Hurricane Reese Page 21

  “My father said only my God would judge me and that he didn’t think he would judge me because I’ve lived a good life. I have lived a good life. I’ve fought with myself for years because I couldn’t find resolution with my faith and who I am. It’s not like I thought I’d go to hell for being gay or anything, but I finally had to stop listening to the Bible literalists who tried to tell me it was a sin. If things feel wrong, I don’t do them. That’s how I live my life.” He turned slowly to look at Reese. “I never felt wrong about you, how I felt being with you.”

  Reese felt his own frown melt a little at Jude’s confession. “I’m glad.” But then he didn’t want to interrupt. He wanted Jude to keep talking.

  “What I did feel wrong about was being dishonest with my family and your grandfather. That’s where I felt I’d sinned. I may not go to church much anymore, Reese, but my faith is still strong. We’re not religious nuts. At least I’m not. We’re Filipino and Catholic. We have strong traditions. I probably should have explained that a bit—”

  “No, Jude. That was me being an ass. An ignorant ass. I’m so sorry.”

  Jude chuckled and looked away. Hope bloomed in Reese’s chest.

  “Hurricane Reese,” Jude murmured. He turned back to Reese with a smile. That was it. Reese couldn’t stand it. He held out a hand, and the millisecond it took Jude to take it nearly broke him. But he kept control. He merely gave Jude’s hand a squeeze.

  “Thank you for coming back to stay with Grandpa. It means a lot to us both.”

  “You’ll be there. This arrangement can’t keep you from seeing your grandfather.”

  Reese shrugged. Could he come to the house and exist in the same space with Jude and not give in to his desires?

  “I don’t want to crowd you. I’ll see him, but I won’t live there. I know I won’t be in your life again as we were, so I don’t want to invade your space.” That was not at all what Reese wanted, but he’d do what he had to in order to make up for his huge disaster—to make it up to Grandpa and Jude.

  “You don’t know a damn thing, Reese Matheson.”

  Jude tugged Reese to him, and their lips met in a tentative kiss that just about buckled his legs. Reese wanted to fall to his knees and beg. He’d told himself he’d be content with the situation—he’d have to be if he had any hope of repairing what had gone so wrong. But Jude’s kiss made him want everything they’d had and so much more.

  When Jude pulled away, his eyes remained closed for a moment. When he opened them, Reese fought every physical urge and remained still.

  “Don’t stay away. Let’s try to do it right this time.”

  “I want to do right by you, Jude. I promise, I’ll—”

  “Just be, Reese. I don’t want you to do anything. No promises or declarations. I just need you to be.”

  Reese was willing to do just about anything, even if he had no clue how.

  They held hands as they walked back up the beach and the lights embedded into the stairs illuminated their path. Reese wished he could stop time and hold on to his hope that he and Jude might climb the right path this time.

  Chapter Thirty-Two

  JUDE AND Bailey moved into the house on New Year’s Day. Their parents wanted them all under the same roof until it was time to go back to school. They spent that time catching up on their lives since the last time they had seen their parents. Jude loved having his family back together. He’d been lonely without his parents and his siblings on a daily basis.

  Bailey received a stern talking to about moving in with Jude.

  “You will behave for your brother, and you will be respectful of Mr. Matheson and his needs.”

  “Of course I will, Papa. I’m not going to screw up. I swear. You can trust me.”

  “Jude is in charge. You do what he says.”

  “I got it. I got it.”

  “And both of you boys will come to dinner once a week, at least, at our new place and once on the weekends with the whole family. Now that we’re back, family needs each other.”

  Jude cringed a little at that agreement. Things were fine, but he wasn’t sure he wanted a weekly family gathering. That might be too much family.

  Bailey was off-the-chain excited about having his own room. At seventeen years old, he’d always shared—first with Jude, then with Brianna and their little cousin. Jude got a kick out of watching Bailey organize his things and arrange them over and over until he was fully satisfied.

