25. Boyfriends

Chapter twenty-five

Boyfriends

Oliver's summer passed in a blur of happiness and warmth, of crazy shenanigans with his friends and nights of electric pleasure with Liel. He was caught up on his rent and was slowly building his savings back up. His life was more stable, and he finally had breathing room to actually live!

It helped that Liel loved paying for dates, especially when they went out to fancy restaurants where they didn't even list the prices on the menu. Not that they only did bougie things. Liel loved human movie theaters and was always excited to eat dinner at a Chicago hotdog stand. He enjoyed every picnic in Millenium Park, every cheap Navy Pier visit where he gorged himself on cotton candy and hot pretzels.

But there was still a divide. Oliver's sheets were simple cotton, his mattress a second-hand monstrosity he'd bought for two hundred bucks on Craiglist. And he owned two suits, both of them off the rack. Liel wore name brand dress shirts and tailored business suits and slept in sheets so expensive Oliver sometimes felt guilty for soiling them when they had messy sex.

Liel never pointed out the income difference between them or made Oliver feel bad that he couldn't afford demon caviar in the Pride district or a wine-tasting experience in the vineyards of Gluttony. It bothered Oliver sometimes, knowing he couldn't afford the more lavish aspects to Liel's lifestyle, and he brought it up once, lying in bed after a delicious marathon of sex.

"You know I don't care about that, right?" Liel said, head propped on Oliver's shoulder. "You like your job, and that's all that matters to me. As long as you're happy—"

"Easy for you to say when you're in a completely different tax bracket," Oliver said, and Liel flinched. "Sorry, that sounded harsher than I meant."

"Have I ever implied that I was better than you because I make more money?" Liel asked as he sat up. "Have I ever made you feel like—"

"No, of course not. I'm just…" Oliver sat up too, scrubbing a hand roughly through his hair. "It sucks when you always have to pick up the bill for the fancy things you like. It sucks that I can't give that to you."

Liel laughed. "That's the stupidest thing you've ever said. Which is saying something, given the whole ‘I have narcolepsy,' incident."

"I'm serious, Liel."

"I know. Which is what makes it so stupid." Liel crossed his arms over his chest. "You can't give that to me? What, like you have to prove you're a provider? What in the fucked-up patriarchy is that? I can provide for myself, thanks."

Oliver buried his face in his hands. "That's not what I meant."

"Okay. So giving me those things, like a gift? You already are. You're there, right beside me, sharing in it. That's the gift. Just because it comes out of my bank instead of yours makes zero difference."

"It does," Oliver insisted.

"Why?" Oliver searched for a way to explain, and Liel sighed. "Do you feel like I'm gifting those things to you?"

"No, of course not. I don't go to those fancy places for that. I'm there for you."

" Ding, ding, ding! " Liel waved jazz hands. "You're running right into the point, babe. Don't miss it." At Oliver's huff of frustration, Liel softened, scooting closer and taking his hand. "I like going to those bougie places with you, because it's sharing something I enjoy with the person I care about. It's not about the price tag.

"And I recognize the privilege in that statement. I didn't grow up with money, and I don't take it for granted now. But I also want to enjoy it. I worked hard to get where I am."

"I know you have, and I'm so proud of you."

"Thank you." Liel cupped Oliver's cheek. "We don't have to do those kind of dates anymore if—"

Oliver squeezed Liel's hand and shook his head. "No, you aren't giving up things you like because I'm insecure."

Biting his lip, Liel tried to smother a snicker. "I mean, I wasn't gonna say it, but…"

"Sorry."

"Hey, I'm glad you brought it up instead of letting it fester." Liel rubbed Oliver's chest over his heart. "And if going to expensive places or doing expensive activities stresses you out, then just trust that, if I suggested it, I'm planning to pay for it."

"Doesn't feel fair," he admitted, pressing Liel's hand harder to his chest. "Feels unequal."

"It's about equity, not equality, love. We will never be fifty-fifty because that wouldn't be fair," Liel said, not unkindly. "Our reality is that I do make more money than you. Can you live with that?"

It hurt Oliver's pride, in some weak, toxic place inside him. It made him feel like he wasn't man enough, but that was bullshit and he knew it. It didn't make him feel better, but at least he was self-aware enough to recognize it.

"Of course I can live with that. I'm just being an idiot."

Liel held up his finger and thumb, holding them close together without allowing them to touch. "Just a little bit."

"Well, now we know another insecurity of Oliver's," Oliver said with a grimace. "That's not fun."

