The Mary's Boys Collection

by Brandon Witt

  The playful tone had seeped from Teegan’s voice. Zachary should’ve known better than to bring up Teegan’s parents. “Sorry, that sucks.”

  Another shrug. “Not a big deal. In some ways, I’m grateful. I didn’t have to go through the whole bullying thing a lot of gay kids have to deal with. Though, it took me nearly three decades to be honest with myself.”

  “Yeah, there is that. That can’t be easy.” Zachary waited until Teegan met his gaze. “But in some ways, I think that takes as much courage, maybe more. I can’t imagine being married with a kid and then having to tell everyone that you’re not exactly who they thought you were.”

  “Nah. Not brave. Just desperate. I didn’t think I could survive any longer the other way.”

  “Sounds brave to me. Some men stay in the closet their whole lives. You didn’t.”

  “Well, then I guess we’re both brave. Like superheroes.” Teegan’s voice lowered and his tone grew heated. “Ones that can take our clothes off any time we want. Which, I think, is exactly what—” He flinched, then let out a breath as his shoulders sagged. “Shit.”

  “What?”

  Teegan leaned back and stuck his hand in his pocket. “My phone vibrated, which means—” He glanced at the screen, then swiped it with his thumb. “—yeah, the hospital.” He met Zachary’s gaze across the table. “I’m so sorry. Looks like there was an emergency after all.”

  Disappointment washed over him, as well as a tingle of relief. He wouldn’t have to figure out whether or not to stick with his no-sex rule. “It’s okay. How long until you have to be there?”

  “Half an hour.”

  Disappointment won. “Wow. That is quick. I can take a cab back to my house. You don’t—”

  Teegan shook his head, then looked away and motioned for the waitress. “No. Let’s get the bill, and I’ll drive you back. My stuff is in the car, and the hospital isn’t far away. I might not be able to finish our date, but I’m not giving up my good-night kiss.”

  The doorknob jabbed into Zachary’s back, and he shifted over. Teegan’s body moved seamlessly with his own, never breaking the kiss.

  This part could last forever. This moment, frozen. When there was no question about where the kiss was leading or if his body was good enough. If he should be dating a guy who’d never had a gay relationship before. No thoughts of ex-wives, daughters, meeting parents, introducing him to his friends, letting Teegan see him in drag….

  It was a kiss. Just a kiss.

  Fingers in his hair. A long, hard erection pressed into his hip. Firm muscles warm against his body. A tongue sweeping over his.

  A feeling of euphoria as close to that first mermaid movie experience as he’d ever come.

  Sex or not, Zachary’s walls were tumbling down, and he had no hope of protecting himself against Teegan Chau.

  At last, Teegan pulled away, panting slightly. “Sorry. I have to go. I’m going to be late as it is.”

  “It’s okay.” Zachary felt a bit breathless himself.

  “May I see you again?”

  Euphoria was definitely the right word. “Of course.”

  Teegan beamed and smashed his lips on Zachary’s quickly once more before releasing his hold and taking a step back. “Great. I’ll call you.”

  “Okay.” Despite himself, those words sent a tingle of fear through Zachary. I’ll call you. Weren’t those the kiss of death in every movie he’d ever seen?

  Another quick kiss, faster than the last. Teegan let go of Zachary’s hand and began walking down the steps. Halfway across the sidewalk, he paused and looked back. “Is someone staying with you tonight?”

  “Yeah. Pat and one of her grandkids are coming over as soon as I text her.”

  He nodded. “Good. Lock the door behind you.”

  Everyone was always watching out for him. They all knew he couldn’t protect himself. “I will.”

  “Call you soon!”

  CHAPTER TEN

  Teegan Chau

  Teegan closed the picture book and carefully stood up, making sure to not disturb the bed. He placed the book on the bedside table, leaned over his sleeping daughter, stroked her hair, and pressed a light kiss to her forehead.

  There were times the nearly three decades in the closet snuck up on him, and he was tempted to rage. To scream at his parents for their constant demands and expectations. To curse the man he used to be, the coward he used to be. To count everything he’d lost by hiding who he was.

