Fierce & Fabulous (Sassy Boyz) (20 page)

Chapter Thirty-Three

During church service the next morning, Fitch was struck with a strange mix of nervous calm. He was happier than he’d been in months and knew he wasn’t hiding it very well. Ansel had let him spend the night and they’d slept in each other’s arms until the sun came up. If he hadn’t promised to be at church, he might have stayed in bed all day. Feeling Ansel’s soft breaths against his chest, the heat at his side, the strong arms around his middle, had been heady.

He followed his parents back to their house after the benediction. As soon as he’d parked, his sister was at his window waiting like an eager puppy. Opening the door, he rolled his eyes at her.

“You made up with him, didn’t you?” She kept her voice hushed, but it still carried enough to have him looking toward the front door.

“Maybe.”

“Oh my God, you’re going to tell them.”

How the hell did she always know what he was thinking?

“Would you please be quiet? Christ, Meg.” He shut the car door.

“Sorry, I just didn’t realize it was so serious.”

He pushed a hand through his hair and took a deep breath. “I just don’t want to feel as though I’m hiding something.”

Meg’s face scrunched. “Yeah, I get it. Don’t worry, I’ve got your back.” She hooked her arm around his and tugged him into the house.

His parents were great people. They raised him and Meg to be open and honest about all the important things in life. When Meg came out, they accepted her eventually. Deep down, he knew they would love him no matter who he dated. But even if they were the most open-minded couple in the world, this news was going to shock them. He’d been chasing women since puberty.

He and his sister entered the kitchen where their mother was putting together the salad for Sunday lunch. Their dad sat at the table sipping water, instead of his usual beer, and doing the crossword puzzle.

“Meg, can you set the dining room table? The lasagna just needs a few minutes to heat up.”

“Sure, Ma.”

“I’ll help,” Fitch offered.

“No, honey, why don’t you sit? You’ve been smiling all morning, did you find a solution to the problem we discussed?”

All right, it looked like he would be doing his confessions in the kitchen. He sat at the table and wiped his palms on the denim over his thighs.

“Yes. We talked, and—” he paused to suck air into his lungs “—he and I have worked things out.”

His father looked over the top of the glasses perched on his nose. His mother didn’t turn to face him, but she stopped tossing the salad. The sudden stillness freaked him out so he cleared his throat.

“He?” his dad finally asked. At this, his mother dropped her tongs and crossed to stand behind her husband.

“Yes, Pop. I’m dating a man.” A quick glance showed his mom resting a hand over her heart.

“Oh, Fitch.”

“I don’t understand,” his dad said, his confusion clear by the look on his face.

“I know it’s completely out of the blue—”

“But, you’re straight. Don’t tell me you’ve been lying to us your whole life.”

“No. I am straight...mostly. It’s hard to explain.”

“What about giving me grandbabies, Fitch? Don’t you want a family?” At his mother’s words he made the mistake of looking up into her eyes and his throat closed at the disappointment he saw there.

“I’m sorry, Ma,” was all he could say.

She shook her head as her cheeks reddened. “But...but, you can’t be gay too.”

“It’s okay, Margie, he’s not gay. This is just a phase.”

“It’s not.”

“You’ve upset your mother. Knock it off.”

“Pop—”

“Don’t
Pop
me. You don’t get to come in here, after church for Christ’s sake, and tell us—I don’t even know what you’re telling us. It’s not like you’re some inexperienced virgin, son. You shouldn’t be this confused.”

“It’s not like that. I’m not confused. It’s not a phase. I’m not going through any kind of midlife crisis. That isn’t what this is.”

“What is it then? Explain it to us. Because it doesn’t make any goddamn sense. How can a grown man sleep with women one day and choose men the next? Eh? Tell me that.”

“Not men, Pop. Man. Just one. And it didn’t happen overnight. Ansel and I have been dating for a few weeks.”

The gasp at the doorway brought his gaze up to Meg’s wide eyes.

“Is that his name, Ansel?” His mother’s voice was soft and sad.

Keeping his eyes locked to his sisters’, he said, “Yeah, Ma, Ansel Becke.”

Meg mouthed
Oh my God!
before shooting him a huge grin and quietly leaving the kitchen. Figures she’d know Ansel’s name—apparently she and her friends were huge fans of the Sassy Boyz. Now, she’d probably try to take credit for hooking them up like she were a matchmaker or something.