Pinching his chin, Liel directed Oliver to look at him. "I like you, insecurities and all."

Oliver flushed, pressing his forehead to Liel's. "I like you too."

"Being with you, regardless of what we're doing or where we're doing it, is literally my favorite way to pass my time." Liel's nose bumped Oliver's, the demon's lips whispering over his as he said, " You are my favorite person."

Heart racing in his chest, Oliver kissed him, and Liel sighed into his mouth. "I want you to meet my parents," he said, and Liel inhaled sharply. "For my birthday, come with me and stay for the weekend."

"Are you sure?"

He nodded. "Yeah. I want to introduce them to my boyfriend."

For a moment, Liel's eyes glossed over like he might cry, but then he was lunging at Oliver and tackling him to the bed as he kissed him hard and messy. They made love slow and easy, and after, Liel smiled up at Oliver and traced the swell of his cheek with shaky fingers.

"Boyfriend," he said. "I like the sound of that."

In mid-August, plane tickets went on sale, so Oliver had to stop dragging his feet on booking his trip to Montana. So he grudgingly pulled Quin and Glyma aside to ask for a Friday off.

"I'm going to my parents' for my birthday weekend," he explained, "and Liel and I have to fly there since Chicago is the closest port. It's a whole thing. Um, so I need to take that Friday off. Is that okay?"

"Of course," Glyma said.

"It shouldn't be a problem," Quin said, glancing toward the hallway leading to her office. "I just need to double-check the schedule."

"We'll make it work, though we'll miss you." Glyma rubbed his arm, and Oliver smiled. "You're spending all weekend at the ranch? With the horses?"

"Yeah, Liel's never ridden, so I'm gonna take him."

"Meeting the parents. That's big," Quin said.

"Kinda, yeah. But I don't want to go alone." When both demons furrowed their brows in confusion, Oliver blushed. "I mean, my parents are great, but it's complicated."

Glyma nodded sympathetically. "Family always is."

"Or you go no-contact," Quin said matter-of-factly, and Glyma took her hand, giving her knuckles a kiss.

"Chosen family," she whispered, and Quin smiled up at her. Turning back to Oliver, Glyma said, "I'm so jealous. I've always wanted to ride horses. Do you think we could come?"

"Glym," Quin cautioned, and Glyma shook her head.

"Not this time. That's not what I meant, sorry. What I mean is, would your parents be open to demon customers? Ever since you told me about the ranch, I've been wanting to take Quin, but I wasn't sure how… if it was allowed?"

Oliver imagined his parents catering to demons and mentally winced. "Um, I mean, I'd like to think my parents would be cool with it, but I don't know. We don't have demons in Montana. At least, not where I live. I never even saw a demon in real life until I moved to Chicago."

Glyma slumped. "Oh, okay. Of course. I know not everywhere is… welcoming."

Her disappointment sat heavy in his gut, and before he'd really thought it through, he said, "Why don't you just come with us?"

"Come with you? For your birthday?" Glyma asked, voice pitching high.

"I guess? I mean, no obligation to hang out with me while you're there. But I could help… smooth the transition for my parents. Me being there would help them make the adjustment, what with you being demons and all." Oliver nodded as the plan formed. "Yeah, I could be your buffer. If you can be away from the cafe for that long, at least."

"You don't have to do that," Quin said quickly, red eyes narrowing. "It's your birthday, and we're your bosses."

"Right. For sure. Sorry, I didn't mean to make it weird. It was just a thought," Oliver said as Glyma ping-ponged wide hot pink eyes between them.

"But, Quin," Glyma said.

"It's his birthday," Quin said.

"Okay, I'm turning twenty-seven, not twelve," Oliver said defensively. "And honestly, you'd be doing me a favor. I'd be your buffer, but you'd also be mine. I'm going to introduce my conservative parents to my gay, demon boyfriend. So…"

Expression hopeful and pleading, Glyma stared at Quin. Quin studied Oliver. Oliver tucked his hands into his pockets and shrugged.

"I feel like this could be a recipe for disaster," Quin said, melting when she looked Glyma's way, "but I suppose we could—"

With a squealed giggle, Glyma hauled Quin in for a hug, planting a passionate kiss on her mouth. When they parted, Quin blinked lazily, a little dazed as Glyma threw her arms around Oliver and hugged him too. Thankfully, Oliver had grown somewhat desensitized to Glyma's Succubus aura, so he was able to tamp down the sudden need to pop wood as she squeezed him just shy of too tight.