  Megan let out a sigh and shifted under the covers.

  He wouldn’t change it. Not a moment of it. Even though he’d been miserable. Even though he’d hurt Kelly so badly. Every ounce of pain was worth it to have Megan here. He knew Kelly felt the same. Teegan kissed Megan’s forehead once more, then silently walked out of the room.

  Leaving the door open a crack, he padded down the hallway into the family room. Kelly and Jeff looked up from where they’d been snuggled on the couch, watching TV. “She’s asleep?”

  “Yeah, Kel. Barely made it through five pages before she was out.”

  “You two had a big day.” Kelly patted Jeff’s knee and stood up. “I’m going to walk Teegan out. Hit Pause. If you spoil who wins, I’ll kick your ass.”

  Jeff grunted. “How will I stand the anticipation?” His voice picked up in mock cheerfulness. “Oh, wait a minute, I think I hear a beer calling from the fridge.” He stood and gave Teegan a wave as he walked to the kitchen. “Later, bro. Hope you have a good shift. If you find a good liver to sell on the black market, I know a guy. My handling fee is only 60 percent.”

  Teegan chuckled. He nearly reminded Jeff he wasn’t on his way to work, but then decided it wasn’t worth the effort. “Very generous of you. I’ll see if there are any lying around. Have a good night, Jeff.”

  Kelly grabbed his hand and walked him out the front door into the pleasantly cool evening.

  He followed. “Project Runway? Are you trying to make your second husband gay too?”

  She laughed and smacked his shoulder. “Why? So you can steal him?”

  “Hmmm. He says bro a little much for my taste.”

  Kelly rolled her eyes. “You and me both. But at least I know he won’t leave me for another man, like someone we know.”

  “Yeah. I’d say the chances are pretty low on that front.” Teegan grew serious. “Thanks for letting me stay after I dropped her off to get her to sleep.”

  “Of course.” Kelly’s expression shifted from play to concern. “But about that, what’s going on? You doing okay?”

  He so didn’t want to have this conversation. “Yeah, I’m fine. There was another gay bashing the other night, and this one isn’t going to turn out as well as it did for Zachary. I’m not sure to what extent, but there’s gonna be brain damage.”

  Horror passed over Kelly’s face, and she reached for him. “Oh, Teegan. I’m so sorry.”

  He took her hand and squeezed. “Thanks. They’ve got to get these guys. At least, I hope it’s the same ones. Surely there aren’t that many people out there targeting gays.” Teegan shook his head, trying to expel the darkness. “It’s all got me thinking about a lot lately. Even more than normal. How different things could’ve been, yet I’m glad they weren’t. You know.” Another squeeze and he let go of Kelly’s hand.

  “Yes, I know.” She swept a long lock of black hair behind her ear. She gave a forced smile, obviously trying to offer some brightness. “So things are going well with the guy you’re dating? Zach, right?”

  It worked, at least enough. “Zachary, and yes. Though we’ve only been out twice. The last one was over a week and a half ago, but we’ve called and texted several times. He’s not exactly what I pictured falling for, but he’s so—” Teegan realized what he was saying. “You sure you want to hear this?”

  “Seriously? Like there’s anything we can’t handle at this point? I don’t need to hear about your sex life, but I want to know about the man who you’re interested in. The man who might be around
our daughter.”

  “We haven’t had sex, actually. I hope—”

  She smacked his shoulder again. “I just said I don’t want to hear about the sex. That included details of you not having it.” Her tone grew serious. “Are you thinking about introducing him to Megan soon?”

  “Kel, it’s only been two dates.” Which was why he felt ridiculous for having thought about it since after the first one.

  “Whatever, Teegan. I know you. I can see it in your face and hear it in your voice. This isn’t a sex thing for you, even if I don’t want to hear about it. You’re really interested in this guy or you wouldn’t be going on a third date. And knowing you, part of you is already picturing the wedding, white picket fence, and a… what kind of dogs do gays get?”

  “You’re awful.”

