Damage Control Read online

  Damage Control

  Lynn Van Dorn

  Copyright © 2017 Lynn Van Dorn

  Editor: Courtney Bassett

  Cover design: Soxsational Cover Art

  All rights reserved. No part of this story may be used, reproduced, or transmitted in any form or by any means without the written permission of copyright holder, except in the case of brief quotations embodied within critical reviews and articles.

  This is a work of fiction. The names, characters, and incidents are products of the writer’s imagination or have been used fictitiously and are not meant to be construed as real. Any resemblance to actual events, locales, persons, or organizations is entirely coincidental.

  This book contains sexually explicit content which is suitable only for mature readers.

  www.lynnvandorn.com

  Publisher’s Note

  This novel contains mature themes and elements which some readers may find upsetting. In particular, readers are advised that this book contains descriptions of self-harm and past instances of rape.

  Table of Contents

  Prologue

  Chapter 1

  Chapter 2

  Chapter 3

  Chapter 4

  Chapter 5

  Chapter 6

  Chapter 7

  Chapter 8

  Chapter 9

  Chapter 10

  Chapter 11

  Chapter 12

  Chapter 13

  Chapter 14

  Chapter 15

  Chapter 16

  Chapter 17

  Chapter 18

  Chapter 19

  Chapter 20

  Chapter 21

  Chapter 22

  Chapter 23

  Chapter 24

  Chapter 25

  Chapter 26

  Chapter 27

  Chapter 28

  Chapter 29

  Chapter 30

  Chapter 31

  Chapter 32

  Chapter 33

  Chapter 34

  Chapter 35

  Chapter 36

  Chapter 37

  Chapter 38

  Epilogue

  Afterword

  Acknowledgements

  About the Author

  Prologue

  Tyler at Not-So-Sweet Sixteen

  July, nine years ago

  Chicago Botanic Gardens

  Glencoe, IL

  Tyler, being a teenager, hated most Chadwick family functions, the one exception being the yearly picnic they held in summer for the families of everyone who worked at his father and grandfather’s law firm. He wasn't expected to wear a stupid suit and tie, for example. And being outside at the Botanic Gardens with picnic foods like barbecue chicken, potato salad, and corn on the cob, all catered, naturally, was a million times better than something like the typical Chadwick and Chadwick affair. Those were always held at some hotel like the Drake or the Palmer House, with weird little hors d'oeuvres and wine he wasn't allowed to drink.

  But aside from all that, today was special, one he'd been anticipating for months. Today Tyler would get to see Josh for the first time since December, and this time he was determined to do more than stare at him like a little creep. Today would be different, because Tyler was going to get Josh to finally notice him.

  Tyler couldn't remember a time in his life before Josh. He knew that time existed, that he'd been four when Josh and Tyler’s brother Ryan became best friends, but that pre-Josh period was hazy and difficult for him to recall. It felt like Josh had always been there, a dark shadow to Ryan’s blond light, and that had been that. First Josh and Ryan had been friends, then not-so-secret boyfriends, then the Big Breakup that was Not-to-Be-Discussed had occurred. Now Josh sightings had dwindled to appearances at official Chadwick functions, accompanied as always by his father, who was head of accounting for the law firm, his mother, and his sister.

  Tyler couldn't pinpoint when his obsession with Josh had started, but it might have been the summer Tyler was thirteen and he'd seen Josh strip to the waist while playing volleyball at that year's picnic. Or maybe it had always been there, just under the surface, waiting for puberty to come along and highlight how desirable his brother's ex was. Whatever the reason, Tyler had it bad and he was determined to do something about it.

