But because my entire family equates food with love —a mentality passed down from generation to generation— I try to be a little more careful about how much I eat when I’m home. I can’t afford to lose my edge on the ice and therefore my scholarship so close to the end of my degree, simply because my mom’s cooking is too tempting to pass up.
“Gabriel has a boyfriend,” Mom answers my dad while I’m mourning all the delicious food I can’t allow myself to eat right now, “and he has kept him a secret because he’s afraid we’ll be too much for him.” She raises a pointed eyebrow my way.
I laugh and shake my head at her dramatics. “I didn’t put it quite like that…” Turning to Dad, I explain, “We haven’t been together long, and he’s…shy.”
Memories of his first few experiences in Little headspace filter through my mind. He’s always sweet, but there’s something tentative in the way he tries new things; cautious and almost skittish. And I know my boisterous family can be overwhelming even without having the pressure of being one of the first guys I’ve dated long enough to introduce them.
“Invite him over,” Mom insists. “We want to meet him.”
“I haven’t told you anything about him yet,” I chuckle with a hint of incredulity.
“He has the good sense to date you,” Dad shrugs, then winks conspiratorially. “He already gets points for that.”
Mom nods, adding, “But wewantto know about him. What’s his name? Does he go to the same school as you? What is he studying? How did you meet?”
“Actually, we met before the semester began. At Ma’s diner. Justin —that’s his name— was trying to calm his son down and I stepped in to help.”
“Son?” Dad blinks. I can tell that it surprises him, and I wonder how many conclusions he’s jumping to. But instead of voicing any of them, he asks, “How old is his son?”
“Oh, wait,” Mom interrupts before I can answer. She bounces her index finger in the air as she muses aloud, “Mandy said something about you seeming interested in a dad at Brian’s school.I just thought she was trying to tease me about you or get you in trouble.”
I snort. “I mean, shewoulddo both those things, but…yeah. Owen’s five. He’s in Bry’s class.” I can’t help but smile when I think of the little boy. “He’s a really cute kid, actually. And Justin’s twenty-seven. He’s been raising Owen alone ever since Owen’s mom died.”
My mother’s eyes go wide with compassion. “Oh, the poor thing. Now youhave tobring him around. We’ll get your sisters and brother here and they can bring their kids, so you know Owen will be entertained and Justin can have a break.”
My lips quirk. “A break while you interrogate him?”
Mom waves me off. “I am nothing like my mother-in-law.”
“Of course not. You’re a cool mom.” I tease playfully.
She picks up a dishtowel and whips it in the air in my direction. “You watch your tone, Gabriel, or I might just push you in front of a bus.”
Dad clears his throat before I can offer another movie-themed rebuttal. “So, if not a college student, what does Justin do for a living?”
Even though I know we’re notreallydoing anything wrong (ignoring the sex on company time, anyway), I bite my lip. “Funny story…”
***
“Hey, baby,” I grin, leaning against Justin’s doorframe.
His lips curl into a welcoming smile and he takes a step back to let me in. “Hi, Daddy.”
After spending yesterday with some of my family at my parents’ house, it’s nice to come back to the comparative peace and quiet of Justin’s place. “Is Owen in his room?”
He nods. “He’s playing with his trucks as usual.”
I grin. “Good. That means I can do this.” I swoop in for a searing kiss, pressingmyBoy up against the nearest wall, and he returns the kiss eagerly, his tongue twirling around mine. I have to remind myself to stop at just the kiss. To not rut my swelling cock into his softer tummy.
It’s hard to have willpower around him. I don’t think he realizes just how wrapped around his little finger I am already.
“Mmm,” he murmurs as the kiss tapers to an end, “not that I’m complaining, but what was that for?”
“I just missed you,” I answer honestly, and he laughs.
“We see each other practically every day.”
It’s true. On the days where I’m not at hockey practice, I’m trailing him and Frankie around their jobs, trying to get some practical experience for my degree.
