by J. M. Dabney
Back in the day, Troy, Bella, hell, his current life hadn’t even appeared as a blip of the screen. If they’d asked him at eighteen where he’d be twenty years in the future, the answer was simple: dead.
He turned off the stove and oven, then approached Troy. He dropped to his knees and nuzzled Troy’s belly, and wrapped his arms around Troy’s waist.
“What’s wrong, Win?” Troy asked as he soothingly combed his fingers through his hair.
“I love you; you know that, right?” He tipped his head back to rest his chin on Troy’s stomach and found the man watching him with contentment.
“You definitely show and tell me enough.”
“Marry me?”
“What?” Troy voice broke.
He would’ve grown nervous if not for Troy’s small smile spreading wider.
“I’ve told you this before, but I can’t imagine my life without you and Bella in it. All the time I’ve wasted over the years trying to pretend to be something I’m not. Bella and you are my family, always calm me when I think the monster is coming back. I don’t care if you want a huge wedding or just a trip to Vegas. However, I can make you mine. I’m down.”
Troy dropped to his knees, and all the answer he needed was in the neediness of his man’s kiss. The subtle taste of salt flavoring the lush curves.
“I wanted to make this more romantic. There was a whole speech planned for after I took you to dinner. Brought you home and loved on you.”
“It was perfect. I don’t need grand gestures. I just need you and Bella.”
“So, is that a yes?”
They spoke between slow, soft kisses, and through it all, they’d made it up off their knees and to their bedroom. When they were stretched out on the bed, he dug the small velvet bag from his pocket and laid it on Troy’s chest. They worked together to open it and then two rings reflected the light of the bedside lamp.
“Say yes, baby, please.”
“Yes.”
That was the last word spoken as they placed the rings on each other and loved on each other until the early morning. As Troy snuggled up to his side, sleeping peacefully, he began to look back and wondered how he’d come to this moment. He’d always be thankful for what he had or done, those sins he’d committed had brought him there. Gifted him with the family and friends he’d longed for and he’d live out the rest of his life showing everyone how much he appreciated them.
He turned his head to kiss Troy’s forehead and smiled at the whisper of his name. Stretching out his arm, he turned off the bedside lamp and closed his eyes.
Epilogue
Troy was about to elbow his best friend just to get him to stop looking at his dad. Miller was his best friend since high school. He’d noticed the new kid instantly. Miller had worn the label gay like a target on his back. He’d fit in while Miller had stuck out, but that was only because no one wanted to take on Brent and his dad had threatened a bully a time or ten. At first, it was embarrassing, yet he quickly realized unlike the other gay kids, he didn’t have to worry about getting his ass beat daily. And by association, the warning had carried over the Miller.
The crush Miller had on Brent wasn’t recent. It started the moment Miller had come to his house the first time.
“He’s so fucking hot.”
He groaned at the obscene moan that followed that short, disturbing sentence.
“Miller,” he bellowed in Miller’s ear and glared at him.
“What?”
“Could you not watch my dad like he’s an ice cream cone you want to lick?”
It wasn’t that he didn’t worry about Miller or sympathize, any other time he’d be supportive, but it was his dad who was being undressed by the petite man beside him.
“But he’s so fucking hot,” Miller repeated.
He threw his arm across Miller’s shoulders. “And very much straight.”
Miller had a steady stream of men in and out of his life, but Miller and him were very much alike. He’d lusted after Win for a decade before he’d gotten his shit together. So he understood the unrequited longing in Miller’s voice.
“We also thought Win was straight.”
At the mention of his husband’s name, he couldn’t help the joy that filled him and the way his gaze searched for Win who was helping Brent fixed the back deck.
“Win is bi, and my dad isn’t, you know this.”
Miller was so cute, and he knew Miller hated to be called adorable, but the man really was, especially when he rested his pointed chin in the cup of his palms and sighed loudly.
“Don’t remind me,” Miller pouted.
