Thwarted - 37. Chapter Thirty-Seven

“I’m so sorry, Mark.” Diane rushed forward and wrapped her arms around him. Gary gently guided them inside and shut the door before squeezing clasping Mark’s shoulder in one of his large hands.

Mark was stunned and could do nothing else but return the embrace. He was even more shocked at the sudden tightness in his throat. He wasn’t even aware he was crying until Diane pulled back and reached up to wipe his tears away.

“Mom, Dad? What are you doing here?” Trey sounded just as shocked and confused as Mark felt. Mark watched him hug both his parents. “I was just on the phone with you. You said you needed Mark’s address to send a flower arrangement and a card.”

“You made it clear to us that Mark was going to be our son-in-law.” Gary patted Mark on the back. “You didn’t honestly think your mother was going to let him go through this alone, did you?”

“But”—Mark stared at both of them—“you barely know me.”

“We know what matters, dear.” Diane patted him on the hand. “Now, have you boys eaten?”

Trey shook his head. “No, I was waiting for Mark to wake up to decide what to order in.”

“Well you boys just relax and I’ll see what I can find to fix.”

Mark glanced towards his kitchen. He didn’t have much in there, certainly nothing to make a meal out of. He looked back at Diane and shook his head.

“Sorry Diane, I’m afraid I haven’t gone grocery shopping yet. Let me just go get changed and we’ll take you and Gary out.”

“Nonsense.” Diane shook her head. “Why don’t we just order in pizza or something? Our treat.”

“I’m fine with ordering in”—Mark glanced at Trey, who nodded—“but I can’t let you guys pay. Not after you just drove all this way. We can do pizza, or if you guys like Chinese, I know a great little place that delivers. Wait, what time is it?”

Trey glanced at his watch. “A little after eight.”

“Okay, good. They’re still open. If we want Chinese, we just have to have the order phoned in by eight-thirty.” Mark tugged at his pajama bottoms. “Let me just hurry and change into something else and we can call and order whatever you decide on.” Mark barely glanced at Trey as he fled to his room. He shut the door behind him and collapsed against it, his chest heaving as he gasped for breath. He couldn’t break down, not now, not when Trey and his parents were in the next room. Clenching his eyes shut, Mark forced air into his lungs as he tried to take deep, even breaths. He barely heard the knock on the door followed by Trey’s voice.

“Mark?”

Mark opened his eyes and shook his head, forgetting for a moment that Trey couldn’t see him. He stumbled away from the door and sank onto the bed. He tried to answer Trey, but he couldn’t get the words out and finally just gave up and focused on breathing. Either Trey would come in on his own or he’d wait for him to come out. It didn’t take long before the door opened and Trey’s head poked in. Mark couldn’t look at him. He didn’t even know what the hell was wrong with him, or why it had suddenly hit, but he hated that Trey was seeing him completely lose it.

“Hey”—the mattress dipped under Trey’s weight—“it’s okay.”

Mark clenched his fists. It wasn’t okay. He needed to pull himself together so he could find out exactly why Diane and Gary had shown up. He knew what they had said, but it didn’t make sense. His parents wouldn’t have done the same for either of their kids’ spouses. Mark took a final deep breath and turned to face Trey.

“Did you ask them to come?” He wasn’t sure what he wanted Trey’s answer to be.

“No, but I’m glad they came.” Trey sighed and laced their fingers together. “It’s been killing me that I have to leave tomorrow. If there was a way to get out of going, I’d do it. Plus, after what happened today with Jackie, you need someone who’s going to be there for you.”

“I’d have been fine.” Mark dropped his gaze, taking in their joined hands. “They have enough to worry about without adding this to their plates.”

“Well”—Trey squeezed his fingers—“think of it this way. They’ll be so busy worrying about you they’ll barely even remember that I’ve left.”

Mark rolled his eyes. “Yeah, I don’t think that’s going to happen.” He glanced at his alarm clock and pulled his hand free as he stood and moved to the dresser. “Shit. We’re too late to order Chinese. I guess it’s going to be pizza after all.”

“Actually, since I know what you like from there, I asked Mom to call and order. That’s why it took me so long to follow you. I had to pull up their menu online so Mom and Dad could decide what they wanted.”

Mark grabbed a pair of jeans out of the dresser. It didn’t make much sense to grab a fresh pair, but he could always wear them for the drive after Trey had left. He grimaced. That was what had set Jackie off, not that he’d ever tell Trey. With his mom gone, Mark didn’t see any point in going home any earlier than he absolutely had to. He’d told Jackie that not only wouldn’t he be riding with her first thing in the morning, but he was getting a hotel room when he got there. He’d also refused to leave before Trey in the morning. That had really set her off.

Mark stripped out of the pajamas and hurriedly got dressed. He couldn’t dwell on things, not yet. He had the feeling he’d have plenty of time for that once he’d headed for home. That is, if he could call his dad’s sterile house a home. He’d never felt comfortable there and with his mom gone, he doubted he ever would. Before anything else though, he needed to find out what Gary and Diane’s plans were.

Even more than that, he had one more night to make damn sure Trey understood exactly how much he loved him. No matter what else happened, he needed Trey to come back from his deployment. He could deal with anything else, his dad included, but Trey not coming home, that would shatter him.

Mark turned and eyed Trey reclined on the bed, watching him. He walked over and held out his hand, pulling Trey to his feet once he’d taken it. Mark didn’t let go, instead he took a moment to wrap his arms around Trey and drop a tender kiss to his lips. He closed his eyes and rested his forehead against Trey’s.

“You know I love you, right?” Mark opened his eyes and locked gazes with Trey, needing him to see the truth of his words.

“I know.” Trey smiled at him. “I love you too.”

“And you’d damn well better come back to me.” Mark tightened his hold.

“I will.” Trey kissed him, nipping lightly at his lip before pulling away and straightening his clothes. “I think we’d probably better go out there before my parents come knocking on your bedroom door.”

Mark hoped he was kidding, but decided not to risk it. He turned and opened his door, allowing Trey to go first. It was time to go and face his in-laws. He shook his head at the thought.

In-laws. When the fuck had that happened?