Chapter 21 #2
Never before had he been nervous or apprehensive about being around Brantley in front of others, so he could only attribute it to his mother’s presence. And that he really wanted her to like his professor both as his teacher and as, secretly, a whole lot more.
When the front door opened and Professor Devaney greeted them, Daniel tried to swallow past the lump of nerves lodged in his throat. He wasn’t positive, but he suspected that his history professor knew more about him and Brantley than anyone else. Other than Derek, of course.
“Good evening, Daniel. Mrs. Finley. Welcome.”
“Thank you very much. It’s a pleasure to be here,” she said, extending her hand toward the young professor, who flashed her a friendly smile.
“The pleasure is ours, I assure you.”
He released her hand, and as she walked farther into the room, Professor Devaney held his hand out to Daniel. He took it. Then his history professor stepped closer and grinned before angling his head to the left.
“Professor Hayes is over by the hors d'oeuvres table. I know he’s looking forward to meeting you, Mrs. Finley. Daniel is one of his favorite students.”
“Oh, yes,” his mother said.
And Professor Devaney arched an eyebrow. Oh shit. Yeah, he knows, all right.
“Daniel has told me a lot about him. He thinks very highly of him.”
Releasing Daniel’s hand, Professor Devaney turned toward his mother and ushered them to the far left side of the room. “I’m sure he does. Please, allow me. I’ll show you the way.”
Daniel walked behind the two adults and adjusted his tie. Fuck , he’d never been so nervous in his life. But as soon as he caught sight of Brantley’s brilliant smile and those gorgeous eyes, he relaxed and felt…comforted.
This man eased him. He made anything seem possible just by being near, and as his mother talked with his law professor, Daniel fell into an easy familiarity with Brantley as they all discussed his school year, grades, and the future. A future he was certain would include this man.
TWO HOURS AND three bottles of wine in, a full seafood dinner of lobster, shrimp, and scallops had been devoured.
Daniel was standing in the kitchen with his mother, who was leaning against the counter with her glass of red in her hand, eyeing him the way only a mother could—with all-too-knowing eyes.
Brantley had excused himself for a bathroom break, and his mother had corralled Daniel into the kitchen, where she was, no doubt , about to grill him.
He’d known that it was coming. He could read his mother almost as well as she could pinpoint his moods in a split second.
She swore that it was a gift, but he thought that it had more to do with being overly nosy about one’s business.
“What?” he finally said as he reached into the sink full of suds, rinsed the plate, and then passed it her way to dry.
She lowered her glass and took the dish. “Don’t you what me. You know exactly what I’m waiting for. This is the first time I’ve gotten you alone.”
He scoffed as he went in for the next plate. “Not for lack of trying. Could you have been more obvious when we got here? ‘Oh, Finn, I think you left a pair of socks in your room’?”
“Can you blame me? You were here all of one day then finally told me you were back here because of Profes—Brantley. And then you went and moved in with the guy for your vacation.”
“ You told me to.”
“True. But now I want details. What’s happening with you two? And why has it taken me two hours and four glasses of wine to get you alone?”
“Probably because he’s terrified you’re going to bring out a shotgun to defend my virtue. He’s had his hand on my leg the entire night as if to hold me in place.”
“Aww,” she said with a sappy grin. “That’s kind of adorable.”
“He would be mortified to hear you think so.”
“Well, he shouldn’t be,” she said as she placed the platter on the table and took the next one from him. “You two…” She paused as if trying to think of the right word to use. “You fit. Does that make sense?”
It did, and that was part of the problem. He’d known all along that he fit with Brantley. But he’d sent him away, and Daniel had started his life elsewhere. And no matter how well they fit together, their worlds did not.
“Yeah, it does. It’s always been that way. Right from the beginning.”
She reached for her glass and took a sip before placing it back on the counter. When her fingers touched his arm, he turned to face her, and the expression in her eyes was caught somewhere between joy and worry.
“Don’t look at me like that, Ma.”
“And how am I looking at you?”
He raised an eyebrow. “Like you want to congratulate me for following my heart while also warning me to watch that same heart because it’s tender and fragile .”
Putting her hands on her hips, she frowned. “And what’s wrong with any of that?”
“Not a thing. But you’re too late. My heart’s already involved, fragile or not…” He trailed off when he saw that his mother’s gaze had moved beyond his shoulder.
