Yes.
“Okay, so that makes…fourteen shows next week then.” Amy confirmed.
“Oh, add the one I’m doing for Vida. Makes fifteen.” Tyler added, reminded Amy of the show they promised at the Lions’ Den.
“Fuck, that means we’ll have to move the gig on campus.” Amy checks the book. “Unless you think we can get all the way up to MLK in ten minutes.”
“We can make it work, have Kaylee do a longer set. We can do both.” Tyler goes through his own schedule to make sure he isn’t missing anything. “I’ve got a lunch shift the next day though, so I’ll have to leave right after.”
“You’re quitting soon right?” Amy asked as she penciled in some more things and typed away on her laptop.
“As soon as I can.” He replied.
“You know, considering we now don’t have a lot of bills – thank you Clark – we can both afford to quit our jobs. I’m put my two weeks in next Monday.” Tyler gave Amy a look at the reference.
“I still want to make sure I’m carrying my weight.” Tyler assured. “I had to fight Clark tooth and nail nearly to pay the water bill. Do you know how much a water bill at The Avenue is?”
“No.”
“Triple digits Amy, triple digits.”
“How much do y’all fuck in the shower?”
“Not as much as you’d think actually?” Tyler rolled his eyes and took a sip of his drink.
“Oh? Trouble in paradise?”
“Actually a little.” Tyler groaned his frustration. “Ever since we fought over the whole Jason debacle, and him being wrapped up in some big project at work, we’ve been arguing almost every day. Well, the days we see each other anyway. By the time I’m getting home from work, he’s getting up for the day. Then I’m off to work at the restaurant before I go out until three am, and repeat and repeat and repeat.”
“Have you tried maybe not arguing about it?” Amy tried to diffuse.
“Amy.”
“Sorry, I just – I really don’t know how to help you here. I get your frustration about him shoving money at you, but I don’t at the same time. Let him be your sugar daddy sis.” She closes the books and laptops.
“It’s not about the money really. At least not all about the money.” Tyler leans back in his chair and lets out a long breath. “I feel like he’s put a leash around me, or bought me from a department store. He’s given me things that, yes I truly appreciate, but also make me feel smothered. Like I have to stay because I owe him, not because I love him.”
“But you do love him right?”
“Of course I do, it’s just this fear, this ball of anxiety I’ve got in the bottom of my stomach that…that I have to stay with him, not matter what because he bought me a car, bought me this apartment.”
“Technically he bought me this apartment.”
“Not the point, he just keeps opening doors for me that I don’t know if I deserve to walk through.”
“Imposter syndrome, I heard about it on a podcast.” Amy nodded. “Look, Ty, he bought you a car. Yes, insane of him to do. He bought this apartment; I will say not as insane however because it was also a business decision on his end. But this also kind of how relationships work, the people take care of each other.”
“But what do I do? Contribute? How do I take care of him?”
“I hear you give great head.”
“Amy I’m serious.”
“Do you love him?” Her tone gets serious and Tyler nods. “Then maybe that’s all you need. He needs.” She corrects. “People require different things; they offer different things. Maybe to him, an equal partnership is him spoiling you, and you giving him the best head.”
“Amy.”
“Sorry, but you get my point right?”
“I suppose, but it’s just…what if I can’t?” He asks.
“Can’t what?”
“Accept his ‘style’ of love.”
*****
Tyler and Clark sat in the shade in Zilker Park. Clark had brought them here on his day off and it was such a nice day. He’d prepared a picnic. Sandwiches, chips, sodas. Grapes. He thought it would be cute to feed them to each other. It had been. It had been sweet. The date had been wonderful, it had made Tyler forget the argument they’d had the night before.
“I love you.” Clark said. He had been staring at Tyler, and Tyler hadn’t noticed. Until now.
“I love you too.” Tyler responded, turning his attention away from the parents playing catch with their children nearby. “Are you staring at me?” He asked.
“I am.”
“Why?”
“Because you’re beautiful.”
