by Ann Grech
“I’ll just be another minute.” I nodded my response, already taking off my towel and slipping into the pants. I’d barely had a chance to brush my teeth when Trent came back and opened the door. Placing my toothbrush back in its cradle, I hooked my arm into his and he walked me back down the corridor into the living room. It was lit now, and what I saw took my breath away. Footage of a campfire played on the TV, and Trent’s mattress sat on the floor in front of it. Draped over it like a tent was a white sheet with fairy lights hanging off the ends. It was something so simple, but so thoughtful and romantic. He’d organized a campout—well, camp in—for our first official date.
“Oh, Trent,” I breathed. “It’s perfect.”
“You’ve worked so hard these last few days. I wanted to do something special.”
“It is special, amore. So much better than what I thought we were doing.” I laughed, cuddling into his side. Trent wound his arms around my waist and kissed my shoulder.
“What did you think we were doing?”
“Going out. But this… this is heaven.”
He smiled, a dazzling, sparkling smile, and warm fuzzy feelings spun around my insides, lighting me up. This beautiful, thoughtful man was mine. After loving him for so long, he was finally mine. I reached up and cupped his face, and even in the candlelight I could see the happy sparkle in his eyes. He looked as radiant as I felt. “I’m so in love with you,” I murmured to him, leaning down to kiss my man.
“And I love you,” he replied between brushes of our lips together. It was Trent who finally pulled away, taking my hand in his and leading me to the makeshift tent on the floor. He lifted the roof a little so I could slip in and followed me inside.
I went willingly when he patted his pillow and motioned for me to slide into his embrace. “So a nap date was a good idea?”
“I love it.” I yawned and rubbed my eyes, trying to stay awake but failing. Trent’s warmth and the strength of his embrace, the soft lights and the crackling of the fire on the TV had sleep trying to claim me quickly. I didn’t want it to though, and I fought like hell to stop myself, but Trent’s soft kisses and his fingertips brushing over my skin relaxed me until sleep won and I drifted away on a dream.
Life had been good these last few weeks. But I was missing Trent. Our paths hadn’t crossed that morning. The wedding I’d worked the day before had run late, and I hadn’t managed to crawl into bed until one in the morning. Trent’s shift started four hours later, so neither of us woke the other. When I’d blinked my eyes open that morning though, I’d been hugging his pillow and lying on his side of the bed. But the smell of him on his sheets wasn’t much of a consolation when I’d experienced the real deal.
I only had a few more hours to go and then I’d be able to see him. We were going to Ford’s for dinner, all of us trying to mend the rift caused when Trent had seen Ford and Reef together for the first time. Slowly it was being bridged, and I was grateful to be able to help that happen. Ford and Reef deserved friends who supported them, and Trent needed to know that even when he’d done something to hurt someone close to him, he could be forgiven. The relationship could be repaired. At least I hoped he’d eventually get that message, because it seemed like that was a major reason why he’d never contacted his parents. I wanted nothing more than for him to reconnect with them, but Trent had to do it when he was ready. If he was ever ready. I didn’t blame him for staying away when his monster of a godfather was their best friend, but I wished he’d confided in them. At least given them the chance to help him, rather than running. But I understood his fear too. As a teenager, friendships meant the world. They were everything, and parents were always on the other side. They were always the ones saying no, always the ones controlling things you wanted the freedom to decide yourself. His immaturity in underestimating the love his parents had for him—would still have for him—was tragic, but forgivable. I hoped it was simply immaturity; that they’d never hinted they would choose their friend over him, because that truth was too terrible to fathom.
When the chat icon popped up on my screen, I tapped it open.
Ford: We still on 4 dinner and movie tonight? 7ish? Just downloaded the new Marvel movie.
I grinned and keyed in a response. I was dying to meet the new addition, and by all accounts from Ricky, Rufus the puppy was beautiful.
Angelo: As long as your pup is there
Three dots popped up on my screen immediately.
Ford: Rufus is home with us. Mace didn’t want to give him back after having him for those couple of days
Reef: He’s super cute, Ang. You guys’ll love him.
