Page 57 of Forever Midnight

“Yeah.”

“But there’s no need to rush anything. No need to push ourselves. We can just let it happen naturally and in good time.”

I nod, biting my bottom lip.

“If the day comes that you want me to meet your parents, I will happily do so. I will stand by your side, proudly,” he whispers the last word. “But now is not that time. You have too much to deal with, and I’ll be here when this problem is resolved. We have all the time we need, Tru.”

I release the breath stuck in my chest. “You are so amazing. I’ve never met anyone like you.”

He chuckles. “I doubt you ever will. Tell you what, let’s go inside and have a warm drink and sleep. Everything will look better in the morning.”

“Good plan.”

* * *

By the time I’m sitting with my mother at brunch, I’m almost sick to my stomach from not being with Midnight. I haven’t had a reaction to another person like this ever. Our goodbye early this morning was sweet. Midnight smothered my face in kisses and made me come again, and I’d swear I can still feel his lips on mine, his hands gripping my flesh.

“I’m sad your friend couldn’t make it,” Mom says, placing her cloth napkin in her lap. She looks pretty today, with her blond hair in a bun on top of her head and a floral dress with bright pink flowers all over it.

“He wanted to, but his work is busy right now. He got called in to handle something.”

“Where did you meet?”

“Just out at a club.”

She lifts her water glass, taking a sip before setting it down. “I wondered if your friend was female. A love interest.”

I drink my water too, ignoring her implied question.

“I know that making friends isn’t that easy for you, so this person must be special.”

“What are you getting at, Ma?”

“You might not think I’m very up to speed on things, but I am. I’m aware that a love interest can also be a man. I decided long ago that I wouldn’t assume any of my children’s sexuality.”

I stare at her wide-eyed as my chest tightens. She knows?

She reaches across the table and takes my hand in hers. “It’s okay with me, Gideon. If that’s the case, it’s fine. I just want you to be happy.”

“I…um…”

“I figured it had to be something romantic for you to stay over for several days. Unless I’m wrong.”

With a shaky hand, I lift my water glass and take several sips, giving myself time to find my voice. “You’re, um, you’re not wrong, Ma.”

Her expression relaxes and she smiles. “So, you have met someone special?”

“Yeah. Really special.”

“Did I say the wrong things when you were younger to make you think you couldn’t tell me this about yourself?”

“No, ma, you didn’t. I just worried because of Dad’s position, you know? I didn’t want him getting shit because his kid is queer. The kind of people he does business with probably wouldn’t be cool with it.”

She sits back in her chair. “Well, who cares? I can confidently say that you come before any client. I know your father would agree with me.”

“Really?”

“Gideon, honey. We’re not blind. You’re almost thirty and you’ve never had a girlfriend. You’ve never even talked about a girl you liked. You never had celebrity crushes growing up like your sisters did. We didn’t know, but we suspected it, and we’re fine with it.”

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