Chapter 25
CHAPTER TWENTY-FIVE
Ru
After getting an Uber back to my place and taking a shower, I climb into my car and point it south, back to London and my duty. The long miles of the motorway give me some time to reflect on the last twenty-four hours.
That wasn’t how I’d intended to meet Nate’s father, and I guess it wasn’t Nate’s plan either. Not that I’d actually intended to meet his family, or rather I hadn’t thought about it. I haven’t considered anything so far into the future, nothing past whether I can even be with Nate or not. I want to, desperately. I can’t imagine wanting to be with anyone more than Nate.
Every time I think I’m getting to know him, he surprises me again. The fun side of him I found so attractive in Sydney is really an amazing amount of confidence, about who he is, who he wants to be, his future, and his place in his own family. The way he stood up to his father was just, wow. And his father took it and backed off. The last time I tried to stand up to my father, he ended up not speaking to me for a month and wouldn’t listen to me. Nate’s father might have flown off the handle, but it sounded like he did it because he cares about Nate , not about the family as if it was something worth more than the individuals in it and to be preserved at all costs.
That he tripled his trust fund shows he has an amazing knowledge of the financial markets too. I thought he was renting, but buying a place in Oxford, where property is expensive—not London prices but still a lot—is a sound investment.
He does know Chase, so it shouldn’t surprise me that he has links to the financial world. I just never considered what they were. I don’t know any people who move in those circles in the States, only Chase, who I met a few months ago. My father would know of course, but I’m not going to ask him. The only other name I’ve heard of is of course Shirley Wall. Everyone’s heard of her and her family’s empire. She’s like royalty in the finance world.
A synapse must trigger in my brain as a thought occurs to me. Nate mentioned his best friend is Seth, and I’m almost sure Shirley Wall has a son of the same name. Are they the same? Is Nate best friends with the son of Shirley Wall?
A laugh escapes me at the thought, but after everything I keep learning about Nate, it would be the least surprising thing so far.
I let my thoughts drift back to the date, which was perfect. And the sex, well, I have confirmation that I wasn’t looking back at Sydney with rose-tinted spectacles on that front.
The sex was as good as I remember—no, it was even better.
The slight ache in my arse agrees, and I can’t help but smile as I take the motorway exit to swap to the road that will take me towards my father’s house. At the thought of sex my cock perks up and I indulge in thinking back to what Nate did. That was a surprise for a start, and so hot, and I want to do it again.
We need to have a talk soon, because I’d like to dispense with condoms. The thought of sinking into Nate bareback has my cock hard and aching, and the idea of taking every inch of him inside me almost makes me come.
I deviate from my intended route and drive instead to my own apartment. I don’t care if I’m half an hour late, I need to take care of myself first.
In the shower for the second time today, I wrap my hand round my cock and give over to the fantasy of thrusting into Nate’s hole with nothing between us. I can almost feel how it would be, and it doesn’t take long before I’m spurting all over the tiles.
Basking in the afterglow, I decide to text Nate what I was thinking about while I was jerking off, and I laugh at his filthy reply.
I finally make it to my parents’ house a little more than half an hour late, but I’m bubbling with happiness and whilst I don’t know why I’ve been summoned this time, nothing is going to spoil my good mood.
Not even my father’s disapproving frown as I walk through the front door can dim the light I feel inside. Though it does highlight the difference between him and Mr. Waterford.
Nate’s father, from the little I saw of him, seemed friendly enough, and he certainly accepted Nate’s sexuality. His knowing about me has made it messy, because even if I wanted to keep our relationship a secret, I doubt I’ll be able to now.
But I don’t want to keep it a secret. Nate was prepared to stand up for me. He even mentioned wooing me, and he has, he really has , since he came all this way.
He could have studied statistics in many places in the world, but he chose England, he chose me! And it worked, because I choose him too. I just need to find a way to tell my father. But not right now as he enters his study without even saying a word to me.
I find Jenna and Petra in the drawing room, and they both look up from their places on the couch looking at a magazine.
“What happened to you?” Petra asks.
“Nothing,” I reply, confused, looking down at myself in case my suit is marked or crumpled, though I know it isn’t.
“Ru, you’re positively glowing,” she says, and I give her a toothy smile.
“Woah, I bet that smile is called Nate,” Jenna chimes in. “Were you with him last night?”
I don’t bother to reply, but I feel my mouth twitch wider, which gives me away.
“ And this morning?” Jenna shrieks, and flaps her hands, beckoning me over. “Come and tell us all.”
She shifts over to make room for me on the couch, and I settle between them.
“I’m telling you nothing,” I say, leaning forward and resting my forearms on my knees, and twisting my hands together. “But I do need your help. I want to tell father.”
