“You’re strong as hell. And everyone needs a little help occasionally.”
“Even you?”
I bent to kiss him. “Especially me. Without you, I couldn’t do this.” As I spoke, I tugged his shirt off, and did the same with mine.
“So you’re not the hard-ass everyone thinks, huh?” His blue eyes twinkled, and I threaded my fingers through his hair and kissed him until we were both breathless.
“My ass isn’t what’s hard right now.”
He pulled me to him, and our kisses turned hot and frantic. “Let’s go to the bedroom so I can take care of this beast.” Fallon’s hand slid inside my sweats—when I heard my name.
“Patrick?”
Still holding a half-naked Fallon, I blinked to clear the fog of lust from my brain and saw my parents standing in front of the elevator. Slack-jawed, they were pale under their tans and frozen in place.
“Shit,” Fallon choked out and scrambled off my lap. He grabbed his shirt and pulled it on.
“Mom, Dad, what’re you doing here?” On my feet, I took the shirt Fallon handed me, and with slightly shaky hands, slipped it on.
Dad cleared his throat. “W-we tried calling you for the past two days, and when you didn’t answer us, we got worried. Your mother thought we should come, in case there was a problem.”
Mom walked into the kitchen area and set her purse on the counter. “I tried calling Fallon, but he didn’t answer either.”
Shit. We’d both been so wrapped up in our personal issues.
“Maybe we should all sit.” I gestured to the couch, but Fallon jumped aside.
“I should leave so you can talk.” Red-faced and uncomfortable, Fallon looked ready to run.
“No.” I grabbed his arm. “I’d like you to stay. Please?”
Fallon cast his eyes downward but nodded, his hair swinging to hide his face, so I couldn’t see his face.
My parents took one side of the large couch, and I sat on the other. Fallon chose the chair farthest from me and stared straight ahead, not looking at anyone. My guy was so fucking hurt from life kicking him down all the time that he expected me to bail on him.
“Mom, Dad, this is a conversation I’ve been putting off way too long—like fifteen years.”
“You’re gay?” Mom asked, her voice giving nothing away, and my heart dropped, unsure if she was hurt, disappointed, or puzzled.
“I’m bisexual. I’m attracted to men and women.”
They seemed confused but not upset, which gave me hope.
Dad’s brow furrowed. “Both? I don’t understand how that can be.”
“Probably because you’re not bi.” I smiled in an attempt to lighten the mood. “But I’ve known since I was a teenager. When I’d go to the movies, I was equally attracted to James Bond as I was to the Bond girls.”
“B-but you’ve only had girlfriends…you were married.” Mom didn’t grasp the concept, and I struggled to find the words to help her understand.
“Twice, yeah, I know.” At this point, Fallon had to become part of the conversation. “In college I met Fallon and…without getting into details, we fell hard for each other, but Fallon selflessly stepped aside, knowing I was on my way to a professional football career and that coming out would kill that opportunity.” There was no need for my parents to know about anonymous sex clubs. Hearing my news was enough for them to handle.
“Fallon? You did that for Patrick?”
He nodded but still didn’t speak.
“When I hired him, I hate to admit it, but I didn’t recognize him. Trust me, the explanation for that is far too confusing to get into. Fallon knew right away, and it took a while, but we decided to try to be together again. I don’t want to put my life on hold anymore. I think I deserve to be happy, like everyone else.”
“Of course you do.” Mom sniffled. “And I’m sorry you didn’t feel you could tell us. It’s a shock, but only because we had no idea.” She wiped her eyes. “I want you to have the life you deserve. I don’t want you to have to pretend.”
