“And now, what’s changed?” Stephen stood and sat beside his dad on the couch. Poppin stayed by his feet.
“I’m not the only one that loves you and wants to protect you,” his dad told him. “You have Brenden now to watch over you when I can’t.”
They sat in silence for a few minutes as Stephen contemplated the words he just heard. “You still don’t have to move out. Brenden and I might be moving in a better direction than before, but I don’t think we’re ready for the let’s live together or get married stage. Honestly, I’m not sure I want to get married.”
“Young people and their stages, and what’s wrong with being married? I was happily married to your dad, no matter how short it was.”
“I don’t think it’s for us,” Stephen told his dad. “And I don’t envy those who are. I don’t need a piece of paper to define my relationship.”
His dad shook his head. “When I met your father, I knew he was the one. We didn’t waste time wondering who was going to do this or when we were going to do that. We just did it. The first time I took him to meet you at the group home, and after we had left, he called his boss and asked what the regulations on adopting you were. And I wouldn’t mind being married again to the right person.”
Stephen nodded. “I know that already, Dad, you’ve told me the story many times. And I get what you’re saying, I do. But I need to let Brenden decide when he wants to take things further.”
“Don’t sweep your feelings or what you want to the side because you’re waiting for him. Tell him what you want, or things won’t change between you. And stop worrying, I’m not moving out anytime soon just because you and your man decided to get things right.”
Stephen smiled and then thought of something. “Are you ready to tell me about your mystery person?”
Julian feigned a yawn and got up, stretching. “Wow, look at the time,” he said, looking and his watchless wrist. “It’s about time I get to bed. Goodnight, son,” he said to Stephen, who couldn’t stop him.
“This conversation is not over!” Stephen yelled after his father who was chuckling on his way up the stairs. He looked down at Poppin who was staring up at him. “What’s he hiding?” Poppin gave him a look that pretty much said he didn’t care what Julian was hiding and put his head back down and went to sleep.
Stephen leaned back on the couch, resting his hand on his bump that was starting to get bigger as time went by. His stomach growled, and he remembered he didn’t have dinner. He got up and went to the kitchen and pulled out the contents to make a sandwich. He’d taken a few bites of his sandwich when there was a knock at his door. He looked at the clock, seeing what the time was and wondered who could be at his door this late. Grabbing his gun from the holster, he walked to the door. Poppin was by his side in a second.
“Who is it?”
“Open the door, amente,” the deep masculine voice ordered on the other side.
At hearing Brenden’s voice, Poppin went back to his spot near the couch and Stephen smiled as he opened the door. Before he could ask Brenden what he was doing there, lips descended on his.
“I taste chocolate,” Brenden said, licking his lips.
“You forgot to feed me so I had to figure out something to eat, your child and I were starving.”
“And after I went through all the trouble of stopping and getting this for you,” Brenden said, holding up a bag in his hand. The smell that came from it caused Stephen to go a bit dizzy as his mouth watered. He grabbed the bag, giving Brenden his gun. “Planning on shooting someone?” he asked but Stephen ignored him, being too fascinated with what was in the bag.
Whatever it was smelled so good. He was already biting into his double cheese, black bean, fake bacon burger with Asian sriracha sauce when Brenden sat down beside him and reached out for the bag. Stephen quickly grabbed the bag, pulling it to his chest, guarding the contents with his life and growling at Brenden, snapping at his grabby fingers. Brenden burst out in laughter, then leaned in and kissed him on the neck before snatching the bag back from his hands.
Brenden realized that it was a battle lost and gave up. Stephen continued to enjoy his burger, stealing Brenden’s fries. After they were done eating, they relaxed on the couch together. They didn’t talk, and they didn’t need to. Stephen enjoyed the silent comfort between them. It was perfect in his opinion, their relationship was heading in a different direction, and it was better this time than the very first time they were together. Brenden put a finger under his chin and raised his head.
They stared at each other and for the first time, Stephen wanted to say those three words he’d never uttered to anyone else. But resisted the urge. He was simply satisfied that he could feel the love he had for Brenden. Instead of saying it, he leaned and connected their lips together. It was perfect. He knew Brenden loved him also and that was all that mattered. The words would come later.
** ** ** ** **
