“What?” Brandon asks, walking fully into the kitchen. I notice that he’s dressed in a nice sweeter and a pair of dark jeans that actually fit him.
“How do you feel about me marrying your mom?” Mike asks, and my stomach drops.
“What?” I whisper.
“I’m cool with it,” Brandon says with a shrug.
“Do me a favor and run out to my car. There’s a box in the glove box. Can you bring it to me?” Mike asks.
Brandon looks at me then Mike and heads towards the front door. I stand there, stunned, as Mike turns to face me.
“Give me one second, babe.”
I don’t say anything. I don’t breathe or even blink as he heads towards the direction where Brandon just left. It feels like an eternity for them to come back. When they come back around the corner, Mike is holding a small box in his hand and Brandon is behind him with a large smile on his face.
“How do you feel about marrying me?” Mike asks, pulling my hand towards him and slipping the perfectly simple diamond ring on my finger.
“I had no idea,” I stutter, looking at the ring on my finger. His laugh causes my head to come up and my eyes to meet his.
“I think that’s the point, Kitten,” he says softly as his hands come up to hold my face.
“You want to get married?” I ask him.
“Yes. I planned on asking you this weekend, but this seems like the perfect time to me,” he says. Then he looks over at Brandon before looking back at me. “So what do you say? Will you and Brandon both take my last name?”
“What?”
“You and Brandon are mine and I would like it if we we’re all Rouger’s.”
“I say yes,” Brandon says, coming over to put his arm around my shoulder.
“Oh my God,” I whisper, feeling a tear slide down my cheek.
“What do you say?” he asks again.
I tilt my head back to look at Brandon, who looks at me and nods, kissing the side of my head. “Yes,” I say through my tears when my eyes meet Mike’s again.
As soon as the word leaves my mouth, Mike’s hands wrap into the back of my hair and his mouth crashes down onto mine.
“Can you guys control yourselves at least until I don’t have to see it?” I hear Brandon say. I can tell by his tone that he’s smiling.
I kiss Mike once more before whispering, “I love you,” against his lips and then leaning back.
“Were you serious about us both having your last name?” Brandon asks after a minute.
“Yes,” Mike replies, pulling me around to tuck me under his arm. “I would be honored if you had my last name.”
Brandon swallows then looks at me. There are so many emotions in his eyes, and as his mom, I know that the look on his face is relief from being wanted and accepted. Without another word, Brandon wraps one arm around me then one around Mike. As I stand between my two guys, I burst into tears.
“Jeez, Mom. Relax.” Brandon chuckles, and I feel Mike’s laugher against my side.
“I’m fine. Just… Just happy.” I cry, squeezing Brandon once more before stepping back.
“I know you have to go help your friend, but can you come home for dinner?” I ask and feel Mike’s fingers squeeze into my side. I know that we just found out the news, but I really want my son to know what’s going on.
“What’s wrong?” Brandon asks.
“Nothing. Just come home for dinner,” I sigh. Apparently, the men in my life don’t know how to let up.
“Is this about Dad coming to visit?” he asks, his eyes drawn together.
“What?” Mike asks.
I double-blink. I haven’t heard anything from my ex in over a month. He sent me an e-mail after I confronted him about canceling his designated time with Brandon that was scheduled for Thanksgiving. When I found out that he’d told Brandon that he couldn’t come out for four days because his girlfriend’s parents were in town and there was just no room, I flipped out. I was tired of him letting his son down and not caring about disappointing his child.
“What do you mean your dad is coming here?” I ask, confused.
Brandon shrugs. “I don’t know. He sent me a text telling me he would be here next week after I told him that I wouldn’t be coming out for any of my scheduled visitation times.”
“Great,” I whisper.
“I’m guessing that’s not the reason you wanted me to be home.”
“It’s not.” I shake my head.
“Just come home after your study date, bud, and we’ll talk then,” Mike says.
Brandon nods and pulls me in for another hug. “Love you, Mom,” he says quietly.
I take a shuddering breath before telling him that I love him too and watching him leave. When I turn to face Mike, his eyes are so soft that my breath pauses.
“You have no idea how much you have done for not only me but for Brandon,” I tell him, closing my eyes before opening them slowly. I know that Brandon and I would have been okay eventually, but I doubt that our relationship would have healed like it has without him.
“I haven’t done anything, Kitten.”
“You have. You have helped bring my son back to me. You have given him something he hasn’t received from his dad since he was little and you have given that to him when he needs it most. So, yes, you have done a lot.”
“It’s not a hardship to love him. He’s a good kid. And you’re an amazing mom, and your ex… Well, he’s a piece of shit.” He smiles, walking towards me. “I figure we have a couple of hours before he comes home. What do you say we go upstairs and celebrate our engagement?” he says.
I look down at my hand and the ring that is sitting on my finger before bringing my eyes back up to meet his. “I think I like that idea,” I tell him and start to laugh when he quickly pulls his shirt off over his head. I pause, checking out his body before pulling my shirt up over my head and turning towards the stairs. I hear his footsteps behind me and my pulse begins to speed up as wetness floods between my legs.
“Careful,” he says against my ear as his hand slides around my waist.
Even though I know what’s coming, I still have butterflies in my stomach. My pulse skids as his hand cups my pussy and his fingers press into the seam of my jeans.
“Oh,” I hiss as my head falls back onto his shoulder.
He grunts something, but I can’t make it out as his fingers move to the button of my jeans and his other hand slides up to cup my breast over my bra. When he has my jeans unzipped and his fingers slide between my folds, I moan and lift my hands over my head to grip into his hair.