Chapter 12
Callum ran his hand down Rob’s chest as he stirred, making him giggle. Rob pushed Callum’s hand away and kissed him.
“Good morning gorgeous. How you feeling?”
Callum smiled and kissed him. “Never better.”
“Are you sore?”
“Hmm a little. I’d love to get used to the whole thing with you though. It felt amazing.”
They kissed again before dressing and walking out into the kitchen, where Callum’s mother sat eating breakfast.
“Mum?? I thought you were staying at a friend’s house?”
“Well the evening wrapped up early so I came home, it is allowed Callum, this is my house.”
Rob looked at the floor, trying to avoid Anabelle’s glare.
“Good morning Robert.”
“Good morning.”
“Aren’t you going to offer your boyfriend anything to eat Callum? He must be hungry.”
Callum opened his mouth but Rob interrupted. “Thanks for the offer, but I should get going. Thank you.”
Rob turned around and put on his shoes very quickly. Callum followed.
“You don’t have to leave Robert.”
“I love you Callum, and I loved last night, but I know when I’m not wanted. It’s cool, I understand, and I don’t want to make things anymore awkward for you.”
“But…”
Rob silenced Callum by kissing him gently.
“I love you. I’ll call later.”
“Bye Robert,” Callum said, holding him tight. “I love you too.”
When the front door shut Callum turned around to see his mother standing in the room.
“You didn’t tell me he was staying the night.”
“I’m sorry mum. I guess I should’ve said something.”
“I know why you didn’t ask. You know I would’ve said no.”
Callum nodded. “But I don’t see why. If you don’t want him sleeping here I’ll respect that, you’re right it’s your house, but this isn’t about me having sex and I know it. You let Louisa come and sleep in my bed when we’d only been on two dates. You made her breakfast in the morning; you treated her like a member of the family. I’m not saying I expect all that from you with Robert, but please be honest and admit it’s because he’s a man, not because you don’t like it that I’m having sex in this house.”
“I don’t like it that you’re having sex with him, you’re right.”
“But you know if you don’t let him spend the night here, I’m still going to be spending nights at his house.”
“You’ll probably get shot in that area.”
“You’re stereotyping mum, again. Surprise surprise.”
“Look, he seems like a nice kid, even if he comes from a scummy family and has an accent that sounds like scraping your nails against a blackboard, I wouldn’t mind if he was your friend. But I can’t accept that he’s screwing you.”
“Fucks sake is it impossible for us to talk about this like adults?”
Anabelle sighed. “I’m sorry Callum. I got too angry. But you know how I feel.”
Callum moved closer to his mum. “If you don’t want him to come here anymore, then he won’t. I don’t think he’ll want to anyway. But I will be going places with him, and I will be going to his house, and I will be sleeping with him.”
“His mother doesn’t mind?”
“No. She just wants what’s best for him.”
“I want what’s best for you Callum. He isn’t it. Apart from the fact that he’s a man, he’s obviously going nowhere.”
“Stereotyping. Again! He did better at school than I’ve done. He’s achieved more than I have. I’ve never been happier, he’s changed my life. It’s not his fault if you don’t want to know.”
“Look I don’t want to stand here all day arguing about this when we’re never going to agree. You promise he won’t come here again, I’ll promise not to say ‘I told you so’ when he breaks your heart.”
As Callum worked out exactly what his mother had just said, she turned around and walked away.
“Oh yeah cos that’s what you want me to think isn’t it,” Callum shouted after her, “that you’re acting like this to protect me and not just yourself.”
He shook his head. She’d been right about one thing; it was an issue not worth wasting time over. They were never going to agree.
Rob stepped out of the shower and grabbed a towel. His cock was hard as he stroked it, thinking about the night he’d spent with Callum. How good he’d looked, how good he tasted, how much it turned him on to watch him undress, how tight his butt was. He laughed quietly and whispered to himself “you pervert!”
He got butterflies in his stomach as he thought about holding him, sleeping next to him, kissing him, how quickly he’d fallen for him.
When he was dressed he found his mum watching TV in the living room.
“Hi Robert.”
“Hey mum.”
“How’s Callum?”
“He’s fine, but this morning his mum was around.”
“So?”
“So it was really awkward.”
“Why?”
“Cos we…you know.”
“Surely she didn’t think you were waiting for marriage.” Ruby said, laughing.
