by Smith,T. M.
“David and I have something we need to tell you. Now, I know some of you might be pissed, but please wait until we’re done before bombarding us with questions or blunt objects.” The last part was meant as a joke, an attempt to lighten the mood. No one laughed, though. Dusty started at the beginning, telling the same story he’d shared with Jon and Kory. David got choked up reliving the memory of what his brother had done to him once again. Dusty was surprised when Gabe got up and walked over to David, sitting down next to him and wrapping an arm around him, quietly whispering words of comfort, asking David if he was okay to go on.
When there was nothing left to tell, the house was so quiet that Dusty finally fully understood the meaning behind the term, “you could have heard a pin drop”. That, in and of itself, was frightening. Never in all the years he’d been in this huge-ass house had it been this quiet, ever. After what seemed like an eternity, the questions started. No one was hateful or mean, but there were a few less than pleased glares. Kassie asked about Kory, if they’d already told him and Jon, apologizing for her brother’s ornery temper.
Victor waited until the dust settled and everyone went back to what they’d been doing before he approached them. “I am understanding why you are thinking you have to keep this from us. And while I am being happy that Tristan, Micah and Gabe are forgiving, I am still in pain for this. You see, I had to hold our Gabriel up when he was learning that his lover was dead, for me that pain is still something real.” The father figure of their nuclear family bore through them with his black gaze. Once again, Dusty felt like they were being chastised. If so, it was understandable.
“We will stay together as we always do Dusty, as a family we are strong, you both are being welcome here anytime. But you are having to be patient while it will take longer for some to work through.”
David looked from Victor to Dusty, his confusion over Victor’s words evident in his eyes. Everyone in the house had learned to understand Victor and his broken English long ago. “I’ll decipher that for you later, D.” He kissed David on the forehead, standing with Victor and welcoming the bone crushing hug. “Thank you for understanding Vic. It’s a huge weight off my shoulders.”
Victor released Dusty and clapped his big hands together, pulling a couple of shrieks from people that were not expecting an earth shattering kaboom. “Now we drink!” he shouted, disappearing long enough to go grab a bottle of Țuică, a Romanian plum brandy wine that he kept stocked for special occasions.
The Țuică had David sputtering and coughing. “Wow, that’s strong,” he choked out.
“David, Dusty, come play cards with us.” Micah waved them over to the table to join the game. Jacob, Tommy and Beau were uninterested in the revelation. But then, they were the newest members of the All Cocks family, they’d never met Gio. They hadn’t witnessed the grief Gabe had endured over his loss. Even though Victor had strong words for them, he didn’t look at David any differently because of who he was. Dusty was a bit surprised that Chris and Linc steered clear of them, left the room if David or Dusty walked in. He’d have to deal with that later. Dusty’s main focus at the moment was ensuring David didn’t get overwhelmed with everything.
On the drive home that night, David was out like a light before they even hit the highway, sleeping so heavily he was softly snoring. Dusty turned the radio on to his favorite jazz station, setting the volume low, not wanting to wake David. All in all, it had been a good day. They would have to reach out to Chris and Linc and try to set up dinner or something with only the four of them. Dusty pushed that thought aside for now, his focus on getting home and crawling into bed with the man he loved. Everything else could wait until tomorrow.
Chapter 15 | Not What He Expected
Weaving through the crowd at LaGuardia Airport was not Dusty’s idea of fun. He wanted to meet his dad at baggage claim, though, so he left David with the truck parked outside at the curb while he braved the swarm of bodies in search of his father. As soon as he spotted the familiar mop of brown hair much like his own, Dusty pushed his way through the bodies, coming up behind his dad.
Dean Anderson was a taller, broader, older version of Dusty with the same unruly, wavy brown hair that held flecks of silver and gray, and brown eyes. He tapped him on the shoulder as soon as he was in reach. “Excuse me, sir.”
“Sorry,” Dean said, his smile growing, eyes lighting up when he saw it was Dusty. “Son!” He pulled Dusty into a hug similar to those painful things Victor considered affection. Leaning back, he held Dusty by the shoulders. “Let me have a look at ya.” Dean looked over Dusty’s head. “Where’s your fella?”
“In the truck at the curb, so we need to shift it before airport security gets antsy.” Dusty recognized the beat up navy-blue suitcase that came around the turnstile, stepping past his dad to grab it. “Follow me sir, your chariot awaits.”
Airport security was approaching the truck when they exited through the revolving door. Dusty tossed the suitcase in the bed before jerking the door open for his dad, quickly jogging around to the driver’s side to climb in. David had moved from the passenger seat to the back seat when he saw them coming which made for a quick getaway. They all waved at the security guy as they sped past him. “Whew, that was close.” Dusty sighed. “Dad, this is David—David, this is my dad, Dean Anderson.”
“It’s nice to meet you David. I hope my boy isn’t driving you too crazy, he can be a handful.” Dean turned sideways so he could shake David’s hand and see him better.
David simply offered his hand, smiling and mumbling a quick, “Nice to meet you too.”
