He loved his parents.
Really.
But why now?
The doorbell rang.
Hayden brushed his hair back, checked that he’d gotten himself under control, and counted to five.
“Hi, you two. How come you didn’t let me know you were coming?”
His mother kissed his cheek. “Well, you did say come visit anytime, and since it’s been so long…oh.” She spotted Armi, and Hayden watched her face light up. “Hi. I’m Nikki.”
Armi darted a glance his way, then held out a hand. “H-hi, I’m Armi.”
“Armi Winters? Hayden’s boss?” His father extended a hand. “Hi, I’m Jim.”
“Hello, sir.” They shook.
Hayden had stepped over to Armi’s side, knowing how nervous he must be, and received a grateful smile. “So yes. When I told you I was seeing someone, it was Armi.”
His father sat on the couch. “You were so adamant about not getting involved with your boss. What happened?”
“I don’t know, Dad. I guess you can’t stop what feels right. I know I said it was a bad idea, but nothing that feels so right could be wrong.”
His mother waved a hand in the air. “We should all chat and get to know each other. Obviously, Armi is important to Hayden. He’s never introduced us to any other man.”
His hand in Armi’s, they sat together. “He is. Very important. I never planned this, and Armi and I talked about it. We tried not to follow through on our feelings, but it just didn’t work out that way.”
“So far, we’ve only heard from you, Hayden. Armi? What do you have to say?” his father asked. He and his father had always been extremely close, and Hayden knew he was acting out of love, but at the moment his main concern was Armi’s state of mind. Only he truly knew the extent of Armi’s hurt over the cold and tense relationship with his father and how that affected him in his everyday life.
“Maybe we should—”
“No. It’s fine,” Armi cut him off, quietly but firmly. “I’ve never been in a real relationship, mainly because I didn’t think I was good enough for anyone to want. It’s what happens when you grow up with a father who constantly belittles you and makes you feel less than.” His eyes met Hayden’s, who was cut to the core by the fierceness of his gaze. “From the first time I met Hayden, he made me feel equal. Important. Like what I have to say matters.”
“It does,” Hayden said softly and squeezed his hand. “You matter.”
“And I know you might be concerned that I’m his boss and very wealthy, but all the money has done for me is make me less secure that someone could want me for who I am. Hayden didn’t know who I was the first time we met, and that made me trust him, which isn’t easy.”
“Why?” his mother questioned, her eyes brimming with sympathy. Hayden could see she was touched by Armi’s words and wanted to hug him.
Armi clasped his hands. “Like Hayden, I’ve never had a boyfriend, but not for the same reason. No one’s ever been interested to find out who I really was. Except Hayden.”
“That’s very sweet. And I’m sorry you had a tense relationship with your father.” His mother reached out and gave Armi a pat. “Just to warn you, we’re not like that. The opposite, in fact.”
Hayden took advantage of the goodwill between them. “What my mother isn’t saying is she likes to be involved. Expect phone calls and visits. She has a need to know.”
Armi’s smile was shy and sweet. “I think that’s nice. I wouldn’t mind. I love my mother, but she’s always been busy with her charity work and friends. I didn’t see her much when I was growing up, but we’re trying harder now.”
Unwilling for Armi to get dragged under by unpleasant thoughts, Hayden slipped an arm around his waist. “Why don’t we go out to dinner?”
“First we have to find a hotel and make a reservation, but sure.” His father took out his phone. “We should be able to find something nearby, don’t you think?”
While his father checked for reservations on his phone and his mother used the bathroom, Armi whispered in his ear, “Ithink your parents should stay here, and you come home with me.”
Hayden grinned. “You do, huh?”
Armi’s smile was unexpectedly wicked, and Hayden wished he could drag him into the bedroom and finish what they’d started earlier. He was outrageously delicious, and Hayden was crazy about him.
