by KC Burn
Best thing would be to get in there and get the introductions over with. Then he could lock himself in the nearest restroom and heave his guts out. He should have driven himself, but he knew better than anyone he might have to take a pill that would affect his ability to drive. If worse came to worst, he’d call a cab. Or a car service. Both would be equally exorbitant, but knowing he had an escape that didn’t rely on Jaime or Caleb was yet another frail thread keeping his shit together.
He glanced around as they made their way to the chapel. Despite the fact that the Martinez Historical Estate was less than an hour’s drive from his condo in the urban downtown center of Orlando, it looked like it was on a different planet. A different state, at least. Beautiful, to be sure. It had been built long enough ago that the trees on the property were fully mature, creating a large amount of shade that looked deceptively cool, if it weren’t for the humidity. The areas with sunshine were overflowing with hibiscus bushes, joyful in their restrained and well-tended exuberance.
According to Jaime, most of the family owned homes in the surrounding neighborhood, which was one of the reasons Caleb’s parents had chosen this place. The historical home was perfect for hosting an event such as this, and the chapel on site had been a bonus, since their own church had been booked for this particular weekend.
Raven had never been to church, and the gnawing atavistic fear that he’d be struck by lightning or burst into flames when he entered wasn’t helping matters any.
As they approached the open door of the chapel, the swell of mingled chatter from far too many people swept over him, making his heart race.
“Can we sit at the back?”
“There’s a small vestibule here.” Jaime walked him over to what might have been a cloakroom, for those few days when it was chilly, or the more numerous days when it poured rain.
Raven frowned slightly. Jaime was weirdly familiar with the place.
Jaime just laughed. “This isn’t the first event we’ve had here. Most of the family holds wedding receptions here, and occasionally uses the chapel for the service as well. God forbid we leave the neighborhood.” There was a tinge of bitterness in Jaime’s voice, but Raven didn’t know Jaime well enough to know why, and he was too busy with his own fucked-uppery to worry about what was going on in someone else’s head.
“If you really can’t stand it, slip out and head up to the main house. They’ve got “powder rooms” or some such where you can cool down and get a bit of privacy. If I don’t see you here, I’ll text you and we’ll meet up for introductions.”
Jaime patted him on the shoulder, and Raven clamped a hand over his. “Can’t you stay here with me?”
“You see those women in the front row?”
Raven craned his head so he could see into the main body of the chapel once more. Matronly women in a variety of pastels and intricate hats were interspersed with dark-haired men in somber suits. “Yes.”
“Those are the Escobar women. My mama and my aunts. And every one of them would tear a strip off me if I wasn’t sitting with the rest of the cousins.” Jaime held up his phone. “I’ve already got half a dozen ‘gentle’ inquiries about where I am.”
Traffic had been unexpectedly bad between his condo and the estate, but they weren’t late—just not as early as Jaime had intended. Raven wasn’t going to say anything, but the reprieve had been more than welcome.
“Go, then. I’ll be fine.”
Jaime smiled. “Of course you will. Remember, no rabid sharks.”
Raven cracked another smile.
While Jaime made his way to the family, Raven craned his head out, hoping for a glimpse of Caleb. They’d had an incredible, earth-shattering night on their anniversary, but Caleb’s duties surrounding this event meant they hadn’t been able to do more than text in the intervening days. The loss left Raven feeling surprisingly fragile and almost afraid. Caleb had been perfect. He’d stayed the night, they’d cuddled, and both of them had been clearly disappointed when Caleb had had to go to work the next morning, but that didn’t stop the niggling, irrational fear that now that Caleb had gotten into Raven’s pants, he’d reconsidered the whole relationship idea.
Stupid, because Raven was certain—almost certain—Caleb returned Raven’s feelings, even though they’d never spoken about them using the word love. But as he’d learned, in painful repeated lessons since his accident, fears were rarely governed by rational thought.
