Chance at the Impossible

by J. M. Dabney

  The corner of his mouth tugged upward as Brent darted a look over his broad shoulder and held out his free arm. He didn't hesitate to join his man and Bella. It was all so natural, and he couldn't imagine being happier than he was at that moment.

  16

  He finished going through showing Frankie the scheduling, invoice, and payroll systems. Frankie Hauser was only one of ten people who'd applied through the ad he'd placed in the local college paper. He'd taken Miller's advice, one kid had come in still reeking of weed, another was a young woman who had come in looking like she was on the set of a naughty secretary porn set, and from there they'd all went downhill.

  They typically closed on weekends, but that didn't mean weekends weren't required on rare occasions and no one wanted to work weekends. He'd nearly hired Frankie as soon as the kid walked in because the application said he'd work seven days a week. Frankie had limited experience but did know about working in offices.

  He just couldn't handle a repeat of the Janet debacle. He'd had to fire her and one of his best guys when the office hookup resulted in a divorce, not to mention several breakups. He didn't want to deal with that shit again. Pissed off wives and girlfriends, also a boyfriend or two hadn't been his idea of a fun time. Frankie seemed to be a hardworking kid with a single-minded goal of becoming a doctor, but he needed a job to help with tuition, not to mention rent and bills.

  “Frankie, don't be so nervous, you'll do great.” Brent tried to reassure his newest employee. The kid was almost painfully thin, and the dark circles under the kid's eyes were a dead giveaway that the young man wasn't sleeping. He saw a lot of himself in Frankie. He was on his own trying to make it and was a few years away from medical school.

  “I know, I know, I'll be fine.”

  He didn't believe a word the kid said. Frankie looked overwhelmed.

  “Listen, I showed you everything, payroll and invoicing is easy, just fill in the information. Someone is always around, and most of the guys know how to run the system. Just learn the process that works for you, and it'll all run smoothly.”

  “Thank you, Mr. Canter.”

  “Call me Brent. We don't stand on ceremony around here.” It was the fifth time that morning he'd told Frankie to knock off the Mr. Canter bullshit.

  “I don't want to overstep or disappoint you.”

  “Frankie, I'm not expecting you to know everything from day one. I was you a long time ago. College and job full-time, also a baby.”

  “A baby?”

  “You'll meet Troy. He's married to Win. You met Win briefly on his way out.”

  “He's gay?”

  The shock on Frankie's face was almost amusing. Over six-feet of tattooed, bad attitude that was Win always drew some shocked expressions, but he didn't understand why. The way a person looked or acted didn't guarantee whether they were straight, gay or whatever.

  “Along with most of the men who work for me. We're a no discrimination work environment. Feel free to be yourself.”

  He heard the door open behind him, and he glanced over his shoulder. Miller approached with a smile on his cute face. Miller wore a t-shirt and jeans; his usual Gertrude is out of town office wear. The pants molded to slim legs and trim hips. He had already headed off to work before Miller had rolled out of bed. He grinned remembering their early morning call so he could listen to his boy get off. Those were the highlight of his day besides going home to Miller every night.

  “Hey, baby.”

  “Hi, Daddy.”

  He shook his head at Miller and his little man's flirty grin. He loved Miller more every day. Living with Miller felt completely right as if Miller had always belonged in his house and bed.

  “Is that Troy?” Frankie asked.

  He groaned at Frankie's question, but he didn't have a chance to answer as Miller tucked himself under his arm. Miller tipped his chin, and he gave his little man a quick kiss. He burst out laughing as he saw Frankie's face.

  “Baby, meet Frankie, our new receptionist, and Frankie, this is my little man, Miller.”

  “Otherwise known as the better half,” Miller quipped.

  “Oh…ohhhhh.”

  “Um, am I missing something?” Miller asked.

  “He asked if you were Troy.”

  Miller's loud snort made him laugh again then he noticed the bright red of Frankie's face.