He didn’t have to turn. He knew exactly who had come into the room. Straightening his shoulders and clenching his jaw, he rolled his eyes when she looked back at him and mouthed, “Sorry.”
“I was just coming to see if I could help out with anything.”
Brantley’s voice was surprisingly steady considering what he’d just walked in on them discussing, and Daniel ordered his feet to turn.
Turn around and see what he’s thinking. But his body wasn’t paying any attention to him, because he couldn’t fucking move.
Luckily, his mother seemed to understand, and stepped around him.
“Oh, no you don’t. You’re my guest. Why don’t you take a seat on the stool there while we finish up the dishes?”
Daniel shut his eyes for a moment and counted back from ten. Then his feet finally cooperated. Brantley was seated at the breakfast counter, his arms resting on the countertop.
“So, Brantley,” she said, throwing her hands up in the air and letting them slap the sides of her legs as if she’d given up trying to be polite. “Let’s talk.”
“Okay. Let’s.”
“I don’t mean about my kids and what great students they are or have been. Or even how fancy this one’s become?—”
“Ma,” Daniel said.
Brantley laughed.
Oh, now he’s having fun. Of course.
“I’m not going to kill you, for God’s sake. His father might have, but, God rest his soul, he’s no longer here to threaten you. So please, relax, would you?”
“Oh for the love of,” Daniel muttered, and shook his head. “Ma, quit.”
“No, Finn, it’s okay. Really.” And Brantley’s smile told him that it really was. “I think your mother has every right to ask me whatever she wants. And I’m happy to answer.”
When his mom rounded on Daniel and crossed her arms, he groaned.
“Is that okay with you , son?”
“Fine. Get it over with,” he said, and then he raised his eyes to Brantley. “Just remember, she’s had four glasses of wine and I get my directness from her.”
“Good to know.” Brantley chuckled.
Well, hell. Isn’t he all calm and shit. What happened to the nervous, fumbling guy from earlier?
His mother grabbed the bottle of wine, refilled her glass, and then gestured to Brantley’s.
He held it out for her. “Why not? We’re walking home.”
“Be careful there, professor, or I’ll be dragging you home.”
“I’m quite fine, thank you. You just keep doing the dishes.”
Daniel narrowed his eyes but laughed as he did just that.
“Okay, the first thing I have to ask is, how did you get mixed up with this one?”
“Gee, thanks, Ma.”
Brantley raised his glass to his lips and then stunned the hell out of him. “I’m sure you’re aware that your son has always been rather…tenacious.”
His mother hooted out a loud laugh. “Now that’s an understatement.”
“Yes, I suppose it is, but it seemed the best way to say that he?—”
Daniel laughed. “Just say it, Brantley. Nothing’s going to shock her now.”
“Thank you for your permission, Finn,” Brantley said, aiming a look his way.
“What? It’s not. I kind of stalked him. End of story,” Daniel said, looking to his mother as he pulled the plug out of the sink.
“ Finn confided in me that he was gay early on when we first met. I tried to keep my distance…” Brantley raised his glass to his lips, and this time, he took a long gulp of his wine as he looked at Daniel across the room.
That was when his mother reached across the counter to where Brantley’s other hand was resting.
“It’s okay, Brantley.”
Brantley’s eyes left Daniel’s to slide back to his mom’s, and whatever he saw in them must have reassured him, because his shoulders relaxed.
“I don’t need all the details. Anyone with two eyes in their head can see this was more than some cheap fling between a teacher and his student.
I could see it even back then. I actually think I should thank you in some ways.
You were a huge factor in Finn doing so well through college.
He was more focused and dedicated than I’d ever seen him, and that was due largely in part to wanting to spend his time with you. You kept him…centered.”
Daniel grabbed the dishtowel from the counter, and as he wiped his hands, Brantley nodded.
“I never meant to deceive you, Mrs.—”
“Oh, hush. And it’s Camille. I just want to know one thing.”
Brantley looked worried as she straightened and brought her glass back to her lips.
She took a sip and then asked, “Do you care about my boy?”
Daniel swallowed, and could barely hear over his thudding pulse. Trust his mother to go right for the heart of the matter. Well, he’d warned Brantley. There was no subtlety in the Finley house.
But it was Brantley’s lack of subtlety that cut Daniel straight to the core when he replied, “I’ve never cared about someone more.”