“I know I am.” Tyler rolled the compliment away with a joke. Clark still sometimes made him uncomfortable with his adoration. “You are too, not as hot as me. But still quite the looker.” He reached over and pinched Clarks cheek playfully. Clark caught Tylers hand before he took it away.
“I love you.” He repeated, squeezing Tylers hand. Running his fingers over his.
“I know.” Tyler stated, he saw something in Clarks eyes. “I love you too. What is it?”
“Do you know why I love you?”
“Uh…because I have a big, juicy ass and a tight gorilla grip puss puss.”
“I’m being serious.” Clark reached over and tucked some of Tylers hair behind his ear.
“Then I don’t know.” Tyler conceded.
“Because you are kind, funny, sweet, and way more forgiving towards me than you should be.” Clark said. “I don’t know what I did to deserve you.”
“Clark…” Tyler didn’t know how to respond, Clarks ushy gushiness in the moment made him a tad uncomfortable.
“Why do you love me?” Clark asked. “Seriously.”
“Uh…because…because you love me.” Tyler said. “You don’t love me for some superficial reason. You’ve never made me feel any type of way because of my weight. I know I don’t talk about it. It’s not something that gets brought up a lot, but you don’t talk about it and that’s what I mean. I also love you because you are kind and sweet. And as much as it irks me sometimes, you’re supportive. Sometimes too much.” Tyler laughed a little. “But most of all I think I love you because you’ve shown me I can be loved.”
“Of course you can be.” Clark grabbed Tylers hand and squeezed.
“You’ve kind of been my first boyfriend Clark. I’ve never dated anyone before you.” He tells the man he loves.
“Well I hope I’m the last too.” Clark says. Tyler felt a strange stir. “I’ve got a few things I need to say now, and I need you to wait until I’ve said them all to respond okay?”
“Okay.” Tyler says slowly.
“I know I’ve been working a lot recently. My father has made me the head of a project we are about to start in Seattle. Which means…I have to move to Seattle for a bit. Three months, maybe more.”
“Three months?”
“I know, but uhm…I need you to know I’m going to fly down as much as I can. And you can fly up too. I’ve got tons of miles we can uses.” Clark leans back and fishes something out of the basket. “Also, I know we just argued over me buying things, but I need you to hear me out-”
“Clark-”
“I said hear me out, hear.” Clark cut Tylers rage off by giving him a piece of paper. “When I come back, this is my next project.” Tyler took the paper and looked over it. It was a plot of land on a map, circled and starred.
“What is this?” He asked, a warm feeling swelling in him.
“I bought us that plot of land…for this.” Clark repositioned himself to be on one knee now. Tyler froze as the feeling that been building in him popped. Clark produced a ring. “Tyler Kenneth Harris, I love you. And I want-”
“Clark.” Tyler cut him off. “What are you-”
“Tyler Kenneth Harris,” Clark cut him off back. “I love you and I want to spend my life with you. I want to build a home with you. I want you. Forever.” Clark started to tear up. He pushed the ring forward, hoping above all hope that Tyler would take it.
“Clark…” Tylers voice was small and it wavered as he started to cry himself. “You can’t take this back you know.”
“I know.” Clark laughed softly. “I didn’t plan to.”
“I…” Tyler wanted to shout yes, jump onto Clark and kiss him until the sun burnt out and the final ray of light touched the earth. He wanted nothing more than to die old and grey with Clark, but he was frozen in fear and anxiety. What if it didn’t work out like his parents? What if they couldn’t stop arguing over every little thing? “Yes.” Tyler choked out.
“Yes?” Clark made sure.
“Yes,” Tyler confirmed trough the fears in his head. His heart answered. Not his head. His heart loved Clark; he loved Clark. He’d die by his side. “yes!”
