I TOOK A DEEP BREATH, trying to calm my nerves as Garrett pulled in the driveway of his parents’ house. He’d called them that morning to let them know that his plans had changed and that he was still in Chicago. When he’d explained that I was there with him, his mother immediately invited us over for dinner that night, so they could meet me. Garrett had checked with me before answering her and I’d told him that sounded great, but inside, I was freaking out. Especially when she mentioned that she was going to invite Garrett’s best friends as well. What if none of them liked me? What if his parents didn’t approve of someone with my career for their son? What if they just didn’t think I was good enough for him?
Those questions and more had plagued me for the rest of the day until I was practically a basket case by the time we arrived at his childhood home. Garrett kept asking me if I was alright, but I’d assured him I was fine, just a little nervous. I realized I hadn’t fooled him at all though when he shut off the engine and turned to me, taking my hands in his.
“My parents are going to love you,” he said as if it were a forgone conclusion.
“How do you know that? They haven’t even met me yet,” I reminded him.
He smiled softly at me. “They’re going to love you because I do, and because you’re a wonderful man. All they’ve ever wanted was for me to be happy, and you make me very happy. My friends will love you for the same reason.” He leaned over the console and kissed me, and my heartrate kicked up for an entirely different reason. His fingertips rubbed gently along my jaw and up over my ear. I sighed happily, the reason for my nerves nearly forgotten.
“I love you,” he whispered. “These people are my family and I want them to get to know you because you’re the most important person in my life, but I’ll understand if you’re not ready yet.” I smiled because I knew that he meant it. I had no doubt that if I wasn’t ready, he’d turn the car around and leave right then. He was an incredible man and I was so lucky to be able to call him mine.
“Thank you, baby, but I don’t want to leave. I really do want to get to know your family. I just hope they like me.”
“They will. I promise.” His smile was full of confidence and I pulled my strength from that as I opened the door and got out.
Garrett held my hand as we walked up the sidewalk and climbed the stairs. The house was a red brick, ranch style home with a tiny flower bed in the front that contained a birdbath and a couple of hummingbird feeders hanging from shepherd’s hooks. A porch swing hung off to the side of the front door and I smiled at the mailbox attached to the wall, which looked like a miniature version of the house. This was clearly more than just a house, it was a home. I was so thankful that Garrett had been raised in an environment like this instead of the hell hole I’d been forced to grow up in.
I hesitated as he opened the door and walked right on in, but he kept a firm hold on my hand, pulling me along behind him. “Mom, Dad, we’re here!” he called out.
A second later, his parents came rushing into the living room, friendly smiles on each of their faces. His mom was a tiny wisp of a woman with eyes the color of honey and hair to match. My breath caught as I got my first look at his dad. With his gray eyes, glasses, and dark brown hair, he was the spitting image of his son. As I took in the gray streaks along his temples and the tiny creases at the corners of his eyes, I felt like I was looking at Garrett’s future. A future I wanted desperately to be a part of.
“Dean, these are my parents, Abby and John Sullivan. Mom, Dad, this is Dean Wilder, my…” His eyes shot to mine, unsure of what to call me. We’d been a little preoccupied since I’d arrived, and it suddenly occurred to me that neither of us had bothered to talk about titles just yet.
“I’m his boyfriend,” I finished for him. He smiled shyly, and his cheeks turned pink, which had me grinning from ear to ear.
I reached out and shook his dad’s hand, but his mom surprised me when she took a step forward and wrapped her arms around me. I stiffened at first, shooting a startled look over her head to Garrett, but he just smiled and shrugged his shoulders, mouthing the words, “Told you.” I patted her gently on the back in an awkward attempt to return her hug.
“It’s so nice to meet you, Dean,” she said, taking a step back so she could see me. “Garrett has told us so much about you.
“Thank you. It’s nice to meet you too. You have a lovely home,” I said politely.
“Come on in and have a seat. We were just putting the last touches on dinner and it’ll give us a chance to talk before the other boys get here,” his dad suggested.
The four of us moved to the kitchen and Garrett and I sat beside each other at the table as his mom finished tossing a salad and his dad sliced a delicious smelling London broil. We chatted for a while and I asked about their students and they shared some of the funny things that had happened in their classrooms, their eyes lighting up as they spoke about the careers they were both so passionate about.
“And you’re an actor?” his dad asked.
I turned my head towards Garrett as I heard him groan. He was grinning though as he shook his head. “Don’t start, Dad.” I scrunched my forehead in confusion as I looked back and forth between them, not sure what I had missed. “Dad is a huge fan of your movies. He’s dying to talk to you about them, but he promised not to go all fangirl on you,” Garrett explained, giving his dad a pointed look.