He was about to do his thing and attempt to make his friend feel better, but Miller’s phone rang, and he listened to the one-sided conversation. Miller worked as a personal assistant to the Queen of Clifton society and loved every second of it.
Miller stood up from the table, and Troy grabbed his arm. “Text me, Win and me are meeting with the real estate agent tonight to look at a few more houses.”
“Got’cha.” Miller kissed his cheek quickly and strode across the yard.
He remained there to watch the interplay between Miller and Brent. His dad was the affectionate sort and never hesitated to offer a hug, but with Miller, he noticed Brent tended to be a bit more open. Brent sensed when someone needed extra attention, and he wondered if Brent knew what he was doing to Miller. Brent and Miller shared a quick kiss and Miller was taking off.
Other people might not notice but the drop of Miller’s shoulders was evident to him, and he pulled out his phone to text an apology to Miller.
Troy: I’m sorry I was an ass.
Miller: It’s okay. He’s off-limits.
“You okay, Brent?” Win asked his dad.
“Yeah,” Brent answered.
He knew that tone. It was the one his dad used when he didn’t want to talk, but didn’t want to lie outright. He got up from his seat at the table and walked across the yard.
“Dad, you’re lying.”
“Troy, I’m fine, really. I need to hire another guy or two. The boys are pulling overtime to keep up.”
“What about Clay?” Clay had moved to town a year ago with his best friend and his daughter, Chloe.
“Already done, he’s coming in on Monday. When do you two have to meet with the real estate agent?”
“In an hour. We have to get going, Win has to change, and we have to pick Bella up from her playdate.”
Troy wanted to argue more, but they had to get going. His life was going better than he’d ever thought and he just wanted everyone around him to be okay. His dad had changed a lot after his battle with cancer. And he worried about his dad, not just his physical health, but also his mental health. He wished his dad would talk to him.
Win led him away after the goodbyes and to the driveway where Win’s bike was parked. His husband pulled him to a stop.
“They’re going to be okay, baby.”
“I know, or at least I hope so. Miller is just different lately, and Dad seems to be pulling away. I’m selfish.”
“There is no way you could be selfish. Come on, let’s go get our girl and we’ll go see if we can find our house.”
He nodded and smiled to put Win at ease. His husband worried so much about him and whether he was happy or not. He glanced towards the house to find his dad framed by the picture window of the living room. He raised his hand and waved.
He climbed on the bike behind Win and put on the helmet Win handed him. Troy put all his worries out of his mind as they pulled out and sped down the street. The last few years were the best of his life, and he was grateful every day for that. He held Win’s waist tighter as he tipped his head back to feel the sun and breeze on his face. A worrier he may be, but the one thing he’d always have no matter what happened was he’d loved the man of his dreams.
Nothing was guaranteed. Yet life had given him more happiness than he’d ever expected, and he’d never take that or his family for granted. He tipped his
head back forward and nuzzled his man’s broad back and reveled in being right where he wanted to be.
THE END
About the Author
J.M. Dabney is a multi-genre author who writes mainly LGBT romance and fiction. They live with a constant diverse cast of characters in her head. No matter their size, shape, race, etc. they live for one purpose alone, and that’s to make sure they do them justice and give them the happily ever after they deserve. J.M. is dysfunction at its finest and they makes sure their characters are a beautiful kaleidoscope of crazy. There is nothing more they want from telling their stories than to show that no matter the package the characters come in or the damage their pasts have done, that love is love. That normal is never normal and sometimes the so-called broken can still be amazing.
Also by J.M. Dabney
Sappho’s Kiss Series
When All Else Fails
More Than What They See
Dysfunction it its Finest Series
Club Revenge
Soul Collector Prophecy
Twirled World Ink Series
Berzerker
Trouble
Scary
Lucky
Brawlers Series
Crave
Psycho
Bull
Hunter
Executioners Series
Ghost
Joker
King
Sin & Saint
Trenton Security
Livingston
Little
Masiello Brothers
The Taming of Violet
3 Moments Trilogy
A Matter of Time