by Riley Hart
Because they were his parents. He was back at that. He was lucky to have the family he did.
He flinched when he felt Gavin’s thumb on his forehead. “You’re deep in thought. Your forehead is wrinkled.”
“Maybe if you straighten them out for me, the thoughts won’t be there anymore.” He wanted them gone. Thought maybe Gavin might have it in him to wipe Mason’s worry away—or at least to make him forget about it for a while.
“Do you feel that way? Like you’re not theirs? That’s bullshit, you know.”
Mason opened his eyes. “I appreciate the effort, but this is way too heavy a conversation when I’m still rung out from blowing my load.”
“You started it,” Gavin countered.
He did, but, “Now, I’m ending it.”
Gavin sighed. “Fair enough.” He returned Mason’s words from a few minutes before. “I should go. I have to be up early. I’m going out to see my parents for a couple hours before work tomorrow night.” Gavin stood, grabbed his underwear and pulled them on while Mason enjoyed the view.
“You have a nice ass.”
“But you don’t like to fuck?”
“I love ass. I just want a dick in mine. I’ll eat yours sometime, though.”
“If you’re good.” Gavin grabbed his pants next.
Mason chuckled. “Touché.”
Once Gavin was dressed, Mason took the time to do the same thing. Gavin helped him finish up the last few things he needed to do to close the bar down and then they both headed to the cars, which were parked by one another.
Mason held Gavin’s face and covered Gavin’s mouth with his own. He nipped Gavin’s lip with his teeth and explored Gavin’s mouth with his tongue. When his cock started to go hard again, he pulled back. “I love kissing. Kissing and fucking. I could do them all day long. It sounds like the perfect day—doing nothing but sleeping, kissing and fucking. I’ve always kept too busy for that, though.”
“Yeah, me, too.”
Mason watched as Gavin got into his car before getting into his own. They left at the same time, two sets of lights until at one point, he went left and Gavin went right. The whole time he couldn’t stop thinking about Gavin’s question. Did he feel like he didn’t belong in his family anymore?
The truth was, he didn’t know.
***
“Who are you again?” Gavin’s dad looked over at his mom, lost. His hair was all grey, though it had been mostly grey for a while now. He looked more fragile than he used to. His father sat in a twin bed with plain, white sheets. The room wasn’t decorated much, and what was there didn’t all belong to him. Some things, yes. To keep things familiar, he assumed, but the shelves and tables and bed… None of it was his father’s.
A nursing home. It’s not something he ever really thought about before his dad got sick. As weak as it made him, it was something he wished he didn’t have to see.
“I’m your wife, remember?” His mom’s hand shook as she held a picture of the two of them together. “We’ve been married nearly fifty years.”
Gavin’s parents hadn’t had him until they were in their forties. It used to embarrass him when he was younger—the fact that his parents were so much older than everyone else’s.
“And who is this?” Gavin’s gut twisted into knots when his dad pointed at him. His father didn’t know him. He’d stayed away for too long, and now it was too late.
“He’s Gavin, our son.”
His father stared at him, no recollection on his face. “I have a son?” His voice now even softer. Gavin rubbed his finger across the seam of his jeans, pretending it was the strings on his guitar.
“Hey, Dad. How are you doing?”
His father didn’t answer, turning to look at his mom again. He opened and closed his mouth but nothing came out.
“He’s a good boy, Edward. He’s a teacher like we were. He works at a real good school. We’re very proud of him.”
Only they weren’t, were they? Not if those reasons she just mentioned were what they had to be proud of. Gavin worked at a bar now. He’d lost his job for trying to help a gay kid that his parents would think was going to Hell like their son.
His mom reached for his dad but the man shook his head. He got fidgety, obviously unsure and frustrated. She reached for him again but his father shoved her hand away. He never would have done that before.