  Mr. Matheson loved having fresh blood in the house to convert to his music, and he loved having someone who laughed at his jokes. Bailey hooked up his Xbox to the giant TV in Mr. Matheson’s room, and Reese bought Bailey a gamer chair that could easily be pushed out of the way if necessary. Once Bailey taught Mr. Matheson how to play Call of Duty, Jude had to fight with them nightly to get them to go to bed.

  The preproduction of The Boy on the Corner was in full swing, and Reese and Toby spent long hours every day at the venue they’d selected in Santa Monica. Reese came over in the evenings and spent time with his grandfather, and Toby came along most of the time. Bailey listened intently and asked a lot of questions as they talked about the planning and choreography.

  Jude and Reese had no alone time, which was good, Jude supposed. But it sucked. Royally. He could hardly stand it. Reese would move close to him, brush against him as he passed. He smelled so good. They shared glances and private smiles. On a few mornings, Reese even came over early to surf, and Jude had to endure his wetsuit maneuvers. He got caught ogling more than once. Reese seemed to enjoy the torture, but Jude couldn’t help but wonder if he was losing interest. He hadn’t spoken any reassuring words. In his defense, it wasn’t as if they’d had any private conversations, but Jude thought just maybe he’d been a passing fancy, and Reese had moved on. But then Reese would wink at him, touch his hand accidentally-on-purpose, and Jude’s heart would flutter again.

  One morning Jude let his curiosity get the better of him, and he decided to take Reese a surprise lunch. Kyla came over to stay with Mr. Matheson while the physical therapist was scheduled to visit. Jude hugged her, and she followed him to the door.

  “So what’s going on with you two? I asked Reese, and he just said he was trying to do things right this time. What the hell does that mean?”

  Jude sighed. “I wish I knew. If doing things right means being a huge tease, I’m all for being wrong.”

  Kyla burst out laughing. “Jude, I’ve never heard you talk like this. If I didn’t know any better, I’d think you were sexually frustrated, but—”

  “But what? You try spending time in that man’s wake. He must secrete, like, industrial-strength pheromones.”

  “He must if he’s got you in such a state. You’re the picture of self-control, Jude. What’re you going to do?”

  He had no clue. “I guess I’m headed into the eye of the storm.”

  REESE AND Toby finished meeting with Jesse and her assistants to go over the final choreography and plans for casting. Auditions for dancers were in two days, and there was excitement in the air. They’d hired phenomenal musicians, and Reese couldn’t have been happier.

  They’d decided to cast all unknowns because they didn’t want it to be a vehicle for anyone. The story needed to be told for many reasons—for his grandfather’s music, for a love story that ended abruptly, and for the many people who refused to accept what they were and who they loved because they feared reprisals. No more. No one should have to be afraid to be with the person they loved. People deserved to love and be loved by someone special—someone like Jude.

  It was painful to leave the house every night. Thankfully Reese had the show to keep him occupied or he would have fallen apart and forgotten his resolution to do things right this time. He’d give it until the end of the show, and if Jude didn’t make a move, he would assume they were finished.

  Oh, he flirted. He couldn’t help that. It was in his nature to flirt. And he could tell Jude was affected, but he never said a word. What did t
hat mean? It wasn’t like they had any privacy, but it was getting harder and harder to be around Jude without getting harder and harder. He brought Toby over to act as a buffer or he’d have Jude up against a wall.

  He couldn’t think like that. It was unproductive—like the boner he was sporting. Great. He had four more hours of rehearsal before he could head to the cottage.

  He’d always had music to keep him focused, to be his outlet. He poured his heart out in song. So he would drill those guys through the entire show for the rest of the afternoon and see if that didn’t get his head on straight.

  “Mr. Matheson?” His production assistant Carly stood at the edge of the orchestra pit. “You have a visitor.” She looked up into the seats, and Reese followed her gaze.

  “A visitor, huh,” Dwayne commented. Dwayne had been in bands with Reese since college, and was a mutual friend of his and Toby’s. And he loved to give Reese shit whenever possible.

  “Yeah.” Reese ignored Dwayne’s teasing when he saw Jude standing in the dim light with two white paper bags and a nervous expression.

