Page 30 of One is Never Enough

His eyes scan my office, and his nose curls in disgust when his eyes land on Oliver. “I thought it was time we had a conversation.”

“Okay.” I sweep my hand for him to sit in front of my desk, and I can tell he hates feeling inferior to me right now. “What’s on your mind?”

He looks pointedly at Oliver and then back to me. “Alone.”

“He stays,” I say with authority, proud as hell that my voice is steady. “What did you want to talk about?” Dad bristles, and it puts me on the defensive. “You came to my office. You have no say in who’s here.”

“I’m getting married.”

“Congratulations. Is that it?”

“Why can’t you ever have a civil conversation?”

“Because the last time I tried, you called me a cum sucking faggot. What did you want me to do? Pop out the champagne?” I’ve never spoken to him this way, and I can see the surprise on his face. No matter what he said, I’ve always kept my mouth shut. The strength is coming from Oliver, sitting tall on the couch.

“I want you to come to the wedding,” he says like I never said anything, which pisses me off even more.

I laugh without humor. “Why? So you can tell everyone what a disgrace I am because I’m gay? I’ll pass. I’ll send a gift.”

“Darlene wants to meet you.”

“Oh. I get it. You haven’t told her why I never come around, have you? You want me to come so you can pretend to be the doting father. Not happening.”

“You’re an ungrateful piece of shit,” Dad hisses.

“Excuse me?” Oliver says, standing from the couch. I give him a warning look that he doesn’t want to get involved, but he walks to stand behind me, and my dad’s eyes narrow. “He’s ungrateful? You just walked into his office of the business he built himself, demanding he show up to a wedding he knew nothing about. You’ve made no attempt at reconciliation but want him to drop everything to make you look like the man I’m sure you’ve pretended to be.”

“You don’t know anything about me. It’s probably your fault he thinks he’s gay anyway.”

“Thinks? You really are in denial. I know everything I need to know about you because you’re just like my father. Two men so wrapped up in their own beliefs that they can’t see how much it hurts their sons that they’re disgusted by them.” Oliver lays his hand on my shoulder in comfort, and I reach up, lacing our fingers together. Dad’s head looks like it’s about to explode, but I refuse to give in to what he wants. “Aiden built an empire without you. He found a family without you. And he’ll live the rest of his life without you if you don’t open your eyes and see nothing is wrong with him. It’s all on you.”

“You need to go, Dad. Tell Darlene whatever you need to make yourself feel better. I don’t care if you lie or not.”

“You’ll choose someone like him over your own father?”

“Someone like him? Do you mean someone who will stand up to you without fear of what you’ll say? Someone who will always have my back no matter what happens? He’s twice the man you’ll ever be, Dad. Leave. Now.”

Dad stands from his chair, fuming. “You’re dead to me.”

He walks out and slams the door behind him. I slump back in the chair, and Oliver climbs into my lap. “I’m so proud of you.”

“No. I’m proud of you,” I say, running my hand down his arm. “You think we’re the strong ones. You’re the strongest of us all.”

I’ve always had feelings for Oliver.

But this is the moment I fall in love with him.

Chapter 12

Toby

“He did what?” I ask, listening to Aiden tell me about Oliver standing up to his dad.

“You should have seen it,” Aiden says. “I’ve never seen him like that.”

I laugh. “I think Oliver just staked his claim.”

“Fine with me.”

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