Something Extra - Making Things Right (No Complications)

Author's note: Hi guys, here I am with another 'something extra' installment. Some of you let me know the last time that I left a cliffhanger, and when I asked Dave about what he wanted this month, he told me that he, too, would like to see how that cliffie would get solved. Therefore, this particular episode is also an extra for the book No Complications which you can find here:

https://www.patreon.com/posts/gift-book-14895941 

And the part that precedes this installment is here:

https://www.patreon.com/posts/something-extra-35477276

Without further ado, please enjoy!

Making Things Right

“You know,” Blake said as he kissed Trey’s shoulder, “I think it’s high time we make things right.”

Trey half-turned, still a bit sleepy. “What do you mean? And why are you wide awake at this hour?”

“It’s almost seven,” Blake pointed out.

Trey groaned and hid his face in the pillow. “I don’t care.” His voice came out all muffled. 

“How can you sleep in so much? And I remember quite clearly that I was the one doing all the work last night,” Blake said and snuck one hand under the blanket to grab Trey’s butt playfully.

Trey threw him a murderous look over his shoulder. “Doing all the work? You didn’t stop until I came three times! Three times! My balls are dried prunes by now!”

“Dried prunes? That could be a serious condition. I definitely need to check,” Blake said in a solemn tone and quickly manipulated Trey so that he would land on his back. With pinpoint accuracy, he went straight for his lover’s balls. Trey moaned when Blake captured his cock next and gave it a friendly rub. “It looks like you have something left in you, after all.”

“No, I don’t,” Trey protested feebly.

“Then you should wake up. We have some things to talk about.”

Trey blinked a few times and pushed himself up on the elbows. “Why so serious?”

Blake knew he now had all of his boyfriend’s attention. “I kept thinking.”

“About what?” Trey moved and scooted over to sit by Blake’s side. He placed a reassuring hand on Blake’s shoulder. “I rarely see you so tense.”

“Maybe because you know what to do to make me unwind,” Blake replied with a smile.

“Come on. What is it?”

“I kept thinking about Gabe, and how it’s not possible that it happened at random.”

“You told me you had your suspicions.”

“Yes. And they kept nagging me.”

“Why?”

Trey was the type of guy who couldn’t stand conflicts, but Blake saw no other way around it. It had been three years, and the time for a serious confrontation was long overdue. “Because I don’t have to let things like these slide. No, correction. I don’t want to let them slide, which is a different thing.”

“Okay,” Trey admitted and nodded in understanding. “What do you want to do?”

Blake turned to take a good look at his boyfriend. The same blue eyes, the same bright smile, the same sexy body that had gotten a hold of him three years ago, they were all there, belonging to him. And he wanted to give Trey all the reasons in the world to smile like that forever. He wouldn’t normally put Trey through the kind of things he had in mind, and if there was a chance for Trey to allow him to do them by himself, he would.

“I’m going to see my parents,” Blake said in one go.

There was a short moment of silence. “I should buy a nice suit, right?”

“Why would you have to buy a suit?”

Trey stared at him, like the question eluded him. “I need to look proper when we’re going to meet your parents.”

“I’m going alone,” Blake said sharply. Maybe if he just put enough pressure, Trey would let him face his family on his own. “There’s no need for you to --”

“To what?” Trey let go of his shoulder and crossed his arms over his chest. “Support my boyfriend while he has to deal with the wrath of his parents? Show you that I love you? Be there when you need me most?”

Blake chuckled. “I keep on forgetting that this kitty has claws.”

An annoyed, but feigned, huff followed. “Who are you calling a kitty? If you’re going, I’m going, and don’t try to fool me by going behind my back. I won’t forgive you easily.”

“Ah, but you will forgive me, right?”

“I wouldn’t press my luck if I were you. So, how are we going to do this? The idea with the suit, I should, right?”

“I want you to be as comfortable as possible, so it doesn’t matter that much. Seeing how I won’t be able to shield you from their crappy attitude once we get in front of them, that’s the least I can offer you.”

“Then I’ll buy a suit. I want to look presentable. I don’t want them to think that I remained the same guy I was when you picked me from the gutter.”

