“I’m not here to fight.”
“Of course not! Everything is fine now, isn’t it? We’re all happy with the fag in the family!”
I had no idea where Marcus had come from, but he slugged Rider right in the jaw and sent him stumbling sideways into the railing.
Marcus dropped his fists to his side and stared my brother down. “I’m not just good at cocksucking, jackass. I’m also pretty good at sucker punches.”
“What is wrong with you people?” Rider screamed at our father. “Why the hell are you suddenly okay with queers? Why don’t you see how disgusting this is? How unnatural!”
“That’s your problem now, Son,” Dad said, calmly. “You keep saying those words and thinking those thoughts, and people like Marcus here, are going to keep educating you on whatequal rightsandshut your damn mouthmean.” He jerked his head at the door. “Go inside. Abuelita and your mother will get you some ice for that jaw. Marcus, I’ll say this just once. Don’t hit my son, no matter how much he needs it.”
“Yes, sir. Sorry.”
“Apologies go to the offended.”
I had to hold back the snort that threatened me. My dad was still my dad. But Marcus nodded and walked into the house. I saw my dad’s eyebrows shoot up when the door closed.
“He just went in there to apologize?”
“Yes. Marcus is an amazing man, Dad.” I ran a hand over my mouth and leaned against the railing and looked at the door where he had disappeared. “I don’t know if it’s the right way for things to happen, but I am seriously, seriously falling hard for him.”
“Son, Chase…there is no right or wrong when it comes to falling in love. There are no timelines.” He let out a sigh. “I love your mom with all my heart, and we’ve been fighting about this heart thing for months. Offuckingcourse I want more time with her. A thousand years wouldn’t be enough with her. We fight, but half the fun of it is making up.”
“Dad…”
“Sorry not sorry,” he said, waving me off. “What I’m trying to say is that if you think you’re in love with him, don’t waste time.”
“Sage advice from an old man.”
“Not that old.”
“Then why aren’t you on the transplant list?”
He shook his head. “She wants me on the transplant list, but I’m not young. Where do I get off taking a heart from an eighteen or twenty year old who hasn’t had a chance to live?”
“I get the selfless act, Dad, I do. But if you’re otherwise healthy, why shouldn’t you get a chance at another twenty years?”
“Because those kids could get sixty or eighty out of it.”
I ran a hand down my face. “Will you let me do some research? Be open to other ideas?”
“Of course.” He nodded. “If you can work on immortality for me and your mother, that would be great.”
Marcus pushed back out of the house, red and shaking and hurried down the stairs around the house with a quiet “excuse me.”
My father tossed his chin at him. “Go. See what Rider did this time.”
I trotted after Marcus, hopping down the stairs, hoping he wasn’t too far ahead of me. I only made it just around the corner before he grabbed me and shoved me against the house. His mouth was crashing over mine, and I groaned quietly against his lips.
The kiss lasted a while, going back and forth from hard and soft, and finally he pulled away, resting his forehead on mine. “Sorry. I just needed a reminder why I put up with homophobes.”
I groaned, “You stopped…”
He laughed. “You want more, baby?”
“Yes,” I whined.
I watched his lips curl in a smile. “Why don’t we go find out if hay is actually worth rolling in?”