“Yes!” Clark put the ring on Tylers finger and pulled him into a deep kiss, people nearby had seen the exchange and were cheering and applauding. Giving their congratulations. In the kiss, Clark started to grow hard, he wanted to take Tyler here and now. “You know,” he said pulling out of the kiss. “this is were we had our first like real date you know. And it’s where we…”
“For the first time.” Tyler finished the sentence, understanding and feeling what Clark was getting at. Tylers own cock started to grow as well, and he could feel his hole longing for Clarks dick to penetrate him. They cleaned up the picnic and made their way to the car the way they had before. Clambering into the backseat and undoing pants in the process Tyler quickly took Clark down his throat. Consuming his growing cock in one swift motion.
“Fuck.” Clarks head fell back as Tyler started to work his way up and down. He stuck his fingers in his mouth and wet them good and slick then reached over and started to probe Tylers pussy. “Oh, fuck baby. Right there.” He groaned as he inched his fingers inside Tyler, loosening him up. The windows started to fog quickly as Tyler kept bobbing up and down, swallowing until he could feel Clarks pubes tickle his nose.
“Fuck…” Tyler moaned coming up for air. Clark kept stretching him open. “Fuck I need you in me.” Tyler groaned as he repositioned and straddled his fiancé. The two started kissing as Tyler moved his hips up and down, feeling his cheeks grab Clarks tool and massaging it as he went up and down. The two moaned into each other’s mouths as Tyler felt Clark continue to finger him. “Fuck me Clark, fuck me.” He moaned, begged his fiancé to penetrate him.
“If you insist.” Clark grabbed Tylers round cheeks and lifted him up as Tyler grabbed his cock and light it up with his pucker. He pushed up as Tyler lowered down slowly. Wanting to feel every moment and every inch. He lowered all the way down and could feel Clarks balls against his ass now. Tyler started to squeeze and sway back and forth, giving Clark as much pleasure as Clark was giving him. “Oh, fuck baby. I love you.” He moaned into Tylers ear as he grinded up into him.
The two continued to make love until Clark was spent and Tylers hole could take no more.
*****
One week later…
“I was so happy to get the invite Clark.” Janet said to her son.
“Actually, it was Tylers idea for us all to come out for dinner.” Clark stated. He reached over and squeezed Tylers hand. They had taken the rings off waiting for the announcement to put them back on. Clarks father of course knew, but he was the only one at the table who did other than the two affianced. Amy and Violet sat by each other at the circular table, Abraham and Janet by each other, then Clark and Tyler.
“Well, regardless of whose idea it was. Thank you for the invite.” She smiled. Amy wanted to stab the bitch; she still didn’t like her. Not after what she’d heard at thanksgiving. Clark nodded at this mother while he sipped his wine. Tyler had been somewhat nervous; he didn’t know how Clarks parents would react to their engagement. He liked his parents, but something about this dinner felt tense. Tyler felt the energy weigh heavy.
“I was just glad to get out of the office, this damn Seattle project will be the death of me.” Abraham complained, drinking his old fashioned.
“Well daddy, you could always cancel it. Do you really need another office?” Violet stated.
“In the Pacific Northwest? Yes, of course. It’s a growing area. I want to be there when we expand from construction to property management, to even bigger things.” Abraham laughed gruffly.
“Clarks already got a head start on that.” Violet remarked under her breath, Clark shot her a look as his mother caught the interaction.
“I’ve got a big gig on campus next month.” Tyler announced, trying to divert Janets next question.
“What does that mean Violet?” She asked, Tylers ploy had failed.
“Oh, you didn’t know mother?” Clark shot daggers at her from his seat. “Clark bought an apartment complex, four actually.”
“Wait, four?” Tylers brows raised and he directed his attention to Clark.
“Thanks Vi.” Clark smiled as Amy held her laughter in. She was loving this. “Yes, I purchased a few business, some small ones.” Clark explained.
“Why?” Janet asked.
“Well…I thought at the time that maybe I wanted to leave the company. So I…diversified my income.” Clark explained. Tyler was mildly annoyed at Clark for withholding that he had purchased more businesses without telling him, he was also annoyed that Violet had decided to bring all this up. Causing more tension; but he was also thankful she had. Now he knew the truth.
