Page 35 of Unexpected Boyfriends

“The Beecham’s grandson. What the hell do you think you’re doing?”

“We… went out last night.”

“And he slept over?”

“Um, yes. You don’t usually have a problem with that,” I reply cautiously. “What’s the big deal?”

“The ‘big deal’ is that you’re messing with the grandson of your dad’s boss,” she accuses me angrily.

“Whoa!” I hold my hands up, trying to calm her down. “I’m not messing around. I’m seeing him. This is serious. We like each other.”

“It doesn’t matter how much you like each other. Not only because of who he is, but also because he’s still in school. And you’re twenty-two, for heaven’s sake!”

“Mum, we don’t care about that. He doesn’t. I don’t. We get along just fine.”

“I'm sure it's illegal. And anyway, you just can’t. He’s out-of-bounds – you can’t sleep with or even date him. I don’t know what you were thinking.”

I’m gobsmacked. How dare she tell me who I can and can’t date?

“I’m not going to stop seeing him,” I insist, starting to walk away.

“You must. Your father will be livid when he finds out.”

I stop walking. I turn around.

“Then he’d better not find out. You can’t tell him. Or anyone. Justin isn’t out yet. And he’s told me his family would not be accepting.”

“All the more reason to stop seeing him,” she says, “as if there weren’t enough already.”

I turn and walk away. There’s no point in arguing. She won’t out him. And I won’t stop seeing him. I hope that by letting her have the last word, she thinks she’s won the argument and lets the subject drop. I’m not going to fight with her, but I’m also not going to let go of the best thing that’s ever happened to me. It’s my life, not my parents’, and as long as Justin chooses me, then this is what we’re doing. I’m not letting go of him again.

Chapter 13

Sydney

JUSTIN

The morning is well advanced by the time I wake up for the second time today.

I stretch and lie in bed listening to the sound of the surf crashing on the shore, the currawongs calling to each other, the cicadas trilling in the bush. The sounds of summer.

Memories of last night rush back to me and I can’t help but smile. Life is good. I lie there and think of the beautiful brown-haired man who has my blood racing and my heart singing. It’s only hours since we parted, and I can’t wait to see him again.

And I don’t have to wait long. At 11am, Axel knocks at the front door, asking if I want to go for a swim.

“We’re going to the beach,” I tell my grandparents. “Don’t worry about me for lunch.”

“Enjoy yourselves, boys,” replies my grandma, no doubt totally pleased that I’ve got a friend to hang out with. I can’t help feeling the tiniest bit guilty, as they wouldn’t be so happy if they knew the true nature of the friendship. But no-one’s telling them, so…

Axel grins at me when we get in his car.

“Goodmorning,” he smirks.

“Mmm. It’s a very good morning,” I can’t help the big fat smile on my face. “It was a very good night too.”

“Yes, it was.” Axel looks around, and as there’s no-one in sight, hazards leaning across and planting a kiss on my cheek.

“I’m sorry I was such an idiot,” he says.

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