The music started before Raven saw Caleb, but then, he hadn’t seen anyone who appeared to be the couple of honor, either, so presumably the three of them were somewhere out of Raven’s sight line.
Holding this position, though, wasn’t doing his hip any favors, so he settled back into a flimsy wooden chair. He could listen to the service from here just fine; no point in watching the back of everyone’s head.
A bit cowardly, for sure, but he needed to save his bravery for the reception, when he’d have to actually talk to people, and make a good impression. And he desperately wanted Caleb’s family to like him, even if they didn’t know what Caleb meant to him.
THE VOW renewal had been beautiful. Raven had seen wedding ceremonies on television, but everything was so heartfelt, he’d been moved to tears. Caleb’s parents clearly loved each other very much, and Raven hadn’t realized how much he wanted that for himself. How could he? He’d never known what he was missing.
He’d peeked in once but only caught a glimpse of a beautiful older woman who had to be Caleb’s mom. But if she shifted her gaze, she’d undoubtedly be able to see Raven, and so he’d ducked back into the vestibule.
Right as the ceremony seemed to be in its final stage, Raven slipped out and strode as quickly as he dared up to the main house and the refuge of the powder room. Pathetic, but the beautiful ceremony hadn’t erased all of his fears, although he was beginning to believe that two people who loved each other and raised a man like Caleb wouldn’t be horrible, even if they knew.
True to his word, Jaime found him just minutes later.
“C’mon. Let’s get this out of the way.”
Renewed anxiety clawed at his throat. “Get what out of the way?”
“I’ll introduce you to the guests of honor. Then you can relax, a little at least.”
Raven’s chuckle came out strained and thready. Jaime was a smart man: the introductions that had Raven most concerned were those with Caleb’s parents. He wondered if being an EMT was responsible for his rip-the-bandage-off-fast attitude.
They didn’t get a chance to move very far through the milling throng before Caleb appeared in front of them.
“Hi.” Caleb’s suddenly dilated eyes said so much more, as did his hands, which almost reached out to Raven before Caleb shook himself and let them drop to his sides.
All of Raven’s fears melted in the face of Caleb’s obvious pleasure in seeing him.
His boyfriend was stunning in the brand-new suit purchased for the occasion, and Raven wanted to run his hands through Caleb’s dark hair. Kiss the hollow at his throat. Burrow into the safe haven of his arms. Raven couldn’t help it. He stepped closer, close enough that he could smell Caleb’s cologne and warm, musky scent mingled with clean sweat.
Caleb’s forehead shone, probably a remnant of the chapel that, unlike the main house, had only been cooled by fans. His Caleb loved his A/C, and Raven sympathized. At least the kilt allowed for awesome airflow; he was undoubtedly more comfortable. He’d give Caleb another fifteen minutes before the suit jacket and tie—so sexy yet so unlike his Caleb—came off.
“Hi.” Raven lifted his chin, just a bit. He’d been conditioned over the past month to expect kisses from Caleb, and it took all his willpower not to take those final steps that would connect them, lip to hip.
Behind him, Jaime cleared his throat.
“What?” Caleb tore his gaze away from Raven’s mouth to glare at the interruption.
“So, are you coming out? Right now?”
Panic, an emotion Raven was far to
o familiar with, erased Caleb’s sleepy-eyed lust, and it was enough like a blast of cold water for him to step back. That wasn’t what today was about.
“No. Shush.” Caleb took another step back, and Jaime moved up beside Raven, almost protectively close.
“Then I suggest you stop looking at him like you’d rather have him for dinner.”
Raven wanted that, so badly. After being apart for days since their anniversary date, Raven was aching for his boyfriend. Not just his company, either; Caleb had also primed his dick, and Raven wanted to repeat the bliss they’d created in bed, over and over. Every damn night if he could.
“I want to introduce him to my parents.”
At least their near kiss hadn’t changed Caleb’s mind about that, but Jaime put a hand on Raven’s forearm. “You go. I’ll bring him over. I’ll introduce him.”