His dad shot him a look of mock outrage. “I would never! Dean is a guest in my home. However, I might politely suggest that he tell me how a certain scene involving a plane and a tank was made if he’d like to continue dating my son, but it would only be a suggestion.” My eyes widened, but then I saw the mirth, shining in his eyes and we all started to laugh.
“Well, if it’s a matter of me dating your son then I’ll tell you anything and everything you want to know,” I told him. I heard his mom “Aww!” but I was too distracted by Garrett, who leaned over and kissed me, right there in the middle of his parents’ kitchen. It was a quick kiss, but it was enough to send my pulse racing.
“Good answer. Very, very good answer,” Garrett whispered against my lips. The smile on his face and the love shining in his eyes as he backed away, left me breathless. I promised myself right then that I would do whatever it took to keep that look on his face every day.
I glanced at his parents nervously, not sure how they’d feel about me kissing their son right in front of them, but the matching smiles on their faces told me that they approved. We talked the entire time as Garrett and I set the table and they finished preparing dinner. I’d expected to get peppered with questions about my movies after all that, but they only asked a few, mostly about how I’d gotten in to acting and what things I liked best about my career. They seemed genuinely interested in getting to know Dean, the man their son was dating, rather than Vincent, the movie star. That helped put me at ease and, the longer we talked, the more comfortable I felt around them. That was until the doorbell rang, and all my nerves came rushing back.
Garrett grinned. “That must be the guys. You ready?”
“Ready as I’ll ever be,” I answered.
He gave me a quick kiss then threaded his fingers with mine and led me out of the kitchen. Four men stood, grinning, on the front porch as Garrett opened the door. He kept ahold of my hand as each of them filed in, giving him hugs and slaps on the back as they passed. When they were all inside, Garrett began introductions.
“Dean, these are my friends, Travis, Jasper, Akio and Morgan. Guys, this is my boyfriend, Dean Wilder.” I noticed several of their eyebrows raise at the word boyfriend, but it was quickly followed by smiles, so I wasn’t worried.
“It’s nice to meet you,” I said as I shook hands with each of them.
Travis’s blue eyes sparkled with mischief as he grinned at me. “It’s a pleasure to meet the man who has Garrett all twisted in knots. Good for you.”
I laughed. “Umm...thanks?”
“Ignore him. We only let him out of his cage once a month,” Jasper said quietly, smirking as he looked up at his friend.
“Ooooh! A cage? You kinky boy,” Travis teased, rubbing a hand over the top of Jasper’s head. I chuckled at their antics. The two men couldn’t have looked or acted more differently, but it was obvious that they were very close.
Jasper slapped his hand away with a laugh then turned to me, shaking his head. “It’s very nice to meet you,” he said. I steeled myself as I moved on to Akio and Morgan next.
“I’m happy to meet you. Garrett has told us so many wonderful things about you,” Akio told me. I hadn’t been sure how I would react to meeting the man who Garrett had once believed he was in love with, but Akio’s face lit with a smile that was so genuine that I couldn’t help but return it.
“Thank you. I’ve heard great things about you as well; both of you,” I said, including Morgan in my statement.
Meeting Garrett’s friends had gone better than I’d expected, but I was still relieved when his mom suddenly stuck her head out of the kitchen doorway to announce that dinner was ready. Garrett kissed me on the cheek as we followed his friends into the kitchen. I was surprised to see Garrett’s parents hugging each of the guys as they entered the room. The way they spoke to each other made it clear that they were closer than just friends, they were a family. It reminded me a lot of the way Bethany’s parents had accepted me into their family all those years ago.
Over dinner, they wanted to hear about the things we’d done in Hawaii. Garrett told them about his first experience with zip-lining and about our visit to Haleakala Crater. I smiled as I listened to him describe the awe-inspiring view at the top, remembering what it had felt like to see it all while holding him in my arms.
“Dean taught me how to surf,” Garrett announced proudly. Everyone stopped eating to look at him.
“You taught him how to surf?” Travis asked me, a look of shock on his face.
“Yes, but first, I had to assure him that all of the sharks had left the area for the day,” I deadpanned.
It was quiet for a second and then they all started laughing. “That’s the Garrett we know and love,” his dad said.
“Sharks attacks are no laughing matter. Did you know…” Garrett started to argue.
“Yes, we know!” they all exclaimed in unison. They broke out laughing again.
Garrett huffed out a breath and pretended to pout, but I could tell he wasn’t upset. I leaned over and whispered in his ear. “You were very brave and, next time, I bet you’ll get in with no worries.”