“Is there any other family I have that I don’t know about? More kids? Grandchildren? Are you hiding my family from me?” He faced Gavin, anger sparking off his words. “Do you have a wife and kids I should know about? Why are you hiding my family from me?” And then he was silent a beat before, “We always wanted a big family, didn’t we? I think I remember that. Did Gavin give us that? Grandkids?” That was his father, not the angry man he’d seen a second ago, and he still wanted the things he’d always wanted.
A heavy weight landed in Gavin’s chest, as though someone stood on it. His mom’s face paled. He raised a hand to her mouth, the limb shaking. So now he not only had parents who feared for his soul, he had to feel guilty for not giving his father the family he wanted while the man was slowly losing his mind.
“No, no family yet, Dad.” Likely not ever, and not just because he was gay. Gavin just wasn’t sure he ever wanted kids. Maybe, maybe not. A husband, yes. Sharing his life with someone he loved the way Braden did with Wes, he wanted that. He hadn’t decided on the rest of it, though.
That’s where his mom jumped in. “I have no doubt it will happen soon. He’s such a handsome, responsible man. Any woman would feel honored to be married to Gavin.”
Fire burned through his veins at his mom’s words. He spent most of his life, not completely in the closet, but keeping who he was under wraps. He’d just decided he wasn’t doing that any longer, and now with that one statement she asked him to do it again. “Mom.”
Her eyes got glassy, a plea inside them, lassoing Gavin, pulling him in. Shit. He opened his mouth to break her heart, the way he’d done so much in the past, when his father started speaking again. “That’s good. I’m so proud of you, son. Now tell me about the school you teach at.”
CHAPTER TWELVE
Mason groaned when he heard the familiar creak of the front door and looked up to see Isaac walk in. They were busy for a Wednesday night, and Gavin had texted to let Mason know he would be a little late. The last thing he needed to deal with tonight was his ex.
Isaac’s voice rose above the crowd. “You need to get that door fixed! I can do it for you.” He sat in the only empty bar stool. What the hell was it with tonight? They shouldn’t be this busy.
“I can fix it myself. I just haven’t had the time. What the hell are you doing here?” Mason cleared some of the glasses off the bar.
“I’m coming to see my oldest friend at his bar.”
Shit. Isaac was right about that. They’d been friends their whole life, and then lovers. Still… “The friend you lied to?”
Isaac cursed. “I didn’t lie. It wasn’t my place to tell you, Mase.” He had a sincerity in his eyes that Mason didn’t want to see there. He wanted to be angry.
“This was a good investment. You’ll have to hire someone who really knows what they’re doing when you come back to Denver.”
And that ended the break in his anger for his ex. “Isaac—”
“Excuse me. Can I get another beer?” a man asked from the other end of the counter.
“Shit. I’ll be right back.”
“Looks like you need some help in this place, no? It would be the perfect time to train someone.”
Mason shook his head. “I have help. He’s just running late.” Mason filled multiple beer glasses, made a mixed drink, and then took money before he looked up and saw Gavin walk in.
He looked worn out as hell, his hair messy like he’d spent the day in bed fucking. Mason headed the other way again, meeting Gavin behind the bar, not a foot away from Isaac.
“Sorry I’m late. I know that doesn’t put me
off to the best start. I just…some shit went down today.”
Mason gabbed his bicep and squeezed before pulling his hand away. “Nah, it’s cool. Everyone and their brother just decided to come in tonight.”
“Excuse me, can I get a drink?” Isaac asked. Mason turned to tell him to fuck off when Gavin said, “What can I get you?” at the same time as someone held up an empty pitcher from one of the tables by the stage.
“He’ll want whiskey, on the rocks. I’ll be right back.” Busy or not, he didn’t want to leave his customers waiting. Plus, the more pitchers he filled, the more money the bar made.
Mason made rounds, refreshing drinks where need be. Gavin kept busy behind the bar. Mason could see he looked a little frazzled but he held his own, so Mason kept clear. He knew it would be important to the man to be able to hold his weight, and the only way to let that happen was not to rescue him unless he needed it.
He visited with some of the patrons while taking orders.
