Adam's Eve

38

Shocked was an understatement for how Raul had felt when Alfred had revealed he was in love with him. Flabbergasted was more like it, even if Alfred's constant snide remarks about his and June's relationship had finally made sense.

Raul shoved a hand into his hair and tugged. He'd seen the pain in his stepbrother's eyes during the confession and it still haunted him. Five long years?

Memories and peculiar moments he'd never really cared to recall rolled his mind. Alfred telling him how gorgeous he was, Alfred complementing his big dick all the time, that one steamy, drunken kiss they'd shared which they'd both laughed over.

Had Alfred done such an impeccable job of keeping his feelings secret or Raul had chose to ignore it all this while, telling himself it wasn't what it seemed?

God, this was so fucking messed up. He'd only ever seen Alfred as his stepbrother. They were practically brothers, for which the gravity of the reality still weighed so heavily. He had a gut wrenching feeling that things were never going to be the same between them.

Alfred hadn't slept home last night, something he never did without informing Raul firsthand. Now it was about six in the evening and he still hadn't arrived. Raul was getting frantic with worry.

Walking over to the bar and grabbing a bottle of whisky, he uncapped it and poured some onto the rocks in the glass he was holding.

He waited for the ice to take some effect before downing all the whisky in a swift gulp, feeling the liquid burn his eyes and throat.

The engaging of locks caught his attention sharply. Spinning around, he watched the door as it opened and Alfred stepped into the room, looking like a mess.

Hair all ruffled, the buttons of his shirt ripped and leaving his stomach bare, eyes puffy like he'd been crying the whole day.

Raul couldn't describe the relief he felt in that moment even as the worry wove through it.

He crossed over immediately. “Man, where the hell have you been? You got me so damn worried.”

Alfred stumbled past him without bothering to answer or even look at his face. His steps were swagger-like as he crossed the living room and went into his room.

Raul sighed. He'd known this was going to be hard, but this? He wasn't even going to speak to him? With another sigh, he returned to the whisky bottle, downing shot after shot. He turned when he head the sound of wheels and something making crashing sounds.

His heart skipped a beat. Alfred, now changed into a clean shirt, was holding a large suitcase and it seemed heavy considering how he was stumbling with it.

Raul didn't have to be told what the heck this was all about. He quickly hurried and blocked his step brother's path when the man was just some distance from the door.

“Alfredo, where are you going with that much luggage.” He asked tentatively.

Alfredo seemed intent on ignoring him, but Raul prevented him from passing by him, placing a hand on his chest. The sigh Alfred released was as exhausted as the blue eyes he turned to Raul.

“Just get out of my way, Raul.”

“No man, it fucking hasn't gotten to this. We can work something out. Things don't have to change between us.”

The exhausted look in Alfred's eyes morphed to pure rage as he slapped Raul's hand from his shirt. “Work something about?” He said gruffly. “I am fucking in love with you, Raul. Been hiding it for years. I finally told you and you don't fucking feel the same way about me. How the fuck do you expect things to return to the way they were?”