Harmless(58)

 

 

"I assume this isn't something you recently figured out."

"Not really, no. I've had my suspicions."

"You and me both," she said, a smile curling the corner of her mouth.

Seg lifted an eyebrow.

"Oh, come on. You've dated supermodels, honey. And not one of them has ever managed to truly catch your eye. It's not a total shocker."

It was to him. Kind of. "Do you have any questions?"

His mother smiled. "Who's the lucky man who brought my boy out of the darkness and into the light?"

Funny that her words were actually how he felt. He'd spent his life pretending to be someone he wasn't, hiding from everyone, including himself. Now that he was out with himself, he felt free. "His name's Roan."

She nodded again.

"He's got a son," Seg explained. "Liam. He's four and a half months old. He was Roan's sister's son, but she died a couple of months ago. Drug overdose." He frowned, hating to think of the pain Roan had gone through.

"Tell me about them," she prompted. "The baby. He's okay?"

Seg nodded. "Liam's the cutest thing I've ever seen, Ma. He's growing like a weed. Roan said the doctor is impressed with his progress."

"And Roan? How old is he? Has he ever been married?"

"Never married," Seg told her. "And he's great. He's thirty-four, owns a marina with three of his friends."

"A marina? Like boats?"

"Yes. Boats. Coincidentally, the team went there about a year ago."

"Is that where you met him?"

Seg felt the blush creep up his face. "No."

This time her smile lit up her entire face. "Oh, Seggy. I'm so happy for you."

"Really? You're not freaked out? Disappointed?"

Her eyebrows darted downward. "Not once in your life have I ever been disappointed in you. Why would I be now? We're talking about love here, Colton. Not winning or losing a hockey game. You're a smart man, always have been. I don't think you've ever done anything lightly, and I know that if you're having this conversation with me, this is real for you. I love you. You. Not the image of you I want to project, not a fictitious version of what someone believes a son should be. From the moment you came screaming into this world, you have been my heart. And I'm truly happy for you."

His mother always knew just what to say to set his world right again.

Seg swallowed hard. "Thank you. That means  …  a lot. And I love you, too." 

"Now for the harder question." Her smile slipped away. "Are you planning to come out publicly?" She held up her hand to stop him. "Now, wait before you answer that. I want you to know that I don't feel strongly one way or the other. I'm simply asking. So I can support you regardless. But you and I both know that not everyone is supportive. However, I know that Mr. Pierce is married to a man and a woman." She waved her hand. "In theory or whatever."

"He is. And I'm planning to talk to him. Right now, I'm taking this slowly. Roan knows how I feel. Knows that I can't come out right now. Maybe not ever."

Seg continued to watch her.

"But Ma, I don't want to hide him. That's my problem, I think. I don't want to hide what this is. I've never felt anything like this before. He'll think it's too soon, but Ma, I want to ask the man to marry me. I want to spend my life with him. And no, we haven't been seeing each other for long. Not like this. I've known him for a year and a half and I think  …  I think I fell for him the very first day I met him. Yes, even as I say it, I know it sounds ridiculous."

"No, it doesn't, Seggy. Who puts a time limit on love? Who ever said that you have to be with someone for a week, a year, a decade before you know that person's it for you? I knew your father for a month when I realized I wanted to spend my life with him. I was sixteen years old, Seggy. The timing isn't important." She placed her hand over her heart and tapped her fingers against her chest. "This is."

The relief he felt was staggering. She understood him. Then again, Seg had known that she would. His mother had always been his rock.

"So, when do I get to meet Roan and Liam?"

Of all the questions she could've asked, Seg should've known that would be the most important one. For her, at least.



"WHY ARE YOU PACING THE floor? Sit down, for chrissakes," Cam grumbled as Roan made another pass through the dining room. "Your daddy's gonna make me crazy, Liam."

Roan stopped mid-stride, watching Cam as he gently bounced Liam on his knee, smiling down at the boy. Roan had come over to Cam and Gannon's in an effort to keep his mind off the fact that Seg's mother was coming into town tonight. It hadn't helped in the least.