by Lara Hale
“I freaked out at first thinking they were going to kick me out, but they apologized instead.” He laughs, and I smile by seeing him laugh. I’m such a teenage girl.
“They said they were sorry for making me think that they would kick me out. And, they said you are family, so that’s it. You are stuck with Mariam and Alexander Breevort… sorry!”
But I don’t know what he is sorry about because he just gave me the only thing that matters to me, he gave me a family…
And there’s no place I’d rather be stuck in.
TOBIAS
Chapter 33
Remember my dream?
Yeah, the one where I wanted to come to this city in search of independence, a new life, and happiness?
I always thought that to get all of it; I needed a 'what,' when all I truly needed was a 'who.'
“Get your ass down here. I'll get that for you!”
My Harvey. And oh my! Please insert sigh here because damn! I love this man. He's treated me like a precious Swarovski crystal since I was released from the hospital. It doesn't matter how small a task can be. He won't let me do it.
Take right now, for example. I literally climbed a two-step stool to get cereal off the top of the cupboard. That, for Harvey, is putting my life in danger.
“None of this is flattering for my manhood, you know?”
“The only person that cares about 'your manhood' is me and I better be the only one to take care of it. Now shoo! Go watch some TV or something.”
“Ok, bossy! No need to get your panties up in a bunch.”
A glare is my answer. Because how dare I insinuate he wears panties… no, no, no… he is macho.
Except when I have my cock so deep in him, my eyes roll back, and he shouts 'harder.' I highly doubt that comes off as macho to anyone if they ever heard us.
I make my sweet way to the couch, and a few minutes later, he sits next to me, handing me my bowl of cereal.
“Hey, Tobias?”
“What's up?”
“Have you thought about pressing charges against that player that hit you?”
“I don't know…”
Yes, I have been thinking about it. I just don't know if I want to be responsible for someone's career going down the drain. Everyone knows that hockey is all about the fights, and I knew what I was risking when I stepped into that rink without any headgear. I explain this to Harvey.
“He has to be held responsible for it. He knew the risks of fighting dirty too. Do you have any idea how much it would have fucked us up if you had lost your memory entirely? Fuck! I don't even want to think about that!”
“Then don't… would it have been that bad if I lost my memory? Shit, it probably would've been better not to remember my family.”
“That would have included me, though. Would you be willing to forget me just so you can forget them?”
Shit! He hit me where it hurts, quite literally since it is all going to my brain as I think about what he just said.
“Hey, look at me!” He does, “I love you! Plus… you promised me if I forgot you, you would've made me fall in love again. Was that not true, Mr. Breevort.”
I expect a smirk, a retort, or any sarcastic comment back because he knows he is the center of my fucking life. He knows that, doesn't he?
And as I eat my cereal, giving him time to hit me with a good comeback, he finds it.
Oh, he hits me alright, but not with a comeback or sarcastic comment… No!
He hits me with a question.
“Is gay marriage legal in Massachusetts?”
I'm so glad I remembered two things. One, to not whip my head or make any sudden movements; two, to react naturally and not make assumptions about what this means.
I've never dreamt of a wedding. Yes, I'm bi, but I lean more toward men, so I never saw myself having a happy life with a wife and kids. And since I didn't want that, I just assumed nothing else could be an option.
Maybe it still isn't. Perhaps Harvey is just curious. I mean, he is new to all of this. Is it only fair that he ask.
“It is.” It's all I said.
“Do you think Shane and Diandré will get married?” Ok, so, yeah, just curious.
“I don't know. I haven't heard either of them talk about it, but I can honestly see it happening. They are practically married, anyway. I was barely out when Diandré had already started moving in.”
“Us, too, you know?” I raise an eyebrow looking at him, “we too are practically married…” he paused, “We live together now.”
For the love of Jesus, all sentients and all that breathes… Can someone call Blue and give this man a clue? Can someone teach him? He shouldn't say shit like that.
“Ok, mmm… so you do think they will get married soon?”
“Yes, Harvey. Yes, I do.”
A silence that is as comfortable as a quiet cemetery is all that fills the room for the next five minutes; until Harvey speaks again.
“I think we should win that race.”
∞∞∞
-Harvey.
Here's a list of things you don't want to happen when you ask someone to marry you to someone.
One, to have cereal and milk spewed all over your clothes and part of your face; two, for the other person to start crying like you just told them The Notebook is the most overrated movie of all times. Which I watched, and it is.
Moving on, though, those are the two things that just happened, and I'm as confused as you would expect a man that was straight for the first thirty-two years of his life and fell in love with a man to be.
Tobias gets up to clean, and my brain registers his move, ordering him—yes, ordering him—to sit down so I can take care of it. And yes, I order him to do things because otherwise, the man would be on the roof putting up Christmas lights.
Once I have it all cleaned up and change my shirt, I go back to see what the hell just happened.
“Babe? Why are you crying? Do you not want to get married?”
“This is how you ask me?”
