Chapter 27
CHAPTER TWENTY-SEVEN
Ru
I stiffen at the sound of my father’s voice, the sneer evident in his words. My mother winces and I tell her not to worry. I glance over at Nate and from his expression I know he heard it too. Nearly dying hasn’t mellowed my father at all then. No doubt he’ll blame me, but Nate is right, it’s not my fault. I’m not responsible for his reaction to me being myself.
“What the actual f?—”
“Sir!” I cut Nathaniel off from swearing in a hospital.
“Well, he needs to get his head out of his ass. I want to go in there and tell him exactly what I think.” I move to stand between him and the door. I can see the fire I witnessed earlier starting to form. Was it only earlier today? It feels like a lifetime ago, so much has happened since then.
“I’ll talk to him. He’s had a shock; he needs time to get used to it.” I don’t know why I’m defending my father but I do want to see if I can talk him round first. If not, then I’ll happily let Nate’s father loose on him.
“Alright, but we’re here for you.” He echoes Nate’s words and I can’t quite believe how accepting and supportive he’s being having only just met me a few hours ago. It’s not something I’m used to and a lump forms in my throat.
“Thank you, sir,” I say quietly.
“You can drop the sir? It’s Nathaniel.” he claps me on the shoulder and steps back. I nod at him. I’ll try but habits are hard to break. I catch hold of Nate’s hand. I’ve come so far, and I want to show my father that I don’t care for his words.
The room is darkened, and my father is lying in bed, hooked up to machines. I almost feel sorry for him, but then I catch the steely look in his eye and I know he’s rallied well enough.
“I’m pleased you’re out of danger, father,” I start.
“No thanks to you,” he barks and I sigh. I suppose it makes this a little easier to do.
I approach the bed, tugging Nate with me.
“Father. I wasn’t truthful when I said I was bi, I’m gay. I always have been and always will be. I can’t change who I am, nor would I wish to. I want you to meet Nate Waterford, my boyfriend.”
His eyes flick from me to Nate, his face already twisting into an awful sneer.
“And his father Nathaniel Waterford.” I gesture to where Nathaniel is standing near the door.
I guess Nate’s father sees the expression as well and is done with letting me explain because he speaks.
“Dude, all that shit about queer nonsense is so last century. You really need to chill.” He sounds so much like Nate, I have to smile.
My father raises himself a little on the pillows. “Who do you think you are? What would you know about the world we live in? We’re in finance, were?—”
“I’m Shirley Wall’s VP. I think I know plenty about that world ,” Nathaniel cuts him off.
Nate leans around me with a little smirk on his face. “Yeah, I actually call her Aunt Shirley.”
It’s so typically Nate, unashamed and unapologetic. It’s one of the many things I love about him. I squeeze his hand and he squeezes back. No matter what happens I know I’m going to be alright.
My father, for once, is completely lost for words as his gaze swings between us. The silence is broken by Chase walking through the door followed by a guy in a white coat. The guy, who I assume is the doctor, goes to the charts hanging by the bed.
“Chase?” My father looks confused. “What are you doing here?”
“Well, I was having dinner with Nathaniel and Nate until Rupert called.”
“Wait, you knew about this?” He waves his hand towards myself and Nate and I see Chase’s eyes narrow slightly.
“Well, I didn’t until tonight, but what about it?” His voice has a hard edge to it that feels like a challenge. My heart gives a little leap. I don’t know Chase well but it certainly feels like my father is outnumbered.
“I’ve trained Rupert to take over from me, both the company and the family. No one will take him seriously if he’s, you know . . . a fairy.” Nathaniel takes a step forward but Chase puts an arm out and he stops. My father continues. “How can he command respect?—”
“Do you respect me?” Chase asks with a voice so calm I know he must be holding himself back.
“Of course I do, you know that. I’ve known you for over twenty years.”
“Well I’m bi, Chester. It’s not a secret, and neither does it matter. Or it certainly hasn’t for the last two decades. Do I need to find somewhere else to handle my investments?”
I watch my father swallow, trying to digest this information.
“No, there’s no need for that, Chase.”
I hate that it’s the financial threat that has my father’s attention, but he only thinks in money. Chase isn’t done yet, though, and he knows how to play the game.
“We’ll see. I’ll expect to see your diversity and equality policy statement as soon as possible. I assume you have one, it is law after all.”
“Yes of course I do,” my father replies, but Chase frowns at his dismissive tone that suggests he doesn’t bother himself with those tasks.
“I want to know that it extends to all employees.” Chase looks at me as he makes his point clear.
My father nods and Chase relaxes slightly. I can feel Nate bubbling beside me. He’s been surprisingly quiet so far.
He steps forward and addresses my father. “I don’t care what you think of me , but Ru is a good person, and he deserves your respect. I’m pretty good with finances too, and I’m going to take good care of your son.”
He flashes me a smile at the last sentence, and I grin back at him. My father just blinks at him, but he doesn’t immediately dismiss him, which I consider actual progress.