Rob smiled. “She just hates me. I don’t really care so long as he doesn’t listen to her.”
“She sounds like a bitch.”
Rob laughed. “I wish I could just say fuck you, but I’m a nice boy! Anyway, I don’t think I’m welcome back there after shagging her son.”
“Well I guess if she doesn’t want you having sex there it’s up to her.”
“Yeah, but I don’t think I’m gonna be allowed back at all, ever. For sex or for a cup of tea.”
Ruby laughed. “Oh you do keep me amused. You’re just lucky I like Callum, he’s interesting.”
“As in he’s weird?”
“No! As in he makes interesting conversation. Even if I don’t understand some of it sometimes.”
“Yeah he does have an odd accent. I like it.”
Ruby raised an eyebrow, “I’ll bet you do.”
“Mum! Anyway I’m going to see Stu.”
“Oh I’ve missed him. How is he these days?”
“He’s doing really well at college.”
“Good, you send him my love.”
“I will mum, see you later.”
Callum’s mobile phone rang. “Hey Dad.”
“Hey Callum. I haven’t seen you for too long buddy. How’d your exams go?”
“I think they went well thank you. How are you? How’s Michelle?”
“I proposed to her the other day. I want you to be my best man Callum.”
“Wow, really? Not one of your friends?”
“You’re the most important Callum, and it’s most important that you like her.”
“You know I do dad. Just ‘cos I don’t like seeing old people kiss doesn’t mean I don’t like her!”
Stephan laughed. “Good, I was hoping you’d join us for Christmas this year.”
“Planning ahead are we?”
“Yeah. You know Michelle thinks you’re a great guy too. I know when we got together she wasn’t thrilled about gaining a 15 year old stepson! But you proved her wrong.”
Callum laughed. “I wasn’t ever gonna try and split you two up. She makes you happy.”
Stephan sighed. It wasn’t easy keeping what he’d just found out about his son inside, but he didn’t know how or when to approach the subject.
“Are you still with Louisa?”
“No. We broke up a little while ago now.”
“Oh that’s too bad, but you know I never liked her that much.”
“Really?”
“Yeah. I know I only met her a couple of times but my impression was pretty girl, but not much going on in her head!”
“Dad!! Well, maybe she wasn’t the sharpest tool in the shed.”
Stephan laughed, but then when he tried to speak again he stammered. He knew what he wanted to say, but that didn’t make it easy.
“What’s up dad?”
“Callum…you know I love you don’t you?”
“What? Yeah of course…why?
“No reason I just…I don’t see you enough and I couldn’t remember the last time I said it. I do love you, and I’ve always been very proud of you.”
Callum felt tears build up in his eyes. “Thanks dad. I don’t think mum feels the same anymore.”
Stephan knew what Callum was talking about, but didn’t want to mention that he knew.
“You need to talk about it?”
“No. I…I’m worried if I do you’ll take everything you just said back.”
At that point, Callum lost it, his voice full of anger and tears starting to form. “I don’t…I don’t want to lose you as well. It’s like me and mum are strangers in the same home. I haven’t felt good enough for her ever, but now I feel like she thinks I’m a bad person and I hate it.”
“Hey hey Callum. I can’t remember you getting worked up like this for years. This sounds serious. I’m picking you up right now.”
“No, please don’t. I know you and mum get along fairly ok but it’ll just make her angry. I don’t want her to hate me or you.”
“I’m sure she doesn’t hate you Callum, and I could care less if she hates me.”
There was a silence.
“For once Callum, you’re utterly wrong. I will always be proud of you.”
“Thanks dad, but please don’t come and get me now. I’ll tell mum I’m going to your place this evening. I’ll drive over.”
“Promise?”
“Promise.”
“Ok Callum, but also promise you’ll be truthful with me.”
Callum sighed, “I’m not sure I can promise that.”
“Callum,” Stephan said firmly, “if you’re not, it’s only going to hurt the both of us. I want to help you Callum. I haven’t been there for you enough recently.”
“Bullshit dad.” Callum said, smiling.
“Oi cheeky! See you later.”
“Bye dad.”
When Callum hung up he noticed he had a text message. It was from Rob, and simply said, “I love you”. Callum smiled. His mother was in the minority.
So later that evening Callum grabbed his car keys off the kitchen table ready to leave.
“I’m going out mum.”
