Page 111 of Dean

But as for Ben, I’m not ready for him to go. He clutches at his thigh and his shoulders move up to his ears. He looks a little stressed at my request. I almost take it back, but then he utters, “I could stay for a movie.”

I beam and feel my stomach flutter with excitement. My two guys are here with me. I couldn’t be any happier to spend my night with them.

As Ben and Avery pick out a movie, I move into the kitchen, looking for some popcorn. I can’t find it where it usually is, which means Avery has been busy reorganizing my life.

Which makes me fucking happy, to be honest. I want him to mess with my life a little, to put it back in order. To throw away my decades-old popcorn. To make me alive again.

I need to order those trees he wanted.

To give him a reason to stay.

To make him feel alive, just like he does for me.

I finally find the popcorn and I’m throwing it in the microwave when I hear Ben and Avery whispering from the living room. I peer over at them and see them talking seriously. I don’t know what they’re saying but I like that Ben has someone he can talk to even if it’s not me. I get that I may not be the one he goes to for certain things, and I’m okay with that.

I hear the popping growing sparser and I pull the bag from the microwave, placing the steaming popcorn into a bowl. When I return to the living room, I lower myself next to Avery on the couch. He’s warm and content next to me, and I lean into him.

“What are we watching?” I ask, and Ben peers over at me, reaching for some popcorn.

“Avery convinced me to watch a horror film.”

“Shit,” I murmur, and Ben grins. I fucking hate scary movies.

“My dad hates those,” Ben says with a smug grin.

“Oh, do you?” Avery asks, his eyes lighting up. “Do they scare you? Do you need a cuddle during them?”

I frown, a grumble forming on my lips. “No, I’m a man. They don’t scare me. I don’t give a fuck about any of them.”

Avery looks amused and yet turns it on all the same. And if I sit a little closer to him during the murdery bits…well, that’s just because I want him to feel safe.

“You want me to sleep with you tonight because you’re scared of a masked man coming in and chopping you up with a knife, aren’t you?”

“Fuck no. I just want to sleep next to you,” I murmur.

Avery lets out a cute little laugh and crawls in next to me.

“My big, manly Dean scared of a silly movie.”

“I’m not fucking scared.”

He doesn’t believe me. I don’t believe me, but it’s fine. Because now he’s back in my arms. And I feel right at home. I don’t feel scared at all.

Although, he is wearing far too many clothes. I wish he were naked.

“What?” Avery asks. “What’s up?”

“Nothing,” I murmur as my hand snakes up his back.

“What is it?” Avery asks, leaning up and staring down at me.

“Just think you’re wearing too many clothes is all.”

Avery’s lips twitch. “Oh, you want me naked?”

“I always do.”

Avery shimmies and wiggles slightly, and a moment later, he’s divested of my oversized shirt, and his smooth body slides up against mine.

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