Page 22 of Revelations

“I know we’re not supposed to keep secrets in the club, and I’m truly sorry for doin’ so. This isn’t a club secret though.This is personal and somethin’ Wade kept to himself because of me. He wanted to share it with others and I made him wait. We’ve been in a relationship since the end of my junior year of high school. It was just before I turned eighteen. Nothin’ happened until after I was of age. Yes, we still want to share a woman, Genesis, but we’re also together. The entire reason I didn’t want to say anythin’ to anyone in this room, the club, or anyone else we know is because I was scared of how you’d all react. I’ve looked up to my dad, grandpa, and Killer my entire life. You three are the kind of man I want to be and I only want to make you proud every single day I’m lucky enough to wake up. In keepin’ this between us, I’ve not only lied to the club and my family, but I’ve hurt Wade.

“Wade is the one person I’ve never wanted to hurt for any reason, and it’s the exact thing I did on a daily basis for fuckin’ years. I hope you can all forgive me for the lies, sneakin’ around, and the pain I’ve caused. I don’t ever want you to look at me differently, but I’m not gonna keep lyin’ about who I love and want to spend my life with,” I say, grabbing Wade’s hand and turning to look at him with tears in my eyes. “Wade, I do love you. I don’t even remember when I first started lookin’ at you differently now, but it’s only ever been you. I will spend the rest of our days makin’ all the bullshit up to you any way I can if you choose to forgive me and give me another chance. I’m so, so sorry for all the pain I’ve caused you.”

No one in the room says a word for the longest time. It feels as if an eternity passes by and the only sound in the room is my rapidly beating chest as I cling to Wade. I don’t look at anyone around us and stare at the floor. When I hear someone move in the room, I look up to find my dad making his way over to me. Without saying a word, he pulls me into his arms and holds me as I break down once again.

“I don’t know why you’d ever think we wouldn’t accept you and who you love, Dylan. If you want to be with Wade and Genesis, then be with them. I’m your dad and I will always love you no matter what. I’m not disappointed or upset for any reason. And, I have to admit somethin’,” my dad says, stepping back among the rest of our family members as Killer steps up next to him.

“As Carson found out when he talked to me about datin’ my baby girl, Playboy and I followed him one night to find out exactly what he was doin’ when he was goin’ out. There were so many girls and your parents were worried about becomin’ grandparents too young. Of Carson gettin’ some girl pregnant and bein’ stuck with her for life. So we followed them and realized he wasn’t datin’ those girls to be with them sexually. It was a way to ensure both of them were out of the house on a weekend and not lonely. Every single girl was nothin’ more than a friend or classmate,” Killer says, looking around the room as Caleb starts laughing his ass off in the back by our grandpa.

“Anyway,” my dad begins, waiting until Caleb stops laughing. “We all saw a massive change in the both of you around the time you started your relationship. So, once again, Killer and I followed the two of you and realized there was definitely more to you than bein’ best friends. We’ve kept your secret all these years and didn’t even share with Wood, Boy Scout, or Jennifer. Son, we’ve known all these years and neither one of us has ever treated you any different than how we did before we saw what you two were.”

“Fuck,” I say, burying my head in Wade’s shoulder as I close my eyes against the embarrassment running through me right now.

“And neither did I,” Killer says, his voice closer to me than before. “Dylan, you’re one of the best guys I’ve had the privilegeof mentorin’ and spendin’ time with. I’ve watched you grow up into the young man you are today and it’s truly been an honor. I don’t give a fuck who you’re in a relationship with. It changes nothin’ in my eyes. And honestly you and Wade are perfect for one another. Don’t keep shit like this from your family again. Neither one of you.”

“Dylan, I love you,” my grandpa says, stepping up to us and pulling Wade and me into his arms. “Wade, you've always been there with my grandson and kept him out of his head when he really needed it. I’ve always suspected things were more between the two of you as well. You weren’t very good at hidin’ the way you look at one another when you felt no one else was watchin’. We don’t judge others for any reason and that includes the two of you. I’m sorry you felt that we’d react horribly and couldn’t come to us with this aspect of your relationship. I should have done more to make sure you know that I’m okay with every single part of you. Nothin’ will ever change that, Dylan.”

