?"

"It doesn't really matter. Pledge makes a multi-surface cleaner so it's not like I'd have to switch up or buy a new one." Steven laughed

"I'm going to act as if you didn't just say that to me. You're getting the Plexiglass boxes to display his toys right?"

"They're not toys, they're figurines."

"I'm going to act like you didn't say that either."

"That's what Codes calls them."

"Um yea, I would do a mix of wood and glass. Put the comics and novels on the glass and put the cases on the wood." Randy stopped the cart and looked at the other man. "What?" Steven smiled. "This is what thinking with a drug free mind gets you."

"I see that. How are things going?"

"Good."

"And Johnny?"

"I don't need drugs with his crazy ass around. He showed me his dancing by the way." Randy laughed

"And?"

"It's horrible but he's cute so I let him prance around shaking his hips all over the fucking place."

"Where do you think things are going between the two of you?" Randy asked placing some wood shelving in the cart. Steven shrugged

"I don't know. I told my parents about him." Randy looked at him and started smiling

"What?"

"Yea. I mean we're together all the time and my parents are back in Florida. I haven't been around like I normally would and you know how my mom is."

"Nosey." The men said at the same time

"So I just told her about him."

"And now she wants to meet him."

"You know she does. My dad does too. I figure he's thinking that anyone who's keeping me out of trouble is worth meeting."

"Is he?" Steven stood there for a few seconds before biting the side of his bottom lip

"Yea, he is." Randy started playfully punching the other man's arm

"Yes! I love this. You're growing up and I feel like a proud parent."

"I'm older than you."

"By a year but when I speak with you I feel older by about five years at least so explain that one to me."

"I hate you right now and I'm changing the subject. How are things at home?"

"Things at home are good. Oh, Cody confronted his mom about all her shit."

"How did that go?"

"Well you see me here trying to set up a room for all his stuff."

"That doesn't explain what happened."

"He said that he was going to get all this stuff from his room, which was exactly how I imagined it would look only in my head it was a shade of pink," Steven chuckled. "And when we got there his mom was all out of pocket talking about she wanted him to come over and she meant just him."

"Is she always this bitchy?"

"She was the first time I met her...just showing up at the house then dragging Cody upstairs to inspect his room like he was 15 years old. Shit was crazy."

"Sounds like it."

"And she's been calling him the F word since he was a kid which made me want to kick her ass."

"The F word?"

"Yes the F word."

"Ooh! That F word. You know, for all that to have happened to him I'm surprised Cody is still as nice as he is. That would've made me one bitter mother fucker."

"Yea I don't get it either but I like it. It's nice to be around and you can't be mad at him ever."

"You have no heart if you ever get mad at him." Randy laughed

"Right. Cody told John about her not liking him too."

"How'd that go?"

"John was confused especially since he had no idea that Cody wasn't speaking to her."

"You guys have a lot of shit going on in that house. What about Evan?"

"Oh I'm sure he's got some skeletons in his closet but we haven't opened it quite yet."

Rocco's Tacos and Tequila Bar

"Is it acceptable to be day drunk?" Evan asked after taking what had to have been his fourth shot with John

"Today it is. I'll call my driver and have my car sent home."

"I need a lot of food." The other man said looking at the menu

"Seriously." John said taking a sip of the Mexican Manhattan their waitress had just brought to the table. "Uh-oh." He said checking his phone

"I feel like you've said that a lot today. What's the problem?"

"I'm drunk and the office is calling. I'll be right back." John said standing up

"Wait," Evan called. "Take this." He said handing John his glass of water. John grabbed the glass and took his call outside. Evan sat there studying the menu and trying to figure out what he wanted which was taking a lot longer due to his inebriation. By the time he decided John was back at the table. "Is everything okay?"

"Yea, yea, things are great actually. I've wanted to open another hotel and I just got the call saying it's been approved." Evan just sat there staring at John. "Okay I know you're drunk and I'm drunk but I'm going to need some verbal feedback from you. Did you even hear me?"

"I heard you but I thought you were going to tell me where the hotel is but you didn't say anything."

