him a once-over before stepping forward to give him a stiff hug. “We had no idea you’d still be in bed at this hour. Were you up late studying?”
“Uh…” Jonah glanced away and saw his father, “Good morning, Dad.”
“Good morning, Jonah. I hope we haven’t interrupted anything.”
The gleam in his father’s eyes worried Jonah so he looked away even as he offered his hand. His father shook it, their customary greeting for as long as Jonah could remember, and then stepped inside the apartment when Jonah motioned for him to come in.
He shut the door behind his parents and scanned the apartment, looking for and finding numerous signs that another person was here. Jonah’s sweatshirt from the night before was still tossed over the back of the couch where he’d dropped it. Reed’s heavy boots were discarded haphazardly in a corner. There were two coffee cups still left on the counter from the morning before when they’d had breakfast and then rushed off their separate ways to class. He knew there was no way his parents had missed the signs when they both paused and exchanged a worried glance.
“Jonah.” His mother said quietly, “Do you have a guest?”
“I… uh…” He darted a glance to the bedroom door that remained shut and felt his ears burn with embarrassment that his parents were ambushing him