Page 106 of More than Need

The man at the table, with shoulder-length dirty-blond hair up in a ponytail, snickered. “I can’t believe you didn’t noticethe person-shaped lump in Riley’s bed, Mum. And the shower running, which means there are two people in the apartment.”

Technically three. Fuck, Gideon must be in the shower with Riley.

She awkwardly wiped her hands on her dress. “Where are my manners? I’m Theresa, Riley’s mum. It’s lovely to meet you...”

Holy fucking shit.Riley’s mum.Which meant the two men were his brothers.

The one at the table lifted a hand, a smirk curling on his lips. “Peyton. I’m the youngest. This is Lucas, the idiot.”

“Where does that rank?” Lucas asked sarcastically. “Hey, man. You want some coffee?”

Why were they acting so casual?I’m fucking naked in your brother’s bed!Panic set in, and Dawson wished he could crawl back under the covers and never come out.

“There’s plenty to go around,” Theresa said pleasantly. “I’d ask if you have a mug preference, but Riley’s are all the same. Come on over, and we’ll get you fed and hydrated.”

“I don’t think coffee hydrates,” Lucas said. “I can confirm that after six, I still need to drink water.”

“Who’s letting you havesixcoffees?” Peyton asked.

“I…” Dawson had no words. He couldn’t think of a single word in the English language. What were words?

Peyton snorted. He grabbed one of the mugs on the table and brought it over to him. “Where are your pants?”

Dawson’s heart lodged in his throat, and he held the blankets tighter to his chest. Maybe if he squeezed his eyes shut for long enough, they would disappear.

Also, he had no idea where his pants were. The last he’d seen them, Riley—Mr. Wants Everything in Its Place—had thrown them to the side and then fucked his brains out. Where had they ended up? A quick glance told him they weren’t within reach.

Dawson’s face heated, and now he wanted to die. Forget the blankets. He needed to throw himself off the balcony. Wrap the sheets around himself and run straight for the door.

“Never mind,” Peyton said, disappearing into the walk-in robe beside the bed.

Dawson waited awkwardly for him to emerge. When he did, he came out with a pair of comfortable-looking sweats.

“You look like a big guy, and Riley is leaner than you. But these are Danny’s—our brother—and he’s built even bigger than you, so they should fit.” Peyton passed them over, along with black briefs. “They might be tight, but you know, needs must.”

“Thank you,” Dawson said quietly. He awkwardly tugged them on under the sheets, careful not to let anything show. Theresa turned her back on them, dealing with the toast and giving him privacy. He couldn’t properly explain how much he appreciated that.

Riley’sfamilywas here.He wasn’t ready for that, especially considering the fact that Sadie wouldn’t even talk to him. She’d missed all of Riley’s childhood, and here were Riley’s brothers. They’d grown up with Riley, seen him in all his awkward phases—he probably hadn’t had any awkward phases, but the sentiment still stood—and had gotten all the things that Sadie had been deprived of because of the adoption.

What the hell was Dawson supposed to say to them?

He finally got the clothes on, lamented the fact he couldn’t do anything about the nest called his hair, and climbed out of the bed reluctantly.

“You couldn’t get him a shirt?” Lucas snickered.

Dawson wrapped his arms around himself self-consciously.

“Danny doesn’t keep his whole wardrobe here.”

A shirt—Riley’s white shirt—was draped over the end of the bed, and Dawson grabbed it, shrugging it on. He at least knew from experience that it fit. Thank fuck, Riley wore shirts thatgave him room to move, and it wasn’t plastered to him like a second skin.

“Come, sit, sit,” Theresa said warmly. “Do you like Vegemite? Peanut butter? There should be some plum jam in there; it’s Riley’s favourite.”

Dawson sat where she told him to, without answering the question. She could put whatever she wanted on his toast, and he’d eat it, just to be polite. Good thing he did actually like all the options.

Lucas dropped into the chair opposite, and Peyton sat directly beside him, expertly caging him in. Fucking fantastic.

“I didn’t catch your name, sweetheart,” Theresa said gently.

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