Chapter Ten #2
As the night wore on, Brian never came near Ben.
Blaze imagined that was for a few different reasons.
One, nobody knew Brian Weeks had a child.
He was a pretty famous actor who had easily charmed Dara into his bed after just one happenstance meeting.
She had come to L.A. for a visit. Blaze had shown her around.
Brian spotted her and claimed he had followed her gymnast days.
That was all it had taken. Dara had gone home pregnant.
Everything since had been a nightmare for her.
Brian had done everything in his power to keep her silent, scared, and away from any shot at child support.
Blaze never knew how Dara still managed to end up with her ass kicked and Ben terrorized.
He had a terrible feeling Brian had hurt Ben pretty badly since his birth.
He couldn’t prove it, but he imagined no one would tell him for fear of what he might do.
Another reason Brian steered clear, Blaze hoped, was due to the restraining orders against him.
But he also knew Blaze would destroy him if he got anywhere near Ben.
It also only took one look at the terrifying glances German had sent the man’s way for Brian to know he was dead if he made a single wrong move.
Ben ended up looking like he had a blast. His cheeks were rosy, and he was all smiles. He giggled when Blaze and German slow-danced with him in the middle. It was the first gala Blaze had ever enjoyed.
Blaze opted to ride home with German. The last of his appearances and concerts were done for now.
The silence inside the SUV was a peaceful one.
A soft snore came from the back seat while German kept bringing Blaze’s hand to his mouth and kissing it.
Blaze stared at German’s profile, incapable of looking away.
They would really be married soon. Blaze didn’t know where to go with all the happiness. He had no outlet.
“I love you.” Blaze said the words quietly, hoping not to disturb Ben. He desperately wanted to put Ben straight to bed with no interruptions when they made it home. The two-hour drive felt like an eternity.
A smile touched German’s lips. “I love you too.”
“Can I marry you tomorrow?”
German chuckled.
Blaze was undeterred. “What about the next day?”
“The next day is Christmas, baby. Do you really want to choose between our anniversary or visiting your family for the holidays every year for the rest of our lives? You’re already getting screwed out of your birthday.”
He deflated. “Yeah. I guess not.”
Fuck. It was Christmas. Goddamn it. Blaze hadn’t shopped for anyone.
It would be their first Christmas together.
Blaze wanted to make it special. Maybe start their own tradition for their little family.
They definitely had the freedom to do so now.
His mom had shown her ass so badly over the past few weeks that Blaze had made it clear she wouldn’t be seeing them this year.
Blaze couldn’t trust that she wouldn’t use her connections to take Ben from them the moment they stepped into Maine.
Dara hadn’t wanted Ben there for a reason.
As amazing as his mom was, she wasn’t the right caretaker for Ben.
Ben thrived with German. He was where he was supposed to be.
This whole thing had very much put him in the middle of a huge mess, but German was about to be his husband. His first responsibility was to him.
It was as if German read his mind. “You have no idea how sick with guilt I am. I’ve had enough therapy to know losing my parents wasn’t my fault, but now I’m costing you yours and that has me wondering if I really am the problem.
You were so close to your family before me.
I know you talked to your mom every day.
Even though I know I’m doing the right thing, I… I don’t know.”
German sounded defeated.
Blaze didn’t know how to fix it. He just went with letting German see all of him.
“Honestly, one reason my family has been so tight is that we pretend nothing is ever wrong. Everyone sets their problems aside in the name of peace. This entire situation has made me face that. Sweeping issues under the rug doesn’t make them go away.
Both my sisters-in-law hate me for being gay.
My brothers let it go on, so I have to assume they feel the same way. ”
“Really? I knew I got a bad vibe from them for a reason.”
Blaze nodded, even though German watched the road.
“My dad invites all his firehouse buddies to every event so he can avoid all of us. If you notice, I have one sister who is never at any event, and then Denise is always the reason family gatherings get moved around so many times. That’s because she’s trying her ass off to not come, because she’s a lesbian and won’t subject her wife, that no one knows about, to our brothers’ family’s bullshit.
I knew they wouldn’t dare insult you. You’re too scary-looking, and—honestly—they're both pussies.”
German laughed. It was a soft, sexy sound that gave Blaze goosebumps. “A whole wife kept hidden. That’s wild.”
“It’s who we are. Dara and I are the black sheep because we don’t shrink ourselves to fit their mold.
Drew moved herself all the way to Canada to go to the University of British Columbia and didn’t come back.
Unfortunately, I have always tried my best to keep the peace, no matter what it cost me.
Not anymore. Not with this. It’s not your fault.
You didn’t do this. I should’ve stood my ground on a lot of things before now.
I’m so fucking sorry I didn’t. Now my mom will be the typical mother-in-law, thinking the problem is you.
I didn’t act like this before you came along, so you must’ve changed me.
But I need you to recognize that’s not true at all, okay?
No matter what she tries or says, it’s me who’s putting their foot down.
You’re days away from being my husband.” Blaze had to put that out there.
“We’re about to be a true family. Ben and you come first to me.
She can be the one to bend for once. It won’t kill her. ”
Blaze glanced into the back seat and made sure Ben still slept soundly before continuing.
“But it might kill Ben eventually if we don’t protect him.
He’s not like any of us. Mom is so convinced she can make anyone into the person she expects them to be.
I’m scared as hell of what that might eventually do to him.
He already didn’t talk.” Blaze’s voice got harder as he spoke.
He didn’t even realize how much rage poured from him until Ben woke up crying.
Blaze reached back and patted his leg. “It’s okay, baby. Go back to sleep.”
To Blaze’s shock, Ben didn’t shrink from his touch or cry harder. He closed his eyes. Yeah. Blaze was about to burn the world for this family.