[ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]
.That did it.He let go ofDrew s hand and shoved him toward the couple. All right.Go findout what the fuck is going on with our son.Drew turned automatically to go, but swiftly turned back andgrabbed Eden s hand, pulling him to him for a deep, stirring kiss. Thank you.He really is ours, isn t he? You come with me.Eden tried to protest, but as usual Drew overrode his concerns. Idon t know what you want me to do! Talk to him.Tell him this isn t a good idea.Ask him questions.Take him away from here so I can knock that child-seducing assholeflat.Or just give me moral support while I find out what the boy is upto now. Moral support I can do, but I hardly think I m the person to betelling him the guy he s dating is too old for him. His meaningfulglance wasn t lost on Drew, who scowled. That s different.We re different.I love you.Eden froze in disbelief.He couldn t have heard that right. Youlove me? And you pick now to tell me this for the first time? At yourson s twenty-first birthday party? Surrounded by family and friends?On our way to kick some geezer ass?Drew scowled at him. Are you done?Nodding, Eden drawled,  Yeah, honey, I m done. That wasn t the response I wanted from you when I told you Iloved you.Surely you can do better than that? He saw the tiny flickerof uncertainty in Drew s blue eyes, and regretted his teasing. I know.I love you, too.I m sorry. He pulled Drew down intoa lingering kiss. Now, look at them, Drew.I think there s something47Loving Edenthere, too. He pulled Drew along with him across the yard. Look atthem.Don t jump to overprotective conclusions.Remember how wellthat turned out last time? What do you mean? Last time it turned out fabulously!Eden snorted. Fabulously, huh? You humiliated Bailey in frontof half the college, misjudged everyone you met, and made us all mis-erable for months. Well, yeah, but it got me you, didn t it?Couldn t argue with that kind of logic, could he? Eden wrapped ahand in a supportive, but tight, grip around Drew s arm and headedover to where Bailey and his new boyfriend sat, prepared to intervenein whatever way necessary to prevent disaster.Bailey and his friend were so absorbed in making out they didn teven notice Eden and Drew standing there until Drew cleared histhroat harshly.The two broke apart slowly, and Bailey flushed as hemet Eden s gaze and then his dad s.He rose slowly and reached down to offer a hand to his quizzicalcompanion.The other man close up wasn t as old as he looked from adistance, but he was still a good twenty years or so older than Bailey.He offered Drew and Eden a polite smile and captured Bailey s handin his.Bailey took a deep breath, chest visibly heaving. Dad, this is mynew boyfriend, Ashton Duval.Ashton, this is my dad, Drew Harris,and his boyfriend, my friend Eden St.Cyr.The name was vaguely familiar to Eden for some reason, but hecouldn t place it.And Duval was moving smoothly forward, murmur-ing polite meaningless phrases, while Eden ignored him and stud-ied Bailey.The young man seemed inordinately anxious, and clungtightly to the supportive grip of Duval s hand.Drew s icy voice cutthrough his contemplation, and he brought himself back to the con-versation with a start. Baby, Dr.Duval is a professor at the university, did you knowthat?Dr.Duval? He combed through his memory.He and Bailey at-tended the same university, though his own interests varied greatlyfrom Bailey s and they seldom crossed paths in classes anymore.Hecaught a vague wisp of thought and inquired,  Theoretical Physics?Dr.Duval nodded. Yes, I ve been at the university for manyyears.This is my last year teaching there, though.48Lee Brazil You re goddamn right it is! Drew bellowed. Taking advantageof students under your care like this is unconscionable! Dad! Drew! Mr.Harris.Bailey s anguished moan conflicted with Eden s protest and Dr.Duval s reasonable tone.The professor s voice carried over the oth-ers, cut through them with precision. I did not take advantage of astudent. He turned a censorious gaze on Bailey. You need to talk toyour father.I thought we cleared this up. Bailey? Eden asked.Bailey simply stared at him, wide-eyed.Sensing a long story, Eden continued. I think, Dr.Duval, that it mightbe best if you left now, and Bailey and his dad can sort this out.Itseems there are some things that need to be said.Bailey tried to protest, and Drew seemed to still want to punchthe good doctor s lights out, but the man nodded. I agree, Mr.St.Cyr.I think that Bailey and his father have much to discuss. IgnoringDrew s growing rage and Bailey s sullenness, Duval bent and presseda kiss to Bailey s lips that left Bailey smiling and Drew snarling. Callme when you ve told him everything, he admonished Bailey, push-ing the young man s long brown hair back behind his ear in a tendergesture before striding away.Eden intercepted Bailey s glare and Drew s admonishing gaze. Okay, problem solved for now.Discussion when the guests go home.You, he pointed at Bailey,  don t leave here.You, he turned his at-tention to Drew,  are going to tell me more about this sudden realiza-tion that you love me.Bailey s gasp followed them as they trailed away to a more se-cluded corner of the yard.49BiographyI m an avid reader and former teacher of grammar and composi-tion who believes that falling in love is the grandest adventure anyonecan have.In a nutshell, that s every story I have to tell.Relocating from the crazy pace of life in Southern California sOrange County to the beautiful and leisurely atmosphere of the Illi-nois countryside has given me the time to indulge the desire to write,which I d set aside when I started teaching fourteen years ago.Read-ers can find out more about me and my writing by visiting my blog,Lee s Musings or finding me on Facebook.Feel free to drop me a lineat lee.brazil@ymail.com [ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]