“I know. That’s why it means so much. I’ve probably read it a dozen times.”
“Do you believe it?”
“I think I might.”
“Good.” Stephen gripped his shoulder.
“How’s your job?”
Stephen had told him about the words exchanged with Jerry on the day Austin went missing.
“Oh, it’s fine,” he said. “Jerry still gives me wary looks when he sees me. I don’t think he expected I’d call his bluff.”
“What’s his damage anyway?” Jeremy asked. “I thought you liked working with him.”
“Truthfully, I don’t know,” Stephen said. “I did like working with him, but I think he’s very traditional about raising a family. Work comes first, family second, and I don’t agree. Plus, he has some weird hang-up about foster kids. Some people do, though I’ll never understand it. They’re convinced all kids in foster homes are damaged.”
Jeremy glanced over at Austin, who was laughing and joking around with Toby and some friends from the soccer team. “Yeah, damaged my ass. That kid is thriving.”
“I’m not going to claim love can fix everything,” Stephen said softly. “But I do believe it can go a long way under the right circumstances.”
“I’m so proud of you, son,” Alan said.
Russ blinked. “Seriously, I have had enough crying today,” he said. “Don’t make me lose it now.”
“Stephen just said that to me twenty minutes ago.”
“Well, stop making your family cry!” Russ teased. “Today’s a happy day.”
“Sure is.” Alan hugged him again. “I understood when you said you didn’t want kids, but I’ve gotta say, I’m enjoying bein’ a grandpa.”
Russ chuckled. “Austin’s enjoying having you for a grandpa.”
“Did you let your mother know?”
“I did,” he said. “I emailed her a few pictures around the holidays. She said we were a nice-looking family and wished me a Merry Christmas.”
Alan nodded. “That what you expected?”
“It is, yeah,” Russ said. “It was okay. I wasn’t upset or anything. I don’t need that from her anymore.”
“You’ve got your own family now,” Alan said quietly.
Russ’s throat was too thick to speak, so he just nodded. He did. And not a day went by when he wasn’t grateful he’d met Austin and brought him into their lives.
Epilogue
“I can’t believe how quickly the past four year have flown by,” Russ said with a sigh as they stood under the ‘Class of 2021’ banner they’d hung from the loft railing in their apartment that morning. With as strange and unpredictable as the year before had been, Russ had just been grateful they’d all made it through to see this day.
They were both still at Vantage, though Jerry had left a few years ago and the company was in Peter’s hands now. The board had offered Stephen the position, but he’d declined. He’d preferred to spend his time with his husband and son. Russ had accepted a position as director of marketing. Within the next five years, he’d probably have a position as vice president. Life seemed to be speeding forward faster with every day.
“Tell me about it.” Stephen sighed. “How did our kid just graduate high school?”
Russ grinned at him. “I don’t know. One minute he was this gangly teenager, and I blinked and now look at him.”
“Yeah, pretending like he’s not flirting with Toby,” Stephen said dryly. Toby was Austin’s best friend, so he wasn’t really complaining that his son had a crush on him. Toby was a good kid. Friendly, studious, and easy to like. Easy on the eyes too, Stephen supposed, though all the kids seemed alarmingly young.
He’d felt a quiet terror when Austin began to date in high school. Not so much because he was too young for it—though it made Stephen feel ancient to realize he had a son old enough to—but because he was so open about it. He’d taken a great girl from his English class to homecoming, then gone to prom with a nice guy on his soccer team. It had awed Stephen to see him so brave and fearless. Times had changed, but Austin was also just … Austin.
Unapologetic.
Just like Stephen and Russ had raised him to be.
Austin was going off to RISD for college in the fall. Russ had been lobbying hard for Austin to go to the Savannah College of Art and Design, which was only three and a half hours away. But Austin had his heart set on the Rhode Island School of Design. It was one of the most prestigious art schools in the country and highly competitive, but he’d submitted his graphic novel Foster, as part of his portfolio and the admissions officer had admitted it had played a big part in their decision making. The day he’d gotten his acceptance letter had been one of the proudest moments of their lives.
