Mom narrowed her eyes, tapping her red nails on her arm. “You’re protecting him.”
“Yeah. So what if I am? He’s my brother.”
“He’s a cheap, sick pervert.” Mom spat. “You don’t believe me, do you? When you were a child, Eric, when you were a child, that boy masturbated and left his scent on you. He’s a child molester. He’s a criminal. He should be locked up!”
Olivier had? That, Eric didn’t know. He tucked that information away to ask Ollie later. “You never told me about it. You should’ve.”
“I was protecting you!” Mom scowled. “You should be thanking me.”
“Why do you hate him so much?”
“I’ve just told you!”
“You could’ve taught him things,” Eric said, his heart heavy. “It’s not like he’s a bad guy. He’s your son.”
“He’s not my son,” Mom said, her lips quivering. “He doesn’t belong at all in this family.”
Eric froze. How could she say all this about Olivier? How had he never known? “He’s my brother.”
“He’s better off dead,” Mom said.
Eric turned then, his ears ringing, his heart pounding so hard he couldn’t think. “I don’t believe this.”
“Don’t ever bring him here,” Mom said. “I’ll not have him under my roof. He’ll contaminate your daughter, just you watch.”
She stalked up the driveway. Then she slammed the front door, and Jenn babbled, reaching out for Eric.
Woodenly, he turned to the car. Looked at Jenn, who was smiling up at him. “Sorry you had to hear that,” Eric said, feeling as though he were someone else watching all this unfold. “Let’s get you home, yeah?”
Jenn smiled, her upper tooth a small white nub. At least, the teething had paused and she’d stopped crying.
The drive back passed in a whirl. Mostly, Eric thought about his mother, remembering the times she’d laughed with him and Cole and Aaron. He thought about her driving them to music class, he thought about her excitement when he’d gotten into that special pre-college program in Highton.
She was someone he’d loved, and respected.
Then he remembered He’s better off dead, and his mind went blank. How did you even treat your son like that? Sure, Ollie was her stepson. But this?
Olivier had known, hadn’t he? He’d refused to accompany Eric to pick up the last of his things.
How long had he suffered that sort of abuse? Why had he never told Eric?
How could Mom smile at Eric, then turn around and say shit like that about Olivier?
When Eric pulled up to Ollie’s apartment, Ollie was standing just outside the elevator lobby, his arms wrapped around himself, his nose pink from the cold. He hurried down to where Eric parked, a hesitant smile on his face.
“I hope you got all your things,” Ollie said, waving at Jenn through the car window. “I’ve made space in my closet for the rest of your clothes, and I’ve—”
Eric caught Ollie’s face in his hands, and kissed him hard on the lips.
Olivier squawked, squirming out of his grasp. “Eric!”
He looked around the parking lot, his cheeks red. There wasn’t anyone around, save for a random neighbor that Eric didn’t recognize. Ollie hurried to Eric’s trunk, his head tucked down.
Gods, he was cute when he was flustered. Knowing what Olivier had lived through, the sort of torment he’d dealt with alone, Eric had a new appreciation for his omega. He stopped next to Ollie, stroking Ollie’s back. “Could you carry Jenn? I’ll do these boxes. They’re heavy.”
Olivier bit his lip, glancing uncertainly at Eric. “You trust me with her?”
“Yeah, I do.”
Eric opened the back door, unfastening Jenn’s seatbelt. Then he lifted her out of the booster seat. “See, you scoop her up like that and support her bottom. She might squirm, so hang on tight.”
Olivier winced, eyeing Jenn. “What if I drop her?”
“You won’t. Here, try it.” Eric set Jenn back into the car seat. Jenn whined, reaching for Eric.
Olivier sucked in a deep breath, grimacing when he reached in to pick her up. He held her gingerly, lifted her, and whimpered when Jenn kicked her legs.
“Almost there,” Eric said, squeezing Ollie’s waist.
Olivier leaned Jenn against himself. Eric helped arrange Ollie’s grip so it would be easier to support her weight.
“There,” Eric said when Jenn was settled into Ollie’s arms. “You’ve got it.”
Olivier looked anxiously at him, his arms wrapped stiffly around Jenn. “I—I should get her upstairs.”
“Yeah. I’ll come with you.” Eric hefted a couple boxes into his arms, then walked with Ollie to the elevator lobby. Jenn squealed at the red light of the elevator buttons, reaching for them. Olivier sucked in a deep breath, balancing her in his arms.
Watching him, Eric thought about how very different Olivier was, from the picture his mother had painted. He’s a criminal, Mom had said.
No, Ollie wasn’t a criminal. Not when he was looking nervously at Jenn, his arms stiff around her, as though she was something entirely alien.
When they arrived at the apartment, Eric unlocked the doors. He moved the boxes in, then took Jenn out of Ollie’s arms.
“That was nerve-wracking,” Olivier said weakly, leaning into Eric’s side. “I’ve never... carried a baby before.”
“You’re getting practice now,” Eric said, pressing a kiss to his temple. “Best to learn before yours gets here, right?”
Olivier glanced down at his belly, his gaze soft. “Yeah,” he said quietly. “I do need the practice.”
It’s not my baby, Eric thought. But it was still Olivier’s child. “I mentioned to Mom that I was moving in with you.”
Olivier grimaced. “You did?”
“Yeah. She said a few things.”
“Oh.” Olivier shuffled away, looking at everywhere but Eric. He knew what Eric had heard. He’s a prostitute, Mom’s voice whispered.
“You were seeing someone over Christmas?” Eric asked casually.
Olivier met his eyes for a second. “What else did she tell you?”
“She said you did it for money.”
Olivier blew out a breath. “Yes, I did.” He shrugged. “It wasn’t worth
