Over the next couple days the guys get into a nice, comfortable rhythm. Weekdays they do their own thing, Patrick and Josh return to their daily work activities. Weeknights and all weekend the trio spend every moment together. Every time Jon tries to respectfully give the husbands a bit of space, it’s soundly rejected, usually by both Josh and Patrick, who are united in wanting him with them.
Jon was between construction jobs when he came to visit, so he had nothing to get right back to. And, frankly, neither of the husbands was ready for Jon to leave. Though he was sometimes reluctant and awkward about staying, feeling like he was inserting himself, whenever the three of them were together it was natural and complete. There is no jealousy, no territorialism. Just an open feeling. Anything being possible.
Jon escalates his "fix it" projects around their place. Little things at first, fixes the cabinet that wouldn’t latch correctly, re-grouts some loose tiles in the shower. At night either Patrick or Josh always pick up on the repaired project, small or large as it may be. The cabinet shuts smoothly and efficiently! The loose tiles are tight and don’t give when you walk on them. Jon has a warm feeling of satisfaction whenever this occurs.
The modern house that Patrick and Josh had purchased together once married, looked fantastic. But it had some underlying issues. Some shoddy finishing, the kind of things that’re all bells and whistles, designed to appear good for the sale but not real quality made to last.
Laying by the pool together, one of their favorite places because they could grill, sunbathe, make love and enjoy just being outside and together in complete privacy because the backyard was so fully enclosed. Their bubble.
One evening they dine and fuck by the pool. His belly full of the steak Josh grilled and his ass full of the load Jon gave him, Patrick gets up to shower in the cabana. Exiting, he steps on a loose board and slips, bumping his head against the wall. Josh and Jon are immediately to his side. Patrick seems to have blacked out for a moment. Josh cradles his head and his eyes flutter open. Patrick start to get up but Josh and Jon both keep him down in Josh‘s lap. Stay there, don’t try to move yet. Jon gets him a glass of water, gives him a sip and pick up Patrick’s wet towel and wipes Patrick’s head and forehead gently. He feels for the bump, finds it. Gently rubs it. Patrick winces but mutters he’s fine. He just slipped. Jon curses himself, he knew that board was loose. It was on his list, damnit. Patrick’s eyes are smiling at Jon, you’re not responsible for the poor workmanship we got sold with this house. Lipstick on a pig. Jon mutters, surveying the scene, it doesn’t have to be. It’s got good bones. Just have to address some of the corners they cut trying to maximize profit. Patrick tries to get up again and Josh tell him no. Jon agrees, you did blackout. It was brief, but it happened. I’ve seen people on construction sites with concussions they didn’t even realize. Patrick starts to get upset, I have no concussion but Jon shakes his head. The thing about concussions is you don't know you have one. Scared now, Josh wants to call an ambulance to take him to the hospital. Patrick really starts to get bothered now. This is ridiculous. Jon looks at the two- his brother is right. Patrick has to go in even if just to get a quick all clear. What is unsaid between the three men is that when it’s a couple, when it’s just two people, if there’s a disagreement it’s one versus the other. One could end up arguing forever and never reach a conclusion if neither side wants to give. But when it’s three that’s not the case. Majority will rule. Unless you’re the biggest asshole in the world if you’re out voted you go long with what the others want. Patrick looks between the two men whose minds are made up and sighs, acquiesces. Josh is relieved and gives Jon a thankful smile, grateful in his complete calm compared to his brother's more stressful approach. Jon impressively commands the situation, tells Josh to turn everything off outside, lock everything up. Grab a bag of essentials for Patrick— in case. They don’t have to call an ambulance, doesn’t have to be that big drama. Jon will drive them all in. While Josh does all that Jon will get Patrick to the truck and they’ll wait for him at the edge of the drive. Josh reacts very well to direction, anything that tethers him to a calmer, more grounded reality has always been appreciated. There’s nothing silly or superfluous about Josh, he’s just more reactionary and emotional.
Jon lifts Patrick off ground and carries him to his truck. Patrick jokes he feels like Whitney Houston in The Bodyguard. All business now, Jon does allow a grin at that. Jon lays Patrick out in the backseat just as Josh rushes up, still frantic energy. Jon takes the bag from him and throws it in the front seat. Here, get in the back with your husband and keep his head in your lap. Make sure he stays awake. I’m sure he’s fine but don’t let go to sleep. Again, Josh calms under clear direction from his brother and how he can be helpful. Josh is at a loss as to how to keep him awake other than slap his cheek. Jon looks in the rearview window and ask his brother to recount how he and Patrick met. Their first date. What they thought of each other. Just talk to your husband. Engage him. Josh does just that. He plays with Patrick’s ginger Pompadour while they recount everything. Patrick smiles, secure in Josh‘s lap. Jon listens from the front, hearing the intimacy and love. There’s no jab in his heart. There’s no pain. He’s just really grateful at the window into his younger brothers early relationship, coming at a time when Jon had put up the walls between them. These are romantic and sweet details and Jon smiles while intently driving to the hospital.
