Page 103 of A Little More Forgiveness

“Can’t wait to see you guys, too, and I’ll make sure I’m careful driving home,” I answered before ending the call. As if I’d do anything else. I had way too much to lose these days to contemplate being reckless with my life.

Eighteen months of complete and utter bliss.

There was no other way to describe the bone-deep contentment I felt every single day. The fast lane of my past life had turned into the extremely slow lane of my present, and I couldn’t have been happier.

My two weeks every couple of months in the New York office had worked like a charm. Of course, I missed my fiancés, but as compensation, I got to spend quality time with Ethan, Nate, and Ty and be fed at least twice by my mamá during my stay so a win-win all around.

I pushed the elevator button for the parking garage at the same time my phone starting ringing.

Talk of the devil.

I swiped my finger and answered the call. “Hey, Mamá.”

“How’s my baby boy?”

I chuckled. “As the youngest of your sons, I’m your only baby boy.”

“And you’re the best of them all.”

I’d take that because, hey, I really was.

“What’s up?” I asked her.

“We’re checking if it’s still okay for your papá and I to arrive tonight instead of tomorrow morning?”

“Are you kidding me? Of course, you’re coming tonight. I’ve been looking forward to it, especially since you’re cooking my favorite meal.” Smoked pork chops with a chipotle sauce. “I’ve been craving your food all week.”

Her answering laugh sounded light and carefree, but I knew my answer pleased her. She cleared her throat, and the line went quiet. Too quiet.

“What?” I asked cautiously.

“I know you’re happy. I do, but I am your mamá, and I worry. I want to be sure this is what you truly want, to marry these two men, to spend the rest of your lives together after everything you went through with them?”

By them, she meant Karl and David.

I’d done a lot of self-examination since being with my guys, analyzing my past relationship to ensure I didn’t make the same mistakes again. I’d been paranoid my newfound life would crumble all around me, and it had taken a lot of reassurance from Leo and Mitch to convince me I wouldn’t fuck things up. I shouldn’t have worried as, clearly, what we had was as different as night and day. I went out of my way to stay as close to them as possible, to not let work interfere in my personal life the way I had in the past. We talked, too, more than ever, about how we were feeling or whether anything was worrying us, and we actively worked to find a solution to whatever came up that would benefit all three.

I’d felt ill the first time I’d had to leave them and return to the city for work, but they’d made the whole process so easy for me. We messaged all the time. I video called them every night to see their faces and hear their voices as we talked about our day. They centered me, calmed my anxieties, and their endless patience made me fall in love with them even more.

Being with Leo and Mitch let me see what a truly committed relationship should be, and though I’d thought I’d had one in the past, it had never felt as all-encompassing with Karl and David, and they’d deserved better from me.

I’d extended an olive branch to them…well, more of a belated wedding gift, really. A basket from David’s favorite upmarket English food store. We’d been to Europe on vacation once, and our last stop was London. He’d always wanted to go and had been ecstatic when he’d finally gotten his wish. They accepted my gift and apology with good grace, and though we’d never be close again, and in all probability not maintain contact, I was grateful to finally put my past to rest.

“Yes, Mamá, I’m sure.”

She paused for a while before replying, “Okay, my boy.” It was done.

“Now can you let me go and get back to my men?”

Another laugh. “You and your men. I don’t know how you manage them both. Your papá is more than enough for me to handle.”

“I think it’s more how they handle me.”

“You, my son, are easy to handle. As long as they shower you with love and affection and make you feel secure and happy, you’re putty in their hands.”

“Yeah, yeah.”

Mothers. Were they ever wrong?

---