“I actually picked you up from a line-up of sexy dudes, and Conner will surely get mad if you call his website a gutter --”

A punch to his shoulder made him shut his trap. 

“You know what I mean. They surely have this idea of me that I’m some kind of bum in the street or worse. I need to show them that’s no longer the case. And it’s because of you that I’m the person I am today.” Trey added a kiss to his words. “Oh, you should get a new suit, too. Now, what are you going to tell them?”

“In a nutshell, I want them to know that they cannot interfere with my life. I need to make it clear. Then, I want them to see that I’m serious about you, and that I’m not going to change my mind. I have a feeling that they hoped to achieve something by having Gabe Hasson make a move on me. Who knows what goes in their twisted minds? Maybe they had the epiphany that I would always be gay, but they wanted to have a say in whom I’m with. I don’t know. I will ask them, but I need to warn you. We might not get sincere answers. Honesty is in short supply in that house.”

“Whatever you say, Blake. I will be your silent partner throughout. Just know that you can count on me. And if there is something in particular you want me to do --”

“Just the fact that you want to come with me is enough to make me extremely happy.” Blake hooked one arm over Trey’s shoulders and pulled him in for a kiss. “And you can be as talkative or as silent as you want. I don’t mind.”

“I know they will have at least some reason to listen to you, their son. They might not have the same patience with me. But that doesn’t mean that I don’t want to be present. I will be there, with all my heart, just so you know that.”

Blake nodded and kissed Trey again. There was something else he wanted to let his parents know, and, for a couple of moments, he debated with himself whether he should let Trey know first. Maybe it was a good idea, but, at the same time –

He wanted it to be a surprise. Of course, it could always backfire, but Blake knew his boyfriend well. Even if he might get a bit mad for a second, he would not stay like that forever. With that decision made, Blake decided that it was time to start a new day. Only the thought of what he was planning was enough to put a spring in his step.

***

“Wow, this is a nice property,” Trey commented, as Blake pulled his car into the large driveway. 

Ever since Blake had decided to have a conversation with his parents, he had been a bit absent-minded. Trey couldn’t hold it against him since that had to come with the territory. He had also began to act in a furtive manner, like he had something to hide, but Trey had blamed it all on the things that must have been on Blake’s mind lately. 

Right now, the trial of fire was waiting for them. Trey inhaled deeply and gathered the courage to step out of the car. “Did you tell them I was coming along?”

“Yes. I also told them to behave, and I hope that my message got through.” Blake buttoned up his suit and arranged his cuffs, with a serious expression on his face. Trey could tell he was now in battle mode. He had only seen that a few times in his life, but he knew what it meant. Trey would be there to offer all the help he could, but he could tell Blake was prepared.

Even though Blake looked like he could take on the world, if needed, Trey hesitated at the entrance. Did he really have the guts to confront Blake’s parents? It wasn’t like he would lead the confrontation, but only the thought of people hating him was making his blood turn to ice. What could he do to make them think otherwise? Their mind must have been set. Blake had been excluded from the family, but seeing how they had agreed to this meeting, they might have had a change of heart about their son.

However, that didn’t mean that their benevolence would extend to Trey. He was a stranger, and, on top of everything, the one who, presumably, had led Blake astray. It didn’t matter that it wasn’t true. Trey exhaled. Maybe he was overthinking. A look at Blake told him everything he needed to know; that he would go through fire to be with him. This was nothing. If Blake’s parents wanted to be unpleasant toward him, even insult him, he would take everything like a champ. What was the worst that could happen?

“Ready?” Blake offered him a reassuring smile. Trey nodded eagerly.

***

Trey was a tiny bit dumbfounded over the reception they got. Blake’s mother had welcomed them as if they were guests of honor, and so far, nothing but polite conversation had been made. Blake’s father was reserved, and he replied to his wife’s suggestions and questions with grunts and monosyllabic words, but he hadn’t said anything that made Trey feel uncomfortable.

“I wanted to ask you,” Blake said, at one point, as the second course was served.

Trey thanked the server who took his plate to replace it. He felt terribly awkward, being waited on like that. Even when he went with Blake to restaurants, people weren’t this polite. He became acutely aware that he was as out of place there as fish out of water.

