Page 64 of Doubling Down

Brandon still hovered out of sight on the opposite side of the door. “I…”

The shakiness in Brandon’s voice was evident. Ezra’s heart ached for his friend. That morning had been rough on Brandon as well. Ezra still didn’t know what trauma Brandon had been through, but it was apparent that something had triggered him.

“Bran—”

“Can I sleep—” Brandon pushed the door open enough to step inside but froze when he spotted Ezra in bed. Eric still stood beside the mattress, looking torn on what to do.

“I’m sorry.” Brandon backpedaled. “Stupid! I should have realized—”

“Hey!” Ezra called out gently before Brandon could run. He didn’t want to spook Brandon or wake Annabelle.

Brandon stopped.

Ezra scooted to the far side of the bed. It was probably a good thing that he and Eric hadn’t had sex and weren’t naked. He lifted a corner of the comforter, knowing this was the right thing to do. “Want to sleep with us?”

Brandon sniffled. “I had a bad dream.”

“It’s okay. I’m the master of cuddles and your brother isn’t bad either. You can lie right here between us. We’ll keep you safe.” Ezra hoped he was saying the right words. He just knew that being held by Eric had kept any bad dreams away. He felt safer with Eric than anyone else. The same must be true for Brandon.

“I don’t want to be a bother,” Brandon told him.

“No!” Eric was stern. “You will never be a bother. Not to me. Not to either of us.”

“You aren’t,” Ezra agreed. He patted the soft mattress again. “Come on. Come climb into this big bed with us. Cuddles!” Maybe it would help if Brandon could regress. Brandon had spent most of the afternoon playing in his room once Ezra and Eric had finally made it out of their shower. “We can puppy pile Eric!”

Brandon giggled as he shuffled forward.

“Come on.” Eric urged Brandon closer to the bed with an arm around his lower back. He wasn’t forcing Brandon but helping him forward.

Ezra waited until Brandon had crawled into the bed and scooted close before he tugged Brandon into his arms. Brandon had a blanket over his head and a small stuffed dog clutched in one hand. A dog that looked exactly like the one that had sat at their feet earlier as if he was personally keeping all the cops away.

Brandon’s entire body shook as Ezra held him.

The mattress dipped when Eric climbed in behind his brother. Eric lifted the comforter and covered them back up then settled against Brandon’s back. Eric threw an arm over Brandon’s waist before he linked his fingers with Ezra’s.

No matter what they had to do for Brandon, they would get him through this. He had bared his soul to Eric and knew that he was going to have to share some of it with Brandon as well. He hated the thought of his past harming Brandon.

Brandon continued to sniffle.

“Hey.” Ezra pressed his forehead to Brandon’s. He took a long slow breath before blowing it out. He did it again. And again. Eventually Brandon began to match his breathing.

“Sorry.” Brandon avoided his eyes.

“Why? This is great! Our own little slumber party.”

“You don’t have to be nice to me,” Brandon said. “I know this is weird.”

“Not too weird.” Not for him. Ezra had basically allowed himself and his daughter to be kidnapped, taken to a near stranger’s house, and fallen in love with him. Nope, they weren’t weird at all. “And I’m always nice to my friends,” Ezra told him. “Remember that Dom already claimed you. You’re one of us. One of us.”

Brandon giggled.

“Oh god,” Eric groaned. “You two and Dominic? No! I can’t handle all that sass.”

“Too late,” Brandon said. “They already claimed me.” He didn’t sound like he minded at all.

“Don’t forget Lake,” Ezra added. “He’s part of our little boy band of misfits.” Ezra liked that name. He was so making matching shirts!

“Doomed! I’m doomed,” Eric wailed softly.

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