  “I brought you lunch,” Jude said. He shifted on his feet, and his eyes darted around as though he might run if someone said boo. Reese would chase him down if he did. Reese licked his lips. It was the opening he’d been waiting for.

  “I’ll be right out,” Reese said, and then he excused himself. He told the rest of the group to take a nice long lunch break. They’d been trying to hide their exhaustion for the past half hour, and a grateful moan followed Reese out of the pit. He hurried to the seating area and ignored shouts for his attention. Hurricane Reese was on course, and nothing was going to get in his way.

  When he stood before Jude, he could barely contain himself.

  “You came. You brought me lunch.”

  Jude nodded and cleared his throat. “I didn’t know if you’d been eating very well. I just wanted—”

  “Follow me.” Reese was no longer able to maintain a modicum of cool. He grabbed Jude by the arm, spun him around, leading him up the ramp and out of the auditorium. He took a right up the steps to the balcony, which he knew would be deserted. The lighting crew wouldn’t be back until auditions for the dancers began. He took the steps two at a time, forgetting that Jude was carrying lunch and that his legs were shorter than his.

  “Hey.” Jude laughed when he stumbled. “What’s the hurry?”

  They reached the darkened landing and Reese pulled Jude into an alcove. He shut the door behind them, and then they were in nearly complete darkness. The only light came from the crack between the doors.

  “But lunch?” Jude asked on a breathless laugh.

  Reese was all over him in an instant. The sound of the bags hitting the floor spurred him on, along with Jude’s groan. Jude fisted his hair and pulled his head down for a heated kiss. Reese worried that he’d bruise Jude, but it had been too long. He was out of control. Hurricane Reese was reaching Category 5, and he prayed the only thing he would destroy was the wall that stood between their two hearts.

  Reese had Jude’s fly open and was on his knees before Jude could protest. He heard Jude curse as his grip tightened on Reese’s hair, but Reese never let up. He held on tightly to Jude’s perfect ass and assaulted him with his lips and tongue until Jude’s whole body shuddered.

  “Goddamn you, Reese,” Jude growled as he came. Reese smiled as Jude completely lost composure and crumbled into his waiting embrace. They lay on the floor with Jude gasping for air and cursing at him.

  “What the hell was that? I was just coming down here to bring you lunch.”

  “And you fed me.” He kissed Jude deeply, and their tongues twisted together like the dance they’d been doing for the past two weeks—dancing, flirting, teasing. Reese pulled back and smiled.

  “God, I love making you lose control like that. You taste so fucking good.”

  Jude cursed again. “Yeah, well, when you sneak up on me like that, I have no defense.”

  Shit. “I’m sorry, Jude. I’ve just been waiting for some sign that we were okay, that…. And you came here for me. I’m sorry. Did I misread your visit?”

  Jude barked out a laugh and pulled Reese closer. “I think you read me loud and clear. I gave up hoping you might talk to me at home, so I thought I’d try coming to your territory.”

  Reese snuggled up closer. “And how’d that work out for you?”

  “Pretty fucking good,” Jude said, and he kissed Reese’s hair. “I’ve missed you, babe.”

  Reese’s heart melted into a pool of happy. “I missed you. I can’t stand this. Please say you—”

  “Yes,” Jude said hurriedly as he resumed their heated kiss. Then he returned the favor. And it was Reese’s turn to lose control. He loved every minute of it.

  Chapter Thirty-Three

  “SO TONIGHT when I come for dinner, I’m telling Grandpa you’re mine, and that’s it,” Reese declared as he finished his sandwich.

  Jude rolled his eyes sarcastically. “If you insist, although you know he’s going to start up with the fairy comments.”

  Reese scoffed. “That old man has no room to talk. He’s as big a fairy as they come.”

  Jude put down his water bottle so hard that water shot out the top. Reese laughed and handed him a napkin.

  “What are you talking about?”