  “Don't be embarrassed. I've been teasing Brent by calling him Daddy so long it just kinda stuck like a term of endearment. Most of the guys just roll their eyes and move on.”

  He was so glad his little man didn't go into more detail. Frankie was nervous enough, and he'd like to keep a receptionist longer than one day. Boss, receptionist, and handyman were starting to wear him down. He hated paperwork with a passion.

  “So, why am I so lucky today?”

  “I wanted to take my man to lunch, if he has time.”

  “For you, always. I just have to send a few emails, and there's a renovation job I want Clay to look at.”

  “How's Clay doing?”

  “Great, I'm going to have to buy Win a lot of beer to thank him for sending him my way.”

  “We have to watch Bella and Red one night. I'm sure Clay would like a night to himself.”

  Clay was a single dad. From the story Win had told him, the big ginger’s best friend had acted as a surrogate. He had a feeling Miller was trying to adopt another granddaughter for them. Miller loved his time with Bella so much, and Bella loved her Papa.

  “Frankie, you can take lunch or hang out to familiarize yourself with the office.”

  “Thank you, Mr…Brent.”

  “It was nice meeting you, Frankie, you'll have to give me your number so we can invite you over to the house for dinner.”

  “That's very…um, nice.”

  He frowned. He had a feeling Frankie didn't get treated nicely. His curiosity wanted him to dig for more information, yet he knew people liked their privacy. Although, he told himself he'd keep an eye on the younger man. Frankie's thinness could be natural, but the exhaustion that made the younger man's face pale and gaunt wasn't. When people worked for him, they weren't just employees but family.

  “We're a big family around here, and now that includes you.”

  He smiled at Miller for voicing his thoughts. He loved how easily Miller used we, and he smiled as he took Miller's hand and led him to his office. As soon as he had the door closed behind them, he turned and pushed Miller back against the door.

  “Hi, baby.”

  Miller raised his arms and wrapped them around his neck, playing with the hair at his nape.

  “Hi, Daddy, did you miss me?”

  “Always,” he whispered. He lowered his head until he met Miller's mouth, his little man's soft lips conforming to his. His groan was involuntary, and he crushed his boy to his body. He broke the soft kiss and rested his forehead to Miller's. A month of living together and every day seemed like a dream come true. “How did I get so lucky?”

  “Daddy, I'm the lucky one. You're happy and healthy, and all mine.”

  “What happens if I'm not healthy one of these days?” He hated to ask but the all-clear might not be there next year or the year after, and he was older than Miller.

  “Well, I'll do the same thing as I did before. We're not guaranteed days, Brent. I loved you through sickness, and if one day we must move another hospital bed into the living room, I'll be there to hold you. I'll wash your face with a cool rag and kiss your chapped lips. Wouldn't you do the same for me?”

  Miller left him in a state of awe. The young man who'd only been his son's best friend had grown into an amazing, loving and kind man. “Yes.” He raised his hand and stroked his fingertips across Miller's soft cheek.

  “Then don't worry about tomorrow or the next doctor visit. My love doesn't come with conditions. A receding hairline, a belly, the big C, I love you for all you've done and who you are. I'm not always going to be so adorable. You've seen me in the mornings.”

  “
Oh, I've seen you, all curled up on me like a blanket. Drooling on my chest and snoring, so sexy.”

  “I'm being nice, and you're just being an asshole.” Miller shoved at his chest.

  “Miller, you're perfect to me, always have been.”

  “Then why didn't we get our shit together sooner?”

  “Because I'm a stubborn bastard who thought I was nowhere near good enough for you.” He gave Miller another quick kiss and stepped away to go to his desk.

  “That's such bullshit.”

  He sat down and watched the unconsciously seductive movements of Miller's body as his boy approached. Then Miller flopped into the chair placed in front of his desk. He opened his email program and started his reply to a supplier's bid for materials they needed.

  “Why is it bullshit?” He turned to stare at Miller.

  “I'm far from perfect.”

