Chapter Twenty-Six #3
“Of course it does,” she hums playfully. “I’m spending all of my sign-on bonus on you!”
I shake my head. “That’s a perk, yes, but I meant that I get to spend an entire day with you. No amount of money spent could ever stack up to that pricelessness.”
“I love you, Marco.” She leans in and presses her lips to mine.
“Always and forever, Polo. Thank you, babe.”
Suddenly, our doorbell rings, and Lauren gives me a puzzled look.
I shrug, just as confused, but since I’m closest to the door, I shift Lo off my lap and get up to answer it.
First, I peek out the small window to see who could possibly be stopping by on Christmas day, and then my heart drops to the floor.
I stand, my hand on the doorknob, frozen in fear.
“Who is it?” Lo asks me.
I can’t breathe, my inhale gets caught in my throat, and panic ripples through me like shockwaves. I’m in a snug-fitting sweater dress with festive hosiery on, and there are my parents, standing on the other side of the door. I feel like I’m about to fuckin’ pass out.
Caleb steps up behind me, his hands going to my waist to steady me. The doorbell rings again. My jaw scrapes the floor.
My parents are here.
Physically fucking present at my house.
Oh, I am so, so dead.
“Who is at the door, Marcus?” Lauren enunciates slowly, her tone turning annoyed.
Caleb spins and must sign something to her, but I’m still standing here—hoping that maybe if I don’t move, I’ll disappear. Highly unlikely for a man of my size, sure, but it won’t be from a lack of trying on my part.
Lauren gasps. “What do you mean what do Marcus’ parents look like?! Are Lorenzo and Kimber here?!”
I slowly nod, grimacing, though she can’t see it.
“Grandad and Nan are here?!” Brody springs up off the floor, shooting for the doorknob, excited that his other set of grandparents just showed up out of the blue.
Shit, shit, shit! And I’m unable to stop him before he flings the door open. Well, someone please kill me now, because the look of expectant joy that quickly morphs into abject horror on both of their parts upon taking in the sight of me is one I will likely never be able to live down.
Mom’s jaw drops and she loses control of the packages she was holding when her hand goes up to cover her mouth when she gasps. Dad glowers, his eyes raking me up and down. Brody, the poor kid, is confused as hell about what sort of shitstorm he just inadvertently started.
Lauren darts over, pulling Brody back inside the house and creating a buffer between my parents and me. “Mr. and Mrs. Antonucci, what a surprise!” she coos. “We definitely weren’t expecting you!”
Caleb steps out in front of me, further shielding me from their overly-analytical looks. I’m still too shocked to speak. “Breathe,” he signs to me. “We’re going to get through this. I won’t let anything happen to you.”
Mom’s eyes dart around inside the house, spying all of Lauren’s family still here. Her expression appears hurt. “We were trying to make it a surprise,” she finally croaks. “I guess we’re the ones who were in for a bit of a shock, however…”
“I’ll say,” Dad huffs angrily. “Son, why the hell are you dressed like a woman?”
Lauren bends, ushering our son out of the entryway. “Brody, please go with Cam to your room for a moment, hun.”
“But Mum, I didn’t mean to!”
“It’s okay, sweetie. We know you were just excited about seeing Grandad and Nan. I just need you to give us a moment, please.”
Then, I see Dad’s eyes catch on Caleb. He sees C’s palms placed protectively on my chest, reminding my heart to beat.
Caleb, who has been trying to pour his reassurance into me that this will somehow be okay.
Like this doesn’t ruin the picture perfect holiday we were just celebrating as a big, happy family.
Dad booms, “Does someone want to tell me who this man is who has his hands on my son?”
Jack stands and makes his way over. “Lorenzo, don’t—”
Dad cuts him off, “Don’t what, Jackson? Hmm?
Don’t be fucking irate that my son has been blowing us off, year after year, but apparently has no problem with inviting you all to Christmas every time?
Don’t be upset that when we take matters into our own hands and drive all the way up here, we find him wearing a goddamn dress?
Don’t have an ounce of concern that he appears to be cuddled up to a man, in front of his wife and family?
!” His eyes meet mine, and when they do, they are full of rage, hurt, and confusion. “Who is he, Marcus?”
This is it.
Now or never.
Do or die.
Come clean and quit living this charade, or crawl back in a hole and become the coward Caleb accused me of being all those years ago.
“He’s my partner, Dad. This is Caleb. And I’m not doing anything behind my wife’s back.
Lauren is very much aware of our relationship, and is, in fact, in it herself as well.
I’m queer, and I crossdress. This is who I am, and if you cannot accept that, then I apologize, you just wasted a shit-ton of gas to get up here because you will be asked to get the fuck out of my house. ”