Chapter 29
Chapter Twenty-Nine
The past four hours had been surreal for Sky but in a good way for once.
The people he was most afraid of disgusting and disappointing knew and had given them their blessings.
And then, Sky and Mason had gone off and had sex in the middle of the afternoon without anyone disturbing them.
Not only that, but a cheese pizza from Gino’s, a bottle of fruit punch, and a case of Mason’s beer were waiting on the doorstep after the doorbell rang unexpectedly.
It had to have been Sarina.
They ate pizza and chocolate cake in the kitchen, in their underwear, giggling like teenagers.
“I still can’t believe what she did,” Mason said as they slid back under the covers and reached for each other.
“She probably knew that you would be too busy to cook, and that I’d get hungry.”
Mason hummed in agreement. “That too, but I meant her speech. She took all the heat for our marriage and gave us cover. It’s going to be really hard to upstage her now, even if it gets out that I’m in love with my soon-to-be ex-wife's brother.”
“So…” Sky stalled.
Was he ready for Mason to come out and for the rest of Roseview to know about them? It didn’t seem likely that it would stay a secret for very long, given that it was Roseview.
“Do you want everyone else to know about us?”
“I think I might…” Mason smiled as he nibbled on Sky’s lips.
“My parents were happy when I told them that I loved you, and it made me realize that I was focusing on the wrong thing. I was worried that they’d be upset with me for hiding and lying about so much, I didn’t stop and think about how happy everyone would be for you.
I know we aren’t perfect in Roseview, but you’re loved by so many people here. Far more than you know.”
“I do!” Sky nodded and rolled his eyes at himself. “I’m related to the worst people in Roseview, but there are some really awesome people here too. It was just easier and less personal to blame it on Roseview, than to admit that I didn’t fit in at home with my own family. Now I know why.”
“That wasn’t your fault.”
“I know that now. I’m also working with my therapist to reframe my relationships with my dad and Uncle Lance.
I was never going to win my father’s love because he never loved anyone, except maybe Lance.
But Lance loved me and was there for me in all the ways I needed.
I had a father, I just didn’t call him Dad. ”
“I’ve been thinking about that…” Mason’s lips pulled tight and his eyes narrowed.
“We all knew that Lance favored you and now we know why. But what about the others? Nana said she was sure that Lance had at least one other child, if not two. I can’t remember him being close to anyone else, the way he was with you. ”
Sky thought back and shook his head. “I can’t either.
Maybe it was because of Dad and how close they were.
Maybe I meant more because they had me together, in a way?
” He gagged at how twisted that sounded.
“Maybe the others had dads who weren’t shit so Lance didn’t feel as sorry for them,” he guessed.
“That makes more sense than anything else that’s happened, and you knew him best.”
“I barely knew him at all.” Sky shook his head, sad about the missed opportunities.
“We went on all those long walks on the beach and weekend fishing trips. He listened to me babble about books, and movies, and video games… But he barely told me anything about himself. He didn’t tell me that he was queer like me, and that he loved Dad more than he loved Cora.
He didn’t tell me that I was his or help me understand what that means.
I have a million questions about who I am that I’ll never be able to ask. ”
“What about your mother? She might be able to shed a little more light on their relationship and Lance’s past.” Mason cringed apologetically. “It’s probably a long shot, but she’s the last one standing.”
“Possibly by design. That is something, though, isn’t it? Mom’s always been a survivor.”
Mason hummed in agreement. “I do my best not to cross her. How are you two doing?”
“Fine. Pretty much the same. I don’t call her, but I take some of her calls when I’m in a combative mood. That way she knows she hasn’t been forgiven. We never bring up Lance or Dad because I know she doesn’t give a shit.”
“Why…?” Mason asked hesitantly. “You could push her for more information or a real apology.”
Sky laughed it off. “I doubt I’d learn anything of value. Just a ton of shit I don’t want to know, and then I’d have to rehash it all with my therapist. We don’t need more work to do.”
“True. It’s a shame that Lance doesn’t have any other living relatives you can talk to and that Adele’s the only one who knew him and Stewart when they were younger.”
“The thing about Mom is…” Sky wrinkled his nose as he found the right words.