"After our trip to Hawai'i," Evan gasped. "Damn, can I finish?" John asked laughing

"I'm sorry. Go on."

"Well I suppose you've guessed it already. I want to open a hotel on The Big Island. I had my people looking over the numbers to make sure it would be worth it and as it turned out it will be very lucrative which makes me happy."

"That's great John. Did you talk to your driver while you were out there?"

"I did actually, why?"

"Then the next round's on me."

"Awesome."

"How are you going to do all of the work though from Florida? Hawai'i is a lot farther away than New York."

"And there lies the problem."

"With Cody and leaving home you mean?" John nodded

"The project is going to be stressful anyway then just having to deal, I don't want to use the word deal,"

"But that's what you'll be doing."

"Basically. I don't want to deal with him on top of everything else." Evan nodded. "Don't get me wrong though, I do miss being home when I'm away,"

"He makes it worse." John laughed then covered his mouth

"Pretty much. Wow that was easier to say than I thought it would be."

"I'm a great listener and even better with alcohol in my system."

"That's what I like to hear." John said raising his glass

...

Randy opened the garage and saw John's car parked inside

"Is he going to be mad that I'm here?" Steven asked walking into the garage

"There's only one way to find out." Randy said popping the trunk to his car and pulling out the items he'd purchased. The two men stepped inside the house and Randy's ears perked up

"It smells like lemons in here."

"It's Pledge. I dusted this morning. I don't think anyone's here."

"Just Cody's car is missing though."

"Yea he's out with Phil."

"That guy you hate?"

"I don't hate anyone but I really really don't like him."

"He and my precious are friends so you should probably let that go."

"No." Randy stated simply

"Don't you want to show me your room since no one's here?"

"You're just unbearable sometimes. Weren't you just talking about Johnny?"

"I tried to quit you but a part of me just won't let you go."

"I wonder what part that is." Steven laughed

"You are a great lay." Randy narrowed his eyes at the older man who laughed again. "Show me where the room is so we can get this done."

Later

Randy and Steven were working in what would soon be Cody's comic hideaway when they heard the front door slam loudly. Randy stood up and left the room with Steven following behind him

"What is going on? Are the two of you day drunk?" Randy asked the two men who'd crashed on the couches in the den

"We may be drunk during the day yes. Whose car is that outside?"

"Mine." Steven said

"Oh hey Steven."

"Yea you're really out of it. Puppy are you even alive?"

"I'm alive and I feel really good."

"I bet you assholes do."

"What are you guys doing?"

"Getting Cody's room together."

"Oh yea! That was nice of you to come help Steve. I still think you're a fucking dick but it was nice of you."

"Oh um, thank you."

"I'm going to get them some Gatorade so they can start to rehydrate."

"I'll be in the back." Steven said laughing. Randy went to the kitchen and retrieved the bottles of Gatorade dropping them off in the den. He gave both John and Evan a kiss before going back

"He called me Steve." Randy shook his head

"John is White girl wasted right now so please excuse him."

"I have no room to judge anyone. He works hard so if he wants to be drunk at," Steven checked his watch. "Almost four in the afternoon then it is that it is and I assume Evan's going back to work soon so he's going out with a bang."

"Yea maybe that's it." Randy said smiling

"How are we going to organize this shit?" Steven asked looking at the massive amount of books, magazines and novels in front of them. Randy let out a breath

"I know right. Um I figure we'll do it according to the way I have them stacked here. Novels, magazines and books."

"That shouldn't be too bad."

"But we have to organize them by series and date."

"What the fuck dude?" Randy laughed

"It's going to take a while but we can do this...and you can stay for dinner if you don't have plans."

"Alright...for the dinner."

"You'll have my undying gratitude."

"Mmhm, let's get this done." Steven and Randy worked tirelessly to organize all of Cody's things. At one point when they realized a series was out of order Steven knocked it along with other books to the floor earning a glare and punch from Randy who then made him put everything back by himself. A few hours later when they were done they went to the kitchen and rewarded themselves by cracking open ice cold beers

"Ran?" Cody called before walking in the kitchen and seeing Randy along with his friend. He blushed and walked over to Randy tucking himself under his arm

"Yes?"