“Meg is gay, this isn’t any different—”

“It’s a hell of a lot different and you know it.” His father scratched his beard, squinting across the table at him. “You want me to give you control of the business, but how can I do that now? What about the crew? You expect them to follow orders knowing you’re a fruit?”

“That’s not fair. I’m great at my job. Maybe it will take some time for them to get used to it, but most will stick around out of loyalty.” He hoped.

“Like hell they will! And what about our clients?” His voice rose until he was shouting and his cheeks turned a ruddy shade of red. “I’ve had enough of this. No. You’re not gay. I won’t accept it. I won’t.”

“Honey, calm down.”

“No, Margie. He can’t expect us to be okay with this.”

“I know it won’t be easy for you to accept. Maybe you never will, but Ansel makes me happy and I’m going to do everything in my power to make sure he’s happy too. Hopefully, that means we’ll be together for a long time. I hope you can come to terms with that. I really do.” Without another word, Fitch rose from the table and left. His heart ached and his stomach twisted in knots. He’d known it would be a hard thing to explain, but he’d never imagined that his parents wouldn’t be on his side.

* * *

Ansel wrapped another piece of newspaper around the glass vase he’d picked up at a flea market and added it to the box of junk on the counter. Somehow he’d accumulated a ton of worthless junk since settling down. It was hard to believe he’d once been able to carry everything he owned in a small backpack. Maybe if he hadn’t wasted all his money on these trinkets he could have afforded a better place. Ange came up behind him and rested a comforting hand on his shoulder.

“How are you doing, Sparkle Pants?”

Shaking his head at the stupid nickname, he said, “Just thinking about the day I bought this and how crazy life was three years ago.”

“Life is still pretty fucking crazy.” Z stuffed throw pillows into a bag.

“Speak for yourself,” Tam said.

“Oh yes, you are the picture of calm, cool, and collected.” Z rolled his eyes behind Tam’s back.

“Maybe not, but three years ago I was locked up.” Tam’s bold statement shut Z up. “I’d say things have improved since then.”

“He’s got you there, Z.” Lirim folded another shirt and pushed it into the duffel he’d borrowed from his housemate for Ansel to use.

Z changed the subject. “Are you sure you want to sleep here tonight? You’re welcome on my couch.”

“Thanks, but I’ll be fine.”

“You’re not going to have any furniture,” Ange said as she sealed the box he’d just finished packing.

“Fitch is bringing an air mattress.” He turned to wrap up another piece of crap, avoiding the shocked faces of his friends.

“Do you mean we’re finally going to meet the guy?” Ange asked.

“He’s coming?”

“When?”

“Holy shit, this is huge.”

“Christ, you’d think I’ve never had a man before,” he complained as he began filling a new box.

“Not one that lasted more than a couple nights.”

“And we’ve never met any of them.”

“Nobody has ever slept over, either.” This from Ange who’d stopped packing to smile at him.

“I invited him to have dinner with us tonight. He offered to help pack and move stuff with his truck.”

“I love him already,” Z said. “Anyone who saves me from lugging your crap on the subway is my hero.”

“I’m glad you’ve worked things out, Ansel.” Tam came over and hugged him from behind. “He seems like a good guy.”

“I’m reserving judgment. You guys are too easy to please.” Lirim wasn’t usually such a cynic. There was a knock at the door and everyone hushed. He opened it to find Fitch waiting with a box of donuts and six coffees.

“You’re spoiling them,” Ansel said, taking the coffee and ushering Fitch into the kitchen.

Everyone crowded around and started speaking at the same time.

“You’re the best.”

“Save me a chocolate one.”

“Bitch, get out of the way.”

“Thanks, Fitch.” Of course, Tam was the only one with any manners. Ansel grinned at Fitch and lifted a shoulder. They were his family, wild, crazy, and completely awesome.

“Chill out, guys. Let me introduce him so he knows who to avoid.”

Z looked up from his pastry and made a disbelieving sound through his teeth. “Too late for avoidance, babe. I’m Azariah Hayes, aka Z.” He held out his clean hand, which Fitch shook.

“Ah, the mouthy one. I’ve heard a lot about you.”

Z laughed. “All true, I’m sure.” He grabbed a coffee and sat at the table.

“It’s great to finally put a face to the name,” Ange said, taking Fitch’s hand.

“You must be Ange.”

“The one and only.” She took a place next to Z.