“I’ve always expected the worst, so I’ve never been disappointed.
And she always says exactly what’s on her mind, even if it’s brutal and ugly.
There’s no mask. Mom is exactly what she is, which is not how most people work.
She’s also…me, without the autism or a conscience.
I understand myself better and the things I have to fix when I’m with Mom. ”
Mason’s brows slid up his forehead and his eyes widened.
“Wow. I’ve never thought of Adele as the dark version of you, but that’s exactly what she is.
Or, you’re a better version of her. I take for granted that I can see my family’s history everywhere I look, and I know exactly where I get each of my features from.
You’ve always had questions and felt lost, and all you have is Adele. I’m sorry.”
“She’s not all I have. Not anymore,” Sky amended with a smile. “I cut myself off from the rest of my family because of us, but I don’t have to do that now.”
“Wait!” Mason propped himself up with his elbow. “What about the rest of your family? What if you did one of those home DNA tests? Maybe we could encourage more people in Roseview to take them and find your other siblings. They might already be in those databases!”
Sky’s face pulled into a grimace as he considered.
“I might put my DNA out there, and I wouldn’t say no if someone wanted to meet me.
But I don’t want anymore drama, and I don’t want to turn anyone else’s life upside down.
Not if they were hoping to find a president in their family tree or to reconnect with someone they actually miss. ”
“That’s fair.”
Sky nodded. “One of the few things my therapist said that stuck was that I’m not really equipped to save the world and solve other people’s problems. Not because I’m autistic, but because I wasn’t raised right.
Tracking down my lost siblings and facilitating a reunion would require a bunch of tools I don’t have, when I’m not even sure if I need or want that.
What if my DNA connects me to a serial killer, like in those crime documentaries?
Or what if I find my long lost brother and he’s a bigger asshole than I am? ”
“What if he’s lovely? What if he’s autistic, too?” Mason asked gently.
“What good am I going to do for him?” Sky laughed.
“I can’t explain Lance or tell him who he really was.
He’ll expect me to because I was the closest person to him, other than Mom.
Anyone else who knew Lance is gone, but all we ever saw was Lance, the player.
I certainly can’t help him with the autism thing. ”
“I’m not so sure about that,” Mason said with a soft chuckle. “You’re wiser than you give yourself credit for and you’re an amazing person. But you don’t have to expose yourself to more stress and possible drama, especially if you don’t think it’ll give you any closure.”
“Not at the moment. I’ve had a little too much closure, if I’m being honest. I’m still figuring out what to do with all of it.”
Mason’s cheeks puffed out as he nodded. “That’s understandable. Maybe it’s better if we take it slow, and I fly under the radar for a little longer. Until you’ve had more time to adjust and we’ve seen how everyone handles Sina’s news.”
Sky shook his head. “You come out whenever you’re ready.
I already have a dubious reputation, and I’m a Sutton.
No one bats an eye anymore when we do something scandalous.
Not that this would rate very high on the Sutton Scale after Sina’s announcement.
But your life would change in ways that I don’t have to worry about, so you decide when and how you come out. ”
“Thanks.” Mason laughed softly and shrugged.
“The things I was afraid of before kind of evaporated when I saw my dad in the hospital. I realized that I could have lost him before I had a chance to tell him the truth about me, and us. I didn’t want him to die and somehow find out I was a liar.
I didn’t want him to be ashamed or disappointed in me because I didn’t tell him who I really was and that I’ve loved you for almost as long as he knew me. ”
“Mase…” Sky groaned as he cupped his cheek and kissed him, too choked up with love and pride to do anything else. “I love you, and I’m gonna stay this time,” he said when he finally raised his head and searched Mason’s eyes.
They filled with tears as he gasped. “Really? I get to keep you?”
“I think so… If it doesn’t get too weird or make things more complicated for you and Sina and Sam. I can move into Sutton House for a trial period and see how it goes, being back in Roseview and living in the same town as Mom again.”
“Really?” Mason rolled Sky onto his back, laughing as he kissed him. “You’re going to stay? That’s the best news ever!”
“I don’t know if anyone’s ever been this excited about me…” Sky murmured, making Mason snort.