  “Baby, I don't require you to be perfect, I sure as fuck ain't. You ready to move out yet?”

  “No, you're not getting rid of me that easy. I waited a long time to say I got the man of my dreams. Now, finish work so we can go have lunch and maybe stop by home for a quickie.”

  “Or we can christen my desk.”

  “Finish your work, and we can do just that.”

  He turned back to his computer and wrote his emails quicker than he ever had. Every minute he was able to spend with Miller was precious to him. He loved the moments they loved on each other and the times he could just walk down the street holding Miller's hand. He hadn't realized how miserable he'd been without his little man. Contentment had turned into a trap, pretending that he didn't need or want more had made it easier to forget the dreams he'd put aside.

  Miller had made everything better, and he had no intention of losing his man. He'd loved the man far too long to let him go.

  17

  The house was quiet except for the sounds of thunderstorms coming from Bella's room. Brent and the rest of the guys were behind schedule on a renovation job, so, they were pulling extra hours to finish it. He moved around the house picking up toys and stowing coloring books and crayons in Bella's drawer in the kitchen.

  He removed his phone from the charger and leaned against the counter. He pressed the speed dial for Troy and listened to the rings.

  Troy's amusement was clear as he answered, “Ready for me to pick her up already?”

  “No, my granddaughter is just fine. She's asleep with her thunderstorms playing, and I just finished picking up the house.” He turned around and started to make a pot of coffee. Brent would be home soon, and he didn't want to be asleep when his man got there. He hated missing dinner with Brent.

  “Aw, don't you just sound so domestic.”

  “Bite my ass.” He growled, but he couldn't contain his smile. Since he'd moved in three months before, he loved doing all the couple things. Watching a TV show or a movie, having dinner, talking in bed until they fell asleep. And the sex was amazing.

  “Not in this lifetime. So, what's going on?”

  “We're good right?” They'd gotten past the distance between them the last few months, but he still felt there was a bit of a divide there. Both their lives had changed in the last few years. Troy had married and had a family. Yet, he missed the lunches and the phone calls, the nights they just went out for drinks.

  “We're fine, Miller. It's not like I haven't seen you lusting after my dad for years and years.”

  “I love him, ya know.” He hit the Brew switch on the coffeemaker, then traced the grout line on the marble countertop.

  Troy's laugh was loud in his ear. “No one who saw you around him wouldn't think you weren't hopelessly in love. Win was right, though.”

  “Right about what?”

  “You were there, every day. I watched the two of you more than once. Dad was always the happiest when you showed up. I was a little jealous of that.”

  He snorted. “No, you weren't.”

  “I so was. Things weren't easy for him. Dad was always capable and strong, and then he got to the point he couldn't even care for himself. Felt less of a man when I treated him differently, but the way you did…it was the same as always. You flirted and showed him affection.”

  “He was still Brent.”

  “Yeah, but people see the sickness and not the person, and they treat them accordingly. I was guilty of it. I wanted him to live for me because I wasn't ready to let him go.”

  “I was selfish too, Troy. But he didn't take me seriously because it's what I always did. Every day I showed up, I savored his warmth and the freedom to curl up with him even if it was just for him to sleep with his head on my chest.”

  “If he didn't take you seriously, do you think he would've fallen in love with you? Maybe while he was sick his guard was down and he let himself see more than he was willing to admit. You're good for Dad, and yeah, I'm a little weirded out that my best friend is dating my dad. Yet if I'm honest, it was going to happen sooner or later. And you can't tell me you're not happier than you've ever been.”

  “No, I won't lie and deny that I'm right where I've always wanted to be. I just wanted to make sure we're okay.”

  “We're good. How about next weekend? Win can be on Bella duty, and we can go to the club like we used to.”

  “I'd love that.”

  “Win just text me to say he was on his way home.”

  “I'll let you go, that means Daddy”—Troy groaned—“will be home soon too.”

  “I hate you.”

  “Aw, no you don't.”