“Yes, dear?” his mother encouraged him to speak.

“Do you happen to know Gabe Hasson?”

There was a short look exchanged between Blake’s parents that wasn’t lost on Trey. By how Blake set his jaw hard, Trey could tell that Blake had seen it, too.

With a small, studied gesture, Blake’s mother placed her wine glass on the table. “I know the name. He is a quite an accomplished young man.”

“And gay,” Blake added.

The word fell like a brick. Blake’s father cursed under his breath, while his mother frowned slightly and withdrew a smidge as if she had suddenly discovered something foul on her plate.

There was no reply for a while. Trey’s eyes were moving between the people at the table. He could read the tension in Blake’s shoulders. His boyfriend wasn’t letting his parents off the hook that easily. He held both wrists against the table, his hands in the air, slightly curled into imaginary fists. 

“Like me,” Blake decided to add more fuel to the fire.

His father stood up abruptly and threw his napkin over the plate. “As I thought,” he said through his teeth. “This boy,” he pointed at Blake, “has no intention to mend his ways.”

“Darling, sit, we have guests,” his wife insisted, while her lips twisted into a forced smile.

“Guests?” Blake’s father was getting red in the face. “Guests?”

“Yes, guests.” It looked like Blake’s mother didn’t care about her husband’s indignation. “Now, sit.”

To Trey’s astonishment, Blake’s father took back his place at the table, although his body language spoke volumes. 

“I am going to cut to the chase since it looks like our presence here is bound to give my father a heart attack,” Blake said. He didn’t allow his mother the time to protest. “You sent Gabe Hasson on a mission, hoping to achieve something. I know exactly what that was, but I want to hear it from you.”

“Darling, we didn’t send anyone to achieve anything,” his mother denied right away. 

“Dear mother, I would like nothing else but to believe you. But there is no way the incident I’m talking about was random. I run a small investment firm, while Trey, my boyfriend, is a culinary vlogger. We do not mingle with the likes of Gabe Hasson. He is, as people would say, out of our league.”

Blake’s mother remained silent. 

Blake continued. “I was surprised and hurt that you would go to such lengths to make me break up with Trey. I am here today to make things as painfully clear as possible.”

“When are you going to give up on this nonsense?” His father boomed and smashed one fist against the table, making the silverware clatter. 

Blake’s mother made a small gesture with her hand, and Trey noticed the server from earlier walking backward out of the room. She probably wanted to check if it was the time for serving the next course, whatever that could be. If asked, Trey wouldn’t have been able to tell what they had had earlier. He also had no appetite.

“Nonsense? What nonsense are you talking about, dad?” Blake asked with a straight face.

When they had met, Blake had been a bundle of anger. Trey loved to think that their relationship had helped him for the better. But, right now, some of the Blake from before was emerging in front of his eyes, and rightfully so. 

“This man.” Blake’s father pointed at Trey.

“Oh, dear, stop that,” his wife protested.

“I will not stop anything. Why, oh why, did I hope that Blake would finally come to his senses? You were so happy to have him over as if he was the Second Coming.”

Blake’s mother covered her face for a moment. Trey felt instantly pity toward her. It appeared that she was fighting hard to keep it together. Whatever hopes she had held about their family dinner, they were definitely destroyed.

“Whose idea was to put Gabe Hasson up to that chicanery?” Blake’s eyes moved between his parents.

“Mine,” his father admitted right away, and proudly.

“Why? Do you think I’m some mindless fool? That I couldn’t see through it?”

That seemed to have an interesting effect on Blake’s father. He stopped and moved his lips for a bit, without making any sound.

“You know me so little,” Blake said. “I used to tell anyone who cared to listen that I inherited my intelligence from my father. I used to be proud of being your son.”

“Oh, dear,” his mother interjected.

“I am still your son. I still believe that I owe you a lot. But don’t think, for a moment, that you can dictate what I should do with my life.”

“You are heading for disaster,” his father hissed, as if Blake’s words hadn’t reached him at all. “You gave up your name, your wealth, your parents, your connections, and for what?”

