Chapter 19
Chapter Nineteen
Mason
What was he thinking? What was that? I hadn’t realized we were at the “tell the parents” stage of our sort-of relationship and I was stunned into silence. I didn't mind, exactly. I was just… surprised.
Mrs. Wilson’s frown deepened and she looked at me skeptically for a second before bursting out into laughter. When her laughter subsided, she shook her head. "Well, that’s one way to keep me from knowing the truth. I guess you’re hoping this will get me to stop trying to fix you up?"
Quietly, Emery spoke again, leveling a gaze at his mom. "I’m not lying."
My stomach fluttered and my chest tightened. I opened my mouth to speak but nothing came out.
Emery took a deep breath and started to explain. "Mason and I… we’re together now. It’s new. It literally just happened while we were at the cabin. But… yeah. We might have gotten carried away a little."
Mr. Wilson tapped his plate with his fork, a clinking cutting through the silence. "Well, I guess congratulations are in order then."
"Mom?"
Slowly, a smile brightened her face. "That’s wonderful news, boys. I’m so happy for you."
Emery furrowed his brows. "You are?"
"Of course I am, honey. Why wouldn’t I be?"
"You're not… upset?"
She shook her head emphatically. "Not even a little bit. Why would I be mad? It’s not like I’ve ever disliked Mason. You two have been thick as thieves since high school. I guess this just makes sense."
"But Mom…" When she raised her eyebrows, he continued. "I thought I was straight."
Both of his parents laughed at that, looking at one another and smiling fondly.
"You never know what’s going to happen when you fall in love," Mr. Wilson said. "Or when it’ll happen. Sometimes it just takes you by surprise. That’s all there is to it.
I should know that better than anyone." His smile was a little sad.
Emery let out a relieved breath. "Thanks. I’m glad you’re not mad or upset or anything."
"I could never be upset if you’re happy," she assured him.
When we left, both heading out at the same time, I stopped Emery before he could get into his SUV and kissed him, slow and deep, for several seconds. When we broke the kiss, his cock was hard between us, jutting against my own erection.
"You want to come over tonight?" I murmured.
"I thought you’d never ask."
There were a few more peaceful days before I had to get back to work, and since Emery was on summer vacation, we spent most of those days in bed together, exchanging orgasms. While I was curious about taking the next steps in our sex life, I wasn’t in a hurry, and it didn’t seem that he was either, so neither of us rushed things or pushed for more.
What I did know, though, was that I couldn’t hide our relationship from my family forever.
I knew they’d be just as accepting as Emery’s folks had been, but the thought of telling them still made my stomach twist in knots for some reason.
I decided to soft launch our relationship by talking to Tommy, my coworker and really my closest friend outside of Emery.
He was still unable to work thanks to his roller-skating injury, so we made plans to meet up at a local brewery to grab a few drinks and get him out of the house.
"How’s it going?" I asked as Tommy took a seat across from me at one of the massive picnic-style tables in the cavernous warehouse space.
He settled in, leaning his crutches against the end of the table. "Everything’s good my way." He gestured toward his ankle. "Still not weight-bearing, but soon."
"Can I get you a drink?" When he agreed, I hopped up and went to the bar to gather a couple of beers for us before settling down again.
"What about you? Anything new at work?"
"Actually," I said slowly. "I’ve been working on a friend’s cabin up north. It had some tree damage."
"No shit? What about the jobs you had lined up for the summer?"
I shrugged. "When you hurt yourself, I put a few things off until the end of summer. It wasn’t a big deal."
He took a sip of his beer before smirking at me. "Let me guess. Your friend is a woman you’re trying to get with."
Pinching my lips together, I frowned and furrowed my brow. "Do you really have that little faith in me? You don’t believe I’d help a friend just because they needed help?"
After a second, Tommy shook his head. "You’re right. That’s not fair of me. Just because you did something kind doesn’t mean it was just for sex."
I flipped him off and rolled my eyes. "Give me a break." I finally took a sip of the beer in front of me. It was a fresh, light IPA that tasted a bit like guava. I let the flavor roll around on my tongue for a moment, distracting myself from the conversation at hand.
"So you didn’t spend your time up north hooking up every night?"
There it was. I took a deep breath. "Well…"
Tommy slapped the table lightly. "There it is. Tell me about her."
"Actually, it… it wasn’t a her. It was a him."
His eyebrows shot up, and a slow smile took over his face. "Seriously?"
"That’s not going to be a problem, is it?"
He shook his head. "Hell no. Tell me about him."
That made me smile, wide and genuine. "You’ve met him. My friend Emery."
"The teacher?"
"That’s the one."
Tommy nodded slowly and took another sip of his drink. "I thought he was straight. But hell, I thought you were straight, too."
"Same," I said with a laugh. "It’s new for both of us."