The drive back to the apartment was a nightmare; traffic was brutal. Since they were all hungry the decision was made to stop for an early dinner and hopefully, the traffic would ease up by the time they left the restaurant. Heartland Brewery was one of Dusty’s favorite places to eat. The food and the craft beers were some of the best in the city. Dusty and David ordered a Milk Stout while Dean ordered an IPA. “Damn, that’s good. So, tell me how you two met.”
David choked on the swig of beer he’d just taken. Dusty chuckled and patted him on the back. “You okay, babe?”
“Yeah,” he groaned.
“That bad, huh?” Dean cocked his head to the side, one eyebrow quirked upward.
Dusty snorted. “You have no idea.” By the time Dusty and David finished bringing Dean up to speed on how they met and everything they’d been through since leaving the hospital until that day, they’d ordered food and finished their meals as well as several more beers.
“Damn kid, you’ve been through the wringer.” Dean patted David’s hand. “And you haven’t talked to Kory since you told him everything?” Dusty slumped in his seat, frowning and shaking his head. “He’ll come around son, he needs some time. You two have been friends for a while and I’m certain that he won’t want to throw that away.”
“Yeah, I think you’re right. It’s hard not talking to him, ya know.” Dusty finished off his third mug of beer. He thought he was hiding the nagging feeling of guilt that had been plaguing him since opening up to Kory and Jon. Obviously not, if the sad look on his father’s face was any indication.
Patting him on the shoulder, his dad asked, “Have you tried calling him?”
Dusty shook his head again. “I figured he’d call when he’s ready to talk.”
“You might be right, but he could also be waiting for you to make the first move. If I were you, I’d call him, extend an olive branch.”
“I’ll consider it; now it’s your turn, spill. Why are you here, and without Mom?”
Dean laughed. “Right to the point then, there’s no easy way to say this, so I’ll just come right out with it. Your mom and I are getting a divorce.”
“What?!” Dusty shouted, grimacing when he turned more than one head. “Sorry,” he said to the people that were giving him angry glares. He leaned over the table, frowning at his dad. “What the hell, Dad?”
“Listen, son, your mom and I are b
est friends and we always will be. We want different things now than we wanted twenty years ago.” Dean paused, seeming to contemplate what to say next. Dusty took a deep breath and waited for more of an explanation.
Dean flagged down the waiter and ordered another round before he gave his full attention to Dusty again. “I’m bisexual Dusty, always have been. When your mother and I met I was actually in an open relationship of sorts with my college roommate. He and I occasionally liked to bring a woman into the mix and your mom…”
“Whoa, whoa, whoa…” Dusty waved his hands in front of him. “…do not finish that sentence, I get the picture and that is already more than I ever wanted to know.”
Dean snorted, shaking his head and laughing at his son. “Let’s just say we invited your mom to join us more than once. After a while though, she and I got to a point where we didn’t want to share each other anymore. I guess you could say we fell in love. We got married, had you and we were blissfully happy for a very long time.”
Dean stared down at his mug of beer, running the tip of his finger around the rim. “Why am I sensing there is a but here?” Dusty prodded.
“But…the last few years we’ve drifted apart. We still love each other very much son, we just aren’t in love with each other anymore.”
Dusty was blindsided and dumbfounded. He didn’t know if he should scratch his watch, or wind his butt. “I don’t understand, Dad. If you two still love each other, why divorce after more than twenty years of marriage?” The waiter reappeared with three mugs of beer and their bill. Dusty stared at his mug for a long while, turning everything over in his mind, coming to a disturbing conclusion. “Wait, is there someone else, Dad?”
“You were always too damn smart for your own good.” Dean gave his son a sad smile.
Dusty saw red, his nostrils flared and he leaned over the table, keeping his tone as neutral as possible so as not to cause another disturbance. “You couldn’t keep your dick in your pants long enough for the ink on the divorce papers to dry, Dad?” he growled.
Dean barked out a loud, gleeful laugh. We haven’t lived together as a married couple for close to two years, son.” Dean looked from his son to David, as if he had only then remembered that David was there. “I’m not sure you want me to go into everything right now Dusty, not with your boyfriend here.”
Dusty jerked his wallet out, removing several twenties and stuffing them into the black folder that held the bill. He drained his mug of beer before standing and walking toward the exit, without saying so much as one word to his dad or his boyfriend.
Dean sighed, draining his mug as well before standing. “Well, we better get after him David, unless you want to walk home.” Truth be told, he was glad he’d managed to evade that question, for now at least.
Back at the apartment, Dusty gave his dad a quick tour then went into William’s old room with him and closed the door so he and his father could have a conversation without David. It wasn’t that he wanted to hide anything from David, quite the contrary. He had the sense to realize he and or his dad might get upset, voices probably would raise, and he didn’t want to put David into a stressful situation when he was finally getting to a good place.
“So, Mom has a boyfriend? Fuck me, this is so weird. I’m sitting here talking to my father about my mother’s boyfriend. Shoot me, just shoot me now.” Dusty buried his face in his hands.
Dean dropped down onto the bed beside him, patting Dusty on the back. “I want you to know that we are still your parents first and foremost, son. We both love you very much and that’s never going to change. We will simply be supporting you from different addresses, is all.”
