Chapter 22
Vince
Walking into the apartment and hearing Leland laughing will never get old.
What gives me pause is the fact that he’s sitting around the coffee table in the living room with my mom, Zac’s mom and Oliver. Snacks spread out everywhere, and Mom is painting Leland’s nails.
“Hey, Da…” Leland trails off, casting a quick panicked glance at our moms. “Hey, Vince.” Oliver starts giggling almost uncontrollably and has to cover his mouth with his hand.
My mom snorts, loudly. “You can call him Daddy hon, it’s okay.”
“Mom,” I warn when Leland turns fifty shades of red.
I take the grocery bags to the kitchen before going back to the living room.
Since it’s the weekend, I took the opportunity while Zac was with his dad to finish setting up a surprise for Leland.
When Leland said he had plans with Oliver, I didn’t know that included the moms too. “What’s going on?”
“I called Leland to see if he wanted to go get lunch, and he said he had plans with Oliver,” Trudy reaches over and rubs her thumb across Oliver’s cheek. “They invited us over to hang out.”
I kiss Leland on top of the head before sitting on the couch behind him. “Is that why the living room looks like it exploded?” Leland grins at me over his shoulder, making sure he doesn’t pull his hand from mom’s. She’s painting them a light, pale pink and it suits him. “I like that color.”
“I wasn’t sure if you’d like it.”
“I love everything about you, baby doll.” Leland could start wearing dresses everywhere and I wouldn’t give a fuck if it made him happy. If having pretty pink nails is what he wants, I’ll start getting them done professionally. “What about you, little one?”
Oliver holds up his hands with a grin, showing me baby blue fingernails. “I’ve never had my nails painted before.”
“We should make this a thing,” Mom declares, finishing Leland’s last nail. She tightens the lid on the polish and looks at me, daring me with her eyes to challenge her. I raise a brow and she laughs. “I don’t know how to tell you this, but that doesn’t work on me. Your dad has tried for years.”
“Mom!” I exclaim with a groan. I don’t need to know what goes on with my mom and dad when they’re alone.
Leland and Oliver start cracking up, making me shake my head.
“I wasn’t doing anything. If Leland wants a manicure, he can get one.
You won’t get any complaints from me.” Honestly, I’d love to see something bright on his fingernails when he wraps his hand around my cock.
I push that thought away before I can spiral.
“Oh, don’t be so uptight,” Mom huffs. “You don’t think we’ve noticed the dynamic you have with Zac for years?” Trudy nods, confirming what Mom just said. “You’ve always been a caregiver even when you were little. You always wanted to take care of everyone.”
“And Zac,” Trudy continues, “has needed you as a caregiver. Someone who can shoulder the burdens he takes on even if he doesn’t have to.”
“And I need you to keep me centered,” Leland says quietly, leaning against the couch between my legs. I run my fingers through his hair and he nuzzles into my palm. “Zac allows me to, I don’t know, be a kid. You both allow me to be myself.”
“I don’t think you’re giving yourself enough credit for how strong you actually are,” Oliver says, softly smiling. “Yes, Vince gives you that…authority that you need at times, but you have to be strong to be able to handle that.”
“Can we stop talking in code?” Mom says. “We’re all adults.”
“But you’re my mom and mother-in-law,” I argue with a laugh.
Trudy snorts. “Leland calls you Daddy.”
“Oh my God,” Leland groans, sinking further down and covering his face with his hands. Oliver starts laughing, and Leland peeks through his fingers. “Do you want to get into the dynamic with your guys?”
“I’m submissive as hell,” Oliver says with a shrug. “Nothing to be ashamed of.”
Leland drops his hands and scoots back up. “I’m not ashamed, but those are my…” Leland trails off and casts a glance at my mom and Trudy.
Mom grabs his chin and pulls his face so he’ll look at her.
“Your moms. We’re your moms.” My eyes immediately fill with tears at the easy acceptance our parents have given us and the fact that Mom already knew what Leland needed.
When she sees Leland crying, Mom is quick to wrap him in a hug and Leland clings tight.
“I don’t know your full story,” she whispers.
