The Rookie (manxmen)**Hothouse Book 1**

Chapter 20

Chapter 20

 (Tom Hanks, my idea of Henri------->)

"Mommy can you please, please try not to embarrass me to death when Lance gets here, please." I pleaded and batted my eyelashes at her for good measure, hoping against hopes that just this once, my mother,  and the love of my life, would for once take pity on me. But those hopes were dashed to hell when she turned and pegged me with her infamous glare.

She walked over to me and patted me on my cheek. "Baby, my job is to love you until the day I die, and embarrass you at every given chance I get  to keep your grown up self humble, otherwise you will feel that you are to old to listen to your Mama."

My shoulders slumped with disappointment as she happily went back to mashing potatoes. I looked over at Henri who was sitting at the corner of the island counter studiously immersed in the newspaper he was currently hiding behind. He must of felt my scrutiny because he just shrugged his shoulders without looking in my direction and I pouted and went back to chopping vegetables.  My little gay boy was of no help either. He had long since retreated into his room and turned off all forms of communication in protest of this evening activities. At least Nate was going to be here, and I love my brother but I will gladly throw him under the bus in order to keep mommy dearest from focusing on me and my boyfriend.

I peeked over at my mother as she happily carved  the humongous ham she insisted on making.  I wondered what her reaction was going to be to Nate's little bit of news. I knew that she wouldn't have a problem with him being gay. But she will probably punch him in the face for being such a prick to all of us over the past couple of years. My musings were cut short by the sound of the door bell. A huge smile spread across my face as I threw the last of the chopped vegetables into the bowl, wiped my hands on a clean dish towel, and peeled out of the kitchen to go and answer it.

When I flung the door open, I felt my breath hitch in my throat as my looked at my man, Yes, I said it, my man. He was dressed in black slacks, and  dark gray v-neck  sweater that hugged his body in just the right way, displaying those awesome muscles of his. The mouth watering scent of clean skin combined with his cologne assaulted my senses. And a delighted squeal pierced the air and I launched myself into his arms and buried my face under his chin.

"Damn little brother, stop molesting the man on your mother's front doorstep. Have you no shame?" Nate dramatically declared while holding his hand over his heart.

I lifted my head to give him a sarcastic reply, but instead I could only to gape at him like an idiot when I saw his who was with him. My curiosity shot through the roof when Xavier placed a possessive hand on the small of my big brother's back, and Robbie's fingers were firmly entwined with Nate's. My brows shot up straight to my hairline, and Nate blushed deep to the roots of his hair but he leaned into Xavier's side and he was immediately drawn under a protective arm and cuddled into the man. If my twink wasn't hiding from my mother, he would probably be cheering for Nate or giving him pointers of how to do the nasty with what it seems to be Both of his men.

"What is taking ya'll so long...Oh my."  My mother stated as my head swiveled on my neck to see her standing in the doorway with a surprised expression on her face. Her eyes were glued to my brother's bright red face as she studied his intimate proximity to Xavier as well as holding Robbie's hand a the slender man flanked his other side.

"Um, Mom. You remember Xavier Johnson and Robert Sands. They work with Thad and yeah, they are my boyfriend's." He explained ad I had to give the boy credit. I would have shit myself right about now.

My mother pursed her lips and looked all three men right in the eyes before she blurted. "Well Hell, finally you have taken your head out of your ass boy and admitted that you are just as gay as your brother. Now, I have to say it or I wouldn't be me. I understand you have come to terms with your sexuality, but do you really need two men to prove it." She said with her hands on her hips.