Working Love

10

After the night at the plaza, me and Ethan have been holding hands none stop. I even found myself subconsciously reaching for his hand without even knowing it. Our parents even caught us doing it during dinner. Ethan would put his hand on the table, and I would reach for it. Causing me to now be really good with eating with my left hand.

"I must say, I never expected this." I looked up from my phone at my old man. He was sitting next to me on one of the lounge chairs we had at the pool. Alastor got hurt at the beach, so Val suggested we try the hotel pool.

"What do you mean?"

"You and Ethan." I saw he was watching Ethan do a flip from the high board, landing perfectly in the water. "What happened to the womanizer."

"Old man, are you being a smart ass?" We both started laughing. I can't believe what my accepting to marry Ethan has done for me and my father. "Hey dad?"

"Yes?" I watched as he took a sip of his whiskey.

"I don't wanna jinx this, but I have to ask." He saw the seriousness in my face, and put his drink down. I focused my attention on a smiling Ethan. He started playing a game with some of the children in the pool. "Why did you except the deal for me to marry Ethan? You knew I was straight, so why?"

He was quiet for a while, just staring at Ethan. He seemed to be lost in a memory, because a faint smile appeared on his face. It wasn't like the ones he gives me or other people. This smile is one I haven't seen him give to anyone else, except my mother.

"When Serena was alive, she used to be able to brighten any room. People would often ask her why she picked a man like me, because I was like you." He must have seen the look I was giving him, because he punched my arm." Don't look at me like that, where do you think you get it from? Anyway. She was so innocent and pure, she saw through me. Through all the wrong I did with my life, she helped me fix my mistakes. When I saw you were becoming like me after her death, I was ashamed. Not at you, but at myself. Without your mother to guide you, you started going down the wrong path."

"Come on, I wasn't that bad." I ignored the funny look he gave me. "Even so, why Ethan? Why a man?"

"Because I knew he could help you." I just watched as he looked at Ethan with admiration. "At first I thought maybe a woman would help you, save you like your mother did me. But I never saw that happening. You are almost twenty-five, I wanted you to settle down. When Alastor mentioned becoming a family business through marriage, I also thought he had a daughter. Imagine my surprise when he said he wanted you to marry his son. I also thought he was nuts, but I agreed to have the meeting. When we finally met Ethan, all I could think was how innocent he looked. It was like finding that bright light once again. I wanted that for you, that's why I pushed you to be with Ethan. I don't care if he's a man, and if you don't take over for me. I just want to fix the mistake I made when your mother died." I guess I wasn't the only one who saw Ethan as pure. But I never would have guessed the old man saw himself as dirty too.

"I don't know what I am anymore dad." I know he was looking at me, but I was looking at my hands. "All my life I thought I knew, but now I don't. Ethan makes me feel something, and I don't know if it's real or not? He makes me feel a warmth that no woman has ever been able to make me feel. When I look at him, I want to protect him from all the filth in this world. Even from me."

"Carter." I felt his hand on my bare shoulder. I turned and saw him giving me a warm smile. We look practically identical, only he has light brown eyes instead of blue. "Son I don't care if you like women, men, as long as you are happy. If Ethan makes you feel happy, give him a shot. Stop sleeping with random women every night, be with Ethan."

"What about the tabloids?" Our family is well known because of my father's success, and from my 'wild nights'. We're on tabloids and magazine articles practically everyday.

"They've never bothered us before. And if by some chance I lose some people because my son is in a gay relationship then fuck 'em." I stared at my old man in disbelief. He was willing to lose his people if they didn't accept me. In just a few weeks of knowing him, Ethan has changed me and my dad for the better.

"Thanks old man."

"Any time you little brat." We both laughed, and took a sip of our drinks. I guess the only way to figure out my feelings, is to test them out first hand.

**************

"Ethan." We were currently in the hotel lounge room, watching a movie they were playing for the guest.

"Yeah?" He looked away from the movie to me. We were both in sweats and tee shirts, since it was late at night.

"I was wondering, do you want to go out with me?" My face was burning, and my palms were sweating. Why was I so nervous? I've never had this problem with women.

"Right now? Carter it's one in the morning, where did you want to go." I swear this guy is gonna be the death of me. He's too cute for his own good.

"No, not outside. I mean, will you. What I'm asking is." He took my hand in his, and gave me a warm smile. His gray eyes shining brightly. I took a deep breath and faced him. "Ethan, do you want to go out with me? As in, be my boyfriend?" He seemed shocked, but he never let go of my hand. I saw his face turn a bright shade of red.

"Yes." That one little word made me break into the biggest smile. Ethan seemed to grow darker the more I smiled. I guess he likes my smile as much as I like his.

The rest of the night was spent with us watching the movie, then heading to his room to sleep. He slept in my arms that night, his head on my chest. I looked down at the innocent sleeping man in my arms. He fit perfectly, it was like he was meant to be there. I kissed his head and closed my eyes. That night, I had the best sleep I have ever had in my whole life. And I hope to have more.