Cain had been warned several times about Walter’s no filter mouth and wasn’t surprised when Walter looked him up and down. “My Archer is gay. You two should fuck.” If only he knew. Actually, did he? Did Cain suddenly look gay now that he’d had sex with a man?
“He’s my brother now.”
Walter waved the comment away. “Bah! Not really. Suck each other off and have some fun while you can still get it up. My Ena, god rest her soul, only had to give me the look, and I was up and ready for action. Damn fine woman. Let me tell you—”
“Morning, Walter. How did you sleep?”
Cain sighed in relief when Robert’s voice sounded behind him. Just in time, too, because he was certain Walter was about to tell him something he really didn’t need to know. Like at all.
“The mattress was shit, Robert. How much did you pay for this hotel? I’d ask for your money back. In fact, I’ll do it for you.”
“There’s no need for you to do that, Walter, but thank you for the suggestion.”
“Suggestion?” Walter smacked his walking cane on the floor. “Fuck suggestion. I’m telling you to get it sorted! They charge a ridiculous amount for shitty mattresses!”
“Dad, give me a hug.” Lydia hugged Walter and nodded toward the restaurant. Cain smiled gratefully and quietly walked away, leaving Lydia and Robert to handle Walter. Even as he left, he heard Walter say, “Oh, she should join our family. She’s fat enough.”
“Dad!”
Chuckling and shaking his head, Cain walked into the restaurant and immediately searched for Archer. Not that he could do anything he really wanted, but he could still look and remember the good times they’d shared.
Seeing him, they stared at each other until Archer gave him a grim smile. Cain’s eyes dropped until he heard laughter and then saw Knox wave a plate of food under Archer’s nose. Archer was pushing the plate away, several shades paler than before, and it clicked.
Archer was hung over.
Chuckling, Cain walked over to the table where his family sat and waved at his nieces. Devon looked stressed, and Cain took pity on him, but not enough to help with the girls.
“Where’s Joanie?”
“She bailed on me.” Devon snapped back then winced. “She hates Anton. You know her sister is gay. She said if she saw Anton, she’d kick his nuts into his mouth. You think he’s bad with you because of that stupid argument? You should hear some of the things he’s said to Joanie.”
“Shit. I mean, Anton’s a dick, but I didn’t think he had it bad for Joanie’s sister.”
“He is a dick. I don’t understand where he gets it from. It’s not like any of us are that way. None of us give a shit about anyone being gay. Just him.” Devon leaned closer. “You know he’s religious. Well, he’s practically living that shit.”
“No. When did that happen?” If Anton was turning more and more to religion, then maybe that was why he was so homophobic.
“Last year or so. Doesn’t explain why he was a dick with you and your friends when we were younger, but he’s definitely gotten worse the last year. Even Dad’s spoken to him about it.”
“He went through that stage when he was a kid. He was always outgoing and played with everyone, then we had that hot summer, and he changed. He wasn’t the same after.”
Devon nodded, his eyes on the girls, and reached over to pull the knife out of Savannah’s hand as she went to stab Helena with it. “Now, now girls.” Turning back to Cain, Devon mumbled, “I always wondered if something happened.”
“I doubt it. Maybe he just grew into his dickness.”
“Dick!” Savannah shouted, throwing her head back as she laughed.
Devon sighed and gave Cain a pointed look. “Thanks. I really wanted her to know that.”
“You said it, too, so it’s not entirely my fault.”
“Do you want to explain it to Joanie?” Devon side eyed him.
Cain blanched. “That would be a no.”
“Thought so.” Sighing, Devon watched Anton as he strolled through the room, glaring at Cain. “Prepare yourself. Anton’s here.”
Cain stiffened and waited for Anton to speak, and he didn’t disappoint. “Hello, cock lover.”
“Anton!” Devon snapped. “The girls are sitting right here. Watch what you say.”
“Or?” Anton smiled smugly at Devon. “What will you do?”
“It’s not him you should be worried about, Anton. It’s me.” Robert stood behind Anton with his hands on his hips. “I raised you better than this.”
“And now we have a cock sucker in the family and one who loves those cocksuckers. Be careful not to touch anything they have; fuck knows what you’ll catch.”
“That’s my son you’re talking about. I might be married to Robert, but I won’t have you saying anything about Archer. I’ll cut you out.” Lydia swung her hand through the air. “You either sort this attitude out or consider yourself uninvited to future family get togethers.”
“You gonna let her speak to me like that? What, are you pussy-whipped, Dad?”
Everyone heard the slap reverberate around the room, and Cain pushed his chair back, grabbing Anton when he lunged for Lydia. “Don’t you dare speak to Robert like that.” Lydia stood her ground and stared at Anton. “Son or not, I will gut you where you stand if you so much as breathe on him.”
“Lydia, honey. Let me speak to him.”
Lydia nodded and spun away, storming to another table. Cain watched her and caught Archer’s eyes. He furrowed his brow and looked from Lydia to him. Archer shook his head and stood, walking over to Lydia and speaking softly to her.
Cain tuned back into Anton’s and Robert’s conversation, wincing when Anton called Lydia a gold-digger. Robert grabbed Anton’s arm and dragged him from the room, Anton kicking and screaming the whole way.
“Fuck.” Gareth stood watching and looked at Cain and Devon. “What have I missed?”
“Gareth, I’m so glad you could make it.” Gareth smiled at Lydia when she reached them and hugged her.
“I had an emergency in the ER, and with the stomach bug doing the rounds...”
“We understand why you couldn’t make it. We missed you, but they needed you more. How is the person?”
“Persons, more like. Bus crash with several passengers injured. It was close for a couple of them.”
“But the team saved them.”
“We did.” Gareth yawned and looked sheepish. “Sorry.”
“Did you get any sleep?” Lydia stroked the hair from Gareth’s forehead, and Cain smiled watching him lean into her touch.
“An hour or so. I wanted to be here to see you off.”
Lydia smiled and looped her arm through Gareth’s. “Let’s get you something to eat and drink before we have to go, and you can tell me all about work.”
Gareth waved to Cain and Devon before he walked away with Lydia. Even though he wasn’t the youngest, he was the one who had been most deeply affected when their mom left.
“That’s nice to see.”
“It is.” Devon pointed to the girls. “Eat your food.”