He didn’t know what Austin would do, halfway across the country from his best friend and the guy Stephen had never quite gotten him to admit he was half in love with. But Austin was a young man now, and it was time for him to make his own choices. Make his own mistakes.
“Do you think he’s ready?” Stephen asked. “To head off on his own in a few months?”
Russ squeezed his hand. “My heart says no, but I think that’s just the overprotective dad speaking. Yeah, I think he’s ready. I think we’ve given him everything he needs, Stephen.”
“I am so proud of you, son,” Stephen said roughly. “Your dad and I both are.”
“Don’t be embarrassing,” Austin teased. He’d grown into himself well. He stood nearly as tall as Stephen, which put him a fraction or so above Russ’s height, as he liked to tease him about. And his years of soccer had given him a lean, muscular frame. His hair had stayed the same rich auburn and his freckles still popped out in the summer sun. He was handsome and charming, friendly to everyone. Bright and driven, and there were times Stephen looked at him in amazement that he’d been given the privilege to help raise him.
Your grandson graduated high school, Momma, he thought with a wistful little smile as he thought about his parents. His father wouldn’t have understood Austin any more than he’d understood Stephen, but it didn’t matter. Because although raising Austin had been tough at times, it was Stephen’s greatest accomplishment to see him step into his adult life with grace and confidence. He had done right by him.
“Thank you,” he whispered to Russ. “Thank you for asking me to be his father.”
Russ turned in his arms and hugged him close. “Thank you for saying yes.”
“Ugh, you’re both going to make me cry,” Austin muttered. He kissed both of their cheeks, brown eyes twinkling as he hugged them. “And while I’m totally fine with being the queer kid with the gay dads who cries in public, today is not the day for that. Today is for celebrating.”
Stephen still flinched sometimes when Austin referred to himself that way, but he was proud of the LGBT kids who had taken the slur back and created new meaning for it. It was no surprise that Austin’s friends were all open-minded kids across a wide spectrum of sexualities and gender identities, but if there was one thing that continually shocked Stephen, it was the general openness of his whole generation.
“You are worth celebrating,” Stephen agreed, and Austin grinned at him, giving him another glimpse of that fourteen-year-old boy who had first spoken those words all those years ago.
“Your man looks pretty good holding that baby,” Jeremy said later that day.
Russ snorted. “That baby belongs to Addie and Joseph, so don’t go getting any ideas. Stephen and I aren’t adopting again. We’re going on vacation this fall. An adults-only vacation where he is going to do filthy, filthy things to me for days on end.”
Jeremy snorted. “Okay, way too much information, Russ.”
“I’m just saying …”
Russ tilted his head and studied his husband more closely. Fine, Stephen looked great holding a baby. His crisp white shirt and black vest fit his body just right, and his silver hair was as thick as ever. And watching him make faces at Joseph Jr. and get him to laugh defin
itely made Russ wish for a second that they’d had Austin from the time he’d been born. But if they had, he wouldn’t be Austin. And they loved him too much just the way he was to want him to be anyone else.
“We’re good with being Austin’s dads,” he said firmly. “And Uncle Russ and Uncle Stephen.”
“Might happen again too,” Jeremy said.
“Huh?” Russ turned to look at him. “I don’t think Addie and Joseph are in any hurry to have a second kid.”
“No, but Evan and I are talking about it.” Jeremy licked his lips. “Well, adopting a first kid, anyway. We keep trying to get pregnant, but it just ain’t happening.”
Russ snorted at his words, and then the meaning sunk in. “Oh, shit, really?” Russ grinned at him. “Adoption? That’s fantastic.”
“We haven’t decided anything officially but … yeah. I think so.” Jeremy looked excited but nervous. “Don’t say anything to Evan. He wanted to be the one to tell you. I shouldn’t have opened my big mouth.”
“Don’t tell Evan what?” he asked as he slid between them. Russ shot Jeremy a look.
