Find Me in July (Mesa Boys)

Epilogue

epilogue

T roy walked out of the bedroom and into the main room of his apartment, then took a seat next to Jessie on the couch. “Hey.”

“What?” Jessie ate potato chips out of a bag in his hand.

“I forgot to tell you earlier that Jake and Donna are coming over.” Troy snatched a chip from his bag. Hopefully, he would be cool with it.

“Okay. When?” Jessie crunched on a chip.

“Uh, now.” Troy chuckled. “Someone was distracting me at work today, so I totally forgot to mention it.” He glanced out the window by the door, the long shadows of evening spreading across the grass in the common area.

“We should order Domino’s pizza for dinner.” Jessie smiled at him, then his face went slack. “I assume Jake knows about us?”

“Yeah, Donna told him. She said he was a little weird about it at first, but she told him she wouldn’t date him if he had a problem with it.” Troy smirked. His sister surprised him more and more these days.

“So, he’ll be uncomfortable when he gets here.” Jessie set the bag of chips on the coffee table.

“Maybe. I’m not going to let it bother me and I’m not going to act any differently. This is our place. We shouldn’t have to hide anything here.” Troy thinned his lips. “Right?”

“Right.” Jessie placed a quick kiss on his mouth.

Sam strolled out from the hallway. “Dude.” He shielded his eyes, then walked into the kitchen, snickering.

Troy turned on the couch. “Hey, my sister and her boyfriend are coming over. We’re going to order delivery pizza, you in?”

“Sure.” Sam opened the refrigerator, searched inside, then picked up the whipped cream canister and shook it a few times.

Troy glanced at Jessie and lifted a corner of his mouth.

Jessie rolled his lips inward, attempting to keep from smiling.

“Everything okay?” Troy bit his lip, stifling a giggle.

Sam turned the canister upside down, twisting it in his hand, then shook it again. “I was going to have some ice cream with whipped cream on it, but it feels empty. I just bought it.” He opened a cupboard, pulled down a plate, then lifted the cap on the canister and pressed the nozzle. It sputtered. “Damn, it is empty.”

Jessie erupted in a belly laugh.

Troy slapped Jessie’s thigh, glaring at him. “Dude.”

Sam did a double take of them, then grimaced. “You didn’t.” He chuckled and set the canister on the counter, shaking his head.

“Stop laughing, Jess.” Troy pushed him.

Jessie righted himself. “I can’t help it.” He giggled.

“You fuckers.” Sam approached them, sniggering. “Get me more whipped cream and get some for yourselves. Damn.” He went into the kitchen and threw the empty canister into a garbage bin under the sink, then cleaned the plate.

Jessie tapped Troy’s leg and came close, whispering. “We have ice cream.” He spread a wicked smile over his lips.

Troy chuckled. “Two words. Dirty. Mind.” An image flashed in his head of licking ice cream off of Jessie’s body. Desire filtered through him. “But I like it.”

“We can’t use it all this time.” Jessie lifted a brow.

“There is no way he’s not going to know we used some,” Troy said.

“What the hell are you two scheming about over there?” Sam sliced an apple pie that was sitting on the counter and set the slice on a plate, then grabbed a fork from a drawer.

“Nothing.” Troy smirked.

A knock sounded on the door.

“That must be Donna and Jake.” Troy jumped from the couch and answered the door.

Donna beamed at him and held up a twelve-pack of beer. “Didn’t know if you already had beer.”

Jake stood behind her, giving Troy a quick wave.

Troy ticked his head at Jake, then focused on Donna. “We do, but we can always use more.” Troy stepped aside and let them in.

Jessie stood, rubbing his hands together and grabbed the beer from Donna. “Who wants a beer now?” He set the twelve pack on the coffee table.

“Me.” Jake lifted his hand, then looked Jessie up and down, flashing him a grin.

“Just hand one to all of us.” Troy studied Jake. How uncomfortable would he be with him and Jessie?

Jessie ripped the twelve-pack open and handed the beers out. “I’ll put this away and order the pizza.” He walked to the kitchen, set the beers in the refrigerator, then picked up a black handset from a phone sitting on the counter and dialed.

Donna popped her beer open and sat on the couch, next to Troy. “So, how are things going with you two?”

Jake sat on the shag carpet by Donna’s feet, leaning on the couch, then drank his beer, scanning the room.

“Good. Jessie’s working with me now, which I told you, and that’s going well. His mother came over?—”

“Holy shit, she did?” Donna lifted her brows.

“Yeah.” Troy glanced at Jessie, then leaned close to her. “She’s coming around, I think.”

Donna nodded.

Jake cleared his throat. “Coming around to what?”

Troy narrowed his eyes. Would Jake understand anything about this situation? “Well, to me and Jessie being together.” He gauged Jake’s reaction.

Jake pursed his lips. “Oh.” He gulped his beer down.

Donna peered at Jake. “So, how about we all sit at the table and chat?” She smiled at Troy, lifting her chin.

“Yeah, sure.” Troy sipped his beer. This should be interesting.

Sam ate his pie at the counter, watching them.