Trent: I don’t finish until 7, but I’ll get there asap
The day dragged, and my meeting with the couple choosing images for their wedding album was interminable. But finally I stood on the stoop to Ford and Reef’s house, and I was only half an hour late. The heavy timber door gave a beautiful warmth to the muted gray tones of the walls, but I always felt at home in the cottage Ford had built for his winters in Queenstown. Always welcome. Especially now that he and Reef had made it a home rather than a bachelor pad.
I knocked, and my grin turned into a wide smile when Trent opened the door. He slipped out, pulling it closed behind him, and reached for me. I stepped straight into his arms, but apparently, it wasn’t enough. He pushed me gently against the support column and kissed me like his life depended on it. It was as if he couldn’t get close enough, needed to feel every inch of me against him. I sank into the kiss and let his fervor carry me away, pressed against the hard lines of his body, his gentle hands caressing me and his tongue tasting mine. It was like finding a desert oasis after being parched for days. Finally, he pulled back and cupped my face with both hands. The warmth of his palms against my skin, cool from the evening air, was a contrast to the flames of desire that had licked to life with his touch. Trent, still breathing heavily, whispered in a husky voice, “Hi.”
“Hi,” I replied, suddenly shy. I smiled at him and he kissed me again. Movement behind Trent caught my eye, and I froze, my lips still connected to Trent’s. There in the doorway stood Reef, tea towel in hand with his mouth open. I moved my hands to Trent’s chest and tried to push him gently away, but he tightened his grip on me.
“No,” he murmured, shaking his head. “I don’t care who’s there.”
“Trent, I’m sorry,” I whispered, closing my eyes and looking away. “It should have been your decision to come out, not get busted by Reef.” He gripped my chin gently between his thumb and forefinger and turned my face back to his.
“There’s nothing to be sorry for, Angelo. I can never be sorry for having you.” He kissed me again, taking his time and showing me with more than his words that he cared. With his head held high, he took my hand and tugged me inside, and the wonderful aroma of whatever Ford and Reef were cooking hit me. My stomach rumbled on cue, and placing a hand against it, I looked around. Reef was standing in front of us, still looking confused, and Ford had caught on to his partner being out of sorts. With his hand on Reef’s lower back, I watched as his gaze bounced to us and then back to Reef, a look of shock crossing his features. Even the laughter and light conversation in the living room quietened down, and it was then that I noticed my brother and one of his boyfriends were there too.
“Uh…” I hesitated. “Hi?”
It wasn’t a reply but a bundle of fur zooming toward me that broke the ice. Brown, white, and black Rufus was, at best guess, a Bernese mountain dog cross. His owners had given the mom away to the pound, and when the vets saw she was pregnant, they waited for the puppies to be weaned before adopting out the whole litter and the mom, hopefully, to their forever homes. I reached down to pet him but couldn’t resist picking him up for a cuddle. He was a licking and squirming ball of fur with a thumping tail, and I laughed happily as I scratched behind his ear. Trent leaned in, wrapping his arm around me and running his free hand over Rufus’s back.
“He’s so damn cute,” I said to Tren
t and smiled at him, reluctantly placing Rufus on the floor when he wiggled around too much. As soon as I was upright again, Trent clasped my hand, linking our fingers together, and I momentarily forgot where we were. I leaned into him, but Ford’s response had me instinctively pulling back.
“Rufus is cute,” Ford said coolly. “Is this a joke, Trent? Are you tryin’ to be funny? Hugging Ang like that? ’Cause it isn’t.”
Reef put a hand on Ford’s chest and shook his head, saying “It’s real, Ford,” at the same time as Trent got defensive and growled, “I may be an asshole, but Angelo’s not. You think he’d do something as shitty as pretending to be together to what? Fit in? Gimme a break.”
“So what then?” Ford’s tone was a mixture of confused and annoyed. “When Reef and I started seeing each other, you were like the world’s biggest homophobe. Now you’re with Angelo? I’m trying to understand here, but Trent, I’m having trouble reconciling the picture in front of me.”
