In the Silks (31 page)

Chapter 32

S
ATURDAY morning when Henry woke up, he felt better than he had in a long time. He wasn’t sure about what was to come, but he knew without a doubt that he was where he wanted to be. He rolled over to find a still sleeping Ryan, lying on his back, the covers kicked down by his feet. As tempted as he was to start fondling him, Henry couldn’t ignore his bladder any longer. After relieving himself and brushing his teeth with Ryan’s toothbrush, Henry went to start a pot of coffee. While he waited he tried to process the last week, even just last night. He still was reeling from the fact that Ryan was here and staying. He had so many questions to ask him still and now that Henry had started talking, he didn’t want to stop. He wanted to tell Ryan so many things, telling him about Tommy had been like opening a flood gate.

“Wow, it’s not every day I wake up to hot naked guy, bent over looking through my fridge.”

Henry jumped, straightening and turning to look at Ryan, “I sure hope not!”

Ryan rounded the island and approached him. He was just as naked as Henry was. Without hesitation he pulled Ryan to him, one hand on his hip and the other cupping the back of his neck.

The kiss they shared was slow and relaxed at first, but it quickly escalated, growing more intense. Skin to skin, they held onto each other, Ryan's hands sliding around Henry's back to cup his ass. The hand on Ryan's hip slid its way up and into his hair. Henry held him close and tight. Something told Henry they weren't going to be drinking coffee right then. Ryan turned him and guided Henry toward the counter, still gripping his ass.

"Jump up," Ryan told him with a heavy breathe.

Henry let go of him and braced his hands on the edge of the island and hopped on to it. Ryan nudged his legs apart and stood between them as they continued to kiss. Henry wrapped his arms around his shoulders, while Ryan caressed his thighs. The scrape of his nails on Henry’s flesh caused goose bumps to rise. He leaned in to join their mouths again. Ryan pushed his arms up over his head. Leaning down he put his face in Henry’s arm pit and inhaled deeply before licking the sensitive, hollow, hairy flesh with his warm tongue; from bottom to top. Henry instinctively moved to lower his arm. While he was ticklish, it was more than that that caused him to shift. It felt weird but not bad weird. It felt good actually. Ryan moved to the other side and repeated the action. This was different. Ryan must have sensed his apprehension.

“You don’t like it?”

“I do, surprisingly. It was just weird I guess. You like that?”

“Yes, I do. A lot.”

“So, you’ve been holding back on me?”

Ryan shrugged and bit his lip. “Baby steps. I didn’t want to scare you off.”

“I think that would be really hard to do.”

“Don’t be so sure.” Ryan said skeptically.

‘Wh-” Henry began to ask. He was swiftly cut off by Ryan’s mouth on his.

Ryan was leaning into him. Henry reached between them to adjust himself. Ryan took advantage of the opportunity to put his hand over Henry’s own. They both began to stroke Henry’s growing erection.