He gave Evan a sheepish grin. “That we’re talking about kids?”
Evan shook his head with a fond little sigh. “It’s a good thing I love you.”
Jeremy pulled him close. “I think so every day.”
“Thank you for this,” Leland said quietly as the party began to wind down. “You didn’t have to invite me.”
“Sure, we did,” Stephen said. “You allowed us to raise your son.” He clapped Leland on the shoulder. “And we can never thank you enough for that.”
After Leland got out of prison, Russ been skeptical that Leland should be a part of Austin’s life, but Stephen had convinced him to give him a chance, to show that he deserved a place there.
Kellie hadn’t been enthusiastic either, but Leland hadn’t let any of them down. He had a steady job and had complied with all of the conditions of his parole. He hadn’t once tried to interfere in Austin’s life with Russ and Stephen. He’d merely been there when Austin allowed it. These days, that was fairly often and he’d become something like a friend of the family. While Stephen imagined it was hard for the man to accept that role, he’d done it with grace. Despite the long odds, Leland had turned his life around.
“You did a damn good job with him,” Leland said. “Better than I ever could have.”
Stephen dipped his head in acknowledgement.
“Made him a better dresser than I ever could have too,” he said.
Stephen laughed. Austin had become a rather snazzy dresser over the years. The introduction of French cuffs and vests had led to Austin’s stylish look today. And Stephen had smiled widely as he’d helped Austin fasten the monogrammed cufflinks before his graduation ceremony this morning. “I am entirely to blame for that.”
Leland gave him a small smile. “What do you think about him and that Toby kid?”
“I think if they can handle the distance between Rhode Island and Chicago, they’ll be just fine,” Stephen said. “But who knows? They’re young. They’ve got time.”
After all, Stephen had been forty-seven before he met the love of his life. He hoped Austin’s romantic life went a lot easier than his had, but at least he’d always have a loving family to rely on if it ever got rough.
“Hey, I’m heading out in a few,” Austin called out.
Stephen hauled himself off the sofa with a groan. “Well, give your old man a hug before you go out with your friends.”
“Me too,” Russ said.
“Thanks for the party today. Sorry I’m not sticking around to help clean up.”
“We’re used to it,” Russ teased.
“Hey!” Austin protested, his auburn curls bouncing a little as he laughed. “Take that back. I cleaned up after making dinner last night.”
“Yeah, yeah.” Russ hugged him and Austin returned the embrace. Unlike most kids, he’d never gone through a phase where he was too embarrassed for hugs from them and Russ was grateful. It was like once he’d decided to let them in, there was no turning back. Russ had sometimes wondered if he was making up for all of the opportunities he’d missed out on.
“I mean it,” Austin said as he drew back. “I appreciate all you did for me. Not just today, but … Thank for you everything you did for me over the years.”
“It was our pleasure,” Stephen said. And he meant every word of it. “Be safe tonight.”
“I always am.” Austin threw them a smile over his shoulder. “Love you both.”
After Austin left, the apartment seemed huge and silent. They wandered out onto the balcony overlooking the city. It was dark and the sounds of traffic going by on Peachtree Street below was a distant hum. It was a warm summer night and Russ let out a contented sigh as they stood at the railing, enjoying the breeze.
“I love you,” Russ said. He looked over his shoulder at Stephen. “I don’t tell you that enough.”
Stephen cupped his cheek in his hand. “I know it anyway.”
“You’re everything to me, Stephen,” he said quietly, his eyes wet. Stephen turned and brushed the moisture away with his thumbs.
“I know that too.” He leaned in, pressing the length of their bodies together as he cupped the back of his neck. “Do you know how?”
Russ shook his head.
“Because you’re everything to me too.”
As easy as breathing, they leaned in and kissed. It was sweet and slow and every bit as heady as the first time. “That day I brought you home to my place after you sprained your ankle, did you think we’d ever get here?” Stephen asked.
Russ laughed softly. “No.”
