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1715 Words
He glared at his father over the top of his laptop. Though the university teachers assumed he, like Luke, was already sixteen, his actual birthday had only just arrived. He knew there was going to be the usual family dinner. What he had not been expecting was for his father to invite his boyfriend.
Almost a year ago, his sister and her man went through the ordeal of a lifetime. Neither of them gave in or gave up without a fight. Then, just as fast as the news about the abuse both of them went through prior to coming to the Towers came out in the open, it was over. They got married a few days after Luke’s birthday, just months after finalizing the adoption process for Denzell and Caroline.
Narrowing his eyes, he plugged in a few more formulas and sighed. "It's called a family dinner for a reason, Dad. Mark is not family. Den and Carol are family now, and so is Russ, but Mark?"
David shrugged. "He’s practically part of the furniture, so why not? Besides, Mark has a gift for you."
"A gift? I told him not to get me anything! Damn that boyfriend of mine. I swear he's got bricks for brains," lamented Jaxon.
David laughed. "Look, your sister is married to Russell now, you're dating Markus, and I got two grown-ass grandkids with one on the way. So shut your trap and get over it."
Shutting his laptop, he put it back into the bag and yawned. He snickered at the memory of how his sister revealed her pregnancy to their father, waiting until after the ink dried on the certificate of marriage. He grinned at the man hovering over the stove, "Need any help setting up, Appa?"
"Aniyo, thanks anyway, though," David said as he turned back to the stove. "Don’t worry, Kiddo. I won’t burn the food this time."
Laughing, Jaxon walked into his bedroom and hung his bag on the peg behind the door. Groaning, he flopped down in his gaming chair and powered on his computer. He leaned back in the chair as his computer game started loading. He loved his family, but he absolutely adored his sister to no end. From day one, Skylar shared everything with him, and he with her.
Someone knocked on his bedroom door. “Come in.”
Opening it, his father handed him the house phone. “Your Godfather is on the line.”
Damien had come by to see everyone once after Jaxon’s adoption. The Jamaican Don found out that Jaxon didn't have any known Godparents, so the man volunteered himself and his wife. A while ago, they came to get him to go celebrate Sambok, a festival marking the hottest day of summer in Korea.
“Hello?”
“Look who just turned old enough to drive. Got a car yet?” Damien started, making Jaxon laugh.
“No, but I’m getting dad’s old Honda. I didn’t want anything too flashy or high-end.”
Damien laughed, “Your Godmother said as much earlier. Listen, I heard there was an altercation at school a few weeks ago. Was Royal involved?”
“He was there, but he walked away after he tried to talk sense into the senseless. He wanted no part in it, but Trace got to us before the other dude did anything. I, however, got in trouble for fighting,” Jaxon replied.
“You? Fighting?” His Godmother, Valarie, exclaimed with a giggle. “That’s a new one. I’m proud of you, baby. You show those idgits who the real boss is in that school.”
Looking up, he spotted his boyfriend standing in the opening. “Um, I have to go there now, but maybe we could get together for dinner at some point this week?”
“I have Thursday night free,” Damien answered.
Flipping through his weekly planner, Jaxon frowned. “I do have a class that day, so Thursday’s a no-go for me. How’s Friday looking for you, Goddad?”
“Nope, no plans. We’ll see you then,” they told him before hanging up.
"I thought I told you no gifts," Jaxon grumbled as he got to his feet. Setting the phone on the dresser, he scowled, "My father and Godfather spoil me enough."
Laughing, Markus took a few steps into the room, "It wasn't that expensive. Honest."
"What did you get me?" The teen asked, his glare unwavering. Months of shadowing Trace, his father randomly disappearing, and Russell and Sky’s intense setbacks had him on edge when he started at OTU. Now that things had calmed, he and Lukas were facing even more challenges at the university.
Shaking his head, Markus grinned, tapping his lips with one finger. "I want a kiss first, Salang."
Jaxon shivered when the Korean word for love slipped from his boyfriend's mouth. "You silver-tongued demon."
Grasping the neck of Markus's jacket, he pulled him in for a heated kiss. Moaning, Markus broke away from Jaxon and handed him the gift. He watched diligently as the sixteen-year-old carefully unwrapped the present. Still reeling from the kiss, he watched Jaxon lift the cover before squealing gleefully.