“Where?”
“Dad’s house.”
“Are you going to tell him?”
“What? That I’ve found a really nice boyfriend?” Callum said, smirking.
“Don’t smirk at me Callum. You know he’ll be disappointed. Years of going to watch you play football, fighting with me to be able to see you every fucking Saturday to take you to a match or help you with your schoolwork. It’s not like you ever had anything else in common.”
“We still have that in common. Just because I’m dating a man doesn’t mean I don’t like sport anymore. Stereotyping mum. I’ll be back later.”
Callum drove across town, until he reached the countryside. Driving a little further, he turned onto a narrow road until he reached a small, but lively village. When he rang the doorbell Michelle answered.
“Hello Callum, good to see you.”
“And you. You look nice.”
“Thanks, I’m seeing a few friends tonight. It’ll leave you and your dad alone to talk.”
Callum’s stomach churned. He wasn’t sure he wanted to.
“Thanks for agreeing to be Stephan’s best man Callum. He wouldn’t have wanted it any other way. It’s not going to be a huge wedding or anything but, I just want it to be nice for us all.”
“How many people are you thinking of inviting?”
“Just close friends and family. He’s been married before obviously so he doesn’t want a huge wedding. We just want a nice quiet wedding with those closest to us. But of course I’m expecting somewhere nice for the honeymoon.”
“If you want me to drop a hint…”
“I’d like to go to a big city, maybe an American one. We’ve done the whole beach holiday thing before and it was lovely but I fancy something exciting.”
Callum smiled. “Consider it booked!”
Michelle looked at the floor. “Sorry if me asking this upsets you, but…did your father and your mother have a big wedding? I want to know just because…oh I don’t know why. But he won’t talk about it, he assumes I’m jealous.”
“I was at the wedding, in the womb! Oh yeah I’ve seen the photos and my mother has told me the stories after a few drinks. They invited pretty much everyone they knew, spent loads of money, and had a really exotic honeymoon. I think they thought that’d solve all their problems. They should never have married.”
“I’m sorry if…”
“No don’t worry it’s never really bothered me. They divorced so soon after I was born that I never knew them as a couple. I can’t imagine living with both of them under the same roof. Plus I hardly ever saw them fight since I hardly ever saw them together.” Callum looked at his step-mum. “But from what other relatives have told me, their marriage was doomed to failure. If my mum hadn’t been pregnant, they probably wouldn’t have bothered. It’s not that dad can’t commit. I know I don’t see you a lot, but I think it’s obvious he’s happy with you.”
Michelle kissed Callum’s cheek. “Bless you. You’re always such a sweetheart. Anyway you’re father should be down soon he just took a bath, I’m going out now so I might see you later. Depends how long you can stand your dad for and how long I can stand these shoes for!”
After Michelle had left Callum sat watching the TV until he heard his dad coming down the stairs.
“Hey dad.”
“Good to see you Callum. Come here let me get you a drink. You hungry?”
“Yeah actually.”
“Can’t offer you anything amazing, but feel free to rummage through the fridge and the cupboards and have what you want. I’ve already eaten.”
Callum made a sandwich and followed his dad back into the living room, where they opened the beers and sat together. There was an awkward silence. Stephan didn’t know whether he should admit to knowing his son’s secret, or wait for Callum to tell him.
“So Callum, why have you and your mother fallen out? I know you haven’t always gotten along over the last few years, but this sounds serious.”
“It’s not so bad. I’ll be moving out soon. In my first year of Uni, can I come back here for holidays?”
“Yes, but don’t change the subject. And I don’t think you should totally cut your mother out after you leave home.”
“Why not?”
“Because deep down it’ll upset her.”
Callum shrugged. “I guess I’ll just see how she feels after I spend some time away.”
“Come on Callum, you know you can talk to me about anything. Why has your mum suddenly gone all cold on you?”
Callum sighed. “I’m seeing someone new, and she doesn’t like it.”
“Oh, why not?”
“Because…he’s a man.”
Stephen put his arm around Callum. “I’m a really bad liar so I’ll tell you now. I already knew. I just wanted you to feel you could tell me yourself.”
“Really?”
“Yeah. Your mum called me. She didn’t tell me anything about him, only that you’re seeing a man and she couldn’t make you leave him. She wanted me to…be a fatherly influence I guess. She knows you’ve always taken what I say seriously. She wanted me to convince you that you’re straight, or just condemn your relationship with this guy in the hope you’d leave him to please me.”
