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I burst through the doors and found Oliver sitting across from his dad. And…my dad.
“Ben,” William sat behind his desk, exuding the aura of a CEO without having to bat an eye. “Good that you’re here. Take a seat. “
Oliver was frowning at me, but I tried to keep my expression neutral as I took the other chair. I glanced at my father, who watched from the leather couch against the wall. He gave a slight shrug, but that was all.
“My son tells me he’s in love with you.”
“Dad, this is between you and me, you don’t need to bring Ben into this.”
I frowned. “Of course it involves me.”
Ben flashed his eyes at me, trying to convey something I was too slow to understand. “You don’t have to feel responsible for my feelings.”
I could only blink at him, not understanding what was going on. Thankfully, my father did. “It’s alright, Oliver. William’s known Ben was gay since he walked in on him sucking face with one of his high school boyfriends.”
I grimaced. “Don’t say sucking face, Dad.” He just shrugged again, but now I was up to speed. Oliver was trying not to out me. Everyone close to me had known about my sexuality for years - other than Oliver, apparently - so the thought hadn’t even crossed my mind.
Oliver seemed to relax a bit, but William wasn’t finished yet. “And where does this leave you, Benjamin? My son rushed in here to tell me to stop arranging meetings with some very nice young ladies all because his heart belongs to you. That’s all well and good - assuming he’s telling me the truth - but now I’m left wondering where your heart lies.”
There was no escaping this. I couldn’t lie to William even if I wanted to, not after everything he had done for me and my family. I straightened my back. “I love him.”
Oliver’s lips turned up into a soft smile and I wanted to kiss him so badly I could hardly stand it.
“Are you sure? This isn’t some elaborate trick to get me off his back, is it?”
“No, it isn’t a trick.” I sighed, struggling to lift my gaze from his desk. I feared what I would see if I looked him in the eye. Disgust? Hatred? Disappointment? I wasn’t sure which was worse. “I know I’m not exactly what you wanted for your son, but he is exactly what I want.”
“I see.” The air was so heavy I couldn’t breathe. “That’s fine, then.”
That was enough to make me look up. My mouth fell open as I gaped at him, then at Oliver, then at my dad. Oliver looked as stunned as I was. “It’s fine?”
“Why wouldn’t it be?” I waited for someone to laugh, but no one did. He was serious. “The only reason I was setting you up with girls, Oliver, is that I thought they were what you liked. Had I known you liked men I would have had twice the pool to draw from, not that it matters anymore.”
Oliver cleared his throat. “So, you’re okay with me dating Ben?”
“He’s been around so long he might as well be part of the family; I don’t see an issue making it official.”
“We aren’t getting married, Dad.” He shot a glance at me. “I’m not sure what we’re doing yet. Anyway, I just want you to cancel the dates.”
William sighed, making a point to exaggerate it. “And here I was so hopeful you and Lauren would get along well.”
“They certainly seemed to be getting along well,” I muttered.
“What’s that supposed to mean?” Oliver asked.
Oops.
I ran my hand through my hair. “I saw her kiss you, after your lunch date that day.”
He frowned, and I could see his mind processing, then finally connecting the kiss to the way I acted. I half expected him to get angry, but the corner of his lip quirked up, even as he fought to keep it down. “We had a nice lunch, and you’re right - she kissed me. On thecheekwhen we parted as friends. But jealousy is kind of cute on you.”
William’s groan interrupted any retort I might have, but relief was already settling in my stomach. “Please,” he grumbled, “take your lover’s spat elsewhere. As long as you two are happy I’m satisfied.” He looked over my shoulder towards the door. “Now I just need to get Daphne sorted.”
Uh-oh. Marina was not going to like that. Oliver may have stopped his blind dates, but it looked like Daphne’s would come quicker than expected.
“Why are you so focused on us settling down? Aren’t things fine as they are?”
It was William’s turn to look away. He drummed his fingers on his desk. “Is it so wrong for a father to want to see his children happy?”
