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His honesty surprises me. Oftentimes, people who are homophobic tend to never change their minds about us. Instead, they seem to dig their heels in and stand resolute in their beliefs. Matthew might firmly attest to being straight, but his attitude toward me and my sexuality seems to be growing more fluid by the day.
The way he leans into my touch, the way he seems to enjoy my company.
It all points to a positive ending. Maybe even a happy one.
“So, is hanging out with Mitch a hardship? Do you dread it?”
“No, not really. I mean, I hate that I have to hide things from him just to sidestep a fight.”
“That’s the worst.”
“So instead, I’ve just been avoiding him as much as possible. Especially without Max there. It’s just too much to handle by myself, you know?”
“I do know. Now husband, tell me about your parents?”
He sighs and looks over at me. “Do I have to?”
“Yes, I need to know more about you.”
“You have a whole file on me, apparently. Just look in there.”
“Ah yes, the file, but that doesn’t tell me about the family dynamics. What is your dad like? Mom?”
“They’re…closed-minded snobs, really. I love them, but I’d honestly be okay with not seeing them for months on end. Or hearing from them. My mom was never very motherly or warm and my dad… Well, I usually feel like I’m a disappointment to him.”
“Ah,” I say and then reach over and touch his arm gently. He leans into it as I drag my fingertips across his skin.
“What about yours?”
He’s changing a very sensitive subject, I can tell. And I’ll let him.
“Aren’t they like rich oil tycoons?”
I grin, a small laugh slipping from my mouth. “You make it sound like we’re in the oil industry, Matthew. And you’re not wrong, but just the wrong kind. Olive oil, my love. They built an empire and it’s been a windfall ever since.”
His eyebrows rise at that. “Olive oil?”
“Yes, we’ve cornered the market. My father is a cutthroat businessman, but very kind. He loves his family more than anything. But he also loves his company and is working himself into an early grave. He can’t relax. I spent my childhood not really knowing him. And my mother, well, she’s warm and kind, but she traveled with my father a lot so I was generally raised by nannies.”
He lets out a small, knowing chuckle. “That makes sense.”
“It does. I’m not saying they’re bad parents. They’re just busy. They do make time for me though. When they can. In fact, they’ll be stopping by in a few weeks to visit with me before jetting off to Italy. I can’t wait to introduce you to them.” He swallows nervously at that, and I bite back a grin. “They’ll love you.”
“We’ll see,” he says as I continue to drag my hand up and down his arm.
“No, they will. They’ve been bugging me about finding someone, settling down and having grandkids. They’ll only be upset they missed the wedding, but I’m sure we could do a small get-together with them and your brothers… Well, not Mitch, of course, or your parents.”
He stares at me. “I think that’s a bad idea.”
“I think it’s a grand idea. The best one I’ve had all year. You know, besides marrying you.”
His cheeks flush and he turns his gaze away, staring out at the darkening horizon. I want to say more, to watch those cheeks turn a pretty pink, but I’m cut off by sound of the doorbell ringing. After grabbing the bag of food from the delivery man and carrying it back to the balcony, I set it on the small table, uncorking the wine and pouring myself a glass, watching as Matthew picks some salami and cheese off the tray.
“Oh, try a grape with it. You’ll love the combo.”
He lets me pop one between his lips, and I can’t help the throb that pulses through my balls feeling his lips against my fingertips. I’d love for him to suck on my fingers, just once and I’d die a happy man.
“Good?” I ask, and he nods.
