A Family Affair

Milo stepped back and stared at the drawings on his wall. It had been years since he redecorated his room, and he decided he would freshen it up a bit. This was his last week in school and his last exam was tomorrow. He had studied all day but was taking a break.

Suddenly, he heard a car door close in the driveway. His grandfather was out on a run and catching up with an old friend. His dad would still be at work for a few more hours. He peaked out of his window and saw Ryan stumble out for the passenger seat, his blonde hair reaching past his shoulders. The driver got out and he noticed it was the blond girl from the party a few weeks ago. She had the same shoulder-length bob. She crossed over to Ryan, trying to steady him. He swaying as if he was drunk. But then the two kissed deeply, Ryan leaning her against the car, his body pressed tightly against hers.

Milo stepped back from the window and sat on his bed. The yellow daffodil painting was lying beside him out of its frame. Milo had bought a better one, a gold one that would showcase the landscape better. The frame was leaning against the opposite wall, as he had just placed another drawing in the old frame, which now hung by the door.

He was getting used to Tyler being engaged, but seeing Ryan with this woman was another large blow. She had to be his girlfriend. The boys hadn’t talked since that party, and he wasn’t sure what Ryan remembered.

The front door opened and slammed shut. He heard footsteps head down the hall and up the stairs. Milo  peaked out the window again and saw the car parked still parked there. He couldn’t tell if the girl stayed in the car or followed Ryan into the house. 

What if they were both in the room, continuing their fun alone in private ? Barely aware of what he was doing, Milo quickly climbed up the stairs and approached Ryan’s room. The door was wide open and the man was rumbling through his draws.

“What are you looking for?” Milo asked, his arms crossed.

Ryan jumped. “Oh shit, you’re home? Shouldn’t you be in school?”

“I don’t have class every day. I’m not in high school anymore.”

Ryan stared at Milo, his eyes roaming up and down his body. Milo forgot he was only wearing deep orange briefs.

“That color looks good on you,” Ryan said.

“So, is that your girlfriend out in the car?” Milo clenched his fists.

“It’s not like that.”

“Really? You guys were making out right there in the driveway.”

Ryan slammed a drawer. “Were you spying on us?”

Milo stalked back to his room.

“Milo, wait.” Ryan followed him, the heavy footsteps close behind.

“Why are you drunk? Did you have another party in the middle of the day?”

“Stop yelling. You don’t know shit.”

It was like their high school arguments all over again. 

“First off, you call me over to a party while you’re shit-faced and now you’re over here drunk again. Seems that’s the only time you want to be around me.”

Milo pushed him and tried to close the door. But Ryan barged in. Before Milo realized what was happening, Ryan picked him up and threw him on the bed. Milo tried to get away but Ryan pushed him back down. His grip was strong, his nails digging into Milo’s small arms. He put his weight on Milo’s chest, crushing him and making it hard to breathe.

“Ryan, stop.” Milo got a hand free and slapped him. He kicked Ryan away, the taller man stumbling back and falling on the floor. Ryan stared at him in a daze. Milo stared back and tried to catch him breathe. Then his face fell in horror.

The yellow daffodil painting was ripped, with a large, dirty footprint in the middle. Milo slowly rose off the bed to inspect it. The rip stopped halfway through, and even if Milo taped it back together, the black smudges from Ryan’s boots had severely compromised the picture. 

“Hey, bro, I didn’t mean to.”

Milo pushed him away. His face grew hot and his vision was blurry.

“You boys aright?” Their grandfather stood in the doorway dressed in bright green running shorts, matching tennis shoes, and a pale-colored tank top. There was a sweat spot at the collar and on his chest.

Ryan sat up. “We just had an argument that’s all.” He crawled over to Milo. “Bro, I can buy you another one.”

“That’s not the same thing.” Milo yelled at him and ran off to the bathroom. He felt like he was going crazy. His thoughts were racing and he barely refrained from slamming his fist against the counter. He heard a knock at the bathroom door.

“I’m sorry. Let me in, please.” Ryan jiggled the handle but it was locked. Milo heard their grandfather murmur something, and Ryan stepped away from the door. Milo stayed in the bathroom until his breathing slowed and the trembling stopped. He looked at his reflection to see a bruise quickly forming on his chest. He steadied his breathing a few more minutes before finally opening the door. 

His room was empty. The car outside was gone. Milo sat on the bed and held his arms, which had welts tracing down to his writs. He thought back to the last time the brothers fought. It was in high school. Ryan had an on-again, off-again relationship with a girl named Samantha. Milo tried to keep his thoughts to himself until he caught them having sex in Ryan’s bedroom. Tyler told him to just play it cool, but as soon as the girl left, Milo confronted Ryan about it. An argument soon led into a fight but Tyler was there to break it up. However, Milo knew Ryan was holding back, as neither had any bruises or scratches on their body. Milo looked down at his arms again. This was the first time during a fight that he was truly scared of his brother. He finally noticed the painting was gone. He went upstairs to see his grandfather.

“Did Ryan take the painting?”

“No, it’s over there.” His grandfather pointed to the desk. The painting laid on top of the closed laptop. “I’ll fix it. What were you boys arguing about?”

“Nothing,” Milo said. He watched his grandfather peel off his shirt and then his running shorts. He noticed he wasn’t wearing any underwear.

“I’m gonna hop in the shower. If you want to talk, you know I’m here for you.”

“How long are you here for? Just the summer?”

“That’s the plan for now. I figured it would be good to see you guys again. Plus, it’s nice to get out of town every once in a while.”

“I’m sure there are better places to spend a vacation.”

His grandfather shrugged and nodded. “Yeah, but it’s good to visit family. I haven’t seen you boys in a while. Plus, your father wanted some help.”