He starts laughing, and that's when I remember one of the things the doctor said. He won't control his emotions for some time, so the half crying, half laughing fit shouldn't be a surprise.
“I'm sorry, I don't know how men propose to one another. I certainly don't care about the big gesture, so I just thought… Damn it! I'm an idiot. I won't even be offended if you say no.”
“Harvey,” he brings a hand to my cheek, “think about what you are asking me here. Until a couple of months ago, you wouldn't even admit it to me, that you wanted me, a man. You can't seriously be asking me to make it all public like that. What will everyone think? What will your employees say? Or the rest of your family.”
I think about my answer because I want to make sure I'm real and honest about it. But my answer is the same.
“I couldn't give a lesser fuck about what people think. Do you think I would be the asshole I am if I cared? Only my family's opinion matters to me, and they love you; they love me. They love us!
So you're damn right, I'm sure. What do you say? Are we doing this or what?”
“Oh, Harvey! Such a romantic, it melts my heart.” I roll my eyes, and he stops all jokes to give me the real answer.
“Yes, Mr. Breevort. I'd be delighted to call such a handsome piece of ass as yourself, my husband.”
HARVEY
Chapter 34
“Let me sleep!” I say, even if it is the last thing I want. “Tobias, I—fuck that feels good!”
“How much longer are you going to make me wait?”
“The doctor said you shouldn't do anything extreme until they give you the green light.”
“Last time I checked, we weren't into BDSM, so what can be extreme about our kind of sex?”
The man almost always makes me cave… almost! No, when it comes to his health, he won't. So for the fifth day in a row, I go to bed with blue balls. Or more like purple balls at this point.
∞∞∞
—Two
months later—
I don't think I've ever been more terrified in my life than when I told my parents I was marrying a man. My father's reply? “You should've turned gay sooner. We would probably have grandkids already.”
Now, let me be clear. I couldn't be more grateful for my parents' acceptance and open mind. As stupid as it is, not everyone gets that privilege.
The only problem with his comment is that now that he said that, all I can picture is my house with Tobias, three kids, and three dogs. So how the hell do I tell Tobias that I want us to have kids?
“What's going on with you? You've been so out of it.”
“Nothing, babe, just you know, worried about the new restaurant.”
We are at Andreas' having a dinner party with the Falcons. The team was ecstatic when they learned Tobias was good and could go back to work next week, so they wanted to celebrate.
I am walking with my fiancé—I still can't believe I have one of those—into the same location where we met so long ago. And to make the occasion even more unique, guess who the host is?
“Mr. Breevort! Sir, it's a pleasure to see you.”
“Hey, Chris Daniels. I'm not a pompous asshole anymore?” Embarrassed, he looks away to avoid my eyes. When he does, his eyes land on Tobias, and he tilts his head and asks. “Hello, Sir, nice to meet you. My name is Chris. And, oh, my God! You look super familiar! Anyway, let me walk you to your table. Anyone else joining tonight?”
“If the players are all here, then we are set,” I tell him.
“Excellent, if you and your friend follow me—”
“Fiancé,” I interrupt, “Chris Daniels, this is my fiancé, Tobias Spencer. Tobias, you remember Chris, don't you?”
“Now, baby, of course, I do! I'm still waiting for him to send me back to Burger King again.”
We look at the kid with grins on our faces, and his shock is something people should pay for. Now, I don't know if the surprise is the fiancé, that I'm engaged to a man or that the man happens to be Tobias. But I'm pretty sure this guy will be praying the rest of the shift.
The rest of the night is as excellent as the rest of the year. And as impressive as I hope the rest of our lives can be.
∞∞∞
—One year later—
I'm getting married today. Me, I, Harvey, is getting married today. This past year has been beyond anything I could have ever imagined, and knowing today I link last names with the man that changed my life in all the ways he could have, has me with a happy idiot face that no one can take from me.
We aren't having anything too crazy, and when the wedding officiant asks for our vows, I'm the first one to jump.
Who the hell knew I could be so cheesy?
“Tobias, you've changed my life in ways that I didn't even know were possible. I could have never dreamt of it because this is the kind of stuff that you can’t make up; can't be predicted cause it's surreal, and the best part? It's ours.
“I think of all the things you've been through, and it just makes me so proud, Tobias, it makes me feel so-fucking-lucky to know that I get to spend my life with someone I admire because I do, I admire your strength, and I'll be there for you no matter how many times you roll your eyes at me because I love you.
“And after we walk out of here, as husbands, I will make sure we get it all. I'll move mountains so we can have anything you desire. Just say the words, because baby, I'll give you anything, or I'll die trying.”
I hear my asshole brother and best man murmur behind me.
“Holy shit Harvey, who wrote that for you? That's some Shakespeare shit right there.”
I kick my foot back so he can shut up because Mr. Spencer is about to speak, and no one will freaking stop me from listening.
“Harvey. Andreas. Breevort.” He chuckles, “You've been my savior since the first time I saw you. You've been a testament to my patience, that's for sure, but you've also been a testament to how sappy I can be; to how much I can love.
