Brenden nodded. “Yeah, it did. I expect Jaxson is going through the same confusion. He was in my office the other day worried about his dad. I’m going to give him a call.” He leaned down and kissed Stephen on his forehead. “Go talk to your dad, don’t let him think you’re not happy for him.”
He pulled out his phone and went into the other room to make his call. Stephen got up and walked upstairs to see his dad. He stopped in front of the door and hesitated before knocking.
“Come in,” Julian said from the other side.
Stephen exhaled,at least he doesn’t sound angry anymore.He opened the door, and his heart stopped when he saw a packed bag sitting on his dad’s bed. “You don’t have to leave, you know?”
“I will be staying at Mark’s place from now on,” Julian answered when he walked out of the bathroom, putting his toiletries on the side of his bag.
“You guys are at the living together stage? Don’t you think you’re moving too fast?” Stephen didn’t understand why he was acting like a petulant child. It wasn’t like him. He’d met Mark Colvin and liked the older gentleman. “It’s not that I’m not happy for you. Just surprised, that’s all.”
“What the hell is this stage shit,” Julian said as he stopped packing and looked at him. “You’re not a child anymore, Stephen. You should know love has a way of sneaking up on you. Love isn’t defined in stages.”
“Is that what happened between you and Mark?”
His dad smiled, and it was strange seeing the happy expression on his father’s face. “In a way, yeah, it was. We sort of felt the connection from the start and decided to see where it would go. I’ve told you many times that there are things you cannot question. And that you need to go with what you’re feeling.”
“Why didn’t you tell me before now? I felt blindsided,” Stephen argued.
“You’re asking me that when you pretty much did the same thing to Brenden about Nicholas and the baby you’re carrying?”
“Yeah and look how well that turned out,” Stephen groused sitting on the bed, looking at the packed bag with disdain.
“Pretty good, from what I saw when I walked into the kitchen.” His dad sat down beside him. Stephen rested his head on Julian’s shoulder.
“You promise you will come visit me often,” Stephen whispered. “And you’ll remember to send my birthday gifts and be there for the baby’s birth.”
Julian chuckled. “You realize I will only be twenty minutes away, right? I’m not moving to another state.” He wrapped his arms around Stephen.
“I know that in my head. But in my heart, I feel as if you’re moving far away.”
“I think I spoiled you too much over the past five years.” Stephen smiled, and his dad chuckled again.
They were quiet for a few minutes. “So, Mark Colvin, I didn’t see that one coming.”
“He’s a very sweet and loving man. He’s funny, and I could just be me. I haven’t felt that comfortable with anyone other than your father.”
“I can’t call him Dad.”
“I don’t think he expects you to,” Julian told him.
“I’m happy for you, Dad. I really am. I’m glad you found someone to make you happy, the way Dad Nick did.”
“Thanks, son,” Julian said, kissing him on the top of his head. “I loved your father and I still do. He has a part of my heart that Mark doesn’t and he knows that. And I think it’s the same way for Mark and his wife.”
“Do you think he’s happy for you?”
“I believe he is, he made me promise that if anything were to happen, he didn’t want me to live my life alone.” Julian sighed. “I don’t think I was ready to move on, until Mark came into my life.”
“This is so bizarre. Jaxson is going to be my big brother.”
“Give him a chance, for me?” Julian asked. “And from what I hear, Jaxson already acts like your big brother.”
“I would do anything for you. I owe you so much.” Stephen took Julian’s hand into his. “I love you, Dad.”
“I love you, too,” Stephen told him back. They were quiet for a few minutes. “So you’re meeting the in-laws today, I hear.”
Stephen sighed and pulled away. He leaned forward, resting his elbows on his thighs. “I’m so nervous.”