Chase speaks again. “I called Doctor Brotherton to look at you. He’s an old friend of mine and the best cardiologist in the country.”
“Yes, and if you could all leave so I can examine the patient that would be helpful. I was just about to tuck into a delicious dinner my husband cooked for me when Chase called. I’d like to get back to it at some point this evening.”
Chase’s smirk is priceless as my father looks at him for a long second. He gives a little shake of his head and huffs a wry laugh before settling back on his pillows.
It might not seem like much, but I know my father. I’ve spent years watching for every tell, every muscle twitch. He knows when he’s been beaten. He might not like it but he’ll accept it, which is significant.
We all file out and walk to the small waiting room where we find Petra and my mother.
I introduce Nate to my sister who takes to him immediately as I knew she would. She hugs us both.
“So you’re the guy my brother’s been pining over for months,” she says brightly. Nate preens a little while I roll my eyes at her.
“You met the old man and survived, then?” she asks.
“I’m not sure about that. He didn’t actually say anything to me.”
“Oh, then he definitely likes you,” Petra laughs. “He doesn’t waste time telling those he doesn’t.”
I leave Nate and my sister talking and walk over to my mother who’s smiling at something Nathaniel is telling her. He has the same easy charm as his son so it doesn’t surprise me. She’s still wearing that smile as she turns to me.
“Mother, I’d like to introduce you to my boyfriend,” I say and lead her back to Nate.
“It’s nice to meet you, ma’am,” he says. I see her hesitate and take a breath before answering. It’s been a long and shocking day for her, and she’s got a lot to get used to, so I forgive her this reaction, just this one time. But then she surprises me.
“Welcome to the family. I gather you’re the one responsible for my son’s happiness. I want to thank you.”
I share a look with Petra and I’m not sure which of our jaws drop the furthest. My mother looks at me. “Can’t a mother wish for her son to be happy?”
I’m interrupted from wondering who swapped my usually cold mother for one that looks like she might actually care by Doctor Brotherton entering the room. He comes straight over to my mother.
“He’s stable and in the best place he could be. I’ll be back tomorrow and we’ll run some more tests, but there’s nothing more we can do tonight but let him rest. You might as well all go home.”
“Can I see him first?” my mother asks, and the doctor escorts her back to him.
I drove to the hospital rather than travel in the ambulance so I have my car.
“Would you like to stay at my place?” I ask Nate as Chase offers Nathaniel a place to stay tonight rather than driving back to Oxford.
My stomach growls loudly as we exit the car park, reminding me that I haven’t actually eaten today.
“Do you mind if I grab something to eat?” I ask Nate. “I missed lunch and all this happened before dinner. If I don’t eat soon, I think I’m going to pass out.”
“You should’ve said earlier, Ru,” he replies. “I’d have gotten you something at the hospital.”
His concern is so sweet and my insides go gooey. He meant it when he said he’d take care of me.
“It’s fine. I wasn’t hungry then, but now it’s all I can think of.”
Within minutes I find the nearest drive-through.
“Sorry it’s not gourmet food.” I apologise to Nate as I pull up to the order window. He laughs out loud as I order two burgers and large fries. Nate wants a burger too, and soon we’re collecting our order. As I drive the short distance to my apartment, Nate keeps passing me fries to keep me going, and I don’t think I’ve been more grateful for anything in my life before.
I polish off my burgers in record time and sit back feeling slightly more human.
“I really needed that,” I say as Nate gathers up our cartons and hunts round my kitchen for a bin. “You don’t need to clean up, I can do it.” But I can’t summon the energy to move.
“All you’re gonna do is sleep.” Nate tugs me up from my chair. “Now, where’s the bedroom?”
I lead him to my bedroom and hear his exclamation of delight as he sees the view of the city, now lit up with a thousand lights. I chose this place for that view, which is perfect any time of day.
I fumble with the buttons of my shirt, tiredness making it harder than it should be. Nate helps me undress and I climb into bed. He takes off his clothes and joins me, curling himself around me.
“Thank you for today,” I say sleepily as Nate kisses the back of my shoulders. “It means a lot to me that you came.”
“I’ll always be here for you, Ru. I love you.”
I twist my head round to look up at him. “I love you too, Nate. I can’t believe how lucky I am.”
“We’ll have a competition about who’s the luckiest some other time.” He plants a soft kiss on my lips. “Now go to sleep.”
I settle back and he nuzzles into my neck. He gently caresses my hip with his fingers, which is soothing but also arousing, and I try to ignore the effect it’s having on me, but fail. I contemplate whether I should ask him to stop, though my cock is very much against that idea, when he gives a little breathy laugh against my skin.
“What is it?” I whisper into the darkness.
“I was just remembering the text you sent me earlier. I want that too.”
Now the thought of fucking each other without condoms is back in my head, and sleep seems far away. I reach for his hand and place it over my now hard cock.
“Look what you’ve done. I’m not going to be able to sleep like this,” I tease.
He wraps his hand my cock and I groan at his touch. He leans his lips close to my ear and whispers, “Let me take care of that for you my lord.”