They stayed in the entire day.

~~~~~

“Make yourself at home. I’ll be quick.” Henry told Ryan when they entered his apartment Sunday morning. Ryan was still exhausted and sore, but that good kind of sore. He and Henry had had an athletic weekend, to say the least. He knew he was grinning from ear to ear when he went to sit down on Henry’s sofa; hell, he hadn’t really stopped smiling for days now.

Ryan had turned on the TV but he wasn’t really paying any attention to it. He was looking around Henry’s apartment. It was nice, small, but so what? It was perfect for one person. It reminded him a little of one of the places he had lived in right out of college.

“It’s definitely not as nice as the loft,” Henry said from the doorway. He was dressed in a Red Sox tee and jeans. His hair was still wet. He looked sexy as hell.

“Shut up, your apartment is nice.”

Henry scoffed at him as he walked to the kitchen. “Want something to drink?”

“Yeah, what you got?”

“Iced tea, soda, or water.”

“Iced tea is perfect, thanks.”

Henry’s comment got Ryan thinking. He wondered what it would be like to have Henry living with him. He could find no reason why it wouldn’t be perfect. Ryan hadn’t lived with anyone before in the technical “both our names are on the mailbox” way. He was considering whether to broach the subject with Henry when the man appeared in front of him.

“Do you want to come to dinner tonight?” Henry looked nervous as he asked the question.  His hand was visibly shaking as he handed a glass of iced tea to Ryan. Ryan was caught off guard. He’d hoped that he would be invited eventually, he just didn’t expect it this soon. He thought he might have to hint at it before it would happen. The fact that Henry asked on his own made it that much better. Ryan knew having dinner with his family would solidify Henry’s claims that he was ready to move forward.

“Surprised?” Henry asked as he sat down next to Ryan. He took a few sips of his drink and then put it on the coffee table. Sitting back and turning sideways, he stared at Ryan.

“Yeah, kind of.”

“You don’t have to go.”

“Are you kidding? Of course I want to go. I just wasn’t expecting you to be ready for that.”

“Yeah, well, you’re not the only one figuring things out, Ryan. I want, I need, to start living and not just existing.” Henry said somberly.

Ryan watched him as he moved his glass to his lips. Ryan was in love. He wasn’t going to go there and say it yet, that was definitely too much for both of them. But he knew it, he felt it deep in his bones.

Chapter 33

T
O SAY that Henry was a nervous wreck when they got to his parents’ house was the understatement of the century. It didn’t help that the typically calm and laid back Ryan, looked like he was just as nervous.

“You ready?” Ryan asked him as they climbed off the bike.

“No,” Henry laughed with no hint of humor in it.

“I know what you mean.”

“It’s making me more nervous because you are.”

“Sorry. I’ve met guys’ parents before, but this is different.” Ryan shrugged and turned his attention to the door.

Henry tugged at Ryan’s sleeve, pulling his attention back to his face. Henry just looked at him, hoping that Ryan understood. Henry had done the parent thing with girls before, so it was different in that respect. This, though, was different, for another reason; not just that Ryan was a guy. When he’d texted his sister earlier about it, she was extremely enthusiastic. She promised him it would go well. He knew Annie; she would be militant about keeping people in line. It wasn’t like he had to worry about many people. Julie and Tara, maybe… Pat without a doubt. He asked her what she would say to Louis and she’d told him for now, Ryan was Uncle Henry’s friend, until Henry told her to say otherwise. That was one of things that made her awesome. He needed to tell her that more often.

“You in there?” Ryan whispered as he stepped closer to him.

“Yeah, let’s do this.”

They began to walk to the door when Henry held out a hand to stop Ryan.

Ryan looked down to where Henry had an arm over his chest. “What’s up?”

“I have to tell you something.”

“Well that doesn’t sound good.”

“It’s just, my brother Pat-”

“You already warned me about him,” Ryan laughed, knocking Henry’s arm away. “I can handle him, I promise you.”

“What? No, that’s not it. Listen, he took my phone a while back and looked in it. He swears he only saw the picture that I sent you…” Henry trailed off, his face reddening.

“You’re afraid he saw my pictures or our messages.”

Henry tightened his jaw.

Ryan laughed, “Don’t worry about it. I don’t embarrass that easily. Well, at least not about things like that. It’s his own fault for looking. Just worry about it if he tells you he liked what he saw.”

“That’s not funny.” Henry frowned.

“It really is though. Come on handsome, let’s do this.”

“Seriously Ryan, don’t make jokes like that, it skeeves me out.” Henry said trailing behind him as they climbed the few steps up to the porch.

~~~~~

When they walked into the house Ryan wasn’t sure what to expect. He was pleasantly surprised. He was in Henry’s childhood home, the place where his best and worst memories were made. All of the people that meant everything to Henry were here in this house. He hoped he was included in that grouping. He wasn’t sure what Henry had told his family about him but he was willing to face any questions head on. It could be incredibly uncomfortable but he would do it regardless. He wanted the night to go as well as possible. Henry’s sister Annie was the first person he saw.

“Hey guys!” She said as she approached. She hugged Henry and then turned and to Ryan’s surprise hugged him as well.

“Hi.”

“Ryan this Henry’s nephew, Louis.”

Ryan bent down to greet the young man. He was a handsome kid. Clearly good looks ran in this family. Ryan could see him playing with Cooper and the twins.

Getting ahead of yourself much?

“Hi Louis, I’m Ryan. Nice to meet you.”

“Nice to meet you, too,” Louis held out his hand and when Ryan took it the kid gave it a vigorous shake. Ryan laughed and stood back up. Louis said hello to Henry before taking off around a corner somewhere.

“Daddy’s sleeping.” Annie said looking at Henry.

“Oh okay, we’ll go in later.” Henry turned directing his comment to Ryan.