“I think that was the best damn cup of coffee I never had.”
Russ tucked his hands into Stephen’s back pockets and held him close.
“What do we do now?” Russ asked after a while. “We’re going to have this place to ourselves again. That’ll be weird.”
Stephen hauled him closer. “Oh, don’t you worry, Mr. Bishop. I have some ideas to keep us occupied.”
“I bet you do, Mr. Parker,” he said with a laugh. “I’ll bet you do.
“And you know what?” Stephen said huskily as he drew back to look him in the eye. “Every single one of them involves loving you.”
THE END
I hope you enjoyed reading Full Balance! If you did, please consider leaving a review on Amazon, BookBub, or Goodreads. Every review is appreciated!
Want to read Evan and Jeremy’s story? Find Trust the Connection here.
If you’re looking for another age gap story, check out Corked, a sexy and fun standalone opposites attract story. Keep reading for a glimpse at Sean and Lucas’ book …
What was it Lucas had said? God, I want to suck your cock. Sean shivered at the memory of Lucas’s voice, all low and rough with desire. He unbuttoned his jeans and eased the zipper down, imagining it was Lucas’s fingers instead.
He closed his eyes and shoved his pants down around his thighs as he pictured Lucas on his knees, staring up at Sean as he swallowed his cock. When he wrapped his hand around his dick, he could almost imagine Lucas’s hand wrapping around it instead. Or, Lucas fucking him. He was taller and broader than Sean, and the mental image of being pinned down and screwed into the mattress was the hottest thing he’d fantasized about in a long time. Or, better yet, Lucas’s cock buried deep in his ass while he stroked Sean’s cock.
Sean spit in his hand and stroked faster, pushing himself toward an orgasm. Damn, he needed this. He channeled all the frustration of his shitty day into jerking himself off, and in a few moments, he came with a hoarse groan, barely pulling his shirt up in time as cum splattered onto his stomach. He shuddered and panted as he milked out the last few spurts, his head spinning with images of Lucas fucking him through the orgasm.
He lay there, flushed and breathing heavy, while he slowly came down. The sound of a knock on the door made him leap to his feet. “Just a sec,” he called out. He scrambled to fi
nd a tissue to clean up and still felt vaguely sticky and embarrassed when he opened the door.
He found himself face to face with none other than the sommelier he’d been fantasizing about. Color flooded his cheeks. “Why are you here? Come to grope me again?” he snapped. He cringed internally.
Lucas blinked at him. “I actually came to tell you that the water has finally stopped pouring into my apartment. I know you’re probably going to be without water for a little while, so I wanted to let you know you can use my bathroom if you need it.”
Sean bristled. “I’ll be fine.”
“I was just offering.” Lucas held up his hands in a gesture of surrender. “Jesus. You know, you’re a lot less annoying when we’re kissing.”
Embarrassment sharpened Sean’s tongue further. “Well, you’re not.” The hurt look on Lucas’s face made him regret his words. Damn it! That came out wrong.
Lucas snapped back. “I really hope you’re in less of a pissy mood when you come to the restaurant on Thursday because I’m sick of dealing with your shit. And I’m not about to let your attitude ruin what I’m trying to do at the restaurant.” Without another word, he turned on his heel and walked away.
Sean slammed the door behind him, knowing he was acting childish. Fuck. They were going to have to work together, and he’d made an already awkward situation worse. Now what?
He had no idea how to get himself out the mess he was in.
Want to read more of Sean and Lucas’s story? Grab Corked now!
About the Author
Brigham Vaughn is on the adventure of a lifetime as a full-time author. She devours books at an alarming rate and hasn’t let her short arms and long torso stop her from doing yoga. She makes a killer key lime pie, hates green peppers, and loves wine tasting tours. A collector of vintage Nancy Drew books and green glassware, she enjoys poking around in antique shops and refinishing thrift store furniture. An avid photographer, she dreams of traveling the world and she can’t wait to discover everything else life has to offer her.
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