"Hi Steven." Steven smiled and waved. "What's wrong with John and Ev?"

"They're drunk." Cody looked at his watch

"But it's only a few minutes past 7."

"They came in here like a herd of bulls before it was four."

"So they were with each other all day?"

"I guess so. John's cars and Ev's car were here when we got here but they weren't."

"Hmm, he must have called his driver."

"That's a good possibility. How was your day?"

"Phil's so funny. I really wish that you didn't hate him."

"He doesn't hate him. He just really really doesn't like him." Randy looked at the other man. "What? That's what you told me."

"Well you act like you hate him. I think you really scared him that one day."

"Which day was that? When I actually tried to kill him or those days I threatened his life?"

"I forgot you tried killing him that one time. He was probably the most scared then."

"Probably." Randy said taking a swig of his beverage

"What's for dinner?" Cody asked resting his head on Randy's shoulder

"You came home hungry? Why?"

"I was with Phil all day and we had lunch. I didn't want to eat dinner with him too because I got scared he would think we were on a really long day date." Steven started laughing

"What do you guys want to eat?"

"You know that I'm not picky Ran. What did you guys do all day?"

"I put all your stuff away." The young man gasped

"Oh yea! Can I see it?"

"Go ahead." Cody ran out of the kitchen and to the room

"Does he always have that much energy?"

"Yes."

"Ran?!" They heard him yell

"I guess he saw it."

"I guess so." Randy and Steven dragged themselves out of their seats and followed Cody's voice. "Why are you crying?"

"It's so great." Cody said wiping his eyes. "Look at all my stuff...and it's so organized. Thank you." He said hugging Randy

"You're welcome."

"Thanks Steven."

"Well where's my hug?"

"I'm sorry." Cody said genuinely then hugged the other man. Randy watched as Steven grinned

"Alright. What are we doing about dinner?" He asked taking Cody by the hand

"Can't we just have something simple and easy? Like spaghetti and meatballs."

"Why do you and Ev like meatballs so much?"

"Not just any meatballs Ran, your balls." Steven laughed loudly while Randy chuckled a bit

"I see you've got jokes tonight. You're going to help me since my usual kitchen buddy is passed out and possibly dead at the moment."

"They're not dead because I went in there when I heard snoring in a dark room. I shook them both and I don't know what they said but I'm pretty sure they both cursed at me."

"They probably thought it was me."

"That seems more likely. I don't know why they would ever use curse words with me."

"Such a little angel." Randy said giving Cody a kiss

"Hey, hey, hey." He said

"Sorry." Randy replied kissing him again. Steven sat back and enjoyed another beer while Randy worked and tried his best to get Cody to work too

"Oh my God." Evan groaned as he walked in

"Where's your shirt?"

"That room got so hot. I think I sweat it off."

"That seems logical." When Evan heard the slightly familiar voice he shut the refrigerator and looked over at the table

"What are you doing here?"

"Randy and I were hanging out today and I came to help him get all Cody's comics together." Evan shrugged

"I don't even care actually. How's the room Codes?"

"Gahhh – I love it! You have to see it when you're,"

"Not so sweaty? I'm going to get a shower after I finish this."

"Are you hung-over?"

"No."

"Where's John?"

"He's still in the den."

"Why were the two of you drunk during the day?"

"Things didn't start out that way but we started doing shots then we started doing celebratory shots. Our bill was so ridiculous. It was like two weekends in college all in a matter of hours."

"What in the hell were you celebrating?"

"Ask John when he gets up. I'm going to take a shower." Evan said leaving the kitchen

"Do you always fire questions at him like a machine gun?"

"I try to do it as often as I can to keep him alert."

"How nice of you."

"Cody what are you doing?"

"I thought that if I made them flat they would be easier to eat."

"But they're called meatballs so make them balls." Cody groaned

"Rolling them makes my wrists hurt."