  He stared at Josh, standing with his sister Rachel and Tyler’s other brother, Brad. Brad was eyeing Rachel and Tyler silently willed him to go for it already. Removing her would leave Josh on his own, allowing Tyler to sidle up to him and strike up a conversation. He would get Josh to go on a walk with him, they would slip away, then Tyler would be irresistible and nature would take its course. Tyler would be rid of his pesky virginity and Josh would at last get over Ryan. They could have a secret affair until Tyler was eighteen, then they would be free to live together forever in happy bliss, the end. Josh would be a successful doctor and Tyler would be a… something. Tyler wasn't sure what he wanted to do with the rest of his life. He just knew he wanted to do Josh. Often. And in a variety of ways that he'd seen presented in online porn. He wasn't sure if all of them were anatomically possible, but Tyler was willing to try anything once, no matter how unlikely or potentially uncomfortable.

  He knew he looked good, even in the boring outfit of khaki shorts and polo shirt his father had insisted he wear. The shirt was teal, which brought out the green in his eyes, making them look almost turquoise. His hair was styled to perfection, currently colored platinum, which contrasted nicely with his dark brows and lashes. He'd tried for the same blond as Ryan, knowing that Josh had a thing for that hair color, but honey blond looked terrible on him, so he bleached all the color out and called it good. His father hated it, which was an added bonus. Unlike most of his peers, Tyler had perfect, pimple-free skin, and his teeth were naturally straight. The only thing that worried him was his size. He was short and slim and looked younger than sixteen. That wasn't always a problem when it came to attracting male attention, but he had a feeling it might be with Josh. Tyler would have to make up for his lack of height with gravitas.

  He could do this. He would do this. He'd been waiting all year to do this. He'd been waiting all his life to do this. His hand dropped to his pocket. He felt the condom and lube packet he'd put in there this morning. They were little pieces of reality that reminded him that he had stepped out of his fantasies. This was real life, as real as it got. Maybe things wouldn't go precisely as he'd imagined, but nothing ventured, nothing gained, and nothing at all would happen if he didn't at least try. Not trying wasn't an option.

  Josh was just so perfect. He had black hair that, left to its own devices, curled. Not horrible frizzy curls, either. Josh’s curly hair made him look deliciously rumpled, like he'd just been fucked. Tyler wanted to twine one of those curls around his finger. He'd wanted to do that for years. Josh’s gaze fell on him and Tyler froze, caught by his dark eyes framed by wire-rimmed glasses. Tyler adored those glasses. They made Josh look serious and intelligent and mature, which of course he was.

  Brad finally separated Rachel from her brother, whisking her away to the picnic’s prepared buffet. Tyler started forward, his heart pounding away in his chest. You can do this you can do this you can do this.

  He stood by Josh and waited to be noticed. And waited. And waited. Running out of patience, he cleared his throat. Still nothing, so he reached out and touched Josh’s shoulder. “Hi,” he said.

  Josh stopped scanning the crowd and looked down at Tyler. “Oh, hi there, Tyler. I don't think I've seen you in years. You must be in high school by now, right?”

  You saw me six months ago, Tyler thought with irritation, but didn't let it show on his face. “I'll be a junior in the fall,” he said.

  Josh’s eyes widened. “God, time flies. You
make me feel old. I can't believe you'll be in college in a few years. Have you decided where you want to go yet? What you're going to major in?”

  This was not going as Tyler had planned, and he fought to keep a frown off his face. “No, still keeping my options open. I'm very… flexible.” Tyler peered up through his lashes at Josh, hoping for a response. Nope. Nothing.

  “That’s fine, you still have two years to decide.”

  Tyler shifted from foot to foot. What now? Josh kept looking away from him, scanning the crowd of people at the picnic. Tyler placed his hand on Josh’s forearm to get his attention and loved the feel of muscle under his fingers. “Maybe you could help me,” he said, making his voice into a throaty purr. “You could provide me with some guidance.” He lightly touched his tongue to his upper lip.

  Josh frowned down at Tyler. “I—”

  “Josh! Long time no see!”

  Tyler saw Josh start, then turn bright red. The cause was no surprise. Ryan had arrived.

  “I had no idea you'd be here,” Josh said, an uncertain smile on his face. “I thought you were spending the summer in California. It's great to see you.”