  They talked a few more minutes before he disconnected the call and made himself a cup of coffee. He headed to the living room to curl up on the couch and wait for Brent to come home. He felt better after having talked to Troy. He sipped his coffee and flipped through channels, nothing on interested him, but he stopped on a gory movie he'd watched a hundred times.

  An hour later he listened to the door open, he set his mug on the end table and tipped his head back to smile up at an exhausted-looking Brent. Brent leaned down to kiss him, and he raised his arm, then ran his fingers through the hair at Brent's nape. He massaged the tight muscles.

  “You look like shit.”

  “I love you too.” Brent straightened and walked around to lie down on the couch, his head on Miller's thigh.

  He tenderly scratched Brent's scalp. Just the way Brent liked and would relax him. “You want me to heat up your dinner?”

  Brent shook his head. “No, we got takeout delivered to the site.”

  “Did you finish?”

  “We did. That custom molding the clients wanted fucked us up. Especially since the company was a week behind schedule.”

  “But it's done now, and you can relax.”

  “Yeah, I'm going to be lazy with you all day tomorrow. I'd say we'd stay in bed all day, but Bella ain't gonna let that happen. Did you two do okay without me?”

  “Well, we went shopping for new shoes. I took her to get her hair trimmed. Troy had made the appointment without realizing it was your weekend. Then we made dinner, cuddled and watched cartoons, and then it was bath, story, and bedtime.”

  “I told Clay we'd take Red when we get Bella next time, is that okay?”

  “That will be great.”

  “You okay, baby?”

  “I'm perfect, now that you're home. Have I told you how much I love you lately?”

  Brent acted like he was thinking hard and he chuckled as he tugged at Miller’s hair. “Baby, you show me every day. Telling you to move in was the best decision I ever made.”

  “So, you're not sick of me yet?”

  “Baby, we could live together fifty years, and I'd never regret making you mine.”

  He bit his bottom lip, and he knew he probably looked sappy as fuck with his eyes getting teary. Brent had always made him feel good about himself—accepted.

  “You ready for bed?” he asked.

  “So ready, but I need a shower first. Want to join me?”

  “I thought that was a
given.”

  Brent quickly got to his feet, and he squeaked as the big man pulled him off the couch. He giggled as he was thrown over Brent's shoulder and the big man jogged toward the stairs, and then to the bedroom. He kept quiet when Brent paused to check on Bella on the way. Brent didn't put him down until the door was closed and locked. When they were ready to sleep, they'd unlock it in case Bella needed them.

  They didn't say anything as he stripped off Brent's hoodie and threw it on top of the hamper. He grabbed the fabric over Brent's abs and tugged him toward the bathroom. Then Brent started to undress.

  “No, let me.”

  Brent nodded, and he felt his man's gaze on him as he slowly removed Brent's clothes, knelt to untie Brent's boots. He leaned in and nuzzled the hard bulge. He inhaled the scent of sweat and man. He finished undressing Brent and stood. He raised his hand to trace the thick scar that started on Brent's side and around to his back. He'd lost count of the times he'd cleaned and redressed it.

  “People always appreciate the person or thing they lost when it was too late. I wanted you to know before you left me.”

  Brent's hand cupped his face and forced his gaze up. “You're one of the reasons I wanted to live. Leaving my family wasn't an option even when it was too much to go on.”

  Emotion choked him, but he didn't have to say a word because Brent kissed him softly when he stripped him bare. When Brent turned away, he pressed himself to the bigger man's back. He caressed his lips to the indent of Brent's spine. Savored the warmth and strength as Brent started the shower, then took his hand to move him toward the stall.

  He was pulled into the steamy interior of the shower and held close to Brent. They shared kisses as they washed each other’s hair and bodies. They were both turned on, but he loved how they ignored that. He felt loved and there was no hurry to get off. He moaned and whimpered, each sound he made was echoed by one of Brent's. It was frustrating yet perfect—it wasn't all about the fuck.