Love is Always Write Anthology Volume 5

called Muskoka, driving around in the back of a Mercedes, looking at trees and rocks and trying to figure it all out. Aiden's family had kept a summer home there since before he was born, friends and family from all over the States coming together every summer at their Canadian "compound". It sounded very Kennedy-esque to Cade. Not his scene at all. But Aiden had asked, and it had seemed important to him. And Cade wanted so badly to be a part of Aiden's life, a part that would be missed if it weren't there. He wanted to make himself indispensable, and the first step toward that goal was probably to keep Aiden from realizing how much easier life was without an insecure, overly-serious boyfriend at hand.
    "You okay back there?" Aiden asked, turning around and reaching a hand back to grip Cade's knee. "You're being really quiet."
    "Sorry," Cade said. "But you guys have lots to catch up on, right?"
    Aiden grinned at his mom, then shook his head. "Yeah, I guess it'd be kind of hard for you to join in on our big gossip-fest. You'll meet them all soon enough." Cade tried to smile, as if meeting "them all" was going to be a treat, not an ordeal. Aiden shifted sideways so he could speak to his mom and maintain eye contact with Cade. "You should have seen Cade's marks on his finals, mom. He kicked serious ass." A knee squeeze was Cade's reward.
    "We were pleased with your results as well, Aiden. A definite improvement over last year."
    "That was Cade, dragging me to the library all the time. I swear, all he ever does is study." A wicked look, and Aiden added, "Well, almost all he ever does."
    Cade cast his eyes out the window again, trying to keep his face calm. It was inexplicable, how bold and comfortable Aiden was with all this. Teasing and flirting, right in front of his mother. Cade had no idea what he'd been thinking, agreeing to this trip.
    Aiden let Cade fade out of the conversation again, but he kept his hand stretched back, and after a few minutes, Cade brought his own fingers up to intertwine with Aiden's. Aiden squeezed reassuringly and smiled back at him, and everything seemed okay again. This woman, this car, this place, and the people Cade was going to have to deal with when they arrived: none of that was important. The only real thing was the grip of Aiden's fingers, the warm strength that told Cade that this was where he belonged, no matter where this happened to be.
    He reconsidered his equanimity when the big car eased off the dirt road into a graveled parking area and he saw how many other cars there were. And then how many people , pouring out from the huge wooden house, swarming around from the sides of the building, some even fading in from the surrounding forest, like elves drawn to a campfire. Jesus. Cade was born and raised in the city, and he was used to crowds, but not like this. He was used to strangers, ignoring him as he did the same to them. These people were surrounding the car, and when Aiden threw his door open, some of them actually cheered.
    "You made it!"
    "Finally! It's about time you got here!"
    "You need to see the new boat—it totally rocks!"
    A silver-haired man edged his way forward and opened his arms for a hug. "Good to see you, son."
    Aiden moved into the embrace easily, but didn't stay there for long before breaking away and smiling at the crowd. "Damn, you're all here! It's good to see everybody." He looked around as if confused, then ducked to peer into the car and see Cade still sitting there. He grinned and pulled the door open. "Fresh blood, guys. But be nice to him, he's shy."
    Cade wanted to shrink back to the other side of the car, wanted to maybe burrow down into the upholstery like a squirrel in the attic, make a nest for himself and never come out. But he had just enough pride to let him force a smile onto his face and step out onto the gravel. "Hi," he managed, and then Aiden's arm was around his shoulder, pulling him in snug and safe.
    "You're fine, baby," Aiden whispered, and then, right there in front of them all, he kissed Cade's temple. It was just quick, wouldn't have been out of place between siblings, but they weren't siblings, and everybody knew that, and Cade waited for the disapproving grumbles. They never came. Instead, Aiden's father stepped forward and extended his hand, and when Cade reached out his own, the older man grabbed hold and pulled him forward into a hug, as warm and friendly as the one he'd given his son.
    "Cade Martin, everybody," he