“Excuse me, I seem to be having some trouble with the jukebox,” a redhead woman said to him.
“I’ll give you a hand.” Mason walked over with her. “Sometimes you have to rough it up to get it to cooperate.” He shook it, and after he did, a song started to play.
“Thank you,” she gave him a seductive smile before leaning against the wall. “What’s your name?”
“Mason. I own the place.”
“Oh, wow. It’s a great bar. I’m Melody.” Another smile.
Shit.
“Mason, I’ve been looking for you all over,” Isaac stepped up beside him. Mason took this as the opportunity to let her know that unfortunately, he wouldn’t be interested in her.
“Nice to meet you, Melody. This is my ex Isaac.” It was the easiest way he could think of to let her know that he wasn’t interested.
“Oh, well don’t I feel stupid.” She blushed. “All the good looking ones are gay.” She winked at them and walked away.
Isaac laughed. “Why are you always getting yourself into trouble with women?”
“Hell if I know.” But it was true. Mason spent a lot of time getting hit on by women. Isaac had saved him more than once in the past. But the truth was, even though he wasn’t attracted to women, he loved them. Some of the most important people in his life had been women. “Guess I’m just sexier than you.” They both laughed this time. Mason glanced up to see Gavin look at him. He pulled on the lobe of his right ear. Hmm, he usually only did that when he was nervous. Mason winked at him.
“Who’s the guy?” Isaac asked.
“My bartender.”
Isaac crossed his arms. “Is he fucking you?”
He heard the competitiveness in Isaac’s voice. Mason didn’t think for a second it was because Isaac was broken hearted or couldn’t handle the thought of Mason with another man. Again, it all came down to winning with his ex.
“Maybe, maybe not.” Mason grinned at Isaac and then went for the bar.
***
Gavin watched as Mason ambled through the bar. The other man stood with his arms crossed, watching him go. And very obviously enjoying the view. Not that he could blame him. Mason was an attractive man…an attractive man who had known what drink his friend would want. Someone he obviously felt very comfortable with, though Gavin had a feeling Mason would be that way with close to anyone.
“Excuse me, can I get another?” A blonde woman asked him. Shit, he needed to get it together.
Gavin stepped over and started another cosmo. He poured in the Vodka and triple sec before grabbing a straw. As he went to hand it to her a voice said, “You forgot the cranberry juice. It’s a kamikaze without it.”
Damn it. He really needed to get his head in the game. A cosmo was one of the easiest drinks there was, but he left his head back with his parents. “Been a long day.”
“We didn’t get to be properly introduced. I’m Isaac, Mason’s ex-boyfriend and best friend from when he was a child.”
“One of my best friends, but I’m reconsidering. You’re being a dickhead, Isaac. No one is playing a game here except for you.”
“What?” He held up his hands to Mason as if in surrender. “I’m just introducing myself to your help.”
White, hot anger exploded inside Gavin. His hand fisted on the glass. He wasn’t a violent man. Hell, he was pretty easy going, but after the day he had, he wasn’t in the mood to take shit from anyone. Lowering his voice, Gavin stepped closer. “I’m a little more than the help considering where I spent last night.”
As soon as the words left his mouth he wanted them back. Yeah, he’d fucked Mason, but that had been all it was. He didn’t have any claim on the man, and definitely didn’t have the right to be jealous right now.
“Hey, you okay?” Mason asked, concern in his voice.
No, he really wasn’t. It’s the end of his life, Gavin. Give him some peace. Don’t break his heart again. Don’t make him go, fearing for his son…
“Is that supposed to matter? Ask me how many nights I’ve spent with him.” Isaac didn’t back down. The urge to say something else hit Gavin but he bit it back. Mason wasn’t his. Hell, he didn’t know him well enough to want him as his. So, he did what he did best. Kept his mouth shut.
Mason grabbed the cosmo out of his hand and handed it to the waiting woman, who no doubt heard their whole conversation. “On the house, sweetheart.” Mason winked at her. She took the drink and walked away.
