Ronan’s hand comes to my stomach, and that small gesture means I’m not alone in this. It’s more meaningful than I can possibly begin to explain.
“Dad, people come in from all over the Austin area to go to that gym because it is one of the few places they feel comfortable. Also, it’s not a queer gym, it’s a gym for combat vets that welcomes everyone, including queer people. And if you insist on using that word, this is going to be a very short conversation.”
“So, you can say it and I can’t?”
“That’s about the shape of things. Was there a point to this call?” I ask, my tone sharp.
“Oh, you want me to get to the point? Fine. I think selling your business was a mistake. It’s far too easy to let yourself go, especially if you’re not working out as often.”
Ronan makes a grab for my phone, and I pull it out of reach. His nostrils flare and his eyes blaze, and I don’t think I’ve ever been more in love with him.
“…and don’t even get me started on the land you bought and then immediately devalued by putting that cottage on it. Mark my words, in under a year’s time you’ll have ruined your brand, be unfit and impoverished, and it will reflect poorly on me. I swear, Thane, do you ever think about the consequences of your actions? I’ve coddled you for so long that perhaps this is overdue, but you need to grow up.”
Ro adjusts, straddling my lap as he grips both of my shoulders. I’m ensnared by the depth of blue in his eyes, the way that his raven-black hair contrasts and makes them glow.
“Thane? Are you even listening to me?”
The biting tone snaps me out of my reverie. “Huh, what?”
“Pay attention.We’re too late to stop the sale of your business, but I found a buyer for the land. He’ll give you two hundred and fifty thousand more than you paid for it, and he even agreed to take care of the building.”
I begin to put together his words and their meaning, and I look at Ro, head tilted. Yep, this is what it looks like. Not too long ago, this conversation would have left me bone-weary and jittery, doubting every move I’d ever made. Not anymore, though. Therapy and age are wonderful things, and they got me most of the way there. But until this very moment, I didn’t understand the value of having someone in my corner. I’ve got the guys and the gym, no doubt, but to have someone in this intimate space with me is…a revelation.
Also, Ro holds up his middle finger, pointing it at the phone. Our eyes meet and we chuckle softly. It hits me square in the chest that this is what it feels like to have a true partner in crime.
“Son, I’m talking to you.”
Smiling at Ro, I answer. “I see that. The thing that you have failed to do, Dad, is listen. Your hearing goes awfully spotty when I say that I love my life out here. That I’ve created the home of my dreams. If you don’t like it, the good news is, you’re not the one living here. You’re not paying for any of it. It’s literally none of your business. Now please stop snooping into my affairs and tell your friend that I’m not interested.”
“Listen, Chunk. I’ve done an admirable job of putting up with your…lifestyle. But I cannot abide you wasting your money. You will see my friend, you will sell to him, and you will take that profit and make better choices.”
“Dad, I love you, and I’ve already made it clear you’re not allowed to talk to me like this.”
He tries to interrupt me, but I keep on. “That includes your thinly veiled contempt, your cruel and frankly creepy fascination with the state of my body, your shitty little nickname, and the fact that you’re trying to force me to sell my own property. Now, if you want to talk to me about how the Longhorns are fucking things up again this year, or what we can do to remember mother’s birthday next week, I’m all ears. Otherwise, there is a beautiful man who has been waiting for me for far too long, and we’re going to enjoy the sunset.”
He sputters, nearly speechless but not quite. Gathering himself, he growls into the phone. “You ungrateful, stupid, common—”
I hang up while thinking of my favorite show,Designing Women. Julia Sugarbaker would’ve ended that speech by placing the phone in its cradle with a crisp click or by glaring at the recipient until they slunk out of the room. I regard my touchscreen with a frown, mildly disappointed that I don’t have the opportunity.
My thoughts are interrupted by the sound of laughter. Ronan’s laughter, specifically.
“That was brilliant, Thane. Hope you don’t mind me saying it, but your father is a dill-hole. He’s lucky you even take his phone calls anymore.”
“Yeah, well…the only reason I didn’t cut him off a long time ago was because of my mom.”
Ronan tilts his head, listening. I wasn’t planning on talking about this now, but maybe it’ll help.
“She was diagnosed with dementia in her fifties. And my father, for all his faults, made sure that she got the best care. But if I wanted her in my life, it meant putting up with him.”
“I’m so sorry, baby. You shouldn’t have had to deal with that while you were dealing with your mom’s health.”
“It was okay,” I say, looking off into the view. “Or notokay, but it didn’t suck any worse than usual until she started forgetting who I was. That…that was hard. Like, I wasn’t just losing my mom. I was losing the only person who believed in me, who thought what I did was important. It was…lonely,” I say, starting to feel like an exposed wire.
Ro hugs me and runs his fingers through my beard. “I believe in you.”
A few tears find their way to my cheeks, and I nod. “I know, baby. I haven’t felt this loved in a long, long time.”
“Well, I do love you,” he says, punctuating that declaration with a kiss. “And I’m proud of you. That Chunk business is really shitty and the way you stood up for yourself took a lot of guts.”