“My mother has a boyfriend.” Dusty muttered the same thing again pulling a quiet laugh from his dad. He slowly turned his head to the side so he could look up at his father. “You think this is funny?”
Dean drew in a ragged breath, exhaling loudly and shaking his head. “No, Dusty, I do not. But it is what it is and you can either accept it or get angry and start yelling; maybe you could throw something at me. I’m certain your boyfriend is out there right now climbing the fucking walls already. What’s it going to do to him if we get hostile, son?”
“Fuck,” Dusty barked, standing quickly and pacing the small space between the foot of the bed and the closet. “You don’t miss anything either, do you Dad? I guess I get that from you.” He laughed, but there was no humor in the sound. After a five-minute game of tread the carpet as quiet as a mouse, Dusty stopped and faced his dad. “Okay, you and Mom are divorcing and I’ll soon have a stepdad, yay me!” He pumped his fist in the air comically.
“Or two,” Dean chuckled.
Dusty’s brow furrowed. “Or two what?” Dean gave him a look, pursing his lips to stop from cracking up when Dusty finally deciphered his comment. “Oh fuck me, my dad’s gay.”
“Bisexual son, get it right.”
“What the fuck ever…you like dick.” Dusty’s eyes went wide. “Oh my god. I can’t believe I said that.” Dean tossed his head back and laughed out loud. “I fucking hate you right now. Goodnight, Dad.” And with that, Dusty stomped out of the room, slamming the door behind him.
“D…” Dusty went out to the living room but it was empty. He turned off all the lights and checked that the door was locked before heading into his and David’s bedroom. All the anger and anxiety he was feeling over the entire fucked up situation with his parents ebbed away at the sight of his lover lying on his back on their bed. Clad only in a pair of boxers and headphones, David’s feet were crossed at the ankles, the top one moving to the beat of whatever song he was listening to. He didn’t seem to realize he was no longer alone, so Dusty quickly stripped down to his boxers as well and approached the bed slowly.
He was about to climb onto the bed when David’s eyes blinked open and he grinned up at him. Removing the headphones, he sat them and his iPod on the bedside table, sitting up and stealing a quick kiss. “How’d it go with your dad?”
“Lord give me strength; he’s trying to kill me I swear. So, apparently, my mom has been seeing this guy now for almost a year and he asked my dad for permission to marry my mom and my dad is all like, sure whatever because I want to switch back to batting for my own team.” Dusty sighed, exasperated, flopping onto his back on the bed and throwing his arm over his eyes. Slowly, he removed his arm when the bed started shaking. David stared down at him, his eyes alight, a hand over his mouth in a failed attempt not to laugh.
Dusty sat up, grabbing David and shoving him onto his back, straddling his legs. “You think this is funny, do ya?” He proceeded to tickle David, knowing his boyfriend’s sides and feet were very ticklish.
“No…stop…holy shit!” David was gasping, trying to catch his breath, laughing and panting between words.
“Say uncle,” Dusty teased, not ceasing his tickling assault.
“Uncle, shit, uncle,” David hollered.
The moment Dusty stopped tickling and sat back on his heels, David flipped their bodies so he was the one on top. They both laughed briefly, but when David shifted his weight to one side his dick rubbed up against Dusty’s and he groaned. Staring up into the beautiful, loving and trusting blue eyes of the man he adored, Dusty had a request.
“Damn I want you, but I want you to top me,” he stated very matter of factly.
David sat up, sputtering and scooting backwards on the bed. “What, I…no, I can’t.”
Dusty grabbed him by the arm before he could get too far away. “Why not, David?”
David’s body lit up like a wildfire, blushing from head to toe, his glistening skin causing Dusty’s dick to go from limp to, I’m going to fucking die if I don’t come right fucking now, in no time. He pulled David close, holding his lover’s face in his hands and gently kissing him. “I love you D, and I trust you. I want you to experience everything and that includes being the top. Please babe, I really need to feel you inside me right now almost as badly as I need air to breathe.”
***
David stared into his eyes for a few intense moments, seeming to find an answer to an unasked question in Dusty’s gaze. He nodded, though he still looked hesitant. Smiling, Dusty laid back on the bed, jerking his boxers off and tossing them on the floor. David licked his lips, watching Dusty palm his hard dick in his hand.
Taking a deep breath, David nodded. “Okay D, tell me what I need to do.”
With shaking hands, David took the bottle of lube from Dusty, flipping the cap and squeezing far too much onto his fingers. Closing his eyes briefly and taking a deep breath, David thought about how Dusty always prepared him. Leaning over his lover, David kissed Dusty softly while circling his hole with one finger. Dusty gasped when he pressed a finger inside, his body tensing only for a moment before Dusty sighed and let his legs fall open. Staring down at Dusty, David felt like he was seeing himself, the way Dusty saw him when he was making love to him. Flushed cheeks, lips parted as he panted, hips starting a slow gyration as he rode the two fingers David had buried inside him…Dusty was the picture of ecstasy.