"You got me Halo Wars!" Jumping up and down as excitement coursed through his body, Jaxon held the game box firmly in his hands.
"I'm glad you like it. I have something else for you, too," Markus replied.
Jaxon's dark brown eyes glittered mischievously. "Gimme!"
"No," Markus said sternly. "The second gift is for after dinner, so be patient."
Russell knocked on the doorframe, "Hey, birthday boy. Your dad sent me to let you know that dinner is ready. I had no idea David could cook as good as he does, but holy cow."
Jaxon rolled his eyes at his brother-in-law. Sitting at the table, Jaxon couldn't help feeling a little jealous of his sister. Now that she had a new family, would he be forgotten?
Someone grasped his hand, and he looked into the eyes of his adopted niece. "What's up?"
"Happy birthday," she said, holding out a small box. “It’s from both Denny and me.”
He wanted to wince, but he didn't want to tip the others off to his inner turmoil. Besides, she'd come to him for help, and he found it hard to dislike her. "Uh, thank you, Caroline."
Pulling the lid off the box, he fought a rush of emotions as he took a keychain out. Under it, there was a mug with the same sentiment printed on it in black and gold letters. 'World's Greatest Uncle'.
When dinner was over, he faked a smile as he saw his sister and her family to the door. When he returned, he knew that Markus was quietly watching him as he darted into his room, secluding himself from everyone yet again.
A few moments later, his boyfriend was tapping on his door. "Jax? Can we talk?"
The door swung open with enough force to make Markus take a step back. The tear-streaks on Jaxon's face told him all he needed to know. "Oh, God. Let me in, Jax. Let me help you through it this time."
Jaxon shivered, having not anticipated Markus' sudden tenderness. Leading him to the bed, he sank the fingers of one hand into the lengthy black hair. Burying his face into the crook of Markus's neck, he said, "I saw you go for the kimchi, how's your stomach?"
Chuckling at Jaxon's usual way of deflecting the conversation, Markus shook his head. "Nope, not this time. Tell me what's really bothering you."
Shock rendered him unable to speak as he realized what Markus was doing. In the last few months, his boyfriend had been swinging between hot and cold. It was constant, and it was getting on Jaxon's last nerve. Every time a classmate or friend from high school ran into them, Markus would become so aggressively possessive that it scared Jaxon. His eyes wide, he looked into Markus's face, searching his eyes.
When he saw nothing but adoration, he smiled. Pouting cutely, he said, "You promised me another birthday gift."
Biting his lip, Markus thought about the time he'd spent at the jewelry store. His boyfriend was only sixteen, and he was considered an adult. Taking a deep breath, he nodded his head. "I was going to get you an engagement ring, but, based on the legalities, I opted for something else."
"I'm sixteen, in college, and I'm capable of making my own decisions."
Raising a brow, Markus laughed. "I know that, but now here's the thing. You want to hold off on a lot until we both graduate, right? So, I got you something to remind you of me."
"Give me my ring, damn it." Jaxon groused, fully aware of how childish he sounded in that moment.
"Now who's being pushy?"
"Me," Jaxon shrieked as Markus tickled the inside of his thighs. Regretting that the man had figured out his most well-kept secret, Jaxon was reduced to tears of laughter. When Markus stopped, his eyes took on a serious light.
"This is a promise ring," he whispered, holding up the box. Opening it, he said, "I promise that I will remain faithful, respectful, and loving until we’re both ready for the next step."
Unable to speak, Jaxon watched the light reflect off the ring. Taking it from Markus's outstretched hand, he looked it over, silently reading the engraving, "M. R. and J. M."
Markus bit his lip, his cheeks reddening slightly. "Do you like it?"
"It's a perfect fit," Jax whispered, sliding the ring over his third finger.
"Your father told me your size a few months ago," Markus admitted, resting his hands behind his head as his boyfriend curled into his side.
Jaxon's eyes didn't leave the ring as he whispered, "I love it."
Pulling Jaxon into his arms, Markus said, "You're jealous of your sister, huh?"
"No," Jaxon replied. "I was just hyping out. I do want to take this slow and finish school first. I mean, it's hard enough to be gay in this world, but marriage and adoption are practically impossible."
Agreeing, Markus pulled Jaxon down to the bed to take a nap. He just hoped that his boyfriend's anxiety didn't ruin his college life.
- Writer
