“Okay.” Yvonne stepped back and opened the door. “At least text me and let me know you made it wherever you’re going.”
“I will.”
Tawson grabbed his bag once more and headed out the door. He stopped, turned around, and gave Yvonne a much deserved hug. “Thank you,” he whispered. He didn’t wait for a response.
His nerves were calming down and he could feel the tears threatening again. It was at least a ten minute walk to his car. Vic would already be on the ranch. Probably eating dinner with his parents right now.
The drive home was a blur. He didn’t play any music. Didn’t think about safe driving. Not once did he check his speed. Maybe he was overreacting, but his body was screaming that it was in danger. The reaction he had to seeing his ex-wife again. He hated the crawling sensation running up and down his arms and back. The last time he had a panic attack, Vic had been right there. Helped him. He didn’t know where his phone was, so he got out to push the buzzer to be let in the gate.
“Can I help you?” Tawson wasn’t sure whose voice that was, but he didn’t care.
“It’s Tawson,” he said. “I seemed to have misplaced my phone.”
“Hey, are you okay?” That voice he recognized. And a fresh round of tears sprung to his eyes as the gate started opening.
He got back in his car and drove straight down to the main house. Vic was already off the porch waiting for him. He noted that his whole family seemed to be there, including William, Clark, Brett, and Wylon. Tawson turned the car off and got out.
All he had to do was look at Vic and his knees gave out. Vic rushed to him, wrapping their arms around him and squeezing. Holding him up. “Hey, it’s okay. I’ve got you. Breathe, okay?”
The tears flowed freely. He listened to Vic continue to whisper in his ear as they held him. He couldn’t find his voice. Instead, Tawson buried his face in the crook of Vic’s neck. He wasn’t sure how long they stayed like that before Tawson lifted his head to look at Vic.
“I love you.”
Tawson registered the surprise first. But it was quickly replaced with a smile.
“I love you too,” Vic said. “So much. But are you okay?”
“I will be. Meredith showed up on campus. At my office. With her new husband and baby.”
“Fuck her,” Vic said. He pulled Tawson in for another tight embrace. “I love you so much, Tawson. God, I’ve been waiting to say that for a while now.”
“Really?” Tawson asked through drying tears. He was starting to come down from all the emotions and it was leaving his body feeling tired. Tawson looked into Vic’s eyes.
“Yes, really. The number of times I wanted to say it this week is crazy.”
“I love you,” Tawson said again just to say it. “I saw my ex and all I could think was all the hurt and betrayal she left me with. And then there was you with the love and laughs and respect. I wanted to get home to you.” Vic smiled and leaned forward to press their lips together quickly.
“What is this?” That voice belonged to the one and only Patrick Lawson.
“Busted,” Vic said, eyes widening in what Tawson assumed was supposed to be comical. They turned around to face their dad, slipping their hand into Tawson’s to keep a point of contact. “So, Tawson and I are kind of dating.”
Tawson really didn’t want to have this conversation. He didn’t think it through. He should have just gone to his house and texted Vic to come up. And now the look on Patrick’s face was concerning. It was disconcerting too.
“Absolutely not.”
Chapter Twenty-Two
~ Vic ~
The things that Vic’s family said within five minutes of saying they were dating was the exact thing Vic worried about. His immediate family had an opinion and none of them seemed all that supportive.
Tawson was a professor.
You’re too young.
He’s too old.
Manipulating.