Callum’s mouth was wide open. “Oh my God!”
“Yeah. That’s exactly what I thought. 1 about you having a boyfriend, and 2 about her reaction.”
Callum opened his mouth, but wasn’t sure exactly what to say. He had so many questions buzzing in his head.
“I think it must’ve been obvious to you that your mother would disapprove.” Stephan continued. “When she told me at first I was just shocked. Honestly Callum, I would never have seen this coming. Then I guess I did feel a little angry, but when I sat down and really thought about it, I realised that was mainly down to shock. You know I’d never try to hurt you Callum. I’ve never met this man, but from your mother’s worry it sounds like you love him. If leaving him is going to hurt you but staying with him is going to make you happy…for me that’s a no brainer. I don’t pretend to understand how a man can fall in love with a man and do…all the stuff that comes with that. But I know that some men do. Maybe I used to be negative towards gay people, but looking at it now I don’t see why I should be. It doesn’t affect me, but now I see it does affect you. I know you; you’re a good person Callum. I don’t care if you’re bisexual or homosexual or whatever. Whoever you end up with they will be very lucky to have you.”
Callum sat still, taking in everything his dad had just said.
“You’ve done a million things to make me proud of you Callum. I think what your mother fails to realise is you are still the same son we’ve always had, even If you are a little different from most other people.”
“Dad…” Callum began. “You have no idea how much of a relief that is.”
He turned to face his dad and spoke again. “I’ve always looked up to you and you’ve always taken care of me. I was so scared you’d be disappointed. I guess I prepared myself for the worst mentally cos of what’s going on with mum, but if you had told me to get lost…I don’t know what I would have done.”
Stephan did something he hadn’t done in years, and took his son into his arms.
“It’ll be ok with your mother Callum, even though it might take a while. At the end of the day you’re her only child and she loves you. She’ll come back around.”
“I hope so. But thank you anyway.”
Stephan let go of Callum and poured more beer into their glasses.
“Are you happy Callum?”
Callum thought for a moment. “Yeah. I guess I’ve had gay feelings for a while but I was ashamed of them. And I did really like Louisa so when she took an interest in me I didn’t think twice. When I met Rob I fell for him fast, and I guess that kind of forced me to realise that I am attracted to men. I hated myself for it for a while but…” Callum blushed, “it sounds stupid but…he’s an amazing man and as I fell in love with him, I grew to love myself as well. He made me feel like I have nothing to be ashamed of.”
Stephan nodded. “Well if he’s made you feel better about life and about yourself, how could I possibly dislike him?”
“He doesn’t like football.”
Stephan laughed. “Michelle hates it. It’s irritating but you learn to live with it after a while! You’ll have to do the same!”
They laughed together. “I’d like to meet him sometime.”
“Really?”
“Of course, I met Louisa.”
“That’s what most annoys me about mum. She was so carefree about Louisa and I, let her come and go as she pleased, eat dinner with us, sleep with me, she stayed a whole week once. Rob isn’t allowed in the house.”
“Well I’ll invite you guys round sometime. If you really like him this much I want to know what he’s like.”
Callum smiled. “Thanks dad, you’re the best.”
When Anabelle heard Callum’s car outside, she walked into the hall to greet him.
He was smiling as he walked in, but then his face fell.
“I was right then? Your dad didn’t take too kindly to having a gay son.”
“Yeah he was upset.”
Anabelle grinned.
“Upset that I didn’t feel I could tell him sooner.”
“…What?”
“Yeah I was really surprised, but really happy. He loves me and he’s proud of me regardless of my sexuality, because I’m his son and he’s a good father and someone who actually lives in the 21st century. Oh and by the way he may just have mentioned what you called him about the other day, so right now you’re not top on my list of people I wish to make polite conversation with. You taught me that if I have nothing nice to say I should say nothing at all, even if you haven’t been taking that advice recently I’m going to take it now and go to bed. Goodnight mum.”
Anabelle just stood feeling confused as she watched her son strut past her head held high into his room.
---------------------------------------------------
Ok so that was pretty long and was more about other people than Rob and Callum as a couple, but it was needed. Sort of the start of the end. More soon
I especially love the characters! 
Thanks for writing it.