“But know that you aren’t without people who love you.
You might need them, but they need you too.
You complete them in a way that I never thought possible. ”
“Thank you,” Leland chokes out. Trudy joins the hug and Leland takes a shuddering breath. “Thank you. Both of you.”
“You have nothing to thank us for,” Trudy says. “You’re family now and you guys can keep Zac in line. I’m tired.” Leland laughs, breaking the tension of the moment but the weight of it still stands. It’s full acceptance, no questions asked.
Oliver comes over to sit beside me on the couch and curls into my side when I open my arm. Mom gives me a look but doesn’t comment. I know not all of our activities or dynamics need to be explained, and she does too. But she sees it as what it is — comfort.
Mom, Trudy and Leland start talking quietly, and Oliver leans closer. “He needed this.”
“That he did, little one. Those two women will go to war for him.”
Oliver smiles. “I know they will. I’ve had such a good time today just watching him interact with them. They’re wonderful. I could kind of relate since Toby and Jace’s mom are something I’ve needed, but didn’t realize it since my mom passed.”
“Stick around and they’ll adopt you too.”
Oliver laughs. “I’ll take it. They are so awesome.”
That they are.
* * *
Dear Vince,
You are cordially invited to a special event this Saturday at the Dark Desires nightclub. We’re reaching out to you on behalf of Leland as he has a special performance planned with Oliver. You are instructed to be at the club at nine p.m. All other accommodations have been taken care of.
Thank you,
Elise
“Did you just get that email?” Zac asks, looking up from his phone.
“Yeah. I wonder what our boy has been hiding.”
We knew Leland was hiding something again, but at least this time we know it’s nothing bad. He said he was working on another surprise with Oliver, but that’s all the information any of us got. Jace couldn’t even get it out of Oliver and believe me, he tried. For weeks.
“Performance?” Zac asks, sitting back in his office chair. “I wonder what they’ve done.”
I chuckle. “Elise is involved so it’s hard to tell, but that at least answers where they’ve been.” My phone pings with a message and I laugh when I read it.
Jace: What the fuck are they doing?
I don’t know but I’m dying to find out.
Jace: It’s something big because Oli hasn’t been able to sit still since I asked about the email.
We’ll talk to Leland when he gets back from his appointment.
Jace: How’s that going?
Leland had opened up at dinner with Jace, Toby, Aiden and Oliver a week ago about going to therapy.
He’s been so proud of himself for the steps he’s taken for his mental health.
He loves his therapist, and they finally got him on the right regimen for his medication.
He has an alarm set on his phone to take them on time, but that doesn’t stop me or Zac from reminding him.
Instead of anger that we used to get from Leland about this we get smiles, kisses and thank yous.
He’s a completely different person in some ways, but he’s also very much bratty Leland.
Very good. They’re cutting down to once a week after this session.
Jace: Good for him. And I’m happy as hell for you guys.
Thanks, Jace.
Jace: You owe me a blowjob for putting up with your fucking pining though.
I flip out of Jace’s chat screen when I see Leland’s message at the top. My heart sinks when I read it.
Leland: I need you. He’s here. HE’S HERE.
I hit the call button and Leland picks up on the first ring. “He’s here. I need you, Daddy.” His voice is shaky and I’m on my feet, jerking my head for Zac to follow me.
“Breathe, baby doll. Where are you?”
“Our favorite cafe. I just wanted to get us lunch. I’m hiding in the bathroom.” He didn’t run, he called us, and I have to thank anyone who will listen for that.
“We’re on our way. Can you stay in there?”
“Yes.” Leland’s voice is clogged with tears and I wish I could reach through the phone to hold him. “Please hurry.”
“In the car now.” I flip it to speakerphone so Zac can hear too. “Five minutes.”
“We talked about him again today,” Leland says, and I can tell the tears are starting to fall. “Then I walked in and saw him. I feel so fucking weak.”
Understanding dawns on Zac’s face, and I see his hands bunch into fists. “You aren’t weak, pretty boy.”
I pull from the parking garage a little faster than I should but I have to get to him. He called. He called. He called. I keep reminding myself but I know this whole situation can change at the drop of a hat. Leland could panic and run.
