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1697 Words
When Trace got back to the towers, he silently made his way up to the floor where he, Russell, and David all lived. Their floor was set up for three guards, but any intruders still had to go through the three men before getting to the main family’s floor. Walking into the apartment, he saw two pairs of shoes by the door, indicating that everyone else had gone home except for Jaxon and Lukas. Taking a breather to straighten out his thoughts, he leaned against the hallway wall. He was about to walk into the kitchen when he heard Jaxon sob. Deciding to hang back a minute, Trace listened in.
"Hey, he's going to be okay," Lukas said as he rubbed his friend’s back. "I know my brother, Jax. He's going to pull through this just fine."
Jaxon nodded, "I'm just... I can't get the image of him lying on the floor like that out of my head. How could he do that to his own family, Luke? How can someone try to kill their family over something they can't even help? That’s so heartless."
Trace rubbed his heart. Jaxon was right, and he'd nearly been one of those heartless people had David not verbally kicked his ass about it. Letting out the breath he didn't know he was holding, he continued to watch them.
"I know that there's plenty of fish in the sea, and he can be so overbearing at times, but I know that his fear is real. It's just like my anxiety - there's no way to really turn it off once it hits you like a ten-ton truck."
Lukas laughed, "That's the most accurate description of anxiety I've ever heard. Watch out, I'm going to get the garlic bread out of the oven."
Trace watched as Jaxon rubbed the tears from his face. His heart went out to the teen while he noted the way the two stepped around one another. A perfected dance that allowed them to move without being in each other's way.
"Ohh, nice job," Jaxon laughed. "The sauce is done. Do you think that your dad will like it? I mean, he's probably never eaten my dad's cooking, and I used his recipe."
"I wouldn't worry about it. Dad's used to eating crap cooking. Well, except for his own, but it did take him a while to learn how to not burn water," Lukas grunted.
"Oh? So that's where you get your cooking skills?" Jaxon taunted lightly.
Smiling, Trace recalled the time the boys attempted to make him breakfast in bed. Their mother had been gone a few months by then. His blood ran cold for a few heartbeats as he realized what Lukas had said. If Lukas could remember that far back, what did his brother recollect? What secrets was Markus hiding to the point that he was projecting his fears onto his boyfriend?
"Ow, damn it," Jaxon muttered as the scalding water from the other pot splashed back on him. "Here, you’re taller than me, so can you pour it?"
"Sure," Lukas said as he grabbed the pot and poured the contents into the colander. Snickering, Lukas said, "You know, I knew you had a crush on Mark for ages. I thought you were going to lose it the day he made the first move and kissed you."
Trace suddenly felt compelled to find out more about the relationship that started two years before. He'd heard plenty from his son, but nothing from Jaxon's point of view.
"So what? You were crushing on my sister for the longest time," Jaxon shot back.
Trace peeked around the corner only to see Lukas flick the drying towel at his best friend.
"Stay still, you freaking shrimp," Lukas said as Jaxon dodged.
"Make me!"
Lukas smirked, a foreign light seeping into his grey eyes. "Why don't you just leave him? I mean, he's always jealous over every little thing, so why not show him what he's losing."
Interesting question, Trace thought as he continued to listen.
"I can't."
"Why not?"
Smiling while tears gathered in his eyes, Jaxon said, "I know what it feels like to be abandoned. I can't do that to him. Not that my family or the team would ever do it, but I know what it is to lose someone you think is going to be around forever."
Trace felt the truth of Jaxon’s words. The same darkness had clawed away at his self-control for years. The pain of loss echoed so deep in his soul that not even alcohol could burn away the memories.
Lukas let out a shuddering breath. "You know, my father doesn't know that Mark and I used to hear everything when they fought. He never hurt her, but my mom always blamed him for things he didn't do. You're right, though, we were abandoned by our mother. The day she left, she threw the fact that she was only with him for his money in his face. I don't think he saw us in the hall of the old house when she said she never wanted us either."
"That's awful! Why would she do that?" Jaxon asked, his voice laced with shock.