  Ryan beamed back at Josh, all tall and handsome and golden like a fucking Greek god. It was so unfair. “I had planned on staying the summer out there, but Dad talked me into coming home until school starts back up. How’s med school treating you? You like U of C better than Stanford?”

  “Yeah, it’s great, being back home,” Josh said. The smile had fallen from his face, but his eyes looked at Ryan like a starving man shown a feast he wasn't allowed to touch. Damn Ryan, anyway. He wasn't supposed to be home until next week. “How have you been?”

  “Fine, fine.”

  The two of them stared at each other like they were the only two people in the universe and it was starting to piss Tyler off. “Ryan,” he said, “Where’s Missy?”

  “Missy?” Josh asked, his eyes narrowed.

  “His current girlfriend,” supplied Tyler, ever so helpful.

  “Oh,” Josh said. “Well.”

  “Are you seeing someone?” asked Ryan.

  “No. Well, I was, but not right now. We decided to see other people.” Josh didn't seem particularly broken up about the breakup.

  “I'm sorry to hear that,” Ryan said.

  Tyler wasn't sorry to hear it, but he already knew Josh was currently single thanks to Brad, the family gossip. “Ryan, I see Missy over there. It looks like Dad has her cornered. You should go rescue her. I can keep Josh company.”

  Ryan looked at Tyler as if finally noticing his presence, then he glanced over and saw that their father did indeed have his girlfriend cornered. He gave Tyler another look, this one dark and suspicious, then he gave Josh his sunniest smile. “Excuse me for a minute,” he said. “Let me go save my date from Dad. We’ll have to catch up later.”

  Josh frowned. “Maybe,” he said. “I was thinking of taking off soon.”

  No! Tyler screamed in his head.

  “No,” Ryan said. “Stay. I've missed you. We should really hang out. It's been a long time.”

  Josh gave a noncommittal grunt. “You should go rescue your girl.”

  “So,” Tyler said once Ryan had finally left, “you wanna ditch this place?” He touched Josh’s chest with one finger. Josh’s very solid chest. Tyler would have given up everything he owned, including his brand-new car, to see that chest bared again.

  Josh looked at Tyler’s finger, a slight frown on his face. “What do you—”

  “Tyler! There you are!” Brad smiled at Josh. “Hey, Josh, you don't mind if I borrow my brother, do you?”

  “No, of course not. I was thinking about leaving, anyway.” His eyes tracked over to where Ryan stood with his dad and girlfriend. “You mind finding your own way back to the apartment?”

  “Nope, I'm good,” Brad said. “I'll get a lift back from someone. If nothing else, your sister can drive me. Go take off.”

  Tyler pouted. Well, fuck. There went months of hoping and dreaming down the drain thanks to his two shitty brothers.

  “Come on, Tyler,” Brad said. “Let's go take a walk.”

  “I don't want to,” he said sulkily.

  “Too damn bad,” Brad said, and dragged him away from the picnic.

  When they were out of earshot, Brad said, “What the hell do you think you’re up to, Ty?”

  Tyler was silent, his default mode when being lectured.

  “You’re sixteen years old, for fuck’s sake. Just barely sixteen. Josh is twenty-five. You should not be flirting with him.”

  Tyler crossed his arms over his chest. “Who says I was flirting?”

  “Cut the crap, Ty. You were so obvious that even Josh almost noticed.”

  “Really?” Tyler perked up. That sounded promising.

  “Stay away from Josh, Tyler. Period. End of discussion.”

  “But—”

  “No.” Brad, usually the most easygoing of the Chadwicks, was channeling Dad today. “You’re too young. And even if you weren't, he's still in love with Ryan.”

  “It's been five years,” Tyler said. “He should be over Ryan by now. I could help him with that.”

  Brad gave a little shudder. “Ugh. No. No on so many levels. You. Are. Sixteen. You want him sent to jail?”

  Tyler frowned. “No.”

  “Put Josh out of your head. Find some boy your own age.”

  “That won't make a difference. It's not like Dad would ever let me date a boy, no matter how age-appropriate.”