Jessie wiped his hands on his thighs, picked up an open beer can from the counter, then strolled to the kitchen table and sat down.

Troy rose from the couch and walked to the table with Donna and Jake following. They all took seats, Troy next to Jessie, with Donna taking the seat beside him and Jake next to Jessie.

“Hey, Jake, this is our roommate, Sam, by the way.” Troy gestured to Sam.

“Hi.” Sam waved at Jake.

Jake nodded his head at Sam. “Nice to meet you, man.” He peeked at Jessie.

Jessie glanced at Jake, then frowned.

Troy watched the exchange between Jake and Jessie. The two of them seemed uneasy. Why? “So, what have you two been up to? How was the rest of the month at the lake?”

“Oh, we had a blast after you left. Mr. Smith let Jake and me take the boat out. Mr. Smith got drunk with Dad one night and they were hilarious. Then there was a great band one night at The Commander , so we went dancing.” Donna grinned.

Jessie hung his head.

“You okay?” Troy grabbed Jessie’s hand under the table and brought their entwined hands to rest on top.

Jake looked at their hands and shifted in his seat, clearing his throat.

Jessie lifted his head, working a grin over his lips. “I’m fine. Just?—”

“Your dad?” Troy squeezed his hand. Jessie probably didn’t need a reminder about that situation.

“What about... Oh, I’m sorry, Jessie.” Donna touched her fingers to her mouth. “Guess you don’t want to hear about your dad.”

Jake drew his brows together. “What’s going on?”

Troy took a deep inhale. “Jessie’s dad won’t speak to him anymore. Not since he found out about us. In fact, he basically told Jessie he wasn’t his son anymore.”

“What? That’s crazy.” Jake focused on Jessie. “Why?”

“He’s a homophobic asshole, that’s why.” Jessie clenched his jaw.

“So, parents really still do that shit?” Jake furrowed his brows.

“Yeah, they do.” Troy freed a heavy sigh. “There’s a lot of shit that happens to people who aren’t straight. It’s not talked about, even in the news, but it happens. I’ve found out about a lot of things since I’ve been with Jessie. It’s really opened my eyes.” Troy rubbed his neck. That was a little more than he’d intended on saying.

“Like what, Troy?” Donna rested her forearms on the table.

Troy glanced at Jessie, then focused on his sister. “Well, like dudes getting beaten up at Loring Park, or getting arrested and beaten by the police or getting fired at work just for being gay.”

“Jesus.” Jake sat back in his chair and raked a hand over his hair. “I guess I’ve heard of it, but you’re right. I’ve never seen anything about it in the news.” He looked Troy and Jessie over. “I have to tell you both, I’ve never been around gay people before. So I didn’t know what to expect.” He grabbed Donna’s hand. “I thought it would be weirder than it is. But you two look like any other couple, just both dudes.”

Jessie snickered. “What did you expect? To come here and find a couple of perverts?”

“You are perverts. You used all my whipped cream.” Sam laughed and walked to Jessie, placing a hand on his shoulder.

Jessie glanced up at Sam. “Okay, you got us there.” He snorted and shook his head.

Troy chuckled. “Dude, we’ll buy more.”

“What the hell, Troy?” Donna lifted her brows. “First you start bangin’ your best friend and now you have a food fetish?”

“Not me, Jessie.” Troy pointed at him, giggling. “It’s all him.”

“I only came up with the ice cream idea. The whipped cream was all you.” Jessie sniggered.

“What?” Sam jogged to the freezer and snatched out a tub of strawberry ice cream, then peeled the lid back and peeked inside.

“We didn’t touch your damn ice cream,” Troy said. “Yet.” He started a round of giggling.

Sam closed the lid and put the ice cream back in the freezer. “Get your own food to play with.” He opened the refrigerator and took out a beer. “I need a drink now.”

Jake smiled at Sam. “So, Sam, what’s it like living with two gay dudes?”

Sam gulped his beer, then studied Troy and Jessie. “Well, it’s loud sometimes.” He sent Troy a mock glare. “They have sex all the damn time.” He chuckled.

“Really.” Jake glanced at Donna. “Maybe they’re on to something.”

“Don’t get any ideas.” Donna slapped his arm.

“Enough about our sex life.” Jessie’s face flushed and he grinned. “How about we play truth or dare?” He waggled his brows and sipped his beer.

Donna rubbed her hands together, beaming. “Yes.”

Jake groaned. “Not again.”

“What? It’s fun.” She touched Jake’s arm. “We could just play spin the bottle.”

“There are three dudes here and one chick.” Jake drank some beer.

“Not bad odds for me.” She snickered, flashing her eyes at Jake. “Except, I am not kissing my brother.”

“No. Truth or dare only.” Jake finished his beer, then set the empty can sideways in the middle of the table. “Who wants to go first.”

“You can go,” Troy said to Jake, then grinned at Jessie, leaned in and kissed his cheek.

Jessie spread a wide smile over his face.

Jake’s gaze darted to them, then he spun the can. It landed on Jessie. Jake smirked and pressed his fingers to his lips. “Truth or dare?”