  “True.” She smiled, looking beautiful even in the light of the front porch. “But I’m right. Even if you can’t say all of that yet… and shouldn’t. Don’t scare the poor boy off.”

  Teegan was tempted to hug her. “Thank you, Kel.”

  She blanched. “For what?”

  He took a moment to answer, afraid his emotions would get the best of him. “Just what I’ve been thinking about lately. Zachary had these amazing parents, and he now has this makeshift family at Hamburger Mary’s. I have you. You’re it. Maybe that’s unhealthy, but it’s true. You’ve been the only friend I really have and, for sure, the only person who’s accepted me completely. And you, more than anyone, had reason to reject me and tell me to go to hell.”

  “I love you. You were my best friend before you were my gay, gay husband. And you’ve given me our daughter.” Teegan was fairly certain he saw tears forming in her eyes, which took a lot—Kelly wasn’t overly emotional. “And you were honest enough, or at least honest enough when I confronted you, that you made it possible for me to live my life, to build a new one.”

  “He’s a drag queen, Kel.” The words were out before he’d even considered saying them. Well, that wasn’t totally true. He’d been trying to figure out how to tell her for days, and he hadn’t figured out how.

  She hesitated, her eyes narrowing. “What?”

  “Zachary does drag. That’s what he does at Hamburger Mary’s.” Teegan rushed on like he had to defend Zachary. “That’s not his only job. He also owns a bookstore, but drag is a pretty big part of his life.”

  Still she hesitated, and strangely, he couldn’t tell what she was thinking. After a few silent moments, moments that seemed to last forever in the spotlight of the porch, her expression changed, and her tone sounded like she’d just solved a puzzle. “Is that why you’re dating him?”

  He didn’t follow the question. “Huh? Am I dating him because he’s a drag queen?”

  “Yeah.” She sounded concerned again. “Is this your way to transition from the straight life you led? A way to make it easier on your parents? Have them meet an effeminate guy and maybe they’ll be more understanding?”

  Teegan gaped at her, waiting for the punch line. None came. “Are you serious? You think I chose a drag queen to transition from being straight?”

  She shrugged, her confident expression faltering. “Well, maybe. I mean, I had to force you to come out the first time, and I’m the one who keeps telling you to get out there and date, to quit letting your fear of your parents’ disappointment ruin your life.”

  He almost laughed. “Kelly, you’ve met my parents about a billion times, remember? Do you really see either of them being more okay with me dating a man who dresses up like a woman? Really? I’m nearly as terrified to tell them about Zachary as I was telling them about us getting a divorce and me being gay.”

  Kelly blinked, considering, then spoke slowly. “Okay. Yeah, you’re right. Good point. I was thinking wrong.” Then she bugged her eyes out at him. “I really was. Babe, you’re screwed. They’re going to lose their shit.”

  “Thank you! That’s what I was saying!” Teegan smacked his thigh, then had a sinking feeling. “Though I wish you weren’t agreeing with me. I’m dreading that.”

  “Yeah, I would too.”

  He waited for her to say something else, for her to raise her own concerns.

  “What is it, Teegan? Why are you looking at me like that?”

  “Well, what about you?”

  She shrugged. “What about me?”

  “How do you feel about me dating a guy who does drag?”

  Kelly rolled her eyes again. “Are you seriously worried about me? I know you, remember. You’re not going to fall for anyone who isn’t good. You’re as protective of Megan as I am. And if you think I’m worried about a man in a dress messing up our daughter, then I’m a bit offended that you don’t know me better.” She raised a finger. “However, if Zachary makes a prettier woman than me, we’re throwing down. Or at least he’s giving me makeup tips.”

  Teegan did laugh then, relief rushing over him. “You’re amazing. Sorry I forgot that for a bit.”

  “You better be.” She grinned. “Now get out of here. You’re off to see your man, right?”

  “No. He’s working. But we have a date tomorrow. I actually have two days off in a row.”

  She hesitated, glancing over her shoulder. “You can stay for Project Runway, if you want.”

  “Nah, I’ve intruded enough.” Teegan motioned to his car at the end of the walk. “I should get going.” Some of Kelly’s words drifted back through his mind as he started to walk away. “And I didn’t say I was falling for him.”