“He shouldn’t still have this power over me.”
“Three minutes,” I relay.
“He should be the one ashamed. Not me.”
“Absolutely, pretty boy.”
“Two minutes.”
“Fuck him.” Now there’s anger in Leland’s voice and I don’t know if that’s any better right now. “He’s a fucking piece of shit.”
“Yes he is,” Zac agrees.
“Almost there.”
I swerve around a car and pull in front of the cafe.
Zac and I are out, and walking in right when Leland storms from the back.
His eyes are blazing, his fists are balled up and he’s staring at the scumbag.
We make it three steps from him before he’s marching right up to him.
Murkle’s eyes widen when he sees Leland and get even wider when he sees Zac and I behind him.
He tries to leave the line and Zac steps in his way.
“You raped me,” Leland announces, clear as hell. All chatter in the cafe stops, and all eyes are on us. “I was fourteen.” I hear several gasps, but it’s like Leland is laser focused on Murkle. “You should be in jail, not working with children.”
“I never touched you!” Murkle argues, but his voice is shrill.
“I don’t suggest you call him a liar,” Zac says, taking a threatening step forward.
For all Zac’s soft qualities, I wouldn’t want to meet him in a dark alley.
I remember how he was on the football field, and I’ve seen him fight.
Zac’s entire body is tight, and he’s one wrong word from laying this asshole out.
“You fucked me up, I won’t deny that, but you didn’t ruin me. I don’t know if that was your plan or not and I don’t really care.” Leland stabs his finger into Murkle’s chest and Murkle swallows. “I took back control of my life. I deserve happiness. I deserve peace. You deserve to rot in hell.”
“You’re still delusional.” Murkle’s eyes start shifting at all the attention we’re getting. “Can we talk about this somewhere else?”
“Why? You don’t want them to know that you’re a married man that takes advantage of teenage boys?
” I ask loudly. “That you hide behind your job so you can do it? That you work for Helen Academy High School?” That gets Leland’s attention, and he turns to look at me with big eyes.
“I just found out. It took me a little longer to get that information because he moves schools a lot. I wonder why?” Leland’s breath stutters from his lungs and he grabs my hand.
“I put in a call yesterday to start an investigation.”
“You can’t do this,” Murkle hisses.
“We can and we did,” Zac answers. “You fucked with him, and he’s the most important person in our lives. I just hope that any kid that you touched gets a chance to celebrate you behind bars. Oh by the way…how’s your wife?”
Murkle’s face goes blood red. “I’ll sue you all.”
Leland laughs and it has a hard edge to it.
“Okay. I guess you have no idea who they are then, do you? Not only are they mine, but they run one of the most prestigious law firms in New York. I’ve said all I needed to say, but I’ll summarize it for you.
Fuck you. You’re sick. And I hope you go to jail. ”
Leland tugs my hand, grabs Zac’s and practically drags us from the cafe. He pulls us around the corner, drops our hands, braces his hands on his knees and breathes deeply.
“Are you okay, pretty boy?” Zac asks softly.
“Oh God. I can’t believe I just did that,” Leland groans. “I think I’m going to puke.”
“Do what you need to do, but I’m so fucking proud of you,” I say, gently running my hands over his shoulders. When Leland doesn’t jerk away, I start massaging them.
Leland takes several steadying breaths before he stands up. His eyes are shining with tears, his cheeks are red and his chin is trembling. “I stood up to him.”
“Yes you did, pretty boy.” Zac squeezes his hip and Leland dissolves into tears. We surround him, me pressed against his back and Leland’s face buried in Zac’s chest.
“I didn’t run,” Leland whispers.
“So proud of you,” I repeat.
“I love you,” Leland sniffs. “Both of you.”
“We love you too,” Zac answers, holding him tighter.
Leland stays like that for another second before pulling back. “I need to call Trina.”
I close my eyes and kiss the back of his head. Words can’t even express how much I love him even more for knowing he needs to call his therapist to work through this.
“Let’s go home,” I suggest.
“Home,” Leland sighs like that’s the best thing he’s heard all day.