“Sure.”

“Mommy, Henry and Ryan are here!” Annie yelled over her shoulder. “Come sit down, want something to drink?”

Ryan laughed, he really liked Annie.

“I’m going to have a beer, can I get you guys one?”

“Cool?” Henry asked him.

“Yeah, that sounds great. Thanks.” Ryan knew Henry wasn’t just asking if it was cool for more than one reason. He appreciated it, but he felt a little awkward too. He would probably feel better if he knew what Henry had told them, if anything. He hadn’t bothered to ask because it didn’t matter to him. He would still want to be here with Henry.

“She never waits on me like this; I need to bring you around more often.” Henry winked at him.

Ryan’s insides warmed instantaneously. At that moment, a petite, middle-aged woman rounded the corner; she had a dish towel slung over her shoulder and a glass of wine in her hand.

“Well, you must be Ryan. I’m Frannie. It’s nice to meet you. My goodness, Henry didn’t tell me how cute you were. Actually he told me nothing at all so I guess you’ll have to at dinner.”

“Kill me now.” Henry muttered.

Frannie made the sign of the cross. Ryan had to laugh; something told him this family was a bit lax in their Catholicism. He was fine with that; he had grown up Protestant. Annie came back with their beers and sat down at the dining room table with them, beer in her own hand as well. Henry asked, in a roundabout way, “I never talked to Julie.”

“Yeah, I know. I did.”

Henry fidgeted a bit in his chair. He knew that was Henry’s youngest sister. He also knew from conversations with Henry that she was “Team Jackie.”

“And?”

“Don’t worry about her. She tried acting like she was pissed that you weren’t the one to tell her but you know her, she doesn’t care.”

“I’m not sure that’s entirely true.”

“Well, it really doesn’t matter does it?” Annie shrugged tipping her head back to chug her beer.

“What about Pat? I suppose he told Tara.”

Annie rolled her eyes. “Yes. Oh, and what the hell is going on with them? I didn’t want to say anything before, but I kid you not, every time I see them they are either arguing or giving each other the stink eye.”

Ryan raised his eyebrows, not sure what to make of that response and that information. He knew what the deal was with Tara when it came to her cousin. He would hate to think that Henry’s personal life was having an impact on his brother’s marriage. He knew the kind of guilt Henry would feel as a result.

“I know what you mean, I don’t know. I’ve wanted to ask him a few times. I’m a selfish prick, I was too caught up in my own shit to get involved in his. Fuck, I hope she doesn’t cause a scene.”

“Oh trust me, that won’t happen. We can ask him about it later. I’m getting pretty good at this intervention stuff.” Annie reassured him with a cocky grin. Ryan raised an eyebrow at that declaration. Annie turned to address him. “Ryan, trust me when I tell you that we’re really happy you came tonight.”

“Thanks, that means a lot. I’m glad I’m here.” He smiled at her and then turned his smile to Henry.