"Make them into balls boy." Cody grabbed the pieces he'd already flattened and started to make them properly. Randy rolled his eyes and Steven was just entertained by it all

Evan was out of the shower and the food was nearly done when John came in. Everyone stopped talking and looked at him

"I'm blaming all of that on you." He said looking directly at Evan. "The next round's on me." Evan laughed

"You're not blaming me. I bought what, two rounds and by the time I did we had each already had a drink and shots. Our afternoon was well on its way to being messy."

"And this." John said going in his pocket and pulling out an extremely long receipt. Evan laughed more while the other men stared at the dangling paper

"Where the hell did the two of you go?"

"Rocco's Tacos."

"You mean Rocco's Tacos and Tequila Bar?"

"That very place."

"You set yourselves up for a drunken afternoon going to a tequila bar. They have good brands there too."

"Oh you know we had top shelf."

"What were you celebrating baby?"

"Huh?"

"Evy said you did celebatory shots." Cody paused. "Did I say that right?"

"No. I really need to take a shower. I'll tell you all about it when I come back down."

"Dinner will be ready in like ten minutes John."

"You know that I don't take long but feel free to start without me." John said that but he along with the other men, except Steven, knew that they would wait until he came back downstairs

...

"So?" Cody said looking at John. The older man looked at him confused

"Oh! The celebratory shots...ever since we went to Hawai'i I,"

"You bought a house there?!" Cody asked excitedly

"No. Simmer down please. I thought that it would be nice to build a hotel there. I had my company look everything over and I found out that everything that needed to be has been approved."

"Oh shit. That's great John." Randy said leaning over the table and getting a smile and a kiss from the other man

"Congrats John."

"Thanks Steven."

"Yes congrats baby."

"Thank you everyone. And thanks Evan for getting me drunk."

"I didn't put those glasses to your lips."

"When are you going to start?"

"It won't be for a while yet...a month or two maybe. I have to make sure everything here is running smoothly which they have been and I have to check New York then off to paradise."

"Wait – do you have to go there?"

"Yes."

"John," Cody huffed

"Don't start."

"But you're going all the way there and it's not as close as New York."

"It's my job Cody so what do you expect me to do? What would you like for me to do?"

"I don't know." Cody said with a shrug. "I'm just going to miss you being here and school's starting next week so I can't even go if I wanted...which I do."

"You don't think Randy's going to miss me or that I won't miss the two of you?"

"Yea but,"

"There is no but to this. This? This right here? Is the end of this conversation because I don't want to hear it. I'll be stressed enough as is."

"Okay." Cody said quietly

A Week Later

Randy smiled as the alarm went off. Today was the first day of the new school year and he was excited. It's not like he didn't enjoy having Cody and Evan around but they were a handful when together and he needed the break. He shut the alarm off and rolled over

"Codes wake up. It's the first day of school buddy."

"Oh Ran...I'm too sleepy and warm."

"Do you want me to pull you out of bed?"

"No." Cody said yawning. "That's not very nice." Randy slipped a hand underneath Cody's shirt and began to rub his back. "Mmm," Cody hummed. "That's nice."

"You have to get up."

"Okay." He said opening his eyes

"Good morning."

"Good morning."

"What do you want for breakfast?"

"Just pancakes, bacon and eggs...nothing too fancy."

"Okay." Randy said throwing the sheets back. Having closed his eyes again Cody blindly made his way to the bathroom. While Randy was flipping pancakes he felt two arms wrap around his waist

"You're never out of bed this early."

"The kids are going back to school today." John said resting his head against the tall man's back

"They are." Randy said laughing. "Are you excited?"

"I guess but more so about the two of us spending the day together."

"Why wasn't I aware that this was the plan?"

"Surprise."

"I love it."

"Oh good. It would have hurt my feelings if you said you didn't want to."

"Even if I didn't I would never say so. I'd just suffer through it."

"Suffer?" John scoffed

"I love that you said that as if each and every moment with you is pure bliss."

"It will be later."

"At this point that's dirty talk so hush your mouth. I'm so horny right now."

"Well Cody and Evan went to bed early and you and I couldn't have sex because Cody needed me there to sleep. I'm like a human teddy bear."

