Actually by Mia Watts

“Do you have any thoughts for me on how I could be a better big brother?”
“You do alright.”
“Counseling together?” Aaron offered.
“Sure. And can you maybe be home for dinner?”
“You want to have dinner every night?” Aaron asked, surprised.
“Yeah. Like when Mom used to make us come to the table.”
“I will do my very best to be home in time to make and eat dinner with you as much as possible. And you can help me keep the house clean.”
“Deal,” Mike agreed. “And maybe I’ll cook sometimes because you’re not so good in the kitchen.”
Aaron grinned. He sounded more and more like the old Mike. The realization soothed him like a balm. Yeah, they’d get back on track.
“Dude, one more thing,” Mike said.
“Shoot.”
“Don’t fuck Mr. Mitchell when I’m home. I’m not sure I can handle that.”
Aaron laughed. “Don’t worry. I wouldn’t do that. You’re an impressionable youth. You might think it’s okay to bring someone home, and there’s no way in hell I’m condoning sex to a minor under my care.”
“I don’t care if he’s here. I like Mr. Mitchell, but I’m not really prepared for the guy on guy love thing.”
“I can understand that. Besides, Ian isn’t out to anyone yet. We all need to keep it under wraps for him.”
“Well, maybe he ought to tell Ms. Mallory because she’s all over him at school,” Mike said. He stood. “I’ve reached my quotient for heart to heart talks. Do you mind if I go upstairs for a while?”
Aaron smiled. “Sure. But Mike?” Mike stopped on the first stair. “I love you.”
Mike laughed. “I love you too, bro.”
Chapter Seven
    Aaron took his lunch break away from the store. Pulling up in front of Westwood High, he turned off the ignition in his car and sat for a moment. This conversation had to happen in person. After calling Ian Sunday night to let him know that Mike was back on track, he’d left their budding relationship unresolved.
    Then he’d called Barney to let him off the hook. In case he’d felt hooked by their one kiss. Barney, being Barney, had assured Aaron that waiting wasn’t in his nature. He’d finished by suggesting that if Aaron did come back to school, he should look him up to see if they could pick up where they’d left off.
    Aaron still thought about that. He had no idea where his relationship with Ian was headed. He hoped, but he had no guarantees.
Aaron picked up his cell phone and found Barney’s contact information. A lot had changed in three months. The first holiday without his family would occur next week. Thanksgiving wouldn’t be the same, but it could still be good.
He’d changed too. He wasn’t the same guy who’d hook up just to see if he could get his rocks off. He had obligations and more than ever he understood the link between responsibilities and consequences. Mike did too. They were learning the hard way, together.
Aaron knew something else, too. The truth was worth telling.
He opened the text file for Barney. “Won’t be back. Find blood in the water without me.”
A moment passed and Barney replied. “What up?”
“Changing directions, actually.”
“Cool. Talk later. Got class.”
Aaron tucked away his phone. He got out of the car and went inside the building. After signing in at the office, he declined directions to Ian’s classroom. He already knew the way, assuming they hadn’t shuffled him around.
He turned left and located the last door on the right. Mr. Mitchell’s name place hung on the wall beside the opened door. The classroom was empty of students, and Aaron poked his head in only to find that Ian wasn’t there either.
He walked to the Ian’s desk, inhaling the scents of the school that brought back so many memories. Finding a pen and notepad on his desk, Aaron wrote out a note for him to call.
    Ian tucked his notebook under his arm and made the corner into his room. He smiled when he saw Aaron bent over his desk, his ass pulling taut the fabric of his jeans. Ian had