“Well why would you want to leave the company?” Janet asked.
“Mother, at the time, I believed it to be the best decision. But I’ve since had a change of heart. I’m staying.” Clark explained further, not revealing the whole truth. Clark had never expressed to Tyler that he wanted to leave the company. He’d mentioned it once in the heat of an argument, but then never again.
“Well why the change of heart?” His father chimed in now. “Why not talk to your old man about it?”
“Because, dad, I now have a reason to stay. A pretty big, important one.” He reached under the table and grabbed Tylers hand. Tyler squeezed Clarks hand, sensing he needed some support in this moment. Clark then gave his father a look and his father gave a knowing nod.
“I see.” He took another sip of his old fashioned.
“Well I don’t, what reason do you have to stay now?” Janet asked, annoyance growing in her voice.
“Thanks so much Violet.” Clark directed some anger at his baby sister.
“No problem big bro.” She grinned and took a sip of her wine, her and Amy smiled and winked at each other. Tyler wanted to smack Amy upside her head for this.
“We were gonna wait until after the dinner to announce this but…” Clark reached into his pocket and put his ring back on and gave Tyler his. Tyler put his one. “We’re engaged and I decided to stay with the company for the financial stability. I’ll need it to support our family.” Clark squeezed Tylers hand and Tyler smiled softly at him.
“You’re getting married!” Janets face nearly split. Tyler caught her expression before she fixed it. It sent a strange feeling over him.
“OH MY GOD!” Amy exclaimed in excitement.
“L’chaim!” Violet raised her glass. She’d figured out that Clark wanted to marry Tyler at thanksgiving when she caught the way he looked at him.
“Are you guys Jewish?” Amy asked at Violets outburst.
“No, but I love that word.” She responded.
“Yes we are.” Tyler confirmed.
“Are those your grandparents rings?” She asked.
“Yes they are.” Clark answered.
“Did you know about this?” Janet turned to Abraham as he was the only one who could’ve given them to the two.
“Yeah, what’s the big deal. They’re in love.” Abraham shrugged.
“They’ve been together less than a year, and Clark bought the boy a car. Bought the apartment he lives in-”
“Wait, how do you know about that?” Clark interrupted. Tyler remained silent, sensing that it was the best thing to do in the moment.
“I…that’s not what needs to be discussed right now.” Janet tried to deflect.
“How is it not?” Clark continued. “Did you look into my finances?”
“I had Tom check in on you after thanksgiving.” She said plainly, as if she’d done nothing wrong.
“More like you had him look into Tyler.” Amy mumbled as she sipped her champagne.
“What?” Tyler spoke now.
“Yes, what?” Janet asked.
“Oh please, I overheard you telling your husband how you thought Tyler was a gold digger.” She said.
“Amy, why didn’t you-”
“I asked her not to.” Clark cut Tyler off.
“You knew about this too?” Tyler pierced Clark with his eyes.
“I didn’t think you needed to know.” He defended himself.
“You didn’t think that I needed to know that your parents thought I was a fucking gold digger!” Tyler was angry now.
“To be clear, I adore you. I never thought you were a gold digger and told Janet to drop it.”
“Well, thanks Abe.” Janet swatted his shoulder.
“Oh, no mother. Don’t blame him, you had Tom look into me? Called Tyler a gold digger.” Clark spat at his mother. “I love him, and he is the farthest thing from a gold digger.”
“Clark, you barely knew him and were bringing him home to meet us. He came from a…certain background. You’d bought him a car, then you bought his apartment. What else have you bought him.” Janet insulted Tylers upbringing now. She thought little of him. He saw that now. “I just don’t see why you couldn’t make it work with that Bryant boy you dated before him.”
“Nothing, not that it’s your business. And I couldn’t make it work with Bryant because he was boring and cheating asshat.”
“You could’ve just asked me.” Tyler spoke in a flat tone now. His anger had boiled over to a hollow point.