“Is it that serious?” Petra asks quietly, as she knows I’d only contemplate this step if it is.
“Yeah, it is.” I don’t want to expand any further. I don’t want to describe my feelings because I want to tell Nate first. I want to make him feel special, just like he’s done for me.
“I don’t know what we can do, Ru, but you know we’re here for you.” Jenna squeezes my arm and I lay my hand over hers. Mine starts shaking a little, as the reality that I’m actually going to own who I am to my father is starting to dawn on me.
“Oh, look at them, they look so perfect together.” My mother’s voice cuts across the room as she enters with Jenna’s mum, Agatha.
“I don’t know how we didn’t see it before.” Agatha tilts her head to the side as if she’s looking at the cutest sight in the world, except she’s looking at us. I slowly turn my head to Jenna and see my own confused frown reflected back at me. She shrugs. She clearly has no idea what’s going on.
“It’s so exciting, Agatha,” my mother continues. “It’ll be the wedding of the season.”
“Does someone want to tell me what’s going on?” I demand. I glance at Petra but she just shakes her head, an indication that she has no clue what’s going on either. Jenna and I drop each other’s hands at the same time. Did she have the same awful thought as me?
I can’t ask her, though, as my father enters with hers right behind him. He looks almost happy, which arouses my suspicions immediately.
He goes straight to the decanters and pours a drink for them both. He gives one to Jenna’s father, Ronald, then raises his glass.
“I’d like to say to Ronald, Agatha, and of course Jenna. Welcome to the family.”
Terror grips my body and I can’t move. This is like some awful nightmare. It’s Jenna who acts first.
“What have you done?” She stands and faces her father.
Mine ignores her and turns to Ronald. “I think the engagement party should be at the end of September, before the weather turns, and then the wedding in May.”
Jenna whirls round to face her mother. “What’s happening?”
“Isn’t it obvious, dear?” her mother says, coming over. “You’re going to marry Rupert. I don’t know why you’ve waited so long.” She gives me a smile that makes me feel nauseous.
“I will do no such thing!” Jenna shouts, her hands fisting by her sides.
“The announcement is going out in the Telegraph tomorrow. It’s all sorted. You should be pleased. We know you’ve been friends for a long time, you just needed a little push.”
I look down at my hands which are properly shaking now. A few minutes ago I was telling Jenna and Petra how much Nate meant to me, confessing how I was falling hard for him, and now this. It’s like a sick joke, but when I look around the room no one’s laughing.
I can’t let this happen.
I try to draw on some of the confidence Nate has. I slowly stand and make my way to the drinks tray, hoping my legs don’t give way on me. I pour a couple of fingers of whisky, neat, and down it in one before I turn round and face the room.
“No,” I say simply but loudly, and watch as all the eyes in the room swivel my way. I take a deep breath, thinking of how Nate would deal with this. He’d be truthful, like he was to his father. I owe it to him to be the same.
“No, I will not marry Jenna. She has no wish to marry me and I don’t want to marry her. I will not have you interfering in my life this way.”
My mother’s jaw drops in shock and I see my father’s face cloud over. I know he’s about to say something, and I will not let him talk over me. Not this time, not ever again.
“I’m already seeing someone, who means a great deal to me.”
“Oh, how wonderful. But why didn’t you say anything to us, Rupert?” My mother’s ability to recover herself quickly is staggering but born from years of never showing weakness in social situations. She’s as conditioned as the rest of us. “When are we going to meet her?”
“You’ll never meet her , because she’s a he.” There, I’ve said it. I swallow and wish I had another drink in my hand.
“This is ridiculous,” my father says dismissively. “I thought you’d got all this out of your system years ago.” His eyes dart towards Ronald and I realise he’s embarrassed. Well, too bad.
“Out of my system?” I bark out, feeling better now I’ve finally voiced it. I’m on a roll. “You don’t get being gay out of your system. It’s who I am, who I’ve always been. I just wish I’d been honest earlier.”
My father gives me a thunderous look. “I will never let a gay son be head of this family!” he shouts, spittle flying from his mouth. The last thread of hope I had that things could be different snaps.
“Maybe I don’t want to be a part of this family anymore!” I shout back and push past him.
“Rupert,” he calls as I reach the door, my hand resting on the handle. “If you walk out that door—” I wrench the door open.
“Rupert,” he calls again, but it comes out as a gurgle, and then I hear a crash and a gasp. I turn around and see my father on the floor, his hand to his chest. His breathing is erratic and he’s gone grey. My mother reaches him first and crouches down next to him.
“Chester. Chester, can you hear me?” she calls, desperation in her voice. He turns his head to her voice but he doesn’t answer. She looks up at me. “Don’t just stand there Rupert, call an ambulance!”