His cheek brushed over my lips as he turned to face me. “Next time?” he asked softly.
“Well, yeah. Now that we’re together, I figured we’d probably do a lot of traveling together, if you want to.”
His face morphed into my favorite smile again and a hundred butterflies took flight inside my stomach. “I’d go anywhere with you,” he whispered, taking my hand under the table and holding it in his lap.
We continued getting to know each other while we ate. I loved seeing the affection between Garrett and the people he was closest to, and I was surprised at how quickly and easily they drew me in as a part of their group, including me in all of their conversations and taking the time to explain their inside jokes. Soon, I was laughing right along with them and sharing my own humorous stories about Bethany and her husband.
The only blemish on the evening had come when Garrett told them all that he was moving to California to be with me. They graciously told him that they understood and that they were happy for him, but I could tell how sad they were too. I understood. I knew better than anyone what an amazing man he was and how difficult it was to say goodbye to him.
“I know you don’t know me very well and I know that makes it even harder to let him go, but I promise you that I’ll take good care of him.” I looked at each of them, hoping they could see the sincerity on my face. “I didn’t have the best home life when I was growing up. The only love I ever knew came from Bethany and her family…until I spent two weeks with this man.” I looked over at Garrett who was staring back at me, love plainly written all over his face. I smiled at him, then turned back to the others.
“I’m sure I don’t have to tell you what an amazing man he is; how kind and sweet and caring he is. I fell in love with him and by some miracle, he fell in love with me too. There isn’t anything I wouldn’t do for him, including buying a place here in Chicago so that we can come back to visit as often as possible.”
Garrett gasped beside me. “What? But how? When?”
I chuckled. “I contacted a real estate agent this morning, but I haven’t actually bought it yet. I’d rather the two of us pick it out together.”
“Thank you.” He threw his arms around my neck, peppering my face with kisses.
“You’re welcome,” I said with a laugh. I glanced around the table, a little embarrassed to find all eyes on us, but also relieved to see them all smiling again. “And just so you know, you’re all welcome to visit us in California anytime you’d like for as long as you’d like. We’ve got plenty of room at our place.”
We talked for a bit longer until Garrett began yawning behind his hand. “What’s wrong buddy? Didn’t get much sleep last night?” Travis asked, waggling his eyebrows suggestively.
“Aaaannndd that’s our cue to go,” Jasper announced, practically pulling Travis up and out of his chair.
“But I was just getting to the good stuff,” Travis teased as he came around the table and gave Garrett a hug. “Don’t be a stranger,” I heard him whisper. Jasper gave Garrett a quick hug as well and patted my shoulder.
“You boys drive safe,” Garrett’s dad called out as Jasper pushed his friend playfully towards the door.
“Will do. Thanks again for dinner,” Travis hollered over his shoulder.
We were all laughing as we stood and began clearing the table. When the last of the dishes were in the dishwasher and the counters had all been wiped clean, we said our goodbyes. Garrett hugged his mom and dad, promising that we’d stop by and see them one more time before we left for the airport the following day. I shook his father’s hand and his mom gave me another hug.
I was smiling as I followed Garrett, Morgan and Akio out the door. “Well, I guess this is goodbye again,” Akio said, a slight catch in his voice as he looked at his best friend.
Garrett took a deep breath and his eyes turned glassy. “It’s not goodbye, it’s just a see you later. I’ll call you all the time.”
“Promise?” Akio asked.
Garrett smiled. “I promise. Who else am I going to call for fashion advice when this guy wants to take me to some fancy shindig?” he joked, nodding his head in my direction. They both laughed and then exchanged hugs.
Akio walked over to me as Garrett and Morgan said a few words to each other. His voice was gentle when he spoke. “I’m glad I got a chance to meet you, and also to get to know you a little bit. I can see how much you care about Garrett and that he feels the same way about you. I watched you in there and I noticed you looking at him the same way I look at Morgan and he deserves that. Garrett deserves a man that will love him with his whole heart, who will devote his entire life to making him happy. But that man was never supposed to be me, it was you all along, the two of you just had to find each other first.” He leaned up and gave me a quick kiss on the cheek, but I was too stunned to respond.
Garrett wrapped his arm around my waist as we watched them get in their car and drive off. When we could no longer see their taillights, he turned to me. “You okay?” he asked softly.
Just a few weeks before, I’d been lonely. Even when I spent time with Bethany and Christopher, I’d often feel like a third wheel. But then I met Garrett, and everything changed. Not only had I found the love of my life, but because of him, I also was getting something else I’d never had before; a family of my own.
I looked at him, a smile spreading across my face. “Perfect,” I answered.