“Tyler-”
“No, Mrs. Price.” Tyler stood up. “I love your son; I don’t need his money. In fact every time he spends it on me, it makes me want to vomit. We’ve had countless arguments over the subject. If you think I’m just some gold-digging tramp, fine. Go ahead.” Tyler pushed his chair in. “But I think your son deserves some privacy from the overbearing mother I see that you are now. I am going to marry your son, and you can come – if you can stand being around someone from my background that is.” Tyler nearly set the tablecloth on fire from his rage. “And I do hope you’ll like the fucking appetizers.” Tyler stormed out.
“Tyler!” Clark got up quickly. “Thanks mother.” He shot at her.
“Clark-”
“Janet let it go.” Abraham told her. “You’ve done enough.”
Clark followed Tyler outside the restaurant. Tyler didn’t know where he was going, he was just walking the tears catching up with him now. Anger subsiding.
“Tyler, slow- Ty! Slow down!” Clark caught up to him.
“Why didn’t you tell me that your mother hates me?” He asked, turning around in anger.
“She doesn’t hate you. She just…I don’t know, but she doesn’t hate you.” Clark said.
“You sure about that? She seemed pretty straightforward in there, calling me a gold digger-”
“She was just looking out for me.” He tried to defend his mother though he knew she was wrong.
“Looking out for you! She had ‘Tom’ look into me. You? You don’t see how toxic that is? Jesus fucking Christ Clark, you know my family is fucked. But at least I recognize it, own it.” Tyler spewed.
“Hey, my family isn’t fucked. My mother is overprotective, but they’re not-”
“Like mine?”
“That is not fair, and it is not what I was going to say.” Clark said threw gritted teeth.
“Isn’t it? We are nothing alike. Our families…us…two different worlds.” Tylers insecurities spoke, being ignited by Janets’ insults.
“Where the fuck is this coming from Tyler, you’ve never brought this up. And you know I don’t care about that shit.”
“You’re right, I know.” Tyler took a breath, calming himself. “I just…”
“Tyler…” Clark reached out and took Tyler into a tight hug.
“Your mother fucking hates me and I can’t compare to your ex.” Tyler cried into Clarks chest.
“You don’t need to compare to him.” Clark assured, rubbing his back. “Bryant was a fucking asshole, cheated on me and gave me chlamydia.”
“Chlamydia?” Tyler pulled back and looked up into Clarks eyes.
“Yeah, my dick burned like I put it in a fucking waffle iron. Doctor said it was worse because I was uncut.” Clark chuckled.
“It’s cleared up now right?” Tyler joked. Feeling comfort seep back into him because of Clark.
“I hope so, I tried this online remedy where I rubbed garlic on my piss slit.” He laughed and Tyler swatted him playfully. “Hey, look at me, I don’t care what my mother says or thinks. I love you.” He grabbed Tylers face and stared deep into his eyes. “I love you.” He repeated softly and kissed Tyler.
“I love you too.” Tyler responded.
“Hey, mom says she’s sorry and will call you tomorrow. Dad paid the bill.” Violet said, joining the two men. Amy in tow.
“Why the fuck did you bring all that up in there.” Clark asked her.
“Because I knew mom was snooping and that you wanted to marry Tyler.” Violet said. “I was also bored and wanted someone to put mother in her place.” She turned to Tyler. “You should have seen the look on her face. ‘I just hope you’ll enjoy the fucking appetizers’.” She repeated Tylers words, giggling.
“So this was a game to you?” Tyler asked.
“No, and sorry for the way things went down, but like I said. Mother needed to be put in her place. She looked into this guy I was dating a while back, he got spooked and dumped me. Mother can be…rude I think is the word.”
“I was gonna say cunty.” Amy said.
“She’s still our mother. Even though she’s…well cunty is actually the right adjective.” Violet agreed.
“I don’t want to argue about this anymore and I need a drink.” Tyler said.
“Bear traps two streets down.” Amy says.
“I love a good bear.” Tyler nodded.
“Rawr.” Clark laughed as he growled into Tylers ear.
“Down boy.” Violet commented.