"I've called you a lot of things but never a human teddy bear

...

"Are you two ready?"

"Not as ready as you are. I can tell you want to get rid of us."

"So that's a yes from Ev."

"I'm ready. I can't wait to see the incoming freshman. It's like they get smaller every year."

"My students are just small so."

"Oh that's right! You're going to have the cute little kindergarteners. You have to text me." Evan laughed

"Okay."

"Alright. You guys don't want to be late on the first day." John said ushering them out the door

"Jeez, wait a second John."

"Sorry." Cody hugged and kissed Randy before turning to John

"See you later." After the long farewells at the door John and Randy raced upstairs to the bedroom

"You smell sweet like pancakes." Randy laughed

"Did I need anything else to turn you on?"

"No but you are in for it now." John said pulling the man's shorts off with gusto. He licked his lips before wrapping them around Randy's semi-hard cock and sucking slowly. John had a mouth like no other and Randy was in heaven. As he sucked, John pushed a finger inside of Randy and when the man really started getting into it he added another finger

"I'm gonna fucking cum John." The older man stopped sucking then swirled his tongue around the tip

"Not yet okay."

"Fuuck." Randy whined. "What do you mean not yet?" John spread the man's taut cheeks apart and flicked his tongue against the hole over and over. Randy looked down and only saw the top of John's head before pleasure overtook his body and his head fell limp against the pillow. John worked until he knew that the younger man was on the cusp of having an orgasm then stopped to undress. Randy pulled him down onto the bed and then made out feverishly even as John rolled on top and penetrated the younger man. After having John bring him to the brink twice with no release Randy wrapped his strong legs around the older man so that he couldn't go anywhere. John smirked knowing exactly what he was doing. Since Randy was holding him so close John had no other choice but to use hard and short thrusts. The tall man grunted and groaned as his prostate was being slammed into again and again. John reached down taking Randy's manhood in his hand and stroked hard and fast. He was trying to get the man to his climax before his which was approaching soon. "Oh god, right there John." He grunted as his lover milked the cum from his cock. "Don't stop."

"You're not too sensitive?"

"No." John slowed his thrusts to keep his orgasm at bay

Cody

"Mr. Rhodes!" Ashleigh said walking into Cody's classroom. "They tried hiding you from me but I sniffed you out like a bloodhound." Cody chuckled

"What do you mean they tried hiding me?"

"I asked two other teachers where you were and no one told me."

"My classroom is on your schedule Ashleigh."

"But you weren't in here earlier."

"I was on my own time of course no one told you where I was."

"I thought about texting you but figured I'd just see you later so it wasn't a big deal."

"That definitely would have been abuse of the more than teacher/student relationship we have."

"I thought so."

"Anyway, how was the rest of your summer?"

"Good. Rick just like packed up all the stuff he had at my house and disappeared one day. My mom was really angry because he didn't say anything as he was leaving but my brother and me did a happy dance in my room." Cody laughed

"Well I'm glad he's gone."

"Yea but now my mom's seeing this other guy who's weird too. He's nowhere near as weird as the last guy but I still look over my shoulder and now I lock my bedroom door and so does my brother. Me, Colby and Kami spend a lot of time together which was weird at first but now it's just normal...and we're all going to apply to the same colleges."

"You should start doing that pretty soon."

"I am. I picked up some apps while I was in the front office stalking you," Cody laughed. "And I had to send away for my first choice."

"Which is?"

"University of Hawai'i Hilo. I'm looking at getting my B.A. in Pharmacy Studies."

"That's amazing Ash but really far away." She shrugged

"I haven't really got much going for myself here. My mom has a revolving door of boyfriends and I don't want to be around that. Once I go away for school, no matter where it is, my dad is going to fight for full-custody of my brother because he hates being with my mom too and he started doing real bad in school toward the end of last year. He had to take two classes in summer school."

"Oh my. John's going to open a hotel out there so maybe you can get a job out there if you get in."

"Really? That would be great actually...I don't know how to do much but I'm willing to learn."

