The Handsome Stranger - Part 13

Hi folks!

I'm going in for surgery today, and I'm shitting myself, to put it mildly! As I mentioned during the week, it's nothing serious but the recovery is going to suck ass. Thankfully, I should be back to normal in 2-3 weeks, and have scheduled stories for each day until then!

I haven't had a huge amount of time to prepare for this, so please excuse the fact that some of the stories over the next couple of weeks will be a little shorter than usual (all over 1k words, but I know you guys like substance!)

There are a few 2 and 3 parters, which I think you'll enjoy, and any short series' that aren't finished, will be completed as soon as I'm recovered.

I'll still pop on to keep the admin side of things in order, and with any luck, the recovery won't be as awful as I'm expecting, and it will be even sooner!

Here's the second last part of The Handsome Stranger, but I have a little surprise relating to this story, that you'll get once I'm back.

Thanks guys,

Chat soon! 

All characters are consenting adults (18+) 

He stood at the top of the stairs with his backpack draped over his shoulder and one hand on the bannisters. He was already looking at me, and I watched in horror as his eyes slowly followed my arm to Austin’s, and back up at the half naked man who was pulling me toward his old bedroom.

“I… I can explain” I managed to say, but it was clear to see that Bradley had already gotten the message. He widened his eyes for a moment before turning his attention back to me.

“Aren’t you going to introduce me?” He asked, and my heart almost burst from my chest. Was Bradley going to be mad? Was he going to tell Mom and Dad? I swallowed the growing lump in my throat and sheepishly nodded toward Austin.

“This is Austin” I said, still mortified, “Austin, this is my brother, Bradley”.

I wanted the ground to swallow me. I’d never been more embarrassed in my life, and now I knew that Bradley had the power to ruin everything. I cringed as he extended his hand toward a half naked Austin.

“Nice to meet you” Austin said, awkwardly, and shook my brother’s hand.

“Likewise” Bradley replied, but there was a hint of sarcasm in his voice. “So” he continued, eyeing the two of us. “Are we low on water or something?”

I squirmed. How was I even supposed to answer that. It was obvious that the two of us had just been up to something, and then I began to wonder if Bradley had heard us, too.

“I… I was… We were…”

Bradley smiled at me and I flinched as he reached out his arm and dragged me into a strangely tight hug. I wanted to be excited that my big brother was home, but it was overshadowed by the fact that he’d just caught us red handed.

“I missed you, man” he sighed, tussling my wet hair as he released me. I waited for him to begin the humiliating conversation, but when Bradley stepped back, it was as though he had forgotten all about it. “Well, what are you waiting for?” He asked, “get your ass dressed and come down and tell me how awful it’s been since I’ve left!”.

Without another word, Bradley jogged back down the stairs, and left Austin and I gobsmacked.

“Do you think he’s pissed?” Austin asked, as we stood naked in his bedroom.

“I… I don’t think so” I said, pulling on a pair of boxer briefs. “He didn’t seem pissed”.

“He seems pretty nice” he replied, “maybe he didn’t realise”.

“He definitely realised” I sighed, “I’ll try to talk to him before Mom and–” just as I finished the sentence, the front door opened and I heard my parents walk in. “Never mind” I grimaced, listening to them as they greeted each other downstairs.

“Shit” Austin groaned.

“Yeah, shit”.

I had no real reason to believe that Bradley would rat us out. We’d always been extremely close, and had shared secrets with each other since we were children, but this was different. Surely my own brother would be horrified to find out that I was gay. Especially like this. The idea of sitting at the dinner table with my family, and trying to explain such a thing made me feel physically ill, but as soon as Austin and I were both dressed, we walked towards the door.

“Relax” Austin said, and pulled me against him.

He could feel me shaking, but his arm felt reassuring around my waist. “What’s the worst that could happen?” He asked, kissing me softly on the lips.

“They could make you leave” I replied, and felt like crying.

“I’ll just take you with me” he grinned.

How was he so calm in this situation? In fact, Austin was calm in every situation. I nodded, though I knew that his plan was impossible, and a few minutes later, we walked into the kitchen where Mom was already preparing dinner.

“There’s my boy!” Dad said, seemingly extra elated now that Bradley was home. They’d always gotten on amazingly well, but that was fine by me.

“Hey, Dad” I said, forcing a smile, and I caught Bradley in the corner of my eye, watching. “Good day?”

“Better now!” He said, and we all sat down around the table as Bradley began filling us in on his new life in the city.

“It’s loud” he said. “Not like out here, it’s even loud in the middle of the night”.

“That must be tough” Dad said, “how do you manage to get any sleep?”

“Alcohol” he laughed, and Mom scowled behind him. “But how are things here?” Bradley continued, and looked directly at me as my heart nearly fell out of my asshole.

“Oh, you know” Dad chuckled, “same old, same old”.

