Page 85 of Harmless Scandals

“No. You will listen to me. You didn’t want to ask her because it would be something other than the fantasy you built in your mind. I love you, but you don’t always look at the world and see the bad things.”

Because it was close to the truth, he said nothing.

“And that poor girl, Serenity. She was in tears when I talked to her.”

His stomach twisted. He had been extraordinarily cruel to her, and he wasn’t a cruel person.

“She was crying?”

“You broke her heart.”

He sighed. “She’s not the only one hurting here.”

“No, but you’re the one doing most of the damage. Listen up. You are my baby boy and the light of my life. But from the way Adam talked about this woman, he’s in love with her. I have a feeling you are as well. You screw this up, I will disown you and tell everyone you became a monk.”

“What?”

“It’s embarrassing that I have no grandchildren. You and Adam won’t even talk of adopting. You both love this woman, so I have a real chance.”

“I didn’t know you would be so cool about this. It isn’t normal.”

“When have you ever been normal? How many sixteen year olds come out to their Army father to say they are bisexual? Not many, I’m sure. And, at the time, I’m pretty sure there wasn’t that many fathers who would have accepted, especially a career Army guy. But he did…as did I. We both were happy when you and Adam finally settled down together, and while it is unorthodox, I am happy you found this Serenity.”

“Mom.” He didn’t know what else to say. His parents were a little on the conservative side, but Mick had never questioned their support or loyalty. This, though, he hadn’t been sure how his parents would take it.

“She sounds like a perfectly lovely woman, at least what little I talked to her. You love her. Adam loves her. And I’m fairly certain she is in love with both of you. Go fix things.”

“I love you, Mom.”

“I love you too. Now go.”

She hung up the phone. He sighed. Now that his pain had subsided, he realized that it had been more to do with the fact that she hadn’t told them everything. But his mother was right. He never asked Serenity. Not really. He hadn’t pushed any more discussion about her past life. She hadn’t been completely honest, but she hadn’t ratted them out either.

His phone vibrated. He looked down.

Adam: Get your damn ass over here and help me fix this.

Dammit. He wasn’t that good at groveling.

Mick sat there for a second or two trying to talk himself out of going over. It was safer to stay there, to just let the relationship dissolve. But, there was a tiny part of him that knew Adam might not side with him. After all the years of friendship and love, Mick might lose the one man he thought of as his soul mate.

But you don’t have one.

That little voice in his head had been irritating him since Adam had followed Serenity out the door. He hadn’t thought further than getting Serenity in bed. He had wanted her on a level that he truly wasn’t comfortable with. What had he thought would happen? That she would just be a fixture in their relationship and things would go on as they had before?

Damn, he was a dumbass. She was part and parcel of the whole now. Isn’t that what he freaked out about last week? Bringing her into their bed, into their lives, had shifted everything. It was never going to be the same, but that wasn’t always a bad thing. It would never be the same, but that also meant it was a new adventure. Truth was, he couldn't even fathom a relationship with Adam without Serenity.

He was absolutely going to have to grovel. With that thought in mind, he made his way over to her house. He heard Adam's voice, but he couldn't make out what he was saying. Every now and then, he heard a sniffle. Shit, his mother had been right. Serenity was crying.

Slipping off his shoes, he opened the front door without knocking. “He'll come around,” Adam said.

“Maybe I don't want him to come around.”

Adam's sigh was long and loud.

“He's a pain in the ass and he tends to act without thinking.”

“That person isn't who I am now. Kayleigh died the day I changed my name, and I have never really looked back. Moving forward is the only way to survive.”

---