AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“That was mortifying,” Oliver complained as they headed for the street.
Sam laughed, giving his hand a playful tug. “Aw, come on. They can’t help it. We’re cute.”
“I just don’t see why they have to be all up in our business,” Oliver said with a shrug. “I mean okay, it’s a small office so they’re going to have some idea. But why get all…invested?”
Sam shrugged, his light expression hardening a bit. “They want to see us happy, is all. I mean, it gives people hope that things can work out. So many relationships these days are so bleak. Especially with that whole ball-and-chain, straight culture rubbish.”
Oliver could hardly argue with that, and instead of carrying on, suggested they grab a curry to bring home. Leo was still working hard on editing Oliver’s thesis, and there was a week left before it was due. Sam planned to move his things in after Oliver handed it in, during the two weeks Oliver would be using to prepare his defense. It was a tense time in their house, but Oliver figured it would prove whether or not Sam could handle things at their potential worst.
The couple brought home several different curries to a grateful Leo who looked tired, eyes red-rimmed from the reading, but when Oliver tried to take the work back, he refused. “You have a week left, and you need at least a couple days to go back over it. Besides, I’m nearly done.”
Oliver sighed but didn’t argue. Instead, he fixed himself a large bowl of tikka masala and rice and curled up on the sofa with a few of his favorite baking show. Sam quickly changed out of his office clothes, coming to curl up next to him, and Oliver let himself peer into the idea of the future.
He let himself think about how this could be every evening. Coming home from work, Sam curled up next to him, Leo in his chair, together like a small, cobbled family he had never expected. He wasn’t sure if the idea terrified him or comforted him, but there was no denying the potential now.
In for a penny, he thought to himself as he spooned rice and lamb into his mouth.
Sam’s hand fell onto his thigh and instead of tensing, he went lax. The feeling of his boyfriend comforted him, and he decided that things would be alright. They really would be.
Twenty-Five
Oliver was pacing the house when Leo walked in, giving his sibling a withering glare. The defense was in three days, and Oliver was running himself mad over it. He knew he was prepared— he’d been researching for years, and his topic wasn’t very complicated. However, his nerves were frayed with anticipation, and the idea that soon enough it would all be over, and he would be done.
He would have his graduate degree, he would be a proper adult in a proper relationship, and the demons of his past were close to silent.
Reaching for the counter, he grabbed his glass of juice and drank half in one go as Leo shrugged off his coat and hung it on the back of a kitchen chair. “Mobile off?”
Oliver raised a brow, then shrugged. “Probably dead. I lost it yesterday afternoon and couldn’t be arsed to look for it.”
Rolling his eyes, Leo went to the counter and flicked on the electric kettle. “Dad’s been trying to get through since yesterday. He says he’s going to be here for your defense.”
Having just taken another drink, Oliver choked, pressing his hand to his mouth to keep the juice in place. He swallowed quickly, giving a few coughs to clear his throat, then turned wide eyes on his sibling. “He what?”
Leo scoffed as he got down a mug and bag of tea. “You heard me. He’s proud of you. Wants to celebrate. Meet your boyfriend,” he added in a quieter voice.
Oliver froze, then took a step forward. “You told him about Sam?”
“Well, he’s going to notice that we’ve got some bloke living here, isn’t he? Sleeping in your bed, shagging your arse off every night. It’s not like we could keep it a secret.”
“Christ,” Oliver groaned.
“He does know you’re a raging queer by now, Ollie. Any closet you were ever in was made of glass.”
Oliver huffed, leaning onto the counter, and he dropped his head. “It’s not about that, you shit. It’s just…weird, alright? It’s not like we were close to either of our parents. One beat us horribly for the whole raging queer thing, the other ignored us entirely. So…”
“Yeah well, he’s trying now,” Leo said, and it was true. Ren hadn’t been very active in their lives, but he was calling more, sending emails, and any time something came up, he offered help and support. It was more than he’d done in their adolescence, and although it didn’t make up for anything, Oliver could appreciate it for what it was.
“Alright, fine. I mean, I suppose there’s no stopping him, is there?”
“Doubt it. He’ll want to do some expensive dinner, which Sam loves anyway. And he’s charming. Dad will love him.”
Oliver couldn’t know that for sure. He’d never had a frank talk with his father about his preferences, and although his father was had been least peripherally aware of his relationship with Gabe, it had never been discussed openly.
“Anyway, Sam also texted and said he’d be late tonight and to eat without him. I was thinking pizza.”
“Yeah, alright,” Oliver said absently as his mind went back to picturing his defense panel. “Whatever you want.”
Leo snickered a little into his tea, then wandered off to leave Oliver to his fretting. He moved to the sofa, drawing his legs up to his chest, and stared off into the distance.
