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“Um. You’re the first, actually,” Wil admitted. He winced at the glare Ben shot him. “I haven’t really dated since being at college, and Dad and Pa only got back together the summer before I started, so yeah, you’re the first important person I’ve brought home.”
Pulling the car to a halt in front of a large adobe-style house, he killed the engine and turned to face Ben.
“I promise, my family are good people. Yes, they’re famous, but it’s not only who they are.”
“I understand that Wil, but not only am I meeting your parents, but I’m also meeting some of my favorite musicians. I’ve been to one of their concerts, for Christ’s sake. And now I’m meeting them as their son’s boyfriend. Of course I’m going to be nervous. Any sane person would be!”
“I’m sorry,” Wil apologized, leaning over the console to press a kiss to Ben’s mouth. “I shouldn’t dismiss your feelings in this. We’ve only known each other a few weeks and we’re still learning about each other.”
Ben kissed him back, cupping Wil’s jaw. “Apology accepted. You’re right, this is all so new, but hey, we’ve managed to not kill each other in the six hours it’s taken to drive here from Phoenix, so that’s a good sign.”
“True,” Wil agreed, sneaking in another quick kiss. “Come on, let’s get inside and get the hard bit over with.”
Exiting the car, they met at the trunk to retrieve their bags before Wil led Ben up the steps and used his key to open the front door, yelling as it opened, “Make yourselves decent, we’re here!”
“Hey, son,” his father’s voice called out as he came down the short hallway. Wil dropped his bag as he was engulfed in a tight hug.
“Hey, Dad. Missed you.”
“We’ve missed you too,” Kellet told him, releasing him from the hug, stepping back with his hands on Wil’s shoulders as he inspected him. “Glad you made it home safely.”
Turning to Ben, Wil tugged his sleeve, pulling him closer. “Dad, this is my boyfriend, Ben Martinez. Ben, this is my dad, Kellet James.”
“Hi Mr. James. Thank you for letting me come and stay.”
“Hi Ben. You’re welcome. And please, call me Kellet and call my husband Jamie. We don’t stand on ceremony here.”
“Where is Pa?” Wil asked, surprised his stepfather wasn’t first to the door to meet them.
“Out by the pool. Seth got a melody stuck in his head, and we’ve all been noodling around with it all day.”
“By all of you, you mean Seth and Liam are here too?” Wil asked, a feeling of foreboding washing over him. Just what he needed, his honorary uncles here to give him and Ben a hard time.
“I know. I tried to get them to leave a while ago, but you know what Seth’s like, and then when he heard you and Ben were on your way, he settled in and won’t leave until he’s ready.”
Wil turned to Ben. “I apologize now for everything Seth will say and do. I promise he’s really a good guy behind the image he portrays.”
“Don’t worry too much, Wil, Cal is here to keep him in line,” his father assured them.
“Oh, thank God for that,” Wil said in relief. “Ben, you’ll love Cal. He’s a software designing whizz and a super nice guy. How he ended up with Seth is one of the world’s mysteries, but they are stupidly in love, and he’s good for Seth.”
Ben looked a little panicked at the news he was meeting the rest of Larkspur right away, and Wil sent him a reassuring smile.
“Leave your bag here, and we’ll go and meet them,” Wil told him. “Then we’ll order pizza and have a quiet evening.”
***
It took every ounce of self-composure Ben possessed to push down the nerves and follow Wil and his dad out to the pool area. As they passed through the open-plan living space, he noticed how relaxed and lived in the house looked. It definitely wasn’t the McMansion he’d been expecting. From the quick glimpses he caught, he observed a vibrant home adorned with colorful throws on the couches, many framed family photographs, and a bookcase brimming with books tucked away in the corner.
Stepping out onto the patio area, he was met with four sets of eyes fixed on him. He resisted the urge to grab Wil’s hand and hide behind him like a shy child. A tall man with dark hair stood and approached them. Although now forty, Jamie Larke was still as sexy and handsome as he’d been when he and Larkspur had hit it big over twenty years ago.
Jamie gave Ben and Wil a huge smile before pulling Wil into a hug.
“Good to see you, Wil.” Releasing Wil, one of the most famous men in music, turned to Ben and offered his hand. “And this must be Ben. Good to meet you.”
“Good to meet you too,” Ben replied, proud of himself for not stammering and melting on the spot.
“Come and meet everyone else,” Jamie said, ushering him forward. “This is Liam Jones. He’s the nice one amongst us,” he said, nodding to the bass guitarist, who gave Ben a small smile in return. “And this asshole is Seth Worthington.”