"I have to see where he plans on building but if it's close and won't interfere in your school work then I have no problem asking him for you. You could probably work the front desk or something like that after class." Ashleigh smiled

"Thanks Mr. Rhodes!" The girl said hugging him

"Okay. Alright Ashleigh."

"Sorry." She said blushing. "I know we're at school I just got so excited."

"I understand but let's wait until you actually get into a school before we get too excited."

"Right." Ashleigh said straightening her clothes. "You smell good."

"Ashleigh."

John and Randy

Randy sat atop John rolling his hips back and forth slowly and watching the facial expressions John made when he sporadically clenched his muscles

"This feels so good."

"Yea?"

"Mmhm," John said nodding. "Like I could sit here forever and let you do it."

"We would have to get up sometime."

"I know." He said placing his hands on either side of Randy's hips and pulling him forward then pushing him back each time they both moved a little faster. The men rocked together, completely in tune with one another until the pleasure became too much and they climaxed together. Randy leaned down to kiss the other man as John slipped out of him

"I love you." John smiled

"I love you too." He said. "You're always extra nice after sex."

"I'm much too exhausted to be anything else."

"How about we order lunch then take a nice hot shower while we wait

"That's sounds perfect." They ordered lunch from bed then took that hot shower. When they got out John went downstairs and sat in the den while Randy straightened Evan's room. He was fluffing the extra blanket that Evan kept on his bed to fold it when a leather bound book went flying across the room. Randy laughed to himself as he walked over to pick it up. Thinking that it was just a regular book he was surprised when he saw Evan's neat handwriting inside. Against his better judgment Randy opened the book and took a peek inside and after reading a few lines he wished that he hadn't. He folded the blanket as he originally intended then tossed the book on Evan's bed and went downstairs

"What's the matter?" John asked seeing the look on Randy's face

"Nothing."

"Yes there is. Did you find a condom wrapper tangled in Evan's sheets while you were up there?" John asked laughing

"No I didn't find a condom wrapper tangled in Evan's sheets while I was up there."

"Well something is wrong because you just repeated exactly what I said back to me."

"It's not anything that I want to talk about." John frowned

"Are you okay?"

"Oh I'm fine." The doorbell rang and John stood up to go get it

...

John and Randy were lazing around on the couch when the front door slammed shut

"I'm home!" Cody shouted making them laugh. "Hey guys!" He said bouncing into the room

"Hey Codes."

"Hi baby. How was your day?"

"Great! Spanish four is more advanced so I have more to teach and I can bombard them with homework." John and Randy laughed

"How's Ashleigh?"

"My little helper you mean? She's doing well. Rick just packed up and disappeared one day but now there's another creepy boyfriend."

"What's his name?" Randy asked

"I don't know but Ash said that she spends most of her time with Kami and Colby so she's not home much. When she goes away for college her dad is going to file for full-custody of her brother."

"Where's she going for college?"

"She only told me about her top choice which is University of Hawai'i Hilo."

"What?!" Randy and John shouted

"The girl wants to get out of here. I don't know what to say."

"I don't blame her really."

"Can you?"

"No, not at all."

"Go change your clothes."

"I'm going." Cody said kissing John then Randy. A few minutes later they heard the front door again then Evan stopped in the den

"Hey Evan."

"Hi J."

"Puppy."

"Randy." He leaned down and kissed Randy softly on the lips

"Ooh, again." Evan smiled and kissed him again. "How was work?"

"Fun. The kids are so freaking cute I can't stand it. I had one little girl cling to me all day though because she's so shy."

"Aww." John and Randy cooed

"Exactly. I got her to buddy up with another little girl who was wearing a shirt with Mickey Mouse on it."

"Does she like Mickey?"

"Oh, well her shirt had Minnie on it so I stuck them together. It was quite genius on my part."

"It was. Well done sir."

