“Of course. You put up with me, don’t you?”
“Somehow, I think my half of the job is easier than yours.”
“Nonsense.” He waves a dismissive hand. “You do remember the chocolate fudge incident?”
I grimace. “On second thought, you’re definitely harder to handle, at least when you’ve been dumped. Not that you’ll ever have to worry about that again.” I gesture to Leif, who’s chatting to a couple of people on the other side of the room.
“Thank heaven,” Rodney replies with an exaggerated sigh. “Of course, I have a feeling I can say the same about you.” He gestures at Ned, who’s chatting to Joel behind the desk. Thankfully, the moment Joel found out about my art show, he decided Ned is good for me, after all. They’ve gotten along like a house on fire ever since.
“You may have taken your time picking a boyfriend,” Rodney continues, “but I’ve got to give you credit for nailing it on the first try.”
“Oh, yeah,” I say in a lewd voice. “I’ve definitely nailed it.”
Rodney’s eyes widen and he slaps me on the arm. “I didn’t mean it like that.”
“I did,” I assure him, and we both crack up laughing.
Our mirth is cut short by the arrival of my dad. “Evening, boys.” His voice is gruffer than usual. “Rodney, I hear congratulations are in order. All the best to you and Leif.”
“Thank you, Mr Fairweather.” Rodney beams as he shakes Dad’s hand. “Are you enjoyingThe Sealed Section?”
I refrain from rolling my eyes. He needs to get over the name.
Dad nods as he glances around. “I am.” He looks back at me and clears his throat. “Can I have a word with Toni?”
“Of course,” Rodney says. “In fact, I see the rest of Fifth Circle is arriving. I must go introduce myself.” He rushes off to join Ned, who is greeting Johnny, Oz, and Gavin, along with Charmaine. I do hope Rodney doesn’t pop a boner on the spot.
With that disturbing thought, I turn my attention back to my dad and wait for him to speak. Whatever he says, I can handle it. Ned loves me. I can handle anything.
“I saw the picture of your grandmother.” He shoves his hands into his pockets as he speaks. “It’s the spitting image of her.”
That’s a good thing, right? I’m sure it’s good. “Thanks?” Damn it. It wasn’t supposed to sound like a question.
“You know, I remember when you used to draw a lot back when you were knee high to a grasshopper,” he continues. “Your brothers would be playing video games or listening to music, and then there was our little Anthony. Head down, bum up, surrounded by scrapbooks and colouring-in pencils. Then you got a little older and you were demanding sketch pads with special paper and alcohol-based pens so you wouldn’t have lines in your work.” He chuckles. “We had enough art to cover three fridges and it was some of the craziest stuff I’ve ever seen, but your mum and I, we loved all of it.” He pauses then, to clear his throat. “When you got to high school you started to change. The way you talked, your clothes. You changed your name, and you bleached the crap out of your hair.” I huff a laugh at that one. “That was all fine. But then you stopped sharing your art with us, and it really hit me. I thought the boy I knew, my little Anthony, was gone forever.”
I open my mouth to apologise for pulling away so hard, but he holds up a hand to stop me.
“But I look around tonight, at all the amazing things you’ve done, and I think to myself, ‘There you are. I know you’.” He smiles at me then, and it’s still tight, but somehow it feels different. “You and I have struggled to find common ground for a long time. I’m sorry for that. Being here tonight, I realise I’ve been missing someone who was right in front of me all along. I only wish I’d looked harder.”
Biting down on my bottom lip, I swipe a stray bit of moisture from the corner of my eye. “You didn’t stand a chance. Not with me blinding you with all my fabulous.”
He lets out a bark of laughter. “Well, fabulous or not, you’re my son and I love you. You can call yourself Anthony, or Toni, or Mary-quite-contrary for all I care. I’m so damned proud of the man you’ve become.” He offers me his hand.
I forgo it, throwing my arms around him in a giant hug instead. “Thanks, Dad.”
It takes a moment, but then his arms come around me. He gives me a few awkward pats on the back. It’s the most amazing feeling in the world.
If it wasn’t already official, it is now. I’m going to take off all the locks I’ve kept in place for so long—both physical and mental. And I’m going to throw away every key.
THIRTY-ONE
______
NED
The darkness of night is barely making way for the dawn when I wake. We only fell into bed in the early hours of the morning, and I groan my dismay, closing my eyes again in the hope sleep will reclaim me.
My dick has other ideas. Toni’s naked body is spooned against my front, his hair long enough to tickle my nose. With a contented sigh I snuggle into him, grateful for the blankets keeping the morning chill at bay. Toni’s butt wiggles against me, and he hums in his sleep.