“I didn’t give up my name,” Blake said noncommittally. “Do you want me to change it?”

His mother gasped. “Under no circumstances!”

“You know well what I mean,” his father continued. “You chose this man over us!” Again, he pointed a finger at Trey.

“This man is my boyfriend,” Blake said calmly.

Trey had no idea how Blake managed to keep his wits about him under that verbal assault. All the more, he had to commend him for it.

“Boyfriend? This relationship of yours is nothing but a travesty!”

“Why would you call it that?” Blake asked, his voice as even and measured as before.

“Because it’s not real!” his father boomed.

“I can assure you that Trey is here in flesh and blood, and not a figment of your imagination,” Blake replied.

His mother gasped again. “Blake, please, don’t talk like this to your father.”

“I am, as you can see, extremely civil. He is the one insulting me, calling my relationship a travesty, and pretending that Trey doesn’t exist, although he is present here, at this table. Do you also pretend not to see him, mom?”

Blake’s mother pushed one strand of hair behind the ear and then touched her pearl necklace, as if she could draw new strength from it. “I see him,” she said, after a while. She threw a glance at Trey, but then moved her eyes away from him.

“All right. At least, one of you acknowledges his presence. He is here because I love him. We’ve been together for three years, and our life together is real.”

His father seemed to seethe with anger. “You are just stubborn! You want to show us that you can do just fine by yourself! Is that it? All right, you convinced us!”

“No.” Blake seemed to have a hard time keeping his calm now. Trey was starting to notice some signs. “I didn’t plan on falling in love with Trey. I am happy with him, and we are building our life together, one day at a time. And, just so you know, I don’t hold a grudge against you. You are my parents and I will always love you. But I also love Trey, and I want to spend my entire life with him.”

Trey touched his chest, a big lump lodged in his throat. He knew Blake loved him, and he knew he could be sure of his love. But hearing him telling it like that, in front of no other but his parents, meant a lot.

“I came here today for two reasons,” Blake added. “One was to clear the air about Gabe Hasson. I see that you don’t deny it, and I thank you for your honesty. I detest you for going so low just to make me unhappy, but I can’t bring myself to hate you. I like to think that I have matured some during the last years, and that I can see the situation for what it is.”

There was a short pause, but neither of Blake’s parents said anything.

Blake continued. “There is another reason why I’m here. First of all, I want you to hear it from me, not someone else. Secondly, I want you to understand, once and for all, that my feelings for Trey are true. This is the news I wanted you to hear from me. I think three years have been enough to test the strength of our love.”

What was Blake trying to say? Trey stared at his boyfriend wide-eyed.

“I’m going to make this relationship you don’t accept official. We’re going to get married.”

Blake’s father exploded. “What?! Have you lost your mind completely?” 

“Marriage?” His mother was in shock, as well.

She wasn’t the only one. Trey wasn’t even sure how to react. On the one hand, he wanted to jump and kiss Blake right there. On the other hand, he wanted to strangle him for springing that on him without prior warning. Didn’t he know that Trey’s heart was weak when it came to him and what they felt for each other?

Blake stood up and buttoned up his suit jacket. “Thank you for the meal, mom. It was lovely. Now please excuse us, but Trey and I have a lot to talk about.”

That was true. They had a lot to talk about. Trey was still debating between kissing and strangling his boyfriend. Both methods could lead to suffocation if Trey did them as he felt. 

***

Blake put on the safety belt and kicked the engine into gear. He could feel Trey looking at him, stars in his eyes. Whew, he had dodged a bullet there. Trey didn’t appear to be upset about being kept in the dark, so all was good. His parents were angry now, but that had been a calculated risk from the get-go.

They were at a fair distance from his parents’ home when he decided to pull the car on the side of the road so that he and Trey could have the big talk. Both of them had been silent throughout their ride up to that moment, and Blake couldn’t keep it in anymore.

He turned toward Trey with a large grin on his face. Trey lunged at him, grabbing his neck. He didn’t have time to protest because Trey immediately kissed him hard on the lips. All right, talking about mixed signals, what was that about?

“How could you?” Trey asked the moment he allowed Blake to breathe.