They make it in and Patrick is fine. Patrick says he knew it, but the doctor takes Patrick’s own hand and puts it on his head. Feel this bump. Now if it were two inches over here it might’ve been concussion. If it had been two inches this way it would definitely have been a concussion. You could’ve fallen asleep and never woken up. They were right to bring you here, Patrick sheepishly looks at Jon and Josh. Okay, okay. Thanks, guys. Really. They drive home together all sitting in the front bed of Jon's big pickup, Patrick in the middle this time buttressed by the brothers, who form a protective cocoon around him. There’s a sweet, shared contentment with all of them even through the silence. A safety, a belonging, a sense of place, and of purpose.
In bed that night, Patrick is again in the middle, both other men hold onto either side. They just lay together. Josh clings to his husband. Jon looks at his pensive brother, rubs his hair. He's fine. Patrick kisses Josh tenderly. He’s right, I’m fine. He looks between the two men. I sure felt taken care of tonight. I mean, after I was ganged up on. They all chuckle. The warm they share is palpable.
Jon has a purpose now. He is going to fix every inch of this house to the specs it should’ve had when Patrick and Josh bought it. He smiles at the thought of leaving these two men, who have given him so much, a real, finished and safe house. Not just bells and whistles, but in its bones. He’s still between work and, honestly, he hasn’t pursued that much anyway because he’s not looking forward to leaving. This has been an odd, unexpected utopia being with the two of them. Jon has experienced joy beyond anything he’s ever experienced in his life. That it is with his brother and this other wonderful man? Well, that does complicate things. He knows he has to leave and let them get back to their lives together. This has been a healing little side vacation for the three of them. A moment in time. But it’s gonna end at some point. But Jon loves him….them. He loves…them. He smiles at the thought. He wants to leave his mark with them, like they have left their mark with him.
So Jon decides to build a new pool cabana and fix all the poolside deck wood as a surprise and gift for his brother and brother-in-law. He won’t let them in the backyard during this. They continue to have dinners together and romantic evenings laying together in front of the fire just talking. Jon sits against the edge of the couch, with his beefy gun around Patrick who leans into his chest with Josh nestled in Patrick’s lap, one hand grasping Jon's free hand. The two brothers clench and unclench their hands together, fingers dance together. But once they’re out the door in the morning, Jon gets to work. At one point he needs some help so he reaches out to some contacts he’s made and gets two day laborers to help him for a week or two while they’re between their own bigger jobs. One of them turns out to be Clint. The big blonde hunk is definitely interested in Jon as the men work beside one another, often without their shirts on the hottest parts of the day. But while Jon can appreciate how handsome the guy is, he's not tempted. Jon does happen upon Clint getting head from the other day labor, a handsome Latino named Julio. He stops it, says he’s no prude. They can do whatever they want to on their own time but it’s not appropriate on a job site and certainly not while on the clock. The two men are sheepish but agree. Jon warns don’t let it happen again.
Patrick is a little late going off to work one day and is stunned when he sees Clint pull up in his work truck. He hadn’t seen the man since he bred him when he was drunk, definitely without his consent. He doesn’t get why he’s at his home, until it hits… he’s one of the construction workers. Clint is thrilled to see him, tries to flirt but Patrick shuts him down. Jon notices the two in conversation, clearly they know one another. Jon overhears Patrick tell him he won’t cost him his livelihood but nothing’s going to happen with them ever again. Clint starts to grab his arm and Jon clenches his fists. But Patrick handles it. He firmly removes Clint’s hand and warns him. Act like a professional and I won’t say a word to anyone about what happened. Jon decides to keep this to himself and not embarrass Patrick.
