Page 8 of Now and Forever

“You know what? I don’t want it to happen either.”

Seth’s heart plunged.I knew it. He shouldn’t have insisted they go on the trip after all. “If you’re too nervous, we can go back. You can blame it on me.”

“Oh my God,” Malcolm muttered under his breath. He started petting Seth’s knee. “Sweetheart, listen to me. OfcourseI don’t want my parents to be mad at me. Who would? But we’re going. This visit is happening. You’re meeting my parents and my mom will adore you even more in person than she already does from afar. My dad will be thrilled for us and he’ll probably tell you that you’re too good for me.” Malcolm chuckled. “And if you call me Daddy? Then they’ll be concerned, maybe even shocked, but they won’t be mad. Not really. The only time I can ever remember them being truly mad at me, was when I was sixteen and took the car without permission or a driver’s license.”

Seth jaw dropped. “Really? You did that?”

“How else was I going to get to the gay bar one town over so I could use my fake ID?” He snickered. “I couldn’t very well ask them to drop me off.”

“Wow…” Seth tried to picture it. “Is that why you asked me about the fake ID the night we met, because you’d done it?”

“Baby, pretty much everyone’s done it.”

Seth tried to imagine what would’ve happened to him ifhe’dever attempted such a thing when he was sixteen. He shuddered. But Malcolm’s other words bled through as well.

“Then, what you’re saying, is that even if I try very hard and they find out anyway, you won’t betooupset?”

Malcolm smiled, but kept his eyes on the road. He rubbed Seth’s shoulder. “Not upset at all.” Malcolm placed his hand back on the wheel as he made a turn. “Well, here’s their street.”

“Oh shit!” Seth straightened, his entire body tensing.

He slapped a hand over his mouth as Malcolm sputtered out a laugh.

“I don’t think I’ve ever heard you say that before.” Malcolm kept laughing as if he’d never heard anything so funny.

Seth frowned. “Daddy…” He needed to declare out loud who Malcolm truly was to him once more before they arrived. But he also wanted him to know that he didn’t appreciate being made fun of. “You say that word all the time and I don’t laugh atyou.”

“Oh, baby… I’m sorry.” Malcolm coughed as if trying to hold in his chuckling. “Do I? Huh. I didn’t realize that.” He pulled into the short driveway of a sprawling ranch-style home then parked. “I tell you what. The next time I curse, point it out to me. I’d rather neither of us let the expletives fly.” He laced their fingers together, resting their joined hands on the console. “Dirty talk and the occasional ‘damn’ or ‘hell’ doesn’t concern me, but we don’t need to be cursing up a storm either.”

“Agreed.” Seth had to chuckle. His irritation had evaporated at Malcolm’s words. “It’ll seem strange correcting you, though.”

Seth yelped at the sound of a rap on the driver-side window. His eyes went wide at the sight of Malcolm’s mom waving and grinning. He swallowed hard then smiled and waved tentatively at her in return. Malcolm leaned over and gave him a quick peck on the cheek.

“See? She’s so excited you’re here.”

Seth squeezed Malcolm’s hand before letting go. “Thatwe’rehere.”

Malcolm gave a one-shouldered shrug. “She probably doesn’t mind tolerating me for the week so she can spend time with you.”

Seth shook his head, grinning. “Stop.”

Malcolm’s mom smacked her hand against the glass. “Are you two going to leave me standing out here all night?”

Malcolm rolled his eyes so only Seth could see. “We’re being summoned.”

“You can’t blame her.” Seth couldn’t stop smiling. “I think we’ve all built up this meeting in our heads to the point where we’re about to burst.”

“Yeah.” Malcolm snorted. “For real.” He undid his seatbelt. “Come on. We can worry about our bags and everything later.”

“What about the Danishes and bread?”

They’d stopped at an amazing bakery just south of Eugene on their way out of town. They’d already been there several times together because it was one of Malcolm’s favorites. But he’d told Seth the bakery treats were part of his mother’s toll to gain entry to the house.

“They can wait, baby.” He winked. “Let’s put her out of her misery.”

Seth sucked in a deep breath. He’d barely gotten the door halfway open before Malcolm’s mom was there and tugging him from the vehicle. With a startled laugh, he hit the ground and was wrapped in a strong hug.

“Oh honey, I’m so glad you’re both here.” She stepped back, but still held onto his arms. “You’re even more handsome in person. Was the drive down okay? You’re feeling all right?”

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