"Thank you, Oliver. You're so sweet! Are you very sure you don't mind us coming with you?"

"I promise, Glym, I don't mind."

"We can teleport you there, so you don't have to worry about plane tickets," she said as she released him, taking Quin's hand and wriggling in excitement. "Unless you like to fly?"

Oliver laughed. "Um, no, flying's the worst. You can teleport other people?"

Quin nodded. "Within reason, yeah."

"I can't wait!" Glyma squealed again.

"Can't wait for what?" Gem asked, leaning over the top of the bakery case, eyes brimming with curiosity.

Beaming at Oliver, Glyma turned her body toward Gem and said, "Oliver invited us to his parents' ranch for his birthday weekend. Isn't that so sweet?"

Gem stiffened, all eight eyes going impossibly wide. "What?"

"Uh-oh," Quin said.

"Um," Oliver said.

"Oh dear," Glyma said.

"Toni!" Gem shrieked, making Rusty jump out of his skin with an animal-like yowl of fright. "Toni, it's happening!"

"What?" Toni burst through the kitchen doors, black eyes panicked. "What's happening? Do we need my go bag? You know where it is, right? And the combination to the locker?" Ripping off his apron, he chucked it at Rusty and grabbed Gem's wrist. "You get the bag. I'll get the car, and we're outta here!"

"What?" Oliver, Quin, and Glyma asked.

"Why is this wet?" Rusty asked, dropping Toni's apron with a look of disgust.

"Oh no, not that," Gem rushed to calm his best friend. "Ollie invited us to his parents' ranch for his birthday."

Relief and confusion warred for dominance on Toni's face. "He did?"

"Yes, we're all invited!" Gem crowed, his face sobering as pinned Oliver with an intense stare. "Do you have cows?"

"Yeah," Oliver said hesitantly.

Gem's nostrils flared. "Like real ones? That I can pet? And lay on? And love forever?"

"Uh… yes?"

A high-pitched squeak so shrill it was almost inaudible leaked from between Gem's lips as he turned to Toni and shook him by the shoulders. "Cows, Toni! Cows!"

"Deep breath, Gemmy," Toni said, and Gem gulped in air. "There you go. Keep breathing."

"Willow, Zef, Tad, we're going to Oliver's ranch where they have cows," Gem shouted.

"And horses," Glyma said.

"I think we need to nip this in the bud," Quin said.

"Yeah, I don't know if my parents—"

"Horses?" Willow said as she and Zef appeared in the doorway. "I've always wanted to see one in real life."

"I would also like to observe the human wildlife," Zef said, antennas wriggling in interest. "How kind to extend the invitation, Oliver."

All eyes turned to Oliver, and sweat broke out over his forehead. He could not show up to his parents' ranch with a dozen demons, half of which should have been on some kind of medication but weren't. His parents would probably freak out, and even if they were okay with it, they'd be so busy hosting they wouldn't have time for Oliver. Or Liel. Or the inevitable disappointment Oliver always caused them—okay, hold on.

Wait a minute.

The lightbulb flared to life in his head.

"Buffers," he said.

"Oliver," Quin warned.

"This is good," Oliver whispered.

"I really don't think it is," Quin hissed.

Oliver grinned. "I definitely think it is. So many buffers." He raised the volume of his voice to address the others, ignoring Quin's warning glare. "Yeah, you're all invited. Weekend at the ranch."

Gem and Willow cheered, and Toni grinned. Zef's wings fluttered with excitement behind their back as Rusty wrinkled his nose. Tad waddled in beside Zef and eyed Oliver for a moment before she nodded in approval.

"What about the cafe?" Quin said, and everyone's celebrations died.

All eyes turned to Glyma. "We can close," she said easily.

"Glym!" Quin said, a hint of pleading in her voice.

"We haven't closed in, like, two years," Glyma said, taking Quin's hands again. "We can still be open Friday, just close early in the afternoon. We teleport to the ranch, spend the weekend, then come back Sunday. Reopen Monday. Easy as cake."

"Pie," Oliver whispered, but everyone ignored him.

"Can we, Quin?" Gem begged.

Quin looked to Oliver. Oliver shrugged.

Sighing in defeat, Quin closed her eyes and nodded. "Fine."

The celebrations began anew, and Oliver couldn't help but smile, their excitement contagious. Now all he had to do was convince his mom to let him bring some friends along. A lot of friends. Demon friends. Yeah, he could do that.