Page 72 of Learning to Run

Bates looked like he was mentally debating if insanity wassexy or adorable. “I think you’d find it very memorable at the very least, buthow about you not push his buttons too much? I think we’ll all like cuddling abit better if he’s not planning where to bury your cock-caged body.”

The lunatic took a few seconds before he nodded. “Goodpoint, but you’ll explain why it’s hot and scary at the same time later,right?”

“Oh yes, my curious boy.” Kissing Gareth’s head, Batesnearly purred out the words. “I’m going to thoroughly enjoy explaining thatone.”

They were both insane…but sadly, it was my favorite thingabout them, so I hoped they never changed.

Chapter 21

Bates

“Are we sure this is a good idea?” Surprisingly enough, itwas Gareth who was questioning the sanity of our current predicament.

“No.” I wasn’t going to lie to him but I tried to add aqualification that would keep him from worrying as badly as Cashel. “But Ithink this will help move us in the right direction. Do you want to be the oneto explain to Brady’s mom that we’re not going to another family dinner?”

“Ugh.” Gareth sighed as he looked up the stairs toward theirother apartment. “That sounds miserable…but going out on a double date withBrady and Jude?”

Yeah, I wasn’t sure which one would torture us more butBrady’s mom had actually tracked us down the other day. It was clear we had toget our act together and all figure out how to get along like a reasonablyfunctional family or she was going to step in.

“Would you rather write a letter?” Cashel came up behind us,looking up the stairs too. “I’ll support your decision if that’s what youwant.”

“I hate those.” Gareth looked like he couldn’t decide if hewanted to pout or pitch a fit. “I really hate those.”

Alright, double dating it was.

“It’s going to be fine. We’re going to have dinner and hangout.” And once we knew Brady wouldn’t ask us anything odd and Jude wouldn’t glareat us, then we’d know it was alright to go to family dinner.

I had to admit I was looking forward to that part, but therest of it, well, not so much.

“We’ve been doing a lot better and it’s been a while sinceJude glared at anyone.” Cashel being the calm voice of reason was fascinating,and he had a good point.

“You talking to Brady about your pup side helped a lot.”Kissing Gareth’s cheek, I tried to look confident as we heard Brady startbouncing down the stairs.

“I really think that if we move the boxes around again, wecan get at least one or two more in.” Brady seemed to be doing his best to talkJude into more toys, but even I knew he already had hoarder-levels of stuffpacked away in his room. “You liked those new boxes. We could get more of those.”

It was a good try, but even Cashel and Gareth winced.

“I think we need to work out a system that if something newcomes in, something old has to go out.” Jude’s logical response was met withmore winces and a shocked inhale from Brady.

“Oh, that’s…I’ve been a good boy, Daddy.” Brady waswonderfully manipulative and I couldn’t tell if he was trying to get his way oractually offended.

Gareth was frowning and seemed confused too, but Cashel justraised one eyebrow like he wasn’t buying it.

“Bambi, I’m just trying to be reasonable.” Jude’s tone saidhe realized that wasn’t what his adorable cutie wanted to hear. “There’s onlyso many toys that will fit in your room.”

Brady sighed as they got closer, obviously thinking Jude wasmissing some kind of point. “I’ll have more room once Gareth and Cashel move inwith Bates. Then I can turn their room into a playroom.”

Wait, didn’t he already have a playroom in Jude’s apartment?

What were they doing with that empty second bedroom?

Hadn’t Brady’s mom told him she’d bought out the other sidethis semester so Jude wouldn’t have to worry about a roommate?

It seemed like no one wanted to have to explain Brady to anew stranger at this point in their relationship.

So what were they doing?

I’d heard someone talking about it in the housing office afew weeks ago. They were a wealth of fun information and were easily bribedwith coffee, but I’d actually been there to talk about my lease and when I hadto be out of the dorms.

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