Thwarted - 26. Chapter Twenty-Six

“Surely he understood why you got out.”

Mark shook his head. He appreciated Trey’s anger on his behalf, but it wouldn’t do any good. His dad had made up his mind and nothing was going to change it. He didn’t think his mom was even going to be able to smooth it over this time.

“He said—“

“I don’t care what he said!” Trey was obviously pissed. “To treat you that way just because you didn’t stay in the military, that’s wrong!”

“He feels like I went against what he stands for.” Mark reached out and pulled Trey into his arms. “I’ve tried a couple of times to talk to him, but he won’t listen. I finally decided that if and when he wants to talk, he can call me. I don’t really want to talk about him; I just wanted you to know why I’m not in any hurry to introduce you to my folks.”

Trey growled.

“Honestly, if you introduced me to your dad right now I’d likely get myself in trouble.”

“You wouldn’t be the first.” At Trey’s questioning look, Mark went on. “Jackie kind of told him off the last time they talked. Mom checks in with her every once in a while, but never when Dad is around and Dad hasn’t spoken to her since.”

“You know, the more you tell me, the more I don’t like your dad.” Trey shook his head. “I mean, my dad doesn’t always approve of my choices, but he’d never treat me that way just because of something I did or didn’t do.”

“Your dad loves you, that’s easy to see. I don’t want to be the cause of problems between you guys.” No matter what Trey said, Mark knew that Trey’s dad was upset over feeling like he was going to lose his son all over again.

“You’re not causing problems.”

“Have you thought about going to school up here? Isn’t there a community college up here somewhere?” Mark had actually given it some thought since they had talked about it that afternoon.

“Yeah, but I guess it all depends on what I decided to study. If I wanted a four year degree then the community college wouldn’t work.” Trey smiled at him. “Besides, I meant what I said to Mom and Dad, if things work out how I hope, I really do want to live with and go to school with you.”

Mark nodded. Maybe it was too soon to be making these kinds of plans, but he could still throw it out there.

“What about”—he swallowed—“if we both took some of our generals at the community college up here and then transferred to a four year college?”

Trey just stared at him for a minute before pulling away.

“I mean, I know it’s still a year away, but I just thought….”

He didn’t get any further before Trey launched himself at him and proceeded to kiss him so thoroughly that Mark nearly forgot his name. Mark didn’t know how long they’d kissed before Trey finally pulled back and smiled at him.

“What was that for?”

“You’d really do that? Go to school up here for the first two years? What about Jackie?”

Mark smiled at him.

“I know what it’s like to want to be close to your family when you first get out. I’d still want to go visit fairly often and maybe for the four year college we could transfer to one closer to Jackie, but yeah, I’d be willing.” He looked around the room they were staying in. “Only thing is, I can’t see us both living with your parents.”

Trey laughed.

“No, neither can I. What about living somewhere close that we wouldn’t have to pay anything? In return all we would have to do is help out on occasional maintenance.” Trey grinned.

“Sounds like you’ve already got someplace in mind.”

“The bed and breakfast place that mom and dad run is more like a mini resort. It’s got a few small cabins, each has a kitchenette and then there’s the main cabin that guests can go to for full meals if they want.” Trey shrugged. “Before we met, I’d already talked to Mom and Dad about the possibility of living in one of them if and when I ever got out of the military. They’ll still have two cabins to rent out, plus a couple of rooms in the main cabin.”

“IF we did that, we could always rent one of the cabins for Jackie’s family to come visit.” Mark wasn’t so sure that Trey’s parents would welcome him living there with Trey, but they might go for it if it meant that Trey would be close for those couple of years.

“Exactly. It would be perfect!”

“I think you’re forgetting one thing though.” Mark hated to burst his bubble, but he probably should mention the possibility that his parents wouldn’t welcome him living there.

“What’s that?”

“You talked to them about you living there; they might not relish the idea of me living there with you.”

“Nonsense.” Trey waved his hand as if it was no concern. “If they’d let me live there, why would they have a problem with the man I love living with me?”

Mark froze. He opened his mouth to reply but nothing came out. The man he….

“Mark?” Trey hovered over him, suddenly looking uncertain. “I… I mean… If you don’t feel the same way that’s okay….”

Mark shook himself free of his stupor and grabbed Trey and rolled him underneath him. He pressed his lips to Trey’s and teased Trey’s lips with his tongue until Trey opened and let him inside. After a moment he pulled back and grinned at the man underneath him.

“I love you too.”