“Maybe we should go,” I murmured to Trent before motioning to the door. “I don’t want to ruin anyone’s night.” Trent wrapped an arm around my waist while I stood there awkwardly, not really knowing what to do with my hands.
“No,” Reef interjected. “You’re always welcome here.”
“Maybe everyone just needs to take a deep breath and put the past aside for a moment,” Mace added as he made his way toward us. “You guys have history. We all know that. But Trent and Angelo have just come out. We should be supporting them. Ford, we should be acting exactly how you hoped Trent would act when he saw you with Reef.”
Ricky was beside him and he was frowning at me. “It’s always been Trent, hasn’t it? That’s why you never dated anyone else.” When I nodded, he smiled at me and nodded, but sobered as he turned his attention to Trent. “You hurt my brother and I’ll hurt you. Look after him and you’ll always be my brother.” I didn’t know whether to be mortified or angry that my brother would say that shit to him, but when he continued, exchanging a smirk with Mace, I couldn’t help the laugh that broke free. “Angelo doesn’t get two men to double team him. Unlucky bastard.”
“Nah, I’m just that good a lover that he doesn’t need them.” Trent tried to keep a straight face, but the twitching of his lips gave him away. Sobering, he added, “And Ricky? Message received loud and clear.”
Caden’s words from the doorway of the bedroom he’d just exited had us all turning to him. “What’d I miss?” When Ricky and Mace shifted so Caden could slip between them, he looked our way and added, “Oh,” before he smiled and stepped forward to shake our hands. “Welcome to the family, Uncle Trent.”
“Who’s up for a drink?” Reef asked, motioning to the kitchen. The others cleared off, leaving Trent, Ford, and me in the entryway.
“I’m sorry, Ford. I was an asshole to have treated you so badly. I hated myself, hated that part of me so much that I couldn’t stand seeing it. I was so fucking jealous of you and yet I was disgusted at myself for wanting the same thing. It was never you and Reef, and I’m sorry that you guys were hurt because of my actions.”
“Why, Trent? Why hate yourself like that?” Ford asked gently. “Why torture yourself?”
I wrapped my arm around Trent and started to speak, to tell Ford that he had his reasons, but Trent interrupted me. “I came out as a teenager to someone I knew. Someone I thought I could trust, and he punished me for it.”
The color drained from Ford’s face. “Your parents? They hit you?” Ford’s experiences with his own mother and father had been awful, but never violent. Bribery, threats, and manipulation, all to get Ford to walk away from Reef.
“No, another person. He….” Trent closed his eyes, took a deep breath, and squared his shoulders as if he was bracing himself. I supposed he was. He’d struggled with it for so long; I think he was only now coming to terms with the fallout from that fateful night. Trent’s arm tightened around my waist and I squeezed him back, trying to show him without words that he was loved. When he opened his eyes again, he focused on Ford and with his chin up defiantly, spoke the words I didn’t think he’d ever said before. “He raped me. Tried to show me that I’d hate it, and I did. He made me despise every part of myself, and I mirrored that hatred onto you.”
My gaze bounced between Trent and Ford. Trent looked relieved, as if a weight had been lifted from his shoulders. Ford closed his eyes and breathed out, flexing his fists and grinding his jaw. When he opened his eyes, they were filled with pain. He stepped forward and hugged both of us before pulling back and walking outside. I heard something crash and a shouted, “Fuck,” and from the corner of my eye, saw Reef go running. I ignored them and turned Trent in my arms and cupped his face. Trent flinched, his nostrils flaring as he took in a sharp breath. I soothed him, brushing my thumbs over his stubble. Looking into tormented eyes, I spoke the words in my heart. “I love you,” I whispered. “I’m so damn proud of what you’ve overcome, of the person you are. Of your strength. You’re so brave.”
“I couldn’t have done it without you.” He wrapped his arms around me tighter and rested his head on my shoulder. I brushed my fingers through his hair, letting the soft strands fall between them and held him close. “I love you, too,” he added.