“Is it, really?” Bradley smiled, keeping me pinned down with his eyes. “Except the new guest, of course”.

“Oh, right!” Dad almost choked, “Austin, this is my eldest son, Bradley”.

“We’ve met” Bradley grinned, and I wanted to sink into the chair. “I got home a little earlier than expected”.

Mom began to dish up dinner at exactly the right time, because any more awkward conversation was going to make me throw up. We all tucked in, though I wasn’t even slightly hungry, and was only eating in order to do something with my hands.

“Have you been here long, Austin?” Bradley asked. He’d always been a very up front guy, and I’d always admired that about him. Except for today.

“A few weeks” Austin replied, politely.

“Find any work?”

“Still looking”.

“Oh, he does everything around the house” Mom said, joining us. “It’s really been great to have him here”.

Austin smiled and bowed his head, and I could tell that he, like me, just wanted to eat in silence.

“What happened your hand, Coop?” Bradley asked, and I was glad to change subject.

“I uh… I fell on the stairs” I lied.

“Bet that sucks for jerking off”.

“Jesus, Bradley!” Mom gasped, but the rest of his sniggered.

The rest of the dinner went relatively well, with Bradley mostly talking to Dad about sports, until Dad cleared up, and we found ourselves without conversation.

“Planning on staying long?” Bradley asked Austin, who glanced at me for a moment before shrugging.

“I’m really not too sure” he said, “as long as I can, I suppose”.

“Oh, sweetie” Mom said, “you’re welcome here for as long as you want!”.

Bradley got to his feet and smiled. “Thanks for the dinner, Mom” he said, and then his eyes landed on mine, and he cocked his head toward the back yard. “Let’s have a chat, little brother” he joked, and the blood drained from my body.

It was still warm out, despite the fact that it was beginning to get dark. I closed the door behind me as I followed him outside, and could think of nowhere else that I’d rather be less.

“I see Mom’s cooking still sucks” he laughed, and I managed a forced one as Bradley took a look back inside before pulling out a box of cigarettes.

“Since when do you smoke?” I asked, watching as he lit it.

“A while” he replied, blowing smoke into the sky. “Since when do you have a boyfriend?”

The question floored me. Part of me had started to hope that Bradley really didn’t realise what was happening upstairs, but now he’d confirmed it, and my face burned.

“I uh… It was um… I…”

“I’ve known you were gay for years, man” he laughed, and my eyes widened. “Why do you think I beat the fuck out of that kid in your class for calling you a f… Well, for calling you names?”

I remembered back to the day. I’d never felt as proud of my brother that afternoon. It was nothing more than a playground argument, but Bradley had ensured that no kid ever called me names again after that.

“Please don’t tell Mom and Dad” I sighed, unable to look at him.

“You’re kidding, right?” He laughed, and I looked up at him. “Dude, you used to keep the packaging on your underwear just so you could look at the men on the cover”.

My heart raced again. Had it been that obvious?

“You know” he continued, wrapping his arm around my shoulder as he took another drag of his cigarette. “I wouldn’t be surprised if Mom and Dad picked Austin to stay here because they knew you’d fall on your ass for him”.

My mouth fell open. Could that really be the reason? Dozens of people had called for the room, but they’d picked the youngest and most attractive guy that was interested.

“Do… Do you really think?” I asked, and in perfect Bradley fashion, he flicked his cigarette across the garden and I watched, partially horrified and partially impressed, as he walked back to the door and opened it.

“Don’t you dare!” I gasped, but the words were already out.

“Hey, Mom and Dad” he called, “did you pick Austin to live here because he’s a young, handsome, muscle-man who Cooper would almost certainly fall in love with?”

My eyes widened to the size of dinner plates as I stood there, frozen in place, and waiting for an answer that I wasn’t sure I wanted.

“Don’t be so crude, Bradley” Mom’s voice called back, but then Dad finished the sentence.

“Basically, yeah” he laughed, and Bradley closed the door and beamed at me.

I couldn’t believe it. I seriously couldn’t believe it. Not only did my parents know that I was gay, but they had also hoped that I would fall for Austin, just like I had!

“I guess that settles it then” my brother smiled, and walked toward me once more. “But don’t you dare fuck in my bed” he growled, but laughed before hugging me once more. “What would you do without me, huh?”

I hugged him back. It felt amazing to have my brother home, if only for a short while, and as much as I was enjoying the hug, there was someone else that I needed to feel.

“Thanks” I said, “really”.

“Yo” Bradley said, as I walked back toward the door. I turned around to him. “I’m going to take Mom and Dad out for a drink tonight”.

I shrugged and reached for the handle.

“You can’t come” he said, with a smirk on his face, “which means that you and lover boy are going to have a few hours to yourself. Don’t get pregnant” he added with a whisper. “I’d be a terrible uncle”.