“How could I do what?” Blake feigned innocence.

“How could you propose to me without proposing? Oh, wait, don’t tell me it’s some kind of hoax just to get on your parents’ nerves?”

“Get on my parents’ nerves? What am I? Twelve? It’s all true.”

Trey turned into his seat and covered his eyes. “You must be kidding me,” he moaned into his hands. “Couldn’t you have warned me before we left home?”

“I could, but where would the fun be, then?”

Trey punched Blake once in the shoulder, but pretty hard.

Blake protested right away. “Ouch!” He began rubbing his shoulder. “Since when do you pack a punch? I thought you were non-violent. You worry about bugs that get in through the kitchen window and don’t want to use bug repellent so that you don’t hurt them. When I see you with that little broom or whatever that is chasing them away, I’m just short of pissing my pants in laughter.”

“Well, unlike the poor bugs, you deserve it,” Trey said with conviction. “Why didn’t you say anything beforehand?”

“I wanted it to be a surprise,” Blake said airily. 

“Then you certainly succeeded in making it that. Oh, man, Blake, marriage? I mean --”

“Don’t tell me you’re going to shut me down,” Blake said, only half-joking. 

“Shut you down? You mean, shut you in the basement so that you could be mine forever?” Trey replied with a joke of his own.

Blake exhaled. “You had me worried for a moment there.”

“Don’t tell me you had doubts or something.” Trey rolled his eyes.

“Not really, or I wouldn’t have dared to tell you I want you as a husband in front of my unsupportive parents.”

“Quite daring you were.”

“So, what are you saying?”

“What can I say? You’re the master of surprise.”

“No, that’s not what I mean. What answer do you have for me?”

“For the proposal that you didn’t actually address to me?”

“Yeah, that’s what I’m talking about.”

There was a small silence. Trey turned toward him, and his eyes were swimming in tears.

“Oh, no,” Blake said softly, “what have I done? Why are you crying?”

Trey lunged at him again, but this time was to embrace him and hold him tightly. “You have no idea,” he said sniffling, “how happy I am right now.”

Blake held him close. “If you’re happy, why are you crying?” He caressed Trey’s hair gently.

“Because it’s too much, and my heart can’t take it.”

“You can be so cute and silly sometimes I can’t believe it,” Blake said lovingly.

“I’m not silly, you are. Breaking the news like that in front of your parents.”

Blake laughed and kissed Trey’s head. “They deserved to know.”

“But they are against us.”

“Nonetheless. I said nothing but the truth in there. I love them still, but they need to understand that I’m in love with you, and I’ll always be.”

“I love you, too, Blake,” Trey said.

Blake took out a handkerchief and wiped Trey’s cheeks slowly. “I’m counting on that. Hey, cry baby, you still haven’t told me. What answer you have for me?”

Trey’s face scrunched up as if he was about to cry again, but, this time, he started laughing. “It’s ‘yes’, of course it’s ‘yes’!”

Blake pulled him in for another long kiss. “Then it all works out fine. Just as I planned.”

“Ah, you planned everything.” Trey nudged him in the ribs playfully.

“Of course. That’s what I am. A man who plans everything in the smallest detail.”

“So, we’re doing it, right? Marriage,” Trey said and sighed.

Blake could read nothing but contentment in that sigh. “Before marriage, there’s a small step first.”

“What step?” Trey asked, visibly curious.

“A wedding,” Blake said with satisfaction. With that, he reached in his chest pocket and took out a small case. It had been with him for days now.

Trey squealed in delight. “A ring? Do I get a ring?”

“It’s just the engagement ring, but then you’ll have the real thing. In the meantime, we need to organize the wedding because I don’t plan a long engagement.”

“Oh. Damn, what are we going to serve? Where are we going to get the cake from? Maybe I could make it … but, no, this is an important event, I can’t just wing it. People would talk for years about my failed cake --”

Blake started laughing and started the car. Now he would have fretful boyfriend for at least a few days. Eventually, Trey would calm down, and then Blake would show him the list with caterers and everything they needed to organize the event. 

