With Abandon: With or Without, Book 4

“Okay, okay. I’m sleeping.” He made a fake snoring sound,
    and mumbled, “Can’t believe you get on to me for jumping on the bed when you do it.”
    Logan bit his lip, trying not to laugh. “Time to switch to code.”
    Yeah, no kidding. Matt didn’t want to explain sex to his younger brother. He may be a surrogate
    parent in a lot of ways, but he was not going to have the talk . He’d discuss things with his brothers after Dad did the explaining.
    “How’d they react?”
    “Keaton got pissed at Aubrey. He accused him of taking advantage.” Matt was glad it was dark out
    here, because he knew darn well he was blushing.
    “Did Aubrey tell him the truth?”
    “No.” Matt winced at the abruptness of his response. It wasn’t Logan’s fault Aubrey was a jerk. God,
    he wanted to hit something. And that so wasn’t like him. Which was another thing he had Aubrey to thank for.
    “Hmm…” Logan looked back out at the yard, his face screwed up in thought. “And you’re pissed
    about that?”
    “No. Yes. I don’t know. I’m mad at way more than that.” Matt sighed and laid his head all the way
    back, staring up at the porch awning. He wasn’t sure about anything anymore. Everything was so crazy. His mom was gone. Aubrey had not only lied to him again, he clearly had no room, or desire, for Matt in his life.
    “Come on, bro. Talk to me.” Logan rubbed Matt’s arm affectionately.
    He told Logan how Aubrey planned on marrying and how he omitted having three forms. “Everything
    about our relationship is a lie. His dad said I had to let him figure it out on his own, but—”
    “Wait. Back up. What’s this about his dad?”
    Matt relayed the entire talk he’d had with Howard to his brother.
    Logan was quiet for several moments. “So Aubrey isn’t the only one keeping secrets?”
    Turning his head, Matt glared at his brother. Not telling what Howard said wasn’t the same thing at
    all.
    Logan sighed. “Cut the guy some slack, Matthew. He has a high-stress job and a lot of responsibility.
    He doesn’t seem the type to just open up and tell everyone his business. Informing everyone he’s gay can’t be easy, especially knowing it might hinder his job. And honestly, he sure doesn’t seem inclined to get 170
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    With Abandon
    married. He may’ve told his mom that, but if he were serious about it, wouldn’t he be looking already? He doesn’t seem like the kind of guy to make rash decisions. The beginning of the year isn’t that far away.”
    “Just because he lies to himself too doesn’t make it right.” Matt stared out at the backyard. The
    tension in his shoulders was beginning to make his neck hurt. He rolled them, trying to relax. He’d come out here to sit with his brothers and forget about everything for a while. “I can’t live like that. I can’t take the lies. Mo—um, you know who, lies. I don’t want that kind of a relationship. I’d rather be alone.”
    Logan snorted. “From what you’ve told me, he is nothing like her. He sounds confused, not mean or
    hateful. He doesn’t seem like someone who uses people and discards them. He cares or he wouldn’t give a damn if his personal life affected anyone else.”
    “Well he sure as heck doesn’t seem to give a fig how his decisions affect me,” Matt snapped out.
    “Bullshit. Think about it, Matt. If that were true, he’d have told you he planned on getting married and having a family aside from you in the first place. But that’s a moot point. I don’t think he ever intended to carry through with the plan. I think he’s confused as hell and doesn’t know how to deal with it. Hell, when was the last time she ever bought…” he glanced down at Scott, “… her mate a present just for the hell of it?
    Aubrey takes you places, and he buys you things. He spends time with you. She never did those things.
    Baseball was the only thing she and her mate had in common.”
    Baseball? What the—? Matt stared at his brother. Their mom hated sports. “What’re you talking
    about? Baseball?”
    Logan groaned. “Code, Matthew. Work with me here. You know…first base, second base, third base,
    home run? It’s a euphemism.”
    Matt rolled his eyes and groaned. “You dork.”
    “Yeah well. It’s true, and you know it.”
    “I don’t think they’re mates.” Matt glanced down at Scott. He was asleep. “They got married because
    she was pregnant with…me.”
    “I came to that conclusion too.”