“And these two are Lirim Savage,” Ansel said with a gesture, “and Tameron Kis.”

“Call me Tam.”

Fitch nodded. “Hi, Tam.”

Lirim looked Fitch over and finally stuck his hand out for a shake. “Nice to meet you.” He bit into the donut and went back to the living room.

“Sorry, I’m a little late. Had a little hitch in the plans this morning.” Fitch hooked his thumbs into his front pockets and met Ansel’s eyes.

Ange raised a brow. “What sort of hitch?”

“Mind your business, woman,” Ansel admonished without looking at her, because the look on Fitch’s face spoke volumes. Fitch had told his parents. Though Ansel was anxious to know what happened, he didn’t dare ask in front of their audience.

Fitch smiled, wrapped an arm around his shoulders. “Everything is fine.”

“Damn, Ansel is blushing. Lirim, you’re missing it. Come quick, he’s turning beet-red.” Z snickered.

Fitch stepped away, putting distance between them like he was nervous showing affection in front of witnesses. So Ansel picked up a powdered donut and tossed it at his friend. A distraction for everyone in the room, including himself, because he ached at the loss of contact.

“Don’t be an ass.”

Z caught the donut and shoved half of it into his smiling mouth with a saucy wink.

“So, what can I help with?”

“Mr. Policek left the key to the basement. We have to move all the big stuff down there. The boxes are going to Z’s place.”

“Okay, I’ll start in the living room.” He turned, but Ansel stopped him with a hand on his arm.

“Thank you.” He pulled Fitch closer and was surprised when Fitch actually fell into the kiss with witnesses.

Ooohs and awws sounded behind them. Without ending the kiss, he shot his friends the finger.

* * *

“Did I pass the friend test?” Fitch curled an arm around Ansel’s naked shoulder while they lay on the air mattress, post-fuck.

“Does it matter?” Ansel blinked up at him.

“Of course, I want them to like me so I have allies.”

“Planning on going into battle?”

He smiled. “You know what they say, love is a battlefield.”

Ansel rose to his elbows. “Love?”

Fitch’s heart leaped into his throat. Stupid mouth. The perfect example of a sex-addled brain. He tried to swallow and shrugged. “Don’t panic, it’s just a figure of speech.”

There was a moment of tense silence while he silently urged Ansel to forget the blunder.

After a few beats, Ansel’s shoulders relaxed and a corner of his mouth tipped up. “I think you have them eating out of your hand.”

Relief flooding his system, Fitch closed his eyes. “Z and Tam, maybe, but I’m not sure about Lirim.”

Ansel snuggled back into position on his side. “Lirim has been acting out of sorts lately. Don’t take it personally.”

After spending the day packing, moving the furniture to the basement, and hauling the boxes to Z’s place, they’d ordered Chinese and ate on the living room floor. The guys told stories about how they met and how they formed their dance group, but Lirim had remained aloof. Even so, Fitch enjoyed the day a hell of a lot more than he’d anticipated. Z was hilarious, Tam was really polite, and Ange was a firecracker. Plus, they were all very protective of Ansel.

“Tell me what happened this morning with your family,” Ansel said, drawing circles on his chest.

“My sister is beyond thrilled I’m dating you. As soon as she heard your name she got all excited. You may have a crazy fan on your hands.”

He felt Ansel’s smile against his skin, and the warm breath fanned his nipple, causing it to pebble in the chilled night air.

“And your parents?” The caution in his voice twisted Fitch’s insides. With Ansel’s history it probably seemed like a fairy tale to have parents who loved you unconditionally. Fitch swallowed the worry he’d been keeping at bay since he left his parents’ house. It wasn’t like they’d disowned him. But there was still a hole in his chest and he couldn’t forget the look on his dad’s face.

“That’s a work in progress.”

Ansel rose again, a quick and graceful move, to stare down at him. “What happened?”

“Nothing, don’t worry. It’s just a lot for them to deal with. We just need to give them some time.”

“I knew it. I knew this was a bad idea.”

“Stop it. This is anything but bad, we both know it.” To emphasize his point, Fitch pulled Ansel down for a kiss.

Their tongues tangled and Ansel softened against his chest with a moan. “I don’t want to let you down,” he mumbled between breaths.

Fitch smoothed a palm down Ansel’s spine and clutched his perfect ass cheek, tilting his hip up as his cock filled. “Impossible.”