Page 152 of Burning Deceptions
Our lives were slotting together surprisingly easily, which I told him, making some offhanded comment about my home, and then corrected myself to say our home. Asher wrapped his arms around me from behind, and I hugged them to me.
“I’m your home now,” he said.
I glanced at him over my shoulder. “Yes, you are.”
William brought a date to the dinner, which made it an even six. The woman was nice enough, but I didn’t think she was entirely comfortable with how much Asher and I stayed close to each other. William noticed it as well and was put off immediately.
Paul and Mary were amazing with Asher, and the last line of tension finally snapped. They hadn’t seemed bothered when I told them about us, but I must’ve been holding on to a shred of anxiety over them being around Asher as Asher for the first time, needing to protect him from anything he shouldn’t have to put up with. As the last strand of fear dissolved, I finally got it into my head that all of this would work out.
I didn’t need everyone’s approval. Hell, I didn’t need anyone’s approval except Asher’s. I couldn’t and wouldn’t make everyone happy with my choices, but I no longer held the desire to do so. I didn’t need permission, support, or blessings from my parents or anyone who would see my relationship with Asher as anything other than a precious gift.
By the end of the second week of mostly living with Asher, my access at work was finally removed. I told Asher at dinner that night, but I’d already moved on.
“It was inevitable.”
Asher chewed on his lip.
“Stop. I’m not upset. I haven’t spoken with them in two weeks. They stopped calling.” I shrugged. “It’s done.”
“Will you retain any of your clients?”
I nodded, enjoying the sushi Asher had picked up on his way in. “Some. Not all, and not many of those with larger portfolios. I’ve worked with smaller business owners, though. Father never agreed with me taking them on anyway, so I doubt he’d keep them without me handling their accounts.”
Asher grinned.
“What?”
“What? I can’t smile at you?”
“No. Not like that.”
He rolled his eyes. “Fine. I’m just so proud of you. I don’t really know what it’s like being out of the closet since I was never really in it. I didn’t officially come out in high school, but my family knew.”
“Honestly, it’s a bit surreal, but also not. You and I were together before, and we are now. Everything that held me back was such baggage. This feels good.” I laughed. “It feels really good.”
After another week of school for Asher and me drawing up business plans, he was finally on spring break, and we readied tohead to Hickory Bend. I hadn’t been able to visit with his mother or Ben at the Sweetheart Rose Ball. Though we’d spoken on the phone a few times since, Asher always including me when he called home, this would be my first chance at visiting my new family, who had welcomed me with open arms since January. I was stoked.
More importantly, I was anxious for Asher to see his gift he knew nothing about. Not even a hint of a hint.
“I’ll take everything down and meet you,” I shouted to Asher, who was still in our room, getting ready. Our bags were near the door. Only two this time, since he’d insisted on packing for me.
Grinning like a fool, I opened the front door and shouted, “Shit,” not expecting anyone to be on the other side of it.
Mother and Father stood like statues, surprise in their eyes. Father had his fist raised as if he were just about to knock, and then both frowned, nonplussed at my language or probably at being here at all.
“Come on, we’ll be late for supper,” Asher said, rushing up behind me, not noticing our uninvited guests.
“We’re gonna be late,” I said. When I turned sideways, he saw who was at the door, and his expression hardened.
“No. Hell no,” he barked. “Y’all can turn right around and leave.”
I gave Asher what I hoped was a pleading gaze. “Let’s get it over with.” I didn’t want to do this, but I also didn’t want to muscle my mother out of my way. I could be an adult here, even if they wouldn't.
We backtracked to the kitchen. Mother and Father had followed and stood awkwardly in the space beside one counter, not fully coming into the room. Mother’s shoulders were around her ears as if she were afraid to come too close to anything lest she be tainted with gay.
Father’s posture wasn’t much better, but anger overrode any unease.
I glanced between them and Asher. Did I introduce them? On one hand, they wouldn’t care and probably would feel insulted. On the other, Asher was important to me, and I wanted the world to know—especially my intolerant parents—he was by my side.