“You know Boy Scout and I don’t give a fuck about that kind of shit. Honestly, we’ve had that talk about goin’ there, but it’s not for us. It doesn’t mean it’s wrong for either one of us though. Wade, if you’re happy with Dylan and want to be with him, then be with him. Devil, the same goes for you. We’re happy as long as you’re both happy. And you give your moms some grandbabies. You both know that’s gonna come up very soon. Jennifer is already lookin’ at all sorts of baby shit,” Wood says, stepping up and pulling us from my grandpa to hold us in his arms as Boy Scout joins us.

“I agree with everythin’ everyone here in this room has said. You’re both the best men we know and don’t give a fuck who you love. If that’s one another, Genesis, or anyone else. We only want your happiness,” Boy Scout adds in, pulling meaway from Wade and Boy Scout to hug. “Dylan, you’ve always worried about makin’ us upset or disappointed in you one way or another. Stop that shit. I know where you’re comin’ from more than most in this club. I’m tellin’ you it’s gonna lead to nothin’ more than heartache and a ton of stress you don’t need. Work on that. Lean on Wade and Genesis.”

“Devil and Raptor, if you don’t come to the club with this shit, I will personally kick both your asses. No one here will ever judge you for bein’ together. If they do, they’ll quickly learn where the fuckin’ door is. Valor and I grew up hearin’ our dad tell us that you love who you love and it doesn’t matter what gender the person is or what they look like. As long as the man or woman is good for you and makes you happy, then no one in this club will give a fuck about you two bein’ together. And, I think at this point every single man and woman here have kind of figured out what’s goin’ on. Like Slim said, neither one of you have a very good mask in place when it comes to the other one. My only concern in this situation is Genesis. Does she know about the two of you?” Vault adds in his opinion honestly shocking the hell out of me by saying he'd kick people out of the club for not accepting us.

“She knows about us,” Wade answers, speaking up for the first time as he steps closer and grabs my hand, lacing our fingers together. “She caught us one time and I treated her horribly because of it. I think we’ve worked past that by now since we’ve been spendin’ so much time together.”

“Good. As long as she’s cool with it, that’s all that matters. What the three of you do and how your relationship is, no one here will give a fuck,” Vault returns, taking Annabell in his arms as Tank and the triplets step up to me.

“You should’ve come to talk to me, Dylan. I would’ve helped you talk to everyone a lot sooner than today. Youwouldn’t have hurt Wade or anyone else,” Tank says as the triplets nod next to their dad. “The boys would’ve been a good soundin’ board too. They might be jackasses most of the time, but they’ll listen and help you just as anyone else will. You’re blood and that means more than almost anythin’ else.”

The triplets and Tank hug Wade and I, joking and talking to us as our moms stand back with Shy holding them both. All three women have tears in their eyes and I know they’re upset because I didn’t feel as if we could talk to them.

“Mom,” I say, my voice breaking as she leaves Shy’s side and races to me.

“I love you, Dylan. Don’t ever do this shit to us again. Nothin’ you do will ever change the love we have for you. Wade has always been a member of our family and that will never change. We’ll always accept you for who you truly are no matter what that looks like,” my mom says, her voice trembling with the tears slowly sliding down her face.

“Jennifer and I agree with Sam,” Shy adds in, stepping up and pulling us into her arms so she’s holding Wade, his mom, my mom, and me. “You boys are among the best I’ve had the privilege of knowin’ and helpin’ raise. Next time, come to us. Now, take us out so we can meet Genesis and our new grandbaby.”

Everyone in the room laughs. After several more minutes of us talking and everyone reassuring us that no one will bat an eye at Wade and I being together, we leave the game room and make our way to the common room. Wade and I walk behind everyone else as we enter. The room is full of the remaining family members, club members, Morgan, Kat, and Genesis. King is the first one to notice Wade and I holding hands. He stands from his table and starts clapping his hands, drawing everyone’s attention as they look in our direction.

“It’s about fuckin’ time,” King calls out, his voice echoing in the common room as everyone joins him in cheering for the two of us.

