It felt like I had the possibility of having a life. The only problem was, outside of Lauren, my friendship group was narrow. But still, I’d known when I’d moved that I’d be starting fresh, coming in with nothing apart from the home my grandfather had left me and a desire to make it work.
Looking around the dilapidated house, it wasn’t the first time I questioned my sanity. The house was in a bad state of disrepair, though I sucked it up and saw it as my penance for being a not so great grandson the past few years before my granddad died. It wasn’t that we’d argued or anything. It was just, heck, I’d been young and busy, not only with studying and then work, but trying to get a life.
It hadn’t helped that he always chose to ignore my sexuality and would send me links to straight porn and try to hook me up with local girls during the rare visits I made. The day when I’d first received an email from my grandad, I’d been as impressed as I was confused. He’d always hated technology. Later my dad had told me he’d hooked him up with Wi-Fi and a laptop. I had no idea though how he’d been introduced to the many weird porn sites he’d discovered.
He’d been a character for sure. And while at the time he’d infuriated the heck out of me, point-blank refusing to believe I liked men and that no matter how hard he tried to convert me, a vagina would make me gag and run screaming in the opposite direction, I’d still loved the stubborn old fool.
When Dad had told me about the will, I’d been dumbfounded. It was Mom who’d smiled lovingly at me and suggested I check out the house and give some serious thought about where I wanted to be, where I saw my life heading.
It wasn’t like I had been living life to any level of extreme, nor was I lonely, but I was finally honest with myself and recognized I’d been in a rut.
Looking around my new home, I shook my head, not quite sure I was any better off.
My cell rang. I headed to the kitchen and picked it up from where it had been charging.
Looking at the caller ID, I greeted, “Hey, Mom.”
“Hey, baby boy.” I smiled. In my late twenties, I was far from a baby, but she’d once told me that even at fifty I’d still be her baby. “Good day?”
“Yep. Not too bad. Nothing too hectic or crazy. You?”
“A great one. Your dad’s booked a cruise for our anniversary.” Excitement lit her words. She’d been hinting at Dad for a while about a cruise. I was pleased he’d listened. It didn’t take a lot to make my mom happy; she found joy in the smallest of things, so that he’d organized it all was pretty impressive. Mom usually organized everything, so I knew him booking the vacation for them was a big deal.
“That’s terrific. Caribbean?”
She actually squealed down the line. I pulled the phone from my ear and laughed loudly. “Yes! Carter, I’m so excited.”
“Really? I’d never have guessed.”
“Oh, hush.” She spoke over me as I laughed again. “Don’t sass your mother.”
My laughter continued. “Never, Mom. You’d tan my hide. Wouldn’t dream of it.”
“I should think not. So anything new? Any dates?”
With a groan, I rubbed my face and then stepped further into the kitchen and pulled out a glass. “Mom…,” I sighed.
“What? I worry about you. You’re so far from home and are there all alone.”
I poured myself a glass of wine and took a sip. “I know you worry, but honestly, life’s good.” Admittedly it would have been nice to hook up, but one, I didn’t do casual and never had, and two, there was no way I’d tell my mom I was afraid my penis would drop off from lack of use. “There’s nothing new either, and that’s okay. I’m liking the quiet life.”
“Hmm….” That was her tell for not being convinced. “You know, I was talking to Julie last week, and her nephew’s gay.”
“Mom,” I said with laughter, “honestly, no hookups. I do not need my mom fixing me up.”
She ignored me. “Well, he lives quite far away, but maybe a week of casual—” She cleared her throat. “—sex would do you good.”
“Jesus, Mom.” I spluttered on my mouthful of wine. Grabbing a towel, I wiped my face, catching the dribble of red wine on my chin, and wiped the countertopI’d sprayed. “Stop. I don’t need you arranging anything, okay?Please tell me you’re listening.” She was quiet. “Mom,” I said louder.
“Yes, yes, I hear you.” She sighed. “Grandbabies would be nice.”
Holy crap on toast! With wide eyes, I looked at the ceiling and counted to five. I then took a big gulp of wine before saying, “Mom.”
“Yes, baby boy?”
“I have to go. I need to grab a shower. I’m expecting someone.”
“Ooh—”
