Chapter Twenty-Nine
“Mom,” Isaac said as he opened the door, surprised by his mother’s presence. She smiled at him, warm and soft, and then pulled him into a warm hug.
“I’m so proud of you,” she said, tightening her grip.
“Uh,” Isaac responded, not entirely sure what this wasfor, but happy to be hugged. “Come in?”
His mother patted him on the shoulder as she backed off, walking straight into the kitchen like she always did.
Straight to where Julian was still lounging around in his underwear.
Isaac watched as his eyes widened like a deer in headlights, his back straightening as though he was torn between getting up and running away and preserving what was left of his modesty by staying seated with his legs under the table.
“Mrs. Hudson,” Julian said, his eyes still wide.
She broke into a broad grin, looking between the two of them. “I’m glad you two aren’t wasting any time.”
“I, umm…” Julian began, clearly searching for a way to explain his presence at eleven in the morning on a Monday.
“Julian’s sick,” Isaac said as seriously as he could manage. He wasn’t even slightly sick, but that was what he’d told his boss to give them the day together.
Mrs. Hudson shrugged. “I’m nothismanager, and you’re supposed to be taking a rest day, anyway,” she said.
Julian visibly relaxed, as though he’d mostly been afraid she was going to yell at him for not being at work.
“And I’m not planning on being in your way. I assumed I’d find Julian here,” she said. “But I didn’t want to wait on telling you that I love you and you’ll always have my full support, no matter what.”
Isaac’s breath caught in his chest. He hadn’t realized how much he needed to hear that until he’dheardit. He’d known, obviously, that his mom wasn’t mad about any of this, but now that he’d clearly, officially come out, given anameto what was happening…
It made a difference. Like it was the last piece of the puzzle slotting into place, and now he could be really, truly comfortable.
“Thanks, mom,” Isaac said softly.
“I’ll just get dressed,” Julian said. “Leave you two to talk.”
Julian slipped away before Isaac could stop him, but he probably needed a minute, anyway. He was still riding the high of Julianwanting to be with him, and he couldn’t see that coming to an end anytime soon, and he wanted to share his joy with everyone.
“I’m so happy,” he said as his mom sat down at the table. “I didn’t know… I had no idea…”
“That you couldbethis happy?” she asked, a tiny smile playing around her lips.
Isaac nodded. His stomach was in knots all the time, but in agoodway now, one that felt like he just couldn’t contain everything he was feeling inside him. Julian… Julian made him feel like that a lot.
It was terrifying, but it felt sogoodthat Isaac couldn’t have given it up for anything.
“Yeah, I… it’s just… wow,” Isaac said, sitting down opposite her before his legs gave out on him.
“I love him,” he added once he wasn’t in danger of falling over at the thought. It was one thing to tell Julian that, another to tell other people.
He wasn’t sure how he’d managed it last night, but he was proud of himself for it.
His mom’s whole face was glowing when he looked up, her smile brighter than he ever remembered seeing it. “I know, honey,” she said. “And I’m so proud of you for telling the world. For being who you are.”
Isaac nodded, overwhelmed. A whole lot had changed in the past twenty-four hours or so, but everything had been worth what he had now.
Julian was worth whatever it took to keep him. Even public declarations of love and photos of them kissing being all over the internet by now.
A tiny part of Isaac evenlikedthat—people would know Julian was his, and he was Julian’s.