  “Oh, please.” She waved him off. “You’ve already fallen so hard one of those life alert buttons wouldn’t help you.”

  He tried to make sense of her words. “What?”

  “You know. Those commercials where the old people fall and then yell that they’ve fallen and can’t get up. You’ve fallen for Zachary.” She paused for dramatic effect. “And you can’t get up.”

  “Oh my God, Kel. That was bad. Even for you.”

  “Shut up. That was good stuff. So great that it went right over your head.” Her smile faded. “Be careful out there, Teegan. Okay?”

  “I will.”

  The plan was to go home, crawl into bed, and sleep for at least twelve hours. Between the hospital and Megan, he hadn’t had a day off since his date with Zachary the week before. Though that hadn’t been a day off either; he’d been called in. He’d forgotten. He would sleep, then wake up refreshed, go to the gym, get a haircut, shave, and be ready for the date. The date he hoped would finally end with getting Zachary naked. And look at that. It would be the three-date rule, after all. If…. And that was a big if.

  He was halfway to his apartment when he did an illegal U-turn at a Colfax intersection.

  Kelly had been wrong. He wasn’t dating Zachary as a bridge between straight and gay. It barely made enough sense to consider. But there was a huge part of Zachary that Teegan didn’t understand. Couldn’t understand. He hadn’t ever seen a drag queen besides a couple at the gay bars. But they’d not been performing. They’d just been men in dresses with glitter in their beards. For Zachary, this was something else. And Teegan needed to figure out what it was.

  As off as Kelly had been about his reasoning, Teegan realized he was wrong as well. He did dread telling his parents. It might be the last straw in their relationship. If it weren’t for Megan, he could almost guarantee that it would be. But his fear over their reaction wasn’t his biggest concern.

  He almost pulled the car to the side of the road as the realization hit him.

  He was worried about himself.

  How he felt about dating a man in a dress.

  Dating a drag queen.

  What if he saw Zachary in drag… saw Ariel Merman and all his feelings for Zachary went away?

  Holy shit. That was it. That really was it. He was afraid he wouldn’t be able to handle dating a drag queen. Dear God, that had to make him a total shit, right?

  Maybe that would mean his feelings for Zachary hadn’t been real in the first place. That it w
as just a firestorm of emotions and nothing based in reality.

  That or he was a shit who couldn’t handle seeing the man he wanted to sleep with in a dress.

  He was sure going to see Zachary perform without more thought or notice was a bad idea. The king of bad ideas. But whatever, he needed to know. Right then.

  There was no parking around Hamburger Mary’s, and Teegan had to park a few blocks away. Even as he walked toward the purple restaurant, he tried to talk himself out of it. There were a million reasons he should turn around. It was Zachary’s first night attempting drag since the attack. He had no idea Teegan was about to show up. If this was something he needed to do, he should wait and think it through, plan it out, not dive in on a spur-of-the-moment impulse.

  The reasons scrolled through his mind, a new one with every step. And with each one, he either shoved it aside, reasoned it away, or simply ignored it.

  Walking up the sidewalk, Teegan knew without a doubt that the show was already in progress. And it sounded like there was a full house. Laughter and screams reverberated from the walls and windows. He didn’t even allow himself a breath as he walked up the three steps to the front porch and pulled open the door.

  The noise was a tidal wave sweeping over him. Between the sounds, countless faces filling the space, lights, and smells of food, Teegan paused just inside the door, on sensory overload. In front of him was a curved bar, full of people. Slowly, he turned toward where everyone was looking and met a pair of eyes that he knew.

  Pat smiled and walked out from behind the host stand, knocking into a large statue of Hamburger Mary holding a cheeseburger on a tray. She steadied the statue, then gave him a quick hug. “Dr. Chau. What a nice surprise. Zachary didn’t mention you were coming.” She pulled back, her eyes narrowed. “Does he know?”

  “No.” Teegan shook his head. “I didn’t know myself until a few minutes ago. Sounds like the show is already going on.”