“You guys okay?” Mace asked from the doorway.
I nodded and motioned outside. “Is Ford?”
“Ricky’s checking on him.”
“He’s pissed,” Trent whispered. “I fucked up again by telling him. Maybe I should have just stayed quiet.”
“Shh,” I soothed. “You didn’t fuck anything up.”
We stayed there for another few minutes, arms wrapped around each other, Trent curled into me. He swiped at his face with the heel of his hand and took in a deep breath. Letting it out slowly, he looked up and gave me a small smile. “Talking about it is getting easier. I told my therapist too, and now Ford. I feel like I’m getting stronger.”
I kissed his forehead and smiled against his skin. “You’re incredible.”
“Did he get put away?” Reef ground out. He had tears in his eyes and clasped Ford’s hand, rubbing his knuckles. Heartbreak crossed Ford’s gaze when Trent shook his head, and he stepped forward again, wrapping his arms around both of us. Reef did the same, enveloping us in a hug.
When Rufus came charging at us, yapping away and jumping up on our legs, Trent laughed and bent down for him, adding “I think Mace is gonna have some competition to babysit this little guy. I kinda want to keep him.”
I smiled at him and at our friends, then looked over my man’s shoulder to my brother and his two men standing beside him. My heart full, I took Rufus from Trent and winked at him before hooking my finger into the open collar of his shirt. “Quick, stuff him in here and we can make a run for it.”
“You drive the getaway car.” He scratched Rufus behind the ears and looked up at me, smiling sweetly. I wanted to kiss him so badly, so I did. A chaste kiss that ended with us getting licked to death by an overeager pup and two friends who immediately backed away to let us have a moment to ourselves.
“C’mon, let’s go find out what’s for dinner.” I took Trent’s hand and placed the still-licking puppy down. He took off in the direction of his masters and we followed. The night had started off on a roller coaster. We’d made it through the loop the loops smoothly enough. Fingers crossed for the rest of the ride that night.
When we walked in, the table was piled high with an assortment of vegetables and a huge pot roast. The others were all digging in, piling their plates up high while Trent and I watched from the sidelines. Ford looked over to us and nodded as if to call us over. We moved into the fold and he handed us two plates. “Dig in. Only guests don’t help themselves. Family’s at home here.”
Trent nodded and smiled, relief painting his features. “Thanks, mate.”
Dinner was fun. Good food, great people, and a lightness to the conversation that we hadn’t had since Ford and Trent’s falling out. Ford made it clear that it was water un
der the bridge, and Reef was just happy that there wasn’t any tension between them anymore. For the movie, we’d retired to their living room. Ford and Reef were sharing an armchair, curled in each other’s arms. Ricky, Mace, and Caden were sprawled out on the three-seater, Gracie in Ricky’s arms while he fed her a bottle. That left the daybed for Trent and me, and I couldn’t have been happier with the choice. It was big enough that we could sit side by side, but Trent had wanted me close all night, so when I leaned back, he crawled between my legs and laid his head on my chest. I was living a fantasy, real life better than anything I’d ever imagined. Running my fingers through his hair—one of my favorite things to do—I only knew he was awake from the soft kisses he pressed against my chest. He looked up, and the love shining back at me had my breath catching. I tilted his face up more and kissed him, a slow melding of our lips together. I licked his bottom lip, and he opened to me. Cupping his nape, I kissed him deeper. The movie and the others in the room faded away. I loved his taste, his smell. His rough stubble against my clean-shaven face. His strength and his vulnerability. Everything about him called to me. I’d found my soulmate. The other half of my heart. I held tight and showed him without words that I was totally gone for him.
The movie ended and the lights went up, startling us out of our make-out session. Sheepishly, I looked around and blushed when I saw the others standing there watching us with smirks on their faces. “Welcome back!” Reef laughed.
“As much as I loved watching you two pash, you need to get out. I wanna take my man to bed, and it’s considered impolite while we have visitors,” Ford grumbled, trying for seriousness, but the smile he was failing to hide showed me it was in good humor.