He poured whisky in a glass and handed it over to Isaac next. “Go sit down at one of the tables.”
“Are you dismissing me?” Isaac grinned cockily.
“I’m going to kick your ass in a second. Christ, you’re being an asshole on purpose. Go sit down before I make you leave.”
“You always did like being in control.” Isaac winked at Mason, took the drink, and then left for one of the tables.
“Your ex is a charming man.” Gavin made a trip up and down the bar to see if anyone needed a drink. A large group of people had left, so they weren’t quite as busy as they had been.
“He’s used to getting his way, and he likes to rile shit up. It’s just the way it is. I’m more concerned about you, because you avoid confrontation, yet you didn’t back there.”
Was that a nice way for Mason to say he thought Gavin was weak? “How do you know what I avoid and what I don’t?”
Mason cocked that damn brow at him again. It pissed Gavin off that he thought it was sexy. He wanted to be angry right now. He needed to be.
“What’s wrong, man?” Mason asked again. Damned if Gavin didn’t want to tell him. If he didn’t want to share with someone how angry he was. How hurt…
“Can we get a drink?” someone called.
Mason held up a hand, “Just a second.”
“We’re at work. That’s what we need to be doing—working.”
“Gavin.” Mason grabbed his arm. Isaac was right. He did like control.
“I had a bad day. I got a flat tire, and had some shit to deal with. That’s all. Can I do my job now?”
Lucky for him, that answer seemed to satisfy Mason. “That’s all you had to say, teach.”
“And deprive you of the opportunity to push? I’d never do that, boss.”
“That’s what I want to hear.” Mason smiled at him, and then the two of them went back to work. Gavin’s mood didn’t improve but he did a good job at hiding it.
Isaac stayed until closing. Once the bar emptied, Gavin saw him talking with Mason, before he headed toward the bathroom and Mason headed over to Gavin.
He leaned against the counter and crossed his arm. “He’s too drunk to drive. I have to take him home with me.”
A vein pulsed in the side of Gavin’s forehead. “Makes sense.” He moved down the bar, continuing to wipe it down.
“Hey.” Somehow, that one word from Mason had the power to stop Gavin.
“What?”
“It’s complicated with Isaac, but we’re over.”
Some of the tension def
lated from Gavin’s body, which then annoyed him. He shouldn’t care. They’d screwed. The end. “You don’t owe me anything.”
“I’m telling you all the same.”
Gavin nodded, more grateful than he should feel. “Okay, then.”
He turned to finish up his job when another, “Hey,” from Mason stopped him.
Gavin looked at him, and then Mason spoke, low and with authority. “Now’s gonna be another one of those times you want to kiss me.”
Stepping closer to him, Gavin did as Mason said.
CHAPTER THIRTEEN
“Did you really have to make me sleep on the couch last night?” Isaac asked while Mason poured himself a cup of coffee. “My neck is killing me, though I guess it makes sense. It always was hard for you to keep your hands off me.”
He leaned back and blew into his mug before taking a drink. Isaac wanted a big response and Mason wouldn’t give him one. “I have a few things to take care of before I go to work. I’ll drop you off so you can get your car first.”
Isaac ran a hand through his dark hair, obviously having expected Mason to say something else. “The guy at the bar…what’s he do?”
“He’s a bartender.”
Isaac scoffed. “He may be working as a bartender right now but it’s not what he does, just like it’s not what you do.”
It was now. That was the difference between Mason and Isaac; one of the differences, at least. Isaac could never be happy at something like tending a bar, whether he owned it or not. Not unless that bar was a chain all over the state or the US. “He’s a music teacher. Why are you so interested in him?”
Isaac ignored that. “Are you really letting him fuck you?”
What he really meant by that question was, are you letting him fuck you and not me? “Do you need a shower?”
“With you?”
Mason sighed. “You’re coming off as desperate. That’s not like you.” Mason took another drink and then stood. “I’m going to take a shower.”