Page 38 of Double Dare
He’s either going to yell at me, get pissed at Maeve for telling me that, or punch me. “Yeah,” he sighs, running a hand over his winter hat. “Shit, I know. I can tell. She’s…not very forthcoming with information.”
I mean, I don’t hate this guy, but if she’s not opening up, it’s because he’s not making her feel comfortable enough. Doesn’t take a genius to figure that out. “So make her fucking comfortable. That’s all I’m saying.”
“Glad you’re not shy,” he mutters. “Thanks.”
Okay, so we aren’t off to the best start, but fuck it. If it helps Maeve, I’ll do it. “Sorry. Subtlety isn’t my thing.”
He sighs again. “Appreciate it.”
I nod. He nods. Sorted.
Mom and Dad called and said everyone had to be there for dinner. Since we’re all going half mad wondering what’s up with Dom, I’m not surprised to find all my brothers, plans changed, schedules rearranged to be here. We’re not allowed to eat until Dom shows up, so we’re all just hanging around by the fire, speculating and making everything worse.
Until he shows up. Alone. Without Laken.
“Where’s Lake?” Jed asks him, squeezing his shoulder. “You good?”
“She’s at my place,” Dom says. Then he smirks, taunting Jed for being second to Dom right now.
We haven’t seen him much lately, so we all take turns giving him a hug, busting his balls, and trying to pry the truth out of him. He shuts us all down and says we have to eat first. And even though we’re all wondering what’s up, it just feels good to have him back at the table. Mom made a feast. No one is here except us tonight. Gen is working, Laken is at Dom’s, Nina is out, and it’s just the Dare boys, Mom and Dad. I love it. I might hate these assholes some of the time, but I love them all the time.
“Alright, fuckers,” Dom says after dinner. Mom’s setting out coffee and shit, giving Dom the floor. “You’re all driving Lakes crazy with the hounding, so I’m going to tell you. But if you don’t give me a hard time about it, I’ll be fucking choked.”
“Oh, you can guarantee you’ll get a hard time, you twat,” Kolt says. “Secrets don’t fly here. You taught us that.”
Dom grins. He looks at Mom and Dad and then takes a deep breath. “Someone really important to me has been…struggling. They’re an addict. Opiates.” He trembles, his voice wobbling, my heart hurting for him. “I told Laken because she’s been there, you know?” He looks at Jed.
“Warrior,” Jed says.
Dom nods to agree. “So, she’s been helping me. I tried to get her to help me when he relapsed. She came over, tried to care for him, but had to talk some sense into me to take him to the hospital so they could help him detox. He’s through the worst of the detox now, and we’re focused on recovery and staying clean. He’s staying with me at my place, and Mom and Dad are helping me support him, too. We’re…looking into rehab places and all that.”
“Shit, man. You okay? He okay?” Hardin asks.
“Yeah. Hardest shit of my life to watch.” Dom sighs, his eyes welling with tears.
Dom doesn’t cry. Seeing it is making me choke up. If Dom is this affected, it must have been hell on him.
“Anyway,” he clears his throat. “His name is Liam, and he’s…” he stumbles for words, looking at Mom and Dad, his face turning red. “Fuck!” A tear actually falls down his cheek, and he angrily bats it away. “He’s the girlfriend you all think I’ve had for the past year and a bit.”
Is he for fucking real? I’m so pissed at him right now, I want to punch him in his stupid face. Of course, my mouth breaks the silence first.
“You’ve had a boyfriend struggling through addiction for a fucking year, and didn’t think to come to us for help, you dumb asshole?” I vent.
“Are you fucking shitting me, Dom?” Kolt chimes in. “We’re your brothers! You know we would have helped with this shit.”
“You kept him a secret for what, Dom?” Four leans over the table. “Because you didn’t think we could handle you being gay as balls, or you didn’t think we could handle you dating an addict?”
“We could have met this guy a year ago, and you hid him from us like some pathetic twat?” Bass scoffs.
“You should have fucking told us, asshole,” Jed says. “You know how much shit you’ve helped us through?”
“You really think we give a fuck where you stick your dick?” Rydan asks. “We’re family, man.”
“We want him in our lives, man. We want you in our lives. Stop fucking hiding,” Zahn snaps.
Bo shakes his head at Dom. “You dumb fuck.”
Bo always gets the final word. With that, Dom breaks the fuck down, laughing, crying, sobbing, and letting go of whatever the hell has been sitting on his shoulders. We dish out the loving insults, hug our brother, and give him so much shit for keeping secrets. I wouldn’t give a shit if he wanted to fuck a clown; he’s my brother, and I’ll love him no matter what.