"Thanks." Evan said bowing. "I'm going to change." He said before leaving. Mere moments later everyone in the house heard a guttural yell echo through the house

"What the fuck was that?" John asked

"RANDY!" Evan yelled flying down the stairs. He ran into the den and jumped on top of Randy

"Oh my God!" John yelled. Having been caught off guard Randy fell backward on the cushions

"What's going on?!" Cody questioned as he came in. Randy regained his balance and lifted the small man off of him and dropped him to the floor

"What the fuck is your problem?" Randy asked before Evan lunged at him again. John was able to catch him in midair

"What the hell are you doing?" He asked still holding the small man

"Did you read that book on my bed?" Evan asked pointing an accusatory finger at the man. "I know you did because I can tell that you casually tried to toss it back on my bed!"

"Put him down John."

"Are you sure?"

"Oh I'm sure." John put Evan down on the floor. "You listen to me and you listen good," Randy said grabbing Evan by the front of his shirt and lifting him off his feet. Cody picked up a few of the buttons that popped off the man's shirt. "I'm not a very forgiving person however I'll let that slide. But if you ever do that again I will beat the absolute shit out of you." Randy said through his teeth. "Get away from me." He said letting Evan go. Without a word the younger man left the room

"What in the hell just happened? What book is he talking about?"

"I had to change the sheets on his bed and I fluffed a blanket and this book flew across the room so I picked it up and saw his handwriting. I wasn't going to read it but I read a page and closed it."

"Ran." Cody said in a low tone. "Why'd you read it?"

"I saw his handwriting and a few words so I glanced."

"Do you know what's in that book Cody?"

"It's Evy's journal and yes I know what's in there and no I'm not going to tell you."

"I mean what I read explains why he had a temper and likes to be dominant. It's like he needs to feel power,"

"Shut up." Cody said. "Stop talking about it unless you talk to him first."

"So you knew about this?"

"Yes. We've been friends for a long time and I did whatever I could to help him at the time. I've already said too much. You have to talk with him about it. I'm going to my comic room." He said leaving. John turned and looked at Randy

"What did you read?"

"I can't tell you."

"This is what you looked so upset about earlier isn't it?"

"Yes."

"Alright," John said taking a seat on the couch. "I won't ask but get it worked out please. I don't want to be breaking up any fights in here. We love in this house." Randy chuckled

"Okay but if I die up there then it's your fault."

"If you let that little baby man kill you then it's your fault."

"He tackled the shit out of me."

"You were caught off guard but now you're going straight into the lion's den eyes wide open."

"I'll be back."

"Okay but if I hear thuds and bumping I'm coming up."

"Okay." Randy said leaving and going up to Evan's room. He opened the door and saw Evan sitting on the bed with his knees pulled to his chest. "I only read one page."

"I don't care. It wasn't yours to read any pages."

"You're absolutely right and I do apologize for invading your privacy and trust like that."

"You probably think I'm some pathetic loser for having a journal and having that stuff happen."

"No I don't. Have you forgotten that I dated someone who used to beat me too?"

"But you guys were on drugs." Evan hiccupped. "I just let him do it because I was so stupid,"

"Stop it Ev. Even if you were poking him with a stick you didn't deserve that so stop thinking that you did." Randy sat on the bed and leaned his back against the headboard as he stretched his legs out. He didn't have a chance to say a word before Evan crawled over and cuddled up to him and started to cry. Randy hated it when people cried but in that moment it didn't matter. All he saw was his friend, his companion and his lover...his love curled against him looking smaller than he had ever seen him. He cried for a solid five minutes before having a coughing fit and wiping his eyes

"I'm sorry for attacking you like that. I just got so mad and sort of blacked out. Did I hit you?"

"Yea, you threw a few punches. One clipped my jaw that was when I threw you to the floor."

"Randy I'm so sorry." Evan said sitting up. "You know that normally I wouldn't," Randy smiled slightly as he caressed the other man's jaw

"It's okay just promise me that you'll never do it again."

"I promise you I won't."

"Then we're okay."

"Are you sure?"

"I'm positive. I still love you and I know that while you have a temper at times you're not violent and I don't feel threatened by you either." Evan smiled weakly as he looked at the other man

"I love you too." Randy patted his lap and Evan moved settling in. The men wrapped their arms around each other and sat there in a comfortable silence

"Mine?" Randy asked. Evan smiled

"Yours."

TBC