“With what?”

His grandfather smirked. “Just some help in the garden.” He squeezed Milo’s shoulder. “I’ll be back alright?”

Milo nodded and watched the man head off to take a shower. He sat on the bed for a minute. Tyler’s room still looked the same, except for a few items of his grandfathers’s. The tortoise-shell glasses next to the computer. The suitcase and duffel bag empty in the open closet. There were a few clothes hanging up in the closet, some jeans and brightly colored jackets. His grandfather was fond of bright and pastel clothes, even though he barely wore clothes at all. Milo found it ironic, as his own wardrobe was mostly filled with black and muted colors.

He went back to his room to see two missed calls from Ryan. He opened his text messages.

Ryan: I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to hit you. I’ll come over and make it up to you.

Milo: how?

There was no response for a few minutes, and he assumed Ryan had fallen asleep. He had seen his brother drunk before but never in the middle of the day. He had also never thrown him. Sure, they argued but neither brother had actually ever hurt him. Even when Ryan would wrestle him, it was out of playfulness, and even then, he kept his strength in check. But that restraint seemed to be lost.

Milo walked slowly back to Tyler’s room. He missed moments when his other brother would sit on his bed reading, the window open, letting the breeze filtering through the room. The sheer curtains would flow back and forth beside the bed, giving the room an airy feel. Milo would sit on the bed beside him, curling up on his side. All of his issues instantly melting away. Now Milo sat on the empty bed and took in more of the familiar surroundings. The bed had the same beige sheets with the light blue blanket. Tyler never liked a comforter, as it was too thick and hot. His Rubik’s cube was still on the corner of the desk, complete from the last time he played with it. Milo and Ryan could never complete it, Ryan complaining that it was too many steps. Milo could complete two sides before becoming confused and overwhelmed. But Tyler would simply pick it up and finish it less than an hour. He said it was a stress reliever for him. How anything as stressful could be relaxing was beyond Milo’s understanding. His phone buzzed in his hand.

Angelo: you hungry? I’m craving tacos.

Milo sighed as he sent a reply.

Maybe next time. Gotta study for my last exam tomorrow.

Angelo sent back a sad face emoji.

Angelo: alright tomorrow then.

Milo sat the phone beside him and stared out the window. The blinds were open, letting the fading natural light filter in, but the standing lamp was on in the corner. He barely heard his grandfather walk in. The older man applied some deodorant and sat down beside him.

“You wanna talk about?”

Milo shrugged and then took a deep breath. His grandfather smelled like soap and fresh linen. 

“Have you ever been with someone you aren’t really sure about? Like they’re not a bad person, but…” He shrugged again.

“I think I get what you’re saying. And yes, I’ve been there before.” His grandfather leaned back, his legs wide, his cock on full display. Even sitting down, it looked huge, the balls massive, his abs more sculpted as they contracted. Milo tried hard not to stare.

“What did you do?”

“Well, I told the person how I felt. And we’re still friends to this day.”

Milo stared at the desk again, his eyes drifting to the picture of him, Tyler, and Ryan. It was Tyler’s graduation. The three men smiled brightly, but squinted because of the sun being directly in their face. Milo loved the picture, partly because Tyler looked good in his slacks, polo shirt, and black robe.

“Have you ever wanted to be with someone, but you can’t?”

This time, his grandfather leaned forward, placing his elbows on his thighs. He clasped his hands in his lap. Milo glanced over to see the huge biceps and nipple piercings glinting in the pale light. He barely resisted the urge to touch him but could feel the body heat from him.

“Yeah, I’ve been there too.”

“Why couldn’t you be together?” Milo asked.

“Simple. He was with someone else.”

Milo looked up at him. It was the first time he had heard his grandfather talk about another man romantically.

“Who was he? Did he know you liked him? Was it someone I knew?”

His grandfather laughed at him. “Yeah, yeah he knows. And he’s a nice guy. Worries a bit too much, but it’s because he cares a lot. He’s a good guy to those he takes care of.” His grandfather stared out the window, lost in his own thoughts, a fond look on his face. “He’s been through a lot though.”

“Where is he? Does he live in town?” Milo asked.

That fond look disappeared as he wiped his palms. “It wouldn’t be the right thing to do.”

Milo squinted at him, but his grandfather spoke before he could ask another question.

“So what about you? Is there somebody else you’d rather be with?”

Milo shifted in his spot. “Yeah, but it’ll never work out.”

“Why not?”

“They’re with other women.” Milo noticed the plural too late. His grandfather only hummed and nodded.

Milo continued. “You know, dad has tried to date other women, but it never seemed to work out. Have you been through that?”

His grandfather chuckled. “You were always the inquisitive one. More so than your brother Tyler. But, yeah I know how he feels.” He got quiet, the smile slowly fading. “Sometimes you gotta do what feels right, and find a way to deal.”

“Like with your friend?”

His grandfather nodded.

“Is he still in a relationship? If not, I’m sure you two could work something out.”

His grandfather placed an arm around him. “We all have our secrets. Sometime you just have to learn how to live with them.” He patted Milo’s back, and then moved over to the desk.

Milo had many questions he wanted to ask, but the front door opened downstairs. His father had arrived home from work. He slowly stood up.

“Well, thanks. I guess I better finish studying.”

“Okay. And look, whatever you do, just be safe.” He gave him a hug. Milo leaned into his chest, feeling warm and protected. His grandfather gave him a squeeze as he rubbed his back. Milo took a deep inhale of his scent before slowly letting go and heading out the room. He thought about what it would feel like to cuddle with his dad and grandfather, the same way he did with Tyler and Ryan a long time ago.