  Reese wadded up his sandwich wrapper, tossed it overhand into a nearby garbage can, and shot up his arms in victory as it landed perfectly. “It seems the younger Thomas Matheson told a little fib. Well a big one, really. Remember I told you how he met my grandmother? How he loved her red hair? Turns out that little story—one I based my whole concept of their marriage on—was a sham.”

  “Again, what are you talking about?”

  Reese smiled. “Jude, the musical is called The Boy on the Corner. That story? That was about him meeting a guy on the corner in Las Vegas.”

  “No. Fucking. Way. You are shitting me, Reese Matheson.”

  “I shit you not, Jude Joseph De La Torre. I think that’s adorable, by the way. JJ. Why don’t you go by JJ with anyone else?”

  “Don’t change the subject. Really? Your grandfather had a gay romance?”

  “Indeed he did. Told me about it not too long ago. He thought he was telling my father. Said he wanted him to know because his grandson—that’s me—is like him, ‘always prancing around the stage.’ Well, he’s right. I’m in love with a man, and I couldn’t be happier.”

  Jude leaned forward and gave Reese a chaste kiss on the lips.

  “Nor could I.”

  THAT NIGHT they all sat down to dinner—Reese, Jude, Bailey, Toby, and Mr. Matheson. Reese, being the drama queen that he was, tapped his glass with his spoon as he stood from his place next to Jude at the table.

  “Gentlemen and gentlemen, I have an announcement to make.” He held his glass up to Jude and smiled. “From this moment on, I am publicly declaring my love for Jude De La Torre. I love him, and I plan on making him my husband someday very soon.”

  Jude closed his eyes and wished for that disappearing power, which never seemed to work when he needed it.

  “Yeah, well, good for you. Pass the potato salad,” Mr. Matheson said, and he went back to his meal.

  The others looked at each other, and Reese frowned. “That’s it? You’re not going to bust my balls, old man?”

  Mr. Matheson shoved a bite of food into his mouth and waved his hand at Reese. “You love who you love, son. Big deal. It’s not like I ain’t seen you two pouting enough around here. Get on with it.” He took a drink of water and then scowled at Reese. “You ain’t gonna wear a dress, though, are you?”

  The five men burst out laughing at that.

  “Maybe. I could rock a formal gown. What do you think, Toby? Want to throw something together for me?”

  Toby rolled his eyes. “Please. Honey, no one in their right mind would even try to fit you for a gown. Remember when you tried drag in college? Hmmm? I rest my case.”

  Bailey
’s eyes flared. “You performed in drag?”

  Reese shrugged. “A few times. They didn’t make shoes big enough for me, though, so I had to go barefoot. And I got a rash from the lace. That shit is itchy as fuck. Besides, I make one ugly woman.”

  Jude doubted that was possible, but the thought of Reese in a dress did nothing for his spank bank.

  The rest of the meal was full of talk about the show. Reese reached over and grabbed Jude’s hand on the table, and Jude took it and smiled.

  JUDE WAS still floating on a cloud three days later when his phone rang. He recognized the number as coming from the kids’ school.

  “Hi Jude. It’s Mrs. Martinelli again. I was wondering if you knew why Bailey hasn’t been at school the past two days? No one called him in ill.”

  Jude’s grip tightened on the phone, and his mouth went dry. “He’s not in class?”

  “I’m afraid not. He’s missed all of his classes today, and he was out yesterday as well.”

  “I dropped him off there. Both mornings. Oh my God. I’m sorry. Thank you for letting me know. I’ll get to the bottom of this.”

  They disconnected, and Jude tried not to panic. Where could Bailey be? He couldn’t be out looking for a job. That dilemma had been solved when they moved in with Reese. Then where? He started to call his parents and then thought better of it. He needed to find him first. He’d hate for his parents to think Bailey was messing around under Jude’s watch. He didn’t want to let anyone down.

  As he held the phone in front of him, he remembered the app that let you know where your devices were. He and Brianna and Bailey were all on the same plan, so he turned on the app and chose Bailey’s phone. The map moved around on the screen. When it stopped, Jude cursed. Then he called Kyla and asked her to come sit with Mr. Matheson.