It’s time for the unveiling! Jon really has kept them in the dark with blackout curtains blocking the view of the backyard for the last couple weeks. Jon brings Josh and Patrick to the backyard and shows him what he’s been working on. They’re stunned. It’s a brand new cabana, made with a cedar interior and solid oak exterior, which has been treated with impenetrable boat varnish. The deck around the pool is all new special hard wood that will last 30 years. Josh and Patrick are actually speechless. After the initial hugs and compliments, Patrick pulls Jon aside. He wants to pay him—Jon starts to object—Patrick continues, at least for his materials and the day laborers. Come on, big guy. I can’t let you do this. Jon gives Patrick a funny look. It’s already done. I’m not taking a penny from you or from Josh. This is my gift. Jon stops for a minute getting a little choked up, his eyes wet. After what you gave me? What you both gave me? Now I know there might be a life out there for me, if I want it. Something to hope for and pursue instead of just… existing. You’ve given me that back and it’s worth more than this. And it’s a fact that I’ve basically just been saving my money all these years of working. I don’t spend it on anything or go anywhere. My overhead is extremely low. You know I work hard for what I bring in. Let me spend my money the way I want it and on the people I want to. I’m really honored to be able to do this for my brother. Jon puts his beefy paw on Patrick’s cheek, rubs his thumb over it gently. And for you. Patrick’s breath hitches, this man continues to surprise him.
Clint and Julio are finishing some landscaping behind the cabana. Josh had tried out the new shower and emerged in his speedo. This is the first time for Josh meeting Clint and he has no idea of the connection to Patrick. Clearly, Clint is drop dead gorgeous, a Tom of Finland fantasy brought to life. Josh does blush under Clint‘s attention, but it doesn’t go beyond that. That doesn’t stop Clint from taking a page from his usual playbook- which has been very effective with other men- and trying to be flirty/aggressive with Josh. He follows him into the cabana and cups his ass cheeks and tries to kiss him as Jon walks in. Jon doesn’t say a word, but his eyes narrow, and his jaw clenches as he simply removes the man’s hands from his brother‘s ass. He smiles at Josh, in a strangely calm and quiet voice, Patrick needs you in the house. Josh just looks at his brother, it’s okay. It was nothing. Jon holds the smile, which doesn’t reach his eyes, and tells Josh to go in his side and he’ll be there in a minute. Once alone, Jon slams Clint against the back wall. Clint starts to react but Jon menacingly warns him to stay back and stand down. Three strikes. Man, I told you to be professional on the job site. This is my brother’s home, you don’t behave like that and you don’t ever put your hands on him. Either of them! You may think you’re hot shit but not everybody wants to fuck you. Patrick and Josh emerge from inside, Josh having told his husband of the situation, afraid Jon would get into a fight. Jon glares of the man, get your shit, all your tools everything. Leave me your address and I’ll have your last check mailed to you. But I don’t wanna see you again. Patrick, his arm around Josh, continue walking till they join them. Clint slinks away quickly, grabbing his stuff and dashes to his truck. Josh asks what that was about and Patrick blushes, embarrassed, tells both of them "this" was his mistake. That was the guy. Jon is in rage now, had he known this was the guy that manipulated Patrick and caused all that stress? He needs an ass kicking. Jon starts to go after him, but Josh pulls him back. Patrick grabs other his hand too. He’s nothing. Leave it alone. You acted professionally. He’s the one that didn’t. Over dinner they have a good chuckle as Patrick embarrassingly tells them of the encounters. Patrick isn’t even turned on by the sex with Clint anymore. It was fun at the time, but it was actually a empty. There was no there there. Patrick really does believe you can separate sex and love, sure. But there needs to at least be a connection, something a little deeper. Otherwise it’s just mechanics and Patrick can take care of that himself in three minutes in the shower. Patrick puts his arm around Josh and his hand on Jon's knee. You guys have spoiled me for meaningless sex. They all chuckle, but then go in for a deeper embrace. Light kisses turn to deep deeper embraces.
They start to get into it. Mouth on another mouth, which shifts to the third mouth. A mouth on a cock, then shifting to another cock. Just back-and-forth in different combinations. Patrick takes a pause, breathing heavily. He asked the guys to try something with him, but he’s been thinking about it awhile and it’s something they haven’t done.
Intrigued, Jon and Josh, raised eyebrows and smiles, all curious glances at one another. Jon can’t imagine what they haven’t tried. Josh giggles, yeah and if it’s me on top of you, I don’t think that’s gonna happen. I’m quite satisfied with things going in one direction here. They all laugh. Patrick says no what I wanna do is something I read about once and it’s hot. It’s so hot to me, but I’ve never tried it ever. I want to make love to you, Josh, while Jon is inside me. I want to be in the middle between you two. Jon growls despite himself. Josh flushes at the thought. Patrick smiles at their reactions.
Well, let’s go.
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