“Truth.” Jessie glanced at Troy.

“So, how did you two get together?” Jake lifted his brows.

“Oh, good one.” Donna nodded slowly. “That’s something I would have asked.”

“I know. I’ve played this game with you enough times.” Jake kissed her, then focused on Jessie. “Well?”

Jessie’s cheeks reddened and he peeked at Troy.

“I’m waiting.” Troy tightened the hold on his hand. How was he going to explain it?

“Well...” Jessie drew a long inhale. “This is embarrassing.” He freed a stiff laugh. “Troy got turned on watching me get a blow job.” He smirked, fixating on Troy.

The room burst out in laughter.

“You fucker.” Troy slapped his arm. “Why did you tell them that?”

Jessie lifted his brows. “It’s the truth. I have to tell the truth.” He giggled.

Sam sat on the counter in the kitchen. “Damn, you guys are freaky. I’m staying to watch this.” He sipped his beer.

Donna shook her head. “I don’t even know how that would happen.”

“And you’re not going to know.” Troy glared at her. Maybe truth or dare was still a little nerve wracking to play with his sister.

“Okay, my turn.” Jessie spun the can and it landed on Troy. “Truth or dare.” He let a wide smile play over his lips.

Troy took everyone in. If he picked dare, Jessie would for sure make him strip. That was a given. If he picked truth, who the hell knew what he’d come up with? Did he want to strip in front of his sister, or go with the unknown?

“Well?” Jessie drank some beer, fixating on Troy.

“Okay, truth.” Donna does not need to see my dick today. Troy straightened in his chair.

Jessie’s smile waned. “When, exactly, did you know you liked me?” He creased his brows.

Troy gnawed on his lip. Jessie was getting serious here. “I think I knew it the day we played pool with Gary, but I wasn’t ready to admit it to myself all the way.”

Jessie widened his eyes. “That explains a lot.”

“It sure does.” Donna bit at a nail. “So that’s why you were such a dick to Gary.”

“Yeah.” Troy nodded. “Not something I’m proud of.” But he still didn’t like the dude.

“Wait, so...” Donna jerked in her chair, dropping her mouth open. “Did Gary give Jessie a blow job and you saw it?”

“Donna.” Jake huffed.

“How the hell do you figure this shit out?” Troy knit his brows. “It wasn’t all the same day, okay?” The last thing he needed was her thinking there were blowjobs going on in the men’s restroom that day.

“Sure, Troy.” She snickered.

Troy spun the can and it landed on Jake. “Truth or dare?”

Jake smirked. “Dare.”

“Okay, then. Strip down and run around the table.” Troy sipped his beer.

Jessie scowled and slapped Troy’s arm.

“What?” Troy chuckled. He could still make Jessie jealous of a straight dude.

Jake shook his head, removing his clothes. “I should have known. Donna always makes everyone strip, too.” As he slid his underwear off, he stood.

Troy’s gaze caught on Jake’s cock. Damn, that’s nice. He glanced at Jessie.

Jessie glared at him. “Stop it.”

Jake shouted and ran around the table, hands in the air.

The room filled with laughter.

Troy yanked Jessie’s hand, tugging him close and whispered, “He’s not as big as you.”

Jessie smiled. “Damn right.”

Jake took his seat, panting, then dressed himself.

“You did good, babe.” Donna kissed him on the lips.

“Thanks, I think.” Jake slipped his shirt down his chest. “Okay.” He spun the bottle and it landed on Donna.

“Oh, truth.” She smiled at Jake. “I am not running around the table naked.”

Jake huffed. “Fine.” He tapped his fingers to his lips. “Who is your biggest celebrity crush?”

“Seriously? That’s easy.” Troy scoffed.

“We’re nice to each other when we play this.” Donna smiled at Jake. “Shaun Cassidy.” She spun the can and it landed on Jessie. “Oh.”

Jessie inhaled deeply. “Here goes.” He glanced at Troy. “Truth.”

She let a grin creep over her lips, then placed her hand on Jessie’s arm. “If there was one thing you’d like to tell my brother, but haven’t yet, what would it be?”

“Damn, Donna, you’re good at this.” Sam released a sharp laugh.

Jessie turned to Troy, taking his hand in his, then gazed deeply into his eyes. “Troy, remember when I told you I needed to go off and find myself?”

“Yeah?” Troy’s gaze darted over Jessie’s face. He was being serious again.

“Well, I found myself, right here with you. I was right where you said I was all along.” Jessie’s eyes glistened.

Troy’s eyes stung with tears, his heart flooding with emotion. “I love you.” He wrapped an arm around Jessie’s neck and pulled him in for a deep kiss.

Donna whooped and clapped. “That is the sweetest thing I’ve ever heard.”

As the kiss broke, Jessie placed his forehead on Troy’s. “I love you.”

What happened the previous summer between Jessie and Troy? To find out, read the prequel for this story as told from Jessie’s point if view.

If you like historical MM romance with friends to lovers and bi-awakening tropes, you can check out my book, A Summer Without Rain, set in 1920 Ireland.