Chapter 18
Marshall
Three weeks pass, and here I am, standing on the porch with Gabriel beside me, watching the driveway like it might explode.
My shoulder brushes his, and he shifts closer, the contact grounding me through the nerves crawling up my spine.
We agreed last night that we’re telling our parents today.
But knowing what you’re going to do and actually doing it are two different things.
The past few weeks have been the best of my life.
We’ve spent every day together, exploring nearby towns, eating our way through local restaurants, and having so much sex that I’m surprised we haven’t broken the bed.
I wake up with Gabriel in my arms and fall asleep the same way, and every morning I have to remind myself that this is real. That he’s mine and I’m his.
Except we’ve been hiding it from the people who matter most.
Gabriel’s hand finds mine, our fingers threading together, and he squeezes once. I squeeze back and glance at him. His jaw is tight, his eyes fixed on the empty driveway, and I can see the tension in every line of his body.
“They’re going to be fine with it,” I tell him.
“You don’t know that.”
“I do.” I squeeze his hand again. “They love us.”
Gabriel doesn’t respond. He just keeps staring at the driveway, and I know he’s running through every possible disaster scenario in his head. I want to kiss him, pull him close and remind him that whatever happens, we’re facing it together. But I settle for keeping our hands joined and waiting.
The sound of tires on gravel makes us both straighten.
A taxi appears around the curve, kicking up dust as it approaches.
It pulls to a stop in front of the villa, and the back door flies open before the driver even cuts the engine.
Audrey bursts out, her long hair flying behind her, and she’s running toward us before I can even process that she’s here.
“Marshall! Gabriel!”
She hits me first, launching herself into my arms with enough force that I have to take a step back to catch her. I wrap my arms around her and lift her off the ground, spinning once, and her laugh is bright and loud in my ear.
“Hey, kiddo.” I set her down and take a good look at her. She’s taller. A lot taller. The top of her head comes up to my chin now, and when did that happen? “When did you get so big?”
“I’m sixteen, Marshall. People grow. It’s a whole thing.” She grins at me, then turns and throws herself at Gabriel with the same enthusiasm.
Gabriel catches her and staggers slightly under the impact. He lifts her up, his arms wrapped tight around her waist, and when he sets her down he’s shaking his head.
“I can barely lift you anymore,” he says, his voice fond.
Audrey laughs and steps back, her hands on her hips. “You guys are just getting older. It’s not my fault.”
I raise an eyebrow at her. “Watch it.”
She grins wider, completely unrepentant, and I can’t help but smile back.
The taxi doors open again and Mom and Philip climb out, looking tired but happy. Mom spots us and her face brightens, and seeing that expression makes some of the tension in my chest ease.
I move forward to meet them, Gabriel right beside me, and Mom pulls me into a hug first. She smells like her perfume and coffee, familiar and comforting, and I close my eyes and let myself sink into it for a moment.
“I missed you, honey,” she murmurs against my shoulder.
“Missed you too.”
She pulls back and turns to Gabriel, wrapping him in the same tight hug, and I move to Philip. He claps me on the shoulder and pulls me in, his grip firm.
“Good to see you, son.”
“You too.”
When we break apart, Philip moves to Gabriel, and I hug Mom again, and then we’re all standing in a cluster in the driveway while the taxi driver unloads luggage. Audrey is bouncing on her toes, looking around at the villa and the garden.
“This place looks incredible now,” she says. “What did you even do to it?”
“That was mostly Marshall,” Gabriel says, and when I glance at him, he’s looking at me. His expression is soft, and I have to look away before I do something stupid, like kiss him in front of everyone.
We help carry the luggage inside, and then the next few hours pass in a blur.
Mom and Philip want to see everything, so Gabriel and I give them the full tour.
We show them the updates we’ve made to the house, the new furniture Gabriel ordered, the way we rearranged the living room to take better advantage of the view.
Mom loves it all, pointing out details and asking questions, and Philip nods his approval at each room.
Then we head outside, and I walk them through the garden.
It’s nearly finished now, just a few more plantings to do and some final adjustments to the irrigation system.
The stone pathways are laid, winding through beds of lavender, rosemary, and sage.
The fountain in the center is working, water cascading down in gentle streams, and the young olive trees I planted are already starting to soften the light.
