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“Are you and my son in a relationship?” Dad asked. I knew I should speak up, that I should let them know I was awake, but for whatever reason, I didn’t.
“Yes. I’m in love with him. I know I might not be what you want for your son, but—”
“I want someone who is good for him,” Mom interrupted. “Someone who understands him and makes him happy. Is that you?”
“Yes,” Kai replied. “There’s nothing I wouldn’t do for him, and he knows that.” I was just about to speak up, to tell them Kai was right and how much he meant to me, when Kai spoke again. “Can he say the same about you?”
“Excuse me?” Dad said, and…holy shit. People didn’t speak to my parents the way Kai just had. Even I didn’t.
“I’m not trying to be hurtful, and in a lot of ways it’s not my business, but on the other hand…it’s Marcus, and Marcus is my man and my business, and he deserves better, Mr. and Mrs. Alston.”
My heart thudded against my chest, throbbed and echoed through my whole body, hearing Kai have my back this way.
“My son knows we love him,” Mom bristled, but I could hear the insecurity in her voice.
“Yes, he does, but that doesn’t mean he doesn’t deserve more. He should know he comes first. I didn’t give him that in the beginning either, and I damn sure plan not to make that mistake again.”
I couldn’t keep quiet anymore, so I sat up. “Kai?”
He rushed over. “Hey, baby. How are you feeling?” He knelt in front of me, worry in his gaze like I had more than a broken arm, and this right here, him, was what love felt like.
“I’m fine.” I leaned in and kissed his forehead. Mom and Dad walked over and around the couch so they were in front of us.
“Oh, Marcus,” Mom said, the tone of her voice softer than I’d ever heard it. “We really made a mess of things, didn’t we?”
I wasn’t sure how to respond to that, my gaze darting back and forth between my parents. I could see the concern in both their faces, mixed with confusion because the truth was, the three of us were just built differently. I didn’t think they needed the same things I did when it came to love. That didn’t make them bad people, and hell, if it hadn’t been for the Beach Bums coming into my life all those years ago, and then Kai, maybe I wouldn’t have needed more either, but I did.
“I know you love me,” I told them as Kai sat beside me on the couch. “I just…”
“We haven’t done the best job of showing you,” Dad said. “And I’m sorry about that. Alston Architecture was our dream. We worked so hard for it, put everything into it, and we didn’t make sure you knew you were the dream we hadn’t known we had.”
My brows pinched together because that… Fuck, I’d never heard my dad speak that way in my life.
Mom spoke next. “In my head, building Alston became about you, giving this empire to you because we loved you so much, but I know I’m not the best in showing it in other ways. But please don’t ever doubt what you mean to us. Your dad and I, we love each other in our own way, and it’s important for us to remember that it isn’t enough for everyone. I’m not perfect. I—”
“I’m sure as shit not perfect either, Mom. I don’t expect that. I just want to make plans with you and know they aren’t going to get canceled more often than not because something came up at work.” I thought about how I’d been upset I didn’t have my laptop earlier, and the many times I’d chosen work over spending time with my friends. “And I know I need to be better about that myself.” I put a hand on Kai’s thigh. “Because this? The people you love? They’re the most important thing.”
My mom nodded, letting a single tear leak free. “They are. You scared the life out of me, Marcus, and when I realized my son sent me an email to tell me he got in a car accident… That was a wake-up call.”
“For me too, son,” Dad said.
When my parents came closer, I stood, the two of them wrapping me into their arms, and I had to admit, I was kinda seeing why Corbin enjoyed hugs so much.
I didn’t know if anything would change, but for now, I had hope, and I knew that regardless of how things went with my family, I had Kai, Elliott, Sebastian, and the Beach Bums. That would always be enough for me.
Epilogue
Kai
December
“I look good. Don’t I look good?” Corbin asked, running his hand down his tux.
“You look great, cutie.” I winked at him. We were all at a fundraiser Elliott’s mom, Cat, had organized for World AIDS Day. While there had been so many incredible strides and those who were positive living long and healthy lives, there was still more that could be done. She was raising money for research and education.