Anger flashed in Caleb’s eyes, but Raven had to concede it was the wisest move. Because he needed a moment to recover from his first sight of Caleb in days, and if he didn’t get that moment, he might just climb Caleb like a tree, begging for more kisses, more touches, more everything.
Lips compressed in a tight line, Caleb nodded and turned on his heel. Jaime touched his elbow and guided him in a slightly different direction.
“I thought we were going to Caleb’s parents?”
“Give him a minute to cool down or he’ll do something he’ll regret. Besides, we’d just be waiting in line, anyway. My sister’s over there. She’ll love you.”
Pretending he was at one of his Tartan Candy events, he smiled far more confidently than he felt and allowed himself to be led away. The appreciative stares he got bolstered his sagging confidence. He could do this. Just like meeting all the great people he’d met since starting his business. Sure, some of them got too handsy, but he was certain there wouldn’t be any of that disrespectful behavior here, which made the attention he was getting all the sweeter.
“CARIÑO, YOU can go mingle. You did so much for your papa and me, this day has been wonderful. But it’s almost time to sit down for dinner. You don’t have to stay stuck to your old mama anymore.”
Caleb managed to unstick his jaw enough to give her a tiny smile. “That’s okay, Mama. I can mingle after dinner.” He needed to be there when Raven was introduced to his parents, and he wasn’t leaving until that bastard of a cousin brought Raven over.
Jaime had been squiring Raven around the room, standing far too fucking close. Already all the Escobar siblings had come to greet his mom and dad, and each one had speculated on the status of Jaime’s “friendship” with Raven. Most people genuinely seemed to like Raven, and it was the potential relationship to Jaime that had everyone abuzz. Jaime had never been serious enough about anyone to bring them to a family event, even as a friend, and Caleb had overlooked the significance of that tidbit when he’d asked Jaime to bring Raven.
Each veiled reference about Jaime and Raven, most supportive, some biting, made the muscles in Caleb’s face turn to stone. He hadn’t ground his teeth since the last family event he’d been to—Juliet’s birthday—and if Jaime didn’t stop touching his boyfriend, making a goddamn claim in front of their entire extended family, he was in real danger of giving himself a headache.
For the first time, he wanted to punch his cousin, his best friend.
“Are you feeling okay, cariño?”
Like his mother was fucking psychic, she almost always knew when he was upset. How had she never divined how much he hated this? In all these years, why hadn’t she guessed that it sickened him to know he’d never fulfill her desire for grandchildren, at least not in a way that would be acceptable to her?
“I’m fine. Just a little headache.” Not lying. If Jaime didn’t back the fuck off, it was going to become a monster.
Finally Jaime headed their way.
His parents gushed appropriately over Jaime before turning to Raven.
“Tía Maria, Tío Jacob, this is a good friend of mine, Raven.”
Caleb curled his hands into fists, because being so close to Raven but unable to show his family how much he loved this man—however stupidly fast it had happened—was almost physically painful. Raven wasn’t doing much better, because Caleb could easily read his boyfriend’s moods, but Raven still managed to thoroughly charm his parents.
Jaime and Raven were just about to move away when Jaime’s brother Alberto approached and slapped him on the back.
“You’ve been keeping secrets, bro. We rearranged the place settings so you and your friend are sitting with us.”
His mother’s attention moved to Alberto’s girlfriend, who had Francesca in tow. “Isabel, you look beautiful.” She kissed Isabel on both cheeks, but Caleb sensed her interest like a hunting dog scenting a fox.
“This is my friend, Francesca.” Both his mom and Isabel threw significant glances at Caleb, making him squirm.
“Oh, Francesca. I heard you’ve spent some time with my son. We’ll have to chat more later.”
No one in that group of people, not Francesca, who looked like a cornered rabbit, not Jaime, and not even Raven with his occasionally lacking social awareness missed that Caleb’s mom was hunting a suitable daughter-in-law.