“I’m always excited about you, I just couldn’t show it as much as I wanted to before. I’m looking forward to telling everyone you’re mine when we’re finally ready.”
“I’m yours,” Sky whispered, a huge smile spreading across his face.
“You’re mine.” Mason’s lips covered Sky’s for another one of his lazy, toe-curling kisses. “If you want to be,” he added sheepishly.
Sky nodded as he hooked a leg around Mason’s hip.
“I do. I’ve always been yours, but I didn’t think you wanted me like that before.
And when I knew you did, I didn’t think it—we—would ever be possible.
It felt so wrong and unfair on a cellular and a cosmic level.
But I didn’t know what to do about it or how to accept it and move on. ”
“I’m sorry. So, so sorry.” Mason kissed the words all over Sky’s face. “I’ll never stop apologizing for all the years of hiding.”
“Why? You did it for Sarina and Sam and so you would be safe. I don’t like everything about it, or the things I believed about you and Sina. But I understand why, and I love you for taking such good care of my sister.”
“I want to take care of you now. Sina doesn’t need me anymore, and we’re always going to be a team when it comes to Sam. I want to have a real relationship, and maybe even a real marriage with you.”
“Marriage?”
Roughly twenty-four hours earlier, Sky was extolling the virtues of celibacy and swearing off of men forever. Now, he was considering marriage with the only man he had ever loved. The one man he couldn’t have.
“Does the idea of marriage scare you?” Mason asked him. “You haven’t seen a lot of good examples.”
Sky grinned and nodded. “Not in my family, but your parents have a great marriage. I thought about them and your mom when I heard about Sam Sr.’s stroke. He’s the best and it would have been a huge loss. Not like when my dad died.”
“He is the best, and he wants me to get this right with you. I don’t care if we have a ceremony, or I have to sign a pre-nuptial agreement. I just want to spend the rest of my life with you. Whatever that looks like, wherever it takes us, I’m in.”
“Me too.” Sky sighed contentedly as he rubbed the end of his nose against Mason’s and wondered if he’d ever get used to being naked and this close to him. “Want to help me figure out where to set up my room and office in Sutton House tomorrow?”
An excited laugh burst from Mason. “That would be great! I’ve never seen any of the bigger suites, aside from Nana’s. Just yours and Sina’s rooms, but there’s no reason for you to keep those, they’re too small.”
“I don’t want Nana’s suite. That will always be hers, unless Sina wants it. My grandfather’s is pretty nice, if I remember correctly, and it’s been out of use for decades.”
Mason’s eyes lit up. “We could turn it into your dream space! The library’s nice and would be a killer office for an author, with a few upgrades.”
“Nana would want us to use the house and for it to be a part of our family’s lives again. She didn’t like having it all to herself.”
That was certainly true. Mason smiled as he remembered how happy his visits with Sam made Nana. “She enjoyed watching Sam run through the halls and playing in the garden. She didn’t want Sutton House to be a tomb.”
“Sam can help us remodel, and maybe he can hang out with me after school sometimes. When I’m not in hermit mode. Sutton House is going to be his one day, so he should get to make some decisions and create memories of his own there.”
“Wow.” Mason shook his head and his eyes filled with tears.
“He’s so lucky to have you for an uncle and Sina as a mother.
Your parents might be terrible people, but the two of you turned out great.
And no matter how confusing or upsetting the news about Lance might be for Sammy, he’ll never doubt that he’s loved and the most important thing in the world to you two. ”
“He has the world’s best dad and awesome grandparents on that side of the family,” Sky reminded Mason, then squeezed an eye shut.
“And a pretty cool brother? We can’t forget that I’m also his brother,” he added, feeling slightly queasy at the thought.
“I’m his uncle and his brother.” Sky kept repeating it, waiting for a day when his brain didn’t short circuit.
“I understand how and why it happened. But I also cannot understand how such a thing is possible. My nephew should not be my brother.”
“Ideally, no,” Mason agreed and they were quiet for several moments. “Want to have sex again? You’re probably sore from earlier but I can use my mouth,” he offered with a lift of his brows.
“Yes!” Sky nodded enthusiastically. “That would give me something much better to think about than my uncle/dad and my nephew/brother.”