***

“I can’t get over you going to your folks and telling them to their faces they’re going to be parents in law.” Conner raised his glass again. His wife clinked her glass to his, and added new congratulations to the happy couple. “Give it to me straight. Did your father hurt himself when he heard about it? I don’t know, did he stab his eyes with a fork or something like that?”

Blake shook his head, amused. “No. He just yelled and puffed and all that. But the days when he could tell me what to do are long gone. My and my husband’s door is open. They are the ones who need to take the next step. I’ll be waiting for them to do that all my life, if needed. In the meantime, I’ll be busy being happy with my better half.”

Trey walked over to him that moment. He looked amazing in his light cream suit and white flower on his chest. Blake took his hand and stared at him, love-struck. “It was about time I made things right.”

“That you did. You guys are awesome, each one of you. Together, I think you’re a force of nature.”

“Thank you, Conner,” Trey said and embraced him and his wife.

“Sir, there is someone here who wants to see you. I couldn’t find the name on the list of guests, but --” the waiter leaned and whispered into Blake’s ear.

Trey followed the exchange. “What is it?” he asked right away.

“Come with me,” Blake replied. “Sorry, guys, we’ll be back in a minute.”

“Sure thing. I have my lovely wife to keep me company, and also plenty of champagne. I don’t think we’re going to notice your absence.”

“Great. Make sure not to get pissed drunk. I’m not carrying you home on my wedding night.”

“Don’t worry. I’ll take care of him,” Conner’s wife said promptly. “And I won’t let him get drunk. Not without you.”

Blake laughed. “Then I must be leaving him in good hands.”

“What’s going on?” Trey asked, as soon as they were out of anyone’s earshot.

“I don’t know, but I want to find out, and I want you to be present, too.”

He didn’t add anything. Together, they would cross any bridge that happened in their way.

Blake stopped for a moment, but then he took Trey’s hand and held it tightly. With his head high, he walked over to the unannounced visitor. His mother gave him a strained smile. She held a large bouquet of white roses, but there was doubt written all over her. Her car wasn’t far, and Blake could make out the profile of her chauffeur behind the wheel. That was quite daring on her part.

“Hi, mom.” He stopped in front of her. 

She smiled again, and then she looked at the flowers in her arms. After another moment, she handed them to Trey who took them with murmured thanks. “I didn’t know what the protocol would be,” she said. “I hope I’m not out of it completely.”

“They’re beautiful,” Trey said. “Thank you, Mrs. Everton.”

“You’re welcome, Trey.” 

The sun was getting in her eyes, and now that her hands were empty, she clasped them and held them linked, without saying another word.

“Why are you here?” Blake asked, after another moment of awkward silence.

“I ... I guess I just wanted to congratulate you on the most beautiful day of your life. And Trey.”

“Thank you. You missed the ceremony, though.”

Trey squeezed his hand in warning. “Would you like to come in, Mrs. Everton?”

“No. I don’t want to bother --”

“Mom, I’m getting married, and I’m your only son. Could you please drop the act?”

Another squeeze from his husband warned him again.

“Oh, Blake,” his mother said softly, and her shoulders slumped as if she was collapsing in herself. “I just wanted to see you happy, nothing else. And it’s a lot to take in, after all these years of denial.” She stopped for a moment. “I can see that you are. There’s nothing else I care about.”

“Except your reputation, the family name, and all that.” Blake said the words without heated emotion. Those were just simple facts.

His mother looked embarrassed. “I know how you must feel. And I’m trying to understand, I am. I wouldn’t be here otherwise.”

“Okay. Are you sure you don’t want to come in? I see that you already risked dad’s wrath by coming here today. Or doesn’t he know?”

“He knows,” his mother confirmed. “And he’s not talking to me. But I couldn’t miss this day. I wish you two all the happiness.”

“Mrs. Everton, you must come. If only for a little while,” Trey insisted. He let go of Blake’s arm so that he could reach his mother-in-law.

“All right. If it’s only for a little while,” she agreed.

Trey offered his arm gallantly and she took it. Blake looked at his husband and he saw there nothing but love and acceptance. Without another word, he offered his mom his arm, as well. 

Miracles never ceased, it seemed. Trey had taught him as much.

THE END