  Brad gave Tyler a one-armed hug. “Two more years and you can go to college. Pick something far away and live your own life. Fuck your way across campus once you're eighteen. Just don't forget to use condoms, okay? Two years. It's not forever, I swear. Hang in there.”

  Easy for Brad to say. He didn't live at home. He was Josh’s roommate, and he didn't even appreciate it because Brad was straight and Tyler was pretty sure he wanted to bone Josh’s sister.

  “I hate it at home.”

  “I know,” Brad said, but he didn't. Not really. “Look, Ty, playing Lolita is a really bad idea. You think you know what you’re doing, but you don't. Let this Josh obsession you’ve got go, okay?”

  Tyler bit his lip. “I won't always be sixteen.”

  Brad smiled at him. “True. You're going to look back one day on this year and wish you could go back in time and live it again. Enjoy being sixteen while you still can. This could end up as the best year of your life!”

  As it turned out, Brad couldn't have been more wrong.

  Chapter 1

  Tyler’s Sordid Past Rears Its Ugly Head

  Thursday, September 15th, 3:24 a.m.

  Ryan’s overpriced condo

  Chicago, IL

  “Hon, you are about to get most righteously fucked and I don't mean that in a good way.”

  Tyler regretted not putting his phone in “do not disturb” mode. “Ethan, you realize that it's after three in the morning here, right? Shockingly, Chicago is in a different time zone than LA.” He wouldn't have even answered, but it was Ethan, one of his closest friends, and the best ex-boyfriend a guy could ask for. He'd always answer when Ethan called, although that didn't mean he wouldn't be grumpy about it.

  “Screw time zones. This is important. What part about righteous fucking did you not get?”

  “Like any of it. What’s going on?” A thin ribbon of worry started to worm its way through him. They'd wrapped up the filming for his latest movie, The Silver Arrow, in August, and he'd just gotten done with a fashion shoot for Hermes in Saint-Tropez on Monday, so he was currently free of any obligation for the next several weeks except being a groomsman in his brother’s wedding. Everything had been going so well recently that he should've known it couldn't last.

  “TMZ has gotten its hands on a certain video of you and two football players.”

  Tyler sat up in bed and fumbled for the bedside lamp. His heart started to pound and his stomach lurched. “What? No. Not possi
ble.”

  “All too possible. It's not the best resolution, but in the video, it's pretty clear you are the adorable cheerleader who is eventually spit-roasted by two beefy football players. I'm both shocked and impressed. You’re my new hero.”

  “No, I'm not.” Tyler’s mind spun, trying but unable to latch onto concrete ideas. “This isn't possible,” he repeated.

  Ethan snickered. “I can't believe your life. You were a cheerleader? Like with actual pom-poms? How is it possible I don't know this about you?”

  Tyler groaned. “Yes, for part of one year. No pom-poms. I was cut after getting caught being fucked by one football player while fellating another. This was not my proudest moment, Ethan. For the record, the one pounding my ass was a pretty terrible fuck. The other one had a nice dick and decent-tasting jizz, though, so that was pretty much a wash.”

  “For the record, huh? Can I quote you on that?” Ethan asked. “My boss would shit himself.”

  Cold reality splashed over Tyler, washing away the last of his drowsiness. “No, you can't quote me, Ethan! What the actual fuck?”

  “Just kidding, honest. No, you know I wouldn't do that. I'm the nice ex, since the role of dickbag ex was already taken. But if you do want to feed me something you want out there, you know I'm your man.”

  “Yeah, I know. Ethan, what am I going to do? The studio is going to murder me. Alicia is going to help them.”

  “Don't know, Ty. I love you, but my hands are pretty much tied over here. I had to give you a heads up, but if they find out I warned you, I'm also screwed.”

  “I know, and thanks again. When are they leaking the video? Or has it already happened?”

  “That's above my pay grade,” Ethan said. “But from what I understand, they’re currently checking with legal. I think the main thing saving your ass at the moment is that they're afraid of child porn charges. I don't suppose you were all eighteen?”