“Oh God, you two gonna make puppy love eyes at each other all night? Because if so, I need to drink more. I don’t need any more reminders that I’m a lonely old maid.” She said finishing off her beer. They both laughed at her. Ryan wasn’t making any promises.

~~~~~

Dinner was going well, for the most part. Tara and Julie had been clearly standoffish. They greeted Ryan and Henry but it had been curt and then they disappeared. Henry was pissed at Julie, her loyalty should be with him and not Tara, but he wasn’t going to go there tonight. Pat had been his usual self from the moment he walked in.

They were eating dessert, strawberry shortcake, which made Henry think of that dream he’d had about Ryan awhile back. He would need to tell him that story at some point. Right now though, he needed to jump into the conversation because if he didn’t he would continue to think about the dream and that would not be a good thing sitting at his mother’s dinner table. Henry’s mother had talked Ryan’s ear off; she went from telling him about the salon to sharing embarrassing stories from Henry’s childhood. She also encouraged Ryan to talk about himself. He told her about his family and where he was from. She was fascinated by his job but her maternal instincts kicked in and she focused on the danger of it and how his poor mother must be scared to death. Ryan had just finished telling them about his new job when the unthinkable happened.

“Are you my Uncle Henry’s boyfriend?”

The table was silent with the exception of Pat clearing his throat and Annie’s fork clanking against her plate.

Ryan looked at Henry. Henry had no idea what to say. He wasn’t intending to hide anything, but he was sure if this was the appropriate time to have this discussion with a little kid. Ryan gave him a subtle shrug. He looked at Annie and she smiled and gave an imperceptible nod.

Henry looked at Louis, “Yes, he is.” He exhaled and just stared at his nephew. Not sure what was going to come next.

“Yeah, I thought so.”

Annie piped up, “Why did you think so?”

“Because I saw him on Uncle Henry’s motorcycle.”

They all looked confused. It seemed as if they were going to let it be. That was until Pat chimed in. “That makes no sense, little man.”

Annie gave Pat a death glare.

Louis rolled his eyes, “Uncle Pat, only boyfriends and girlfriends ride on the backs of motorcycles. My friend Joseph told me that.”

“Gotcha,” Pat laughed.

It was still a head scratcher but he was seven, to him, it was logical.

After they were done, the guys cleaned up as usual. Ryan insisted on helping, Frannie had been adamant that he not because he was a guest. Ryan came back with an answer that pretty much told Henry that Ryan had earned the respect of his mother. Henry and Pat were picking up dishes, while Louis was gathering silverware. When Ryan walked over to his mother and tried to take her plate she tugged it back.

He leaned down a little and put a hand on her shoulder. “Now Frannie, you wouldn’t want me to believe you thought I was one of the girls?” It was clearly said in good humor and it was obvious that Frannie knew that because she burst out laughing. She handed her plate over to him and patted the hand that was still on her shoulder; Ryan had won her over. Henry had to turn and go into the kitchen. He couldn’t contain the ear to ear smile that was plastered on his face and he knew if Pat saw it, he would never hear the end of it.

When they were done Henry, Pat, Annie and Ryan went outside while Ryan smoked a cigarette. Pat had bummed one from him.

“Tara is going to kill you, Pat.”

His brother nodded around the burning cigarette pressed between his lips. “It’ll be worth it.” Pat mumbled around it.

Henry shook his head and laughed.

“I don’t want to get you in trouble.” Ryan told Pat.

“Don’t worry about it, Ryan. He always seems to be in trouble.” Annie said looking a bit morose.

Henry grimaced; he didn’t like the sound of that. They said things like that to Pat all the time, but it was always jokingly. That didn’t sound remotely humorous. Pat shrugged a shoulder. Ryan didn’t say anything. Henry made a mental note to get some answers from Pat and soon.

When they went back inside, Henry took Ryan in to meet his father. Annie had told him to go in and closed the sliding doors behind them. Henry could just see her standing guard outside the door. It would have been amusing if Henry wasn’t so unnerved by the situation. Pat Sr. was finally awake. Henry was shaking, he wasn’t sure if Ryan could tell but he was. This was a bigger deal than he’d let himself accept. Henry pulled a chair close to the bed and gestured for Ryan to sit down. He sat on the edge of the bed, close to his father’s hip. Henry pressed the button to make the top of the bed come up higher.

He had to clear his throat several times before he could produce words. “Hey Pop.” Henry dropped the remote and leaned closer to kiss his father’s forehead. He looked at Ryan. Ryan gave him a gentle, reassuring smile.

“Pop, I want you to meet someone. This is my friend Ryan.” Henry wasn’t sure what to expect from Ryan. He’d explained the state that his father was in after Ryan had said he would come to dinner. He’d answered the few questions that Ryan had asked, but Ryan gave no clue as to how he felt about this.

Ryan stood and moved closer to the bed and to Henry. “Hi Mr. Hayes, it’s very nice to meet you. You have a wonderful family. You must be very proud of them all.” Then Ryan reached out and wrapped his hand around Pat Senior’s.  That was lying flat on his stomach. Henry looked down and watched as Ryan gave it a firm grasp. Then he let go and looked to Henry. Nothing could have prepared Henry for impact of that, or for how he would react. Henry began to sob, tears streamed uncontrollably down his face. Ryan came to him and hugged him.

It had been cathartic to say the least. Having Ryan meet his father, was like opening some doors and closing others. He had no other way to describe it. All he wanted now was to go home, with Ryan. He just wanted to lie down and have Ryan hold him. It would take some time to process everything but Henry was ready to do just that. His mother had asked him to take the trash out to the bin in the shed before he left. He was doing just that when he heard irate, raised voices coming from of the side of the house. Henry stopped in his tracks and leaned against the siding.