Shrugging, Lukas said, "I'd never seen my dad so broken before, but what she said to him that day... Let's just say that I can't pity a woman who has no heart."
Fisting the material of his shirt, Trace held back a sob. He didn’t know that the boys had heard and seen everything. Markus, being older, acted like nothing happened. He always acted so strong all the while shouldering a massive amount of pain.
Stepping from the darkened hall, Trace cleared his throat. "What else did you overhear all those years ago?"
Lukas froze, his hand inches from the plate of bread. "How much of that did you hear?"
"I heard enough to know that I seriously need to get you and your brother into counselling. This can't keep going, Luke. My problems are not your problems. Yes, I get that she was your mother, but I had no idea you heard anything."
Jaxon bit his lip as Trace turned his eyes to him.
"And you," Trace began. Holding out his hand, he pulled the teen into his arms. "Thank you for being there for them. I know it can't have been easy dealing with your issues and Mark's all this time."
"It's not so bad," Jaxon replied as he stepped back. The awkwardness in the atmosphere was making him nervous. He gestured to the table. "I made dinner."
Lukas pulled out his chair and sat down. "How's Mark doing?"
"No permanent damage, at least that Amber could see. She gave him something to help him sleep and is keeping him overnight," his father replied as he sat down. Reaching for the food, Trace smirked at his son. "We're forgoing grace tonight. I'm too stressed and hungry."
"Are you sure it's not because I told you Jax was an Atheist?" Lukas questioned.
Smacking his friend's arm, Jaxon gasped. "I never said you could tell on me!"
"Oh, screw off, and don't even think about making a joke out of that," Lukas grunted as he passed the Parmesan to his father. "I still can't get that last one out of my head."
Confused, Trace eyed the two teens. "What happened?"
Jaxon grinned. "He told me to suck a sausage, so I told him I would, but his brother wasn't around."
"Yup. Nope," Trace plugged his ears. "Nope, I totally did not hear that at all. Does your father know you got a s****l sense of humour?"
"Where do you think he gets it from?" Lukas snickered. “David’s just as bad.”
Trace joined in on their laughter, his heart a little lighter than when he’d overheard the conversation. Overheard? Yeah, whatever. He straight up eavesdropped and he knew it.
He looked between the two boys, his eyes lingering on the one his oldest son was in love with—the one Markus was slowly pushing away with his overbearing jealousy. Jaxon wasn’t a bad kid. In fact, he was perfectly fine the way he was. There was just the small issue of him not standing up for himself. It was going to be a huge problem if the kid didn’t start soon.
Taking a bite of the food, his train of thought stopped. The spaghetti sauce was perfectly seasoned, and the meat wasn’t overcooked. He groaned, savoring the flavors. Looking over at Jaxon, he asked, “Where did you learn how to cook?”
The tips of his ears were red as Jaxon looked down at his plate. “Is something wrong with the food?”
“Not at all,” Trace replied as he ate another mouthful. “It’s better than anything I can make.”
His face reddening even more, Jaxon lowered his head. “My dad taught me. Um, Lukas and I… Um, we got some holiday homework to do.”
“You’ve got two weeks, guys. Look, both of you can come with me to pick up Markus in the morning. He’s being released tomorrow.”
Dumbstruck by the offer, Jaxon silently nodded.
Lukas grunted as he reached for another piece of garlic bread. “Stop it.”
“I’m not doing anything,” Jaxon said defensively.
“Exactly,” Lukas said. “You’re not speaking up.”
Trace watched carefully as Jaxon took a breath. He was waiting for an explosion, but it appeared that Jaxon liked defying expectation.
“I’m not speaking up because your father is right,” Jaxon argued.
Narrowing his eyes, Lukas grunted. “You’re just trying to stay on his good side.”
“To quote my brother-in-law, he has a good side?” Jaxon goaded.
Shaking his head, Trace realized that their friendship was a lot of give and take. Jaxon calmed Lukas, keeping his temper in check as much as he could. Lukas, on the other hand, forced Jaxon to rise above his quiet nature and fight back. With a friendship that strong, he didn’t think anything could break it.
He hoped it never happened.
- Writer