"Well, congrats, man." Tommy raised his glass and clinked it with mine. "A toast to having the most interesting summer of your life."
Later that night, back at my place, a tiny bachelor pad of a house with a fenced-in backyard just big enough for a grill, a shed, and my most prized possession—a hot tub—I relayed the story of my day to Emery as I made burgers.
He listened carefully, not interrupting, as I told him about the conversation with Tommy.
When I finished, he moved to stand behind me and squeezed my shoulders.
"I’m proud of you." He kissed me on the cheek lightly. "I really am."
My chest heated and the knot in my stomach, the one keeping me from coming out to my family, loosened a little. "Thanks. I’m proud of me, too."
He stepped back from me and moved to my side, looking into my eyes as he spoke. "Do you want to tell your family?"
I inhaled deeply, flipping the burgers on the grill. "I do. I think I’m ready."
"How do you want to tell them? In person? Over the phone? Do you want me to be there when you tell them?"
I laughed a little and kissed him lightly. "In person. And yes, I want you to be there."
"Deal."
That was how we found ourselves at my parents’ house the next day for dinner. My mom had invited Josh to join as well, and of course he brought Ava, his daughter. As we settled around the table, Mom cleared her throat.
"Now, it’s been too long since we’ve seen each other like this. I want us to go around the table and everyone should say one thing that’s new in their life."
My stomach turned. There was my chance, but was I really going to announce an update to my sexuality over Mom’s tater tot casserole?
"Now, my new thing is I’ve decided to take a photography class." Mom beamed, looking pleased with herself. "I want to take pictures of the birds in the backyard."
Dad patted her hand. "You’re going to be great, honey. I’m learning to cook. That’s my news.”
Mom smiled at him, the corners of her mouth tugging up. “He’s getting better. The casserole he made for tonight was almost edible.” When Josh and I exchanged looks, Mom laughed a little. “Don’t worry. The one that made it to the table is all mine.”
Josh went next. "Ava started taking music lessons. Guitar."
She rolled her eyes. "Dad, that’s not a new thing for you."
"Being a guitar dad is," he argued.
Mom chuckled and shook her head. "You need to think of something else. Ava’s news doesn’t count as yours."
"Fine…" He frowned as he thought. "I actually just scored a major new account at work. Does that count?" When Mom nodded, he glanced at Ava. "Now you have to think of something other than guitar," he teased, poking her in the ribs.
Ava sighed heavily, very much the put-upon teenager. "Fine. I have a boyfriend." She cut a glance at her dad, who was shaking his head but smiling.
"Ava thinks she’s old enough to have boyfriends," he said.
"Dad, I’m thirteen. That’s old enough." Josh just chuckled and shook his head again.
All eyes were on me next. "Mason, what’s your new thing?" Mom asked.
My heart pounded in my chest. Tell them. Just rip off the bandage. "I… also have a boyfriend."
Josh laughed incredulously. "Okay. What’s your real new thing? If I can’t use Ava’s guitar lessons, you can’t use Ava’s boyfriend announcement to deflect."
"I’m not," I said slowly. "It’s true." I glanced at Emery, who gave me a little nod.
"Fine, you don’t want to share. I guess we’re moving on to Emery." Josh’s tone was thick with annoyance.
Emery smiled, but I could see the nervousness in the smile. "I also have a boyfriend."
My mom’s patience ran out then. "Fine, you boys don’t want to play. I get it. You want to keep your lives to yourself. I understand. I just wish you wouldn’t make fun of me."
"Mom—" I started. I looked at Emery again and he gave me an almost-imperceptible nod. "I’m not making fun of you. Emery and I are… we’re dating. Each other."
Her eyebrows furrowed and she looked back and forth at both of us.
Dad cleared his throat. "So, when did this happen?"
"Beginning of the summer, I guess. It’s new."
Emery took my hand under the table. "But we’re happy. So far."
Everyone was quiet for a few moments before Josh spoke up. "Well, I think it’s awesome. Emery’s practically family anyway. Might as well welcome him into the fold officially."
Mom and Dad were both looking at me quizzically. When Mom spoke again, she spoke slowly, as if she was choosing her words carefully. "I didn’t know you liked men."
I shrugged. "Me either. Not until Em and I started seeing each other."
She let out a relieved sigh. "Well, good. I was starting to worry you’d been hiding something important from me all your life."
Dad patted her hand. "I don’t think that sounds like something Mason would do."
"You never know," Mom said softly. "I’m just glad you told us. We’re really happy for you."
Dad nodded and smiled. "We are."
"Well, now that that’s done, can we eat?
" Ava asked. Everyone laughed at that and we moved on to other topics of conversation and having dinner. I couldn’t have been more relieved.
There was only one thing left looming in my mind and it was time Emery and I talked about it.
I silently promised myself I'd bring it up in the next few days and tried to enjoy the casserole.