Even worse, judging by the hurt look Raven sent his way, he hadn’t missed Francesca’s name and knew damn well that Caleb had spent time with her, no matter how innocent or platonic. He’d hoped for a reprieve from the constant barrage of questions about girlfriends and marriage, but he hadn’t planned to get his mom’s hopes up like this. Nor had he wanted to hurt Raven. That was the last thing he wanted.
Thankfully, dinner was announced, and Caleb escorted his mom away from Francesca and Raven to the table they were sharing with some of his aunts and uncles while Jaime took Raven over to a nearby table, with, dammit, Francesca.
He was going to have to grovel to make up for this, but he was so proud of his boyfriend. His family had welcomed Raven with mostly open arms. He’d made his aunt Rosa’s eyebrows raise, but then, if she’d given it any thought at all, she’d probably been hoping Jaime would settle down with someone who wouldn’t draw any additional attention to their “gayness.” Everyone’s eyes were, and probably always would be, drawn to the vibrant flame of Raven.
Caleb had known how nervous Raven had been, but the gracious way he interacted with people and put them at ease, all the while striding through the hall with the composure of a prince…. Caleb had been so proud. This was who Raven was meant to be, and it was probably why his little business venture had become more and more popular.
Somehow he managed to participate enough in the conversation that only his mama gave him a couple of curious glances. Whenever his attention drifted, though, his gaze ended up back on Raven. He hadn’t realized how damn hard this was going to be, even though Jaime had warned him. Pretending that he barely knew Raven, that Raven hadn’t become the primary source of his happiness, was even more painful than listening to everyone’s assumptions that Raven was Jaime’s boyfriend. It was a million times worse than the last family event he’d attended, where he’d felt the lie of his sexuality strangling him like a noose.
RAVEN WAS going to lose his fucking mind. Between everyone assuming he and Jaime were dating and the number of people who wanted to meet Francesca, he was going to burst, and it wasn’t going to be pretty. Francesca—who, he had to admit, was quite entertaining—was clearly the woman of the hour, with the rumor making the rounds that she and Caleb were dating. Despite her obvious discomfort with the subject, Raven still wanted to hate her… until they both sped through the buffet line and returned to the table before everyone else.
“Not hungry?” Francesca asked.
The food smelled good, and Raven often allowed himself things he’d never have eaten when he was with Idyll Fling, but there was no way he could eat. Not today. He only took enough to appear polite, unrecognizable dishes with sauce and rice he could shift around the plate to give the appearance of having eaten.
Francesca ro
lled her eyes. “Everyone might have me and Caleb all but engaged, but I’m still single. Gotta watch the waistline, you know?”
Raven blinked. That was the most forthright denial he’d heard from her all night. With everyone else, she’d appeared uncomfortable, but her words were coy and misleading.
“Um. Sure.” He wasn’t sure how he was supposed to respond to that.
Francesca leaned over the empty chair between them and squeezed his hand. “Caleb told me you were hot, but, wow, seeing is believing. You tell me if he doesn’t do a good job making this up to you.”
“What do you mean?” Raven was so fucking confused, and he really did want to hate this woman, even though she couldn’t know what Caleb’s kisses were like, or know what it felt like when Caleb focused all his sexual hunger on him.
“Oh, honey. Caleb told me.” She looked around like she was about to pass him some top-secret USB drive. “I know about you two. I’ve tried to convince Isabel and Alberto that Caleb and I are just friends, but no one—seriously, no one—believes me. And I’ve known Isabel since we were four! She’s so blinded by her happiness with Alberto, she’s impossible. She’s even got some sort of plan that we’ll get married around the same time and get pregnant together.”
Simultaneously, the two of them shuddered, and Raven giggled, just a bit. He hadn’t realized women could be that weirdly cool.
“That’s better. You’re scorching hot when you smile. Keep that on your face, and you’ll have Caleb admitting whatever you want, if only to keep all the other gay boys away.”
