Page 122 of The Frathole

He tears up, and now he’s got me all choked up, really appreciating all that time we had together. Both my parents knew how much it meant to me, and they moved heaven and earth every time an emergency or schedule change came up so that I wouldn’t miss any of it.

“I love you, champ. And in the same way that I want your mom to be happy, if football isn’t what makes you happy anymore, then you have to move on with your life, regardless of the dreams your dad was living out through you. You get that?”

Now he’s got my eyes watering.

Dammit.

“Sorry, I didn’t mean to get all emotional like this.” He pats my shoulder.

“It’s good. It’s been an emotional year. And a lot of surprises, clearly.” I indicate Marty through the French doors.

Dad glances at him and then back at me. “Speaking of your new man, I do wonder about this thing they say about queer people and genetics.”

Given what we’ve been talking about, this one really throws me. “Huh?”

“Something I’ve been thinking about myself recently too. Before your mother, there was a guy in college…and we had some fun. I don’t know.”

Now I’m the one stunned into silence. Dad messed around with a guy in college?

“Wait, what?” Questions race through my brain. “How much did you mess around with this guy in college?”

His gaze wanders. “Maybe six or seven months. Just fun stuff.”

“Oh my God.” I can’t believe I’m only hearing about this now, but also, guess it’s not the kind of thing to tell your kid either.

“I’m only telling you because I might be keeping my options open now that I’m a single man. I’ve been thinking about downloading one of those apps…”

“Gross. You’re not supposed to say that to your son.”

“I thought I was supposed to be more honest.”

By the wicked glint in his gaze, he knew damn well what he was doing, but it’s definitely nice that he felt comfortable enough to share that part of himself with me. And it makes me even happier that I brought Marty over tonight.

He pulls me in for a hug. “I love you, kid. Nothing will ever change that. And when I do stupid things, just give me a kick in the ass.”

“Won’t, now that I know you might like it.”

We share another laugh before he says, “Come on. Let’s go spend some time with your man.”

We head back inside, and I settle beside Marty, resting my hand on his thigh. As he looks at me with that tender expression, the relief I’m feeling about tonight, and the conversation I had with Dad assure me that even though things might be messy for a while, I’m gonna be okay.

EPILOGUE

Marty

Late summer

“Shots, shots, shots!”Jaxon shouts, raising his shot glass high.

Colin, Ash, Ty, Lance, and I hang by the bar in the Sigma Alpha backyard. Construction is complete, and it’s official: their house will be up and running for fall. In the meantime, they’ve managed to secure the place for one last hurrah before the start of the semester, inviting alums and members, including Alpha Theta Mus because of our solidarity after the fire. Tonight’s theme is Rome was Rebuilt in a Semester—any excuse to wear a toga. But considering the oppressive humidity of August, it’s perfect.

Our crew cheers, and we down our shots before Keegan says, “Hey, we still have an extra one because Ryan didn’t come back.”

Payton and Dax dragged him off for a game of beer pong, and I figured I’d finish catching up with my buddies, some of whom I haven’t seen in months.

“I’ll take it,” Colin says. Keegan’s about to pass it to him, but Colin says, “One sec.”

He scoops Ash off the ground and lays him across the bar. Ash has already let the shoulder of his toga fall, so the cloth is only hanging from his waist. Colin takes the shot from Keegan, then pours it across his man, most of it pooling into Ash’s navel. Colin takes his time, lapping it all up, his tongue traveling up until hekisses his man.