Page 43 of For the Love of the Broken Man

“Thanks, Mom.” Jase shoved her out of the small bedroom so he could dress. It was his graduation day, and he was damn excited to get on with his life.

For so long Jase hadn’t cared about his life, but that was now semi-ancient history. In the words of the great Dalai Lama XIV, “There are only two days in the year that nothing can be done. One is called yesterday and the other is called tomorrow.”

Or was it a Celine Dion song? Jase might have been a little high when he heard the interview with Oprah because one thing he loved about Brit, she had a hookup for some of the most exquisite herb he’d ever had in his life. It was, however, time to put it all behind him and move on to the future.

When he strolled out of his small bedroom in a suit that he’d been able to buy with some of his nest egg, he felt like the king of the world. He had the blue and gold tie loose around his neck because it was hot as fuck in the house, and he still had an hour before he had to show at McCamish Pavilion.

He already knew his mother wasn’t coming because after his father returned from his deployment, he hadn’t heard from her again. For six months, they’d become best friends and had visited each other. She’d loved Atlanta and all things southern, so most of the time she’d come to him while he was in school.

Jase couldn’t hold it against Ginny because it was the life she’d signed up for twenty-two years earlier. He didn’t expect her to change.

He’d sent email invitations to his graduation to Jon and Mick, along with Ally and Ham, his extended family. Savannah and Andy were going to Italy for a summer abroad course between their junior and senior years of college, having left as soon as their classes ended, so he knew they wouldn’t be attending.

As he sat in the kitchen drinking a cup of coffee, he did something he rarely allowed himself to do… he thought about Kayley and Dan. He knew Dan’s brother, Zach, had married his college sweetheart, Amy, and they had moved to New York when Zach got a promotion at his job.

At Christmas, they had a baby boy, as Mickey had told him when they had a regular call. Mickey had heard the news from Tim Moran, which surprised Jase. Mickey never mentioned having a discussion with Danny, and it had Jase puzzled.

The adoption of Kayley had been finalized without incident, which made Jase happy and sad at the same time. Danny still worked at the Circle C, he and Kayley still living in the little house in Holloway. Jase’s heart ached as he wondered what they were up to, and much to his shame, he still missed them every fucking day he drew a breath.

Meggie was in the third year of her special school in Richmond, and she was doing quite well. So well, in fact, Mickey and Jon were considering mainstreaming her when she got to middle school level. Having visited the family over the years when he had forced breaks from school, he could see how she’d grown and matured, so Jase was convinced she’d do well in whatever course her life took.

Terry was a junior in high school at seventeen, and he was a football powerhouse. From what Jon told him during their video calls, Terry had been scouted by some of the top colleges on the East Coast. Jase was happy for them all and looked forward to the two weeks he’d planned to spend with them before he moved his ass to Maryland and took the next step into his future.

Jase sipped his coffee and looked around the shabby apartment they’d all shared in Atlanta, smiling at a few choice memories. There had been guys over the three years, but they were only temporary, and he hadn’t fucked them, or them him. There were other ways to get off that suited him fine.

On occasion, he’d take a cock into his mouth, but Jase had become quite selective. Only sandy-blond, shorter men with muscular builds had been his choice, and he didn’t dismiss the reasons why.

He couldn’t help himself. He’d always be in love with Danny Johnson, though they hadn’t been in contact in three years. It was for the better. Jason’s heart couldn’t take another hammering.

Jason sat in an uncomfortable metal chair inside McCamish Pavilion. He looked around at parents who seemed to be happy, and he smiled a little at the sight. He hoped they were supportive of their kids who were graduating from college, and he blocked out things circling his own mind about wishing for happiness for himself. It wasn’t in the cards.

Jase believed himself destined to be as miserable as his father—undoubtedly—so he accepted his fate early on, but decided he wouldn’t be bitter. He’d accept the unhappiness which seemed to be his birthright. It was easiest to be…resigned.

When his row was called, Jase stood and glanced around the large auditorium to see no one he knew which wasn’t a surprise. He was a footnote in the world of the people he’d met one summer, so why he’d hoped his friends in Virginia would come was simply embarrassing.

Jase got into the line and listened to the names called before his, clapping for his classmates. He’d done his degree in three years, and he was proud of himself even if nobody else in his life gave a damn.

“Jason Eric Langston.” Jase slowly strolled across the stage. He heard a loud cheer and turned toward the sound, seeing several signs held in the air that stopped him in his tracks.

“Congratulations, Jay,” his adviser stated as he was pulled around to move him off the stage with a handshake. He shook hands with Dr. Sanders, the dean of his school before he made his way to the stairs.

Jase had no idea who the hell was cheering or who had made signs with his name on them that wished him congratulations in large capital letters, but he wanted to know, so he pointed to the corner of the room and gave them a thumbs-up, hoping they knew he wanted to meet them after the ceremony.

“Come on, mate.” Jason turned to see Thomas Leeds with a handsome smile on his face as he pulled him down the stairs. The Aussie was one he’d have liked to get to know, but it seemed the guy was straight—though Jase wasn’t exactly sure about the speculation from his friend group that consisted of classmates in his field of study. Perhaps it was wishful thinking on his part to hope the man wasn’t? Thomas certainly had a look about him that could lead a gay boy around by the dick.

“Hey, Tom. Congrats. You headed back to Australia?” They’d had a few classes together over the years even though Tom was older than Jase. He was double majoring, so he’d taken an extra couple of years to finish, but Jase had no doubt the guy would be a big success.

The Aussie laughed. “Naw, mate. Headed to Miami as a matter of fact. Seems Father’s gift to me, since he didn’t bother to come witness his youngest make his mark, is a condo on the beach and a nice, tidy sum for a gap year I never took. I’ll get a tan one way or another,” the handsome man joked as he slapped Jase on the back.

His bright red hair and pale complexion said otherwise, but Jase laughed. “Watch out for yourself, man. Things are different down there than they are here in the ATL. Every big city has its own pros and cons.” They shook hands and parted company.

Jase headed back to his seat to watch the remainder of the degrees conferred to his fellow classmates because they’d sat and watched him walk the stage. He was considering what he was going to do for the time until the next day when he planned to pack up the pickup that he’d bought secondhand with money he’d saved from the sum his mother had given him.

Jon and Mickey had begged him to return to Wonderland for two weeks before he moved to Rockville for his new job. He’d eventually accepted their invitation, finally embracing the fact he had nobody else waiting for him to be anywhere.

It was a little heartbreaking if Jase dwelled on his lack of familial obligations, but he was grateful for the found family he had acquired, though truth be told, they weren’t really his. They were Danny’s.

After hugs with a few classmates from a study group and some social acquaintances, Jase made his way to the corner of the pavilion he’d pointed out to the group of anonymous supporters he had in the stands.

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