Philip stops in the middle of it all and looks around, taking it in. “Marshall, this is incredible. You’ve outdone yourself.”
“Thanks.” I shove my hands in my pockets, feeling heat creep up my neck. I’m not good at taking compliments, never have been. “It’s not quite done yet, but it’s getting there.”
Mom loops her arm through mine and squeezes. “It’s beautiful. You should be proud, honey.”
I am. More proud of this garden than almost anything else I’ve done professionally, maybe because I did it with Gabriel nearby.
By the time we finish the tour, the sun is starting to sink toward the horizon.
We settle on the terrace for dinner, the five of us gathered around the table, and the conversation flows easily.
Audrey talks about school, about her friends, about the volunteer program she’s applying to.
Philip tells us about a new project the firm landed, and Mom updates us on what’s happening with extended family.
I glance over at Gabriel and our gazes lock more than once. Each time, he gives me a small smile, and each time, my heart does something funny in my chest.
The food is simple but good. Grilled fish, roasted vegetables, fresh bread. Gabriel and I made it working side by side, and it feels good to share it with our family.
As the meal winds down, Mom sets down her wine glass and looks between Gabriel and me with an expression I can’t quite read.
“I have to say,” she starts, her voice warm. “I’m so happy to finally see you two together like this.”
I freeze. Beside me, I feel Gabriel go still.
Mom continues, oblivious to our sudden tension. “You’ve always been so distant with each other at family gatherings. It’s wonderful to see you getting along so well.”
I set down my fork carefully and glance at Gabriel. There’s a flush creeping up his neck, spreading across his cheeks, and when our eyes meet again, I see my own nervousness reflected back at me.
The sun is sinking lower now, painting everything in shades of gold and amber. The terrace glows with it, warm and soft, and looking around at my family gathered here, I feel a certainty settle in my chest.
This is the moment. This is when we tell them.
I look at Gabriel again, asking the question without words. He holds my gaze for a beat, then gives me the smallest nod.
“Mom, Philip,” I start. “There’s something Gabriel and I want to tell you.”
The conversation around the table stops. Mom and Philip both turn to look at us, their expressions becoming more attentive. Audrey leans forward as well.
“We’re listening,” Philip says.
I reach over and take Gabriel’s hand. His fingers curl around mine, holding tight, and I feel him trembling slightly. Or maybe that’s me. I tighten my grip and force myself to just say it.
“Gabriel and I are together.”
The silence that follows feels massive. I watch Mom’s face, trying to read her expression, but she’s just looking at us steadily, waiting.
Gabriel clears his throat. “Romantically together,” he adds, his voice quiet but firm. “In case that wasn’t clear.”
Audrey makes a sound that’s half gasp, half squeal, and her whole face lights up. But Mom and Philip don’t react the same way. They just keep watching us, their expressions calm and patient, and the lack of immediate response makes my heart pound harder.
Gabriel squeezes my hand so hard it almost hurts. “It’s serious, Dad,” he says, addressing Philip directly. “We’re serious about each other. And we’re hoping you’ll understand and support us.”
Philip leans back in his chair, his eyes moving between Gabriel and me. “How long has this been going on?”
“A few weeks,” I answer. “It started here.”
Philip nods slowly but doesn’t say anything else. The silence stretches, and I feel Gabriel tense beside me.
“Dad,” Gabriel says, and there’s a note of desperation in his voice. “Say something.”
Philip takes a breath and sets his wine glass down. “I received a call from Blaine Ashford a couple of weeks ago.”
“Oh, fuck.”
“Marshall,” Mom says sharply, and I realize I said that out loud. “Not in front of Audrey.”
“Please,” Audrey says, rolling her eyes. “You think I haven’t heard all of it before?”
Gabriel leans forward, his hand still gripping mine. “What did he tell you?”
“He told me something I didn’t believe,” Philip says. “Something about you two being together in a way that, and I quote, stepbrothers shouldn’t be.”
My stomach drops. I open my mouth to defend us, to explain, but Philip holds up a hand.
“And I told him,” he continues, “that it was none of his business. That if my boys wanted to tell me something, they would do so themselves.”
The relief that floods through me is so intense I feel lightheaded. Beside me, Gabriel lets out a breath that sounds like he’s been punched.
“So,” Gabriel says carefully. “You’re not mad at us?”