Wade surprises the hell out of me by turning me to face him, looking deep into my eyes, and pressing his lips against mine. The cat calls fade to nothing as he deepens the kiss, but keeps it brief. When he pulls back, I rest my forehead against his. The rest of the club members and ol’ ladies come over to congratulate us and tell us it’s about damn time we got this shit out in the open. I guess Caleb was wrong about only one person knowing our secret. It seems as if everyone knew and was just waiting for me to get my head out of my ass to be ready to share the news with the rest of our family.

Chapter Sixteen

Genesis

LAST NIGHT WAS so overwhelming. I met so many people and have no chance of remembering any of their names. Everyone seems very nice and they were very interested in learning all about me. I opened up a little bit, but it was so hard and I’m sure I made a horrible impression on Devil and Raptor’s family members. I did manage to last an hour with everyone before Caleb saw how nervous I was and came to the rescue. He told everyone it was time for me to take more medicine so he was gonna take Matie and me to the house to chill with us for a while before he returned for dinner. I couldn’t even help the ol’ ladies make dinner for everyone because of the damn sling. I felt useless and out of my depth in every way imaginable.

Caleb didn’t stay with me for very long. I assured him that Matie was napping and he’d be that way for a few hours. When he started to wake up, I promised him I’d call someone to come up and help me. After walking him to the door, I made sure it was locked and the alarm was set as Raptor just showed me how to do that a few days ago. With nothing else to do, I went through the house and grabbed the meager belongings for Matie and myself, packing them in the two duffle bags they were brought from the apartment in. I’m not sure who they belong to, but I’ll make sure to leave some money behind for them with everythingelse the guys and others have bought for us since being here to recover.

Other than important papers we’d need to move on, I made sure to pack all of Matie’s clothing, most of his toys, all the food that’s been bought for him, formula, diapers, wipes, and his bath stuff. I grabbed the unopened bottles to ensure they didn’t leak in the bags and that someone could still bathe him tonight before putting him to bed after he’s had his dinner. Unless someone is actually looking for the things I’ve packed, they won’t notice anything missing. When I pack my things, I make sure to leave everything behind that belong to Raptor and Devil. Yes, they are both Raptor and Devil to me once again.

Seeing the two of them completely open and happy surrounded by their loved ones, made something heal deep inside me while shattering something else at the same time. I’ve started to fall in love with both of the stubborn men who are so completely in love with one another. Yes, I know they’re looking to share a woman between the two of them. That woman isn’t me though. I come with too much baggage and my only concern is Matie. I have to do what’s best for him and only him. There is no time in my life for love or a relationship. Not now and maybe not ever. Things might be different if I weren’t worried about Ricky finding us again, but I am. The club doesn’t truly understand who this fucker is or what he’s capable of. Not just from King digging up information on him.

Ricky is essentially a low level thug who thinks he’s bigger than what the reality is. He’s a manipulator, abuser, and serial cheater among so many other things. No one into anything major will deal with him because he feels as if his way is right and that he doesn’t ever have to listen to anyone else above him. The idiots he gets to work for him are dumb as hell and can’t pull off even simple tasks he gives them. Yes, I told the guys hepimped out Melinda and I meant that. It wasn’t to strangers or anything like that. He forced her to fuck his so-called friends and associates for money or favors. Melinda never saw a penny of the money and the favors never went to her. She was just who they fucked so Ricky could get what he wants. Honestly, Melinda doesn’t even know if Ricky is Matie’s dad. His name isn’t even on the birth certificate.

After packing our things, I pull out my phone and enlist the help of someone from the club. I might not be close with a ton of people there, but the dancers have all been pretty decent to me. Mandy is someone I’ve had multiple conversations with and she’s a sweet girl. I make arrangements with her to pick me up first thing in the morning. Raptor and Devil won’t be at work because their family is in town. I’ll just tell them I’m going to the clubhouse to hang out with Morgan and Kat if I have to get past them. Mandy is happy to help me out because she doesn’t know that I’m sneaking away from the club and guys I want to be with more than anything else.

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