“The love I feel for you, Harvey, is something that can't even be described. It's like trying to explain a Rainbow or a waterfall to a blind person.
“Unfortunately, I don't have as many words for you as you just did for me. I wish I'd written more. But then I would've run out of ink and out of paper because, how can you even summarize the ways you make swoon.”
And I smile because he's already said more than I did, and he continues.
“Thank you for saving me, thank you for being willing to put your walls down for me, thank you for not being afraid to say you love me. I promise I will make all those efforts worth it. I love you, baby, thank you for it all!”
And just like that, we are pronounced husbands, and my status changes to 'married' from one minute to the next. It is a small gathering, but everyone comes to us to congratulate or wish us well.
“You two! That was so cute!” Lamar squeals. “I'm so happy you two are married!”
“Ok, Lamar, Jesus! Just spill it out, would you?”
About four months ago, Lamar promised us the best wedding present ever. She's mentioned it every time we've seen her, with the sole purpose of making us extra desperate for it.
“Alright, alright. But we need to talk in private for this.”
“I told you already. We won't try for a threesome again.”
She slaps his arm, and he laughs as we follow her to a secured area of the small venue.
“Alright, sit down.”
“Lamar….!”
“Trust me, Harvey, you want to be seated for this.” We sit, and she takes an exaggerated breath.
“There is no cute way to say this, so I'll just say it. I've decided to be your surrogate!” And just like that, our dream of starting a family becomes a possibility, and hopefully soon… A reality!
Lamar just gave us the shock of our lives. I truly hope she is not messing with us. I never thought I wanted kids as much as I do, but once Harvey put that idea in my head, all I can think of is sarcastic little Harveys running around the house.
“So? What do you guys think?”
“Lamar, are you serious?”
“Of course, I am Harvey. I wouldn't joke with something like that.”
“Holy fuck, babe!” Tobias shouts. “We're going to be parents. Oh, my fucking god, we're going to be dads.”
“You are going to be the hottest daddies for sure!” Lamar says with a chuckle.
TOBIAS
Epilogue
We've discussed it and decided that the baby will have Harvey's DNA. I'm all giddy because, damn it, I'm having a kid, and that kid will share DNA with the love of my life.
“Why are you so nervous? I'm the one that's getting knocked up.”
“I'm kind of jealous. You'll be carrying my husband's child.”
“Tobias? You don't think I—? You know there's nothing between us, right? You can't think I'll do that to you…”
I start laughing. Of course, I don't think so.
“Silly, of course not! Lamar, you are giving me the most important gift of my life. I couldn't be more grateful. Now go ahead. Harvey is stuck in traffic; we can't wait for him.”
“Alright, babe, wish me luck!”
“Lamar?” I grab her hands and squeeze them. “Thank you; you have no idea what this means to us.”
“Nonsense, I wouldn't do this for anyone but the two of you.” And then Lamar walks into the place that makes wishes come true.
HARVEY
Second Epilogue
—Nine months later—
I'm at the hospital waiting for Tobias. They just took Lamar in for a C-section, so he is flying in, having cut a game trip short for it.
“Breevort?”
I look up and see my friend Scotland Hall. We took a few business classes together back in college.
“Hall? Hey, man, what are you doing here?” I see nothing but pain in his eyes, so I let it go changing the topic. “God, I haven't seen you in about two years. What've you been up to?”
; “I'm alright, you know, still with the same business.”
“And the same guy?” He smirks and responds, “engaged, getting married in two months… hopefully.”
“That's great. Congratulations. I got myself one of those too, you know?”
“A marriage?”
“Well yeah, that too, but I meant a husband.”
The man snaps his head so hard that I'm glad we are at the hospital already in case he hurts his brain. Before he gets to say anything, the doctor comes out to the waiting room to let me know I'm officially a father.
“Wow, man! A husband and kids? That's something I never thought I'd heard.”
I thank him, and as I finish going over my children and Lamar's health, I see Doctor Devos coming to talk to Hall, talking about his fiancé’s health, which sounds pretty severe, so they both leave to speak in a more private setting I guess.
“Are they here? Are they ok? Where are they?”
Tobias arrived. I hear his voice, and when I look his way, I see him power walking toward me, taking his jacket off, and unwrapping the scarf from around his neck.
“They are good, baby. All three of them are.”
It turns out artificial insemination improves the possibility of multiple babies. The amount of happiness we felt when we heard we were having two babies matched the joy it gave us to know it was a boy and a girl.
I can't wait to meet Charlotte and Spencer Breevort.
Yes, Spencer. After Tobias took my last name, I thought Spencer would be a thing of the past because of every memory that came with it, but my husband made a great point when he made me see that he wouldn't be who he is today if he hadn't been a Spencer.
Yes, the genes of this man are what makes him, him! And because he is who he is, is why I love him more than words can ever express.
“When can we see them?” He asks. “As soon as she is awake.”
“Alright, good, then you can help me go get her presents from my car.”