16. Beckett

16

BECKETT

S tanton sent me a dirty look as I cut off a loud chuckle at his mother giving him shit. We'd finally made it for dinner, and I was surprised when we arrived to find her in the kitchen. Clora didn't seem like the domestic type. Since we'd gotten there, Clora and Stanton were at each other's throats. Every snarky jab was made with high levels of amusement. You could see the love mother and son had for each other.

All the stories he'd told me about his childhood and young adult years, I wasn't shocked by the bond. Although, how well-adjusted Stanton turned out surprised me. He had every reason to be cold and closed off. No matter what people said, men mirrored the male figures in their lives. For me, I had some moments comparing my life to Stanton's. Would I have been different if my parents had been more accepting of their gay son?

They loved me, but it was conditional. In all the years they'd known I was gay, any boyfriend I'd bring home was treated with polite apathy. Which meant less and less time at family events until our interactions were nothing more than requisite phone calls on birthdays and holidays. Even my marriage to Tanner hadn't proven my sexuality wasn't more than a phase .

I wondered what they'd think about Stanton. Everyone loved him. Would he be able to win them over? If anyone could, it would've been Stanton, but I had no urge to do the introductions. As long as he didn't think I was hiding him, we were good with not going out of our way to interact. If we decided to make some leap, such as marriage, I'd take him to meet them.

"You're making a horrible impression on your man." Clora fussed as she picked at the selection of appetizers she'd made to pick at while the roast and vegetables finished in the oven.

"He loves me," Stanton snarled at his mother.

I opened as he fed me some cheese and crackers. Any time he did that, unlike at home, I kept checking to see if Clora made a face or showed she didn't approve. All she'd done was roll her eyes and grin. She was so important to Stanton I wanted to make sure she approved of me. Whether he was the aggressor or not in starting a relationship, I was still older than my Daddy. At the dude ranch, I'd also been aware of the looks and speculation.

"I don't think you gave the poor man much choice. Is he coming with us for our January vacation?"

"Shit, I forgot to ask. Baby, are you interested in taking off a week in January? Mama and I always take a trip after the holidays are over and things sorta slow down. Sunning on the beach. Eating everything in sight. Doing absolutely nothing for a week."

"I'd love that. I actually don't remember the last time I took a week off for vacation."

Clora sucked her teeth in annoyance at my lack of breaks and vacations. She fussed at me plenty of times when she found me working later than the rest of my team.

"I know, I know, my vacation and breaks are there for a reason."

Stanton chuckled beside me and then stroked his hand across my lower back, to settle on my opposite hip. I'd waited for the affection to ease, for some complacency to settle in. Yet it hadn't. I still loved being his focus. How much he desired me. And it wasn't just the sex, which I loved. It was simple cuddles and surprise kisses. There were also the small gifts and flowers, and lunch deliveries that would show up even when he couldn't join me at the office.

"Exactly. I won't reprimand you too much. Stanton will make sure you take the time. My father was a businessman and never took time for himself or his family. He ended up miserable in the end."

"I haven't had any reason to take my time off. My ex was a workaholic, so vacations weren't a priority. He traveled a lot for work."

"I'm actually planning another long weekend trip for us soon."

I rested my elbow on the island and propped my chin on my open palm. Another secret getaway. No matter how many times I asked, he would just tell me it was a surprise. All he'd say was he just hoped it was as good or better than the last one.

"How's the interviews going?" Clora asked.

"Good. I hired three more coordinators, another assistant, and a few more event designers. Now, it's just all about learning everyone's strengths and delegating events."

"You're still going to be doing the planning?" Clora asked as she got up to check the oven.

"Yeah, still my job. Like I told my baby, some people pay for a name, and I won't have a choice."

"I told him I didn't mind his schedule, and he didn't have to go to all the trouble."

"No, honey, you're no trouble. Making time is just what a good partner does." Clora patted my bearded cheek in an almost motherly gesture of affection.

There was a tightening in my chest. My mother had been caring when I was younger. Did all the things a loving parent should, but that had all ended abruptly. So much time had passed I'd forgotten what it was like to have at least one accepting parent. My dad had been the almost stereotypical Boomer dad. Leaving the care of the children to the mother. Uncommunicative. No I love you or even a simple he was proud of something we'd accomplished. I'd spent so many years striving for love and acceptance, and I'd even failed to earn that with my husband.

"Baby," Stanton whispered as he pinched my chin to turn me to look at him. "You okay?"

"I'm fine." A dark blond brow arched, and I grinned. "I really am. An involuntary epiphany of sorts." I leaned in to give him a quick kiss, but he grabbed the back of my neck to keep me in place.

"My priority will always be you."

He didn't ask if I understood. I just automatically nodded. The love he had for me was never a secret, but it just wasn't in what he said; it was what he did. Yes, the words always made me flush with heat. Yet all the small actions he took solidified his intentions. Every barely there brush of his fingertips or gentle squeeze of my hip in passing, it was simple yet so profound.

"You two are so adorable. I can't deal with it."

We chuckled as Clora loudly kissed my cheek, then his, and then we separated. She told us to come make our plates. Stanton kept me in place when he stood and pressed his hands on my shoulders to silently tell me to stay seated. I'd waited for the honeymoon phase to end and that normal routine to settle in. That unspoken three-month rule where your new partner would show their true colors. That hadn't happened with my Daddy. He seemed to settle more comfortably into his role as my boyfriend and Daddy.

I never wanted our relationship to change. There was something addictive about being Stanton's priority. When I'd first met him, I didn't see him. Assumed he reacted to men the same. I craved him to be my last first kiss. The man I spent my life with. Yet I was also still a little frightened of what a future with Stanton would be like. Although I was scared, I couldn't imagine not being his and him being mine .

A plate was set in front of me, and he dropped a kiss on the side of my neck. Turning, I watched him return to the stove to make his own plate. Clora took her seat across from me.

She leaned in as close as she could and kept her voice low as she spoke. "Stanton loves you so much. It's so clear to anyone who sees him with you. He never takes his eyes off you. I'm happy he's found something other than work."

"I just hope I make him happy," I whispered.

You do , she mouthed as I felt Stanton's presence, and then he took his seat.

He made sure I had everything I needed. Refilled my drink and urged me to eat. Was it too easy? Probably, but I wanted all of it. I lowered my head to hide the silly smile I knew curved my lips as Stanton rubbed my back with one hand and ate with the other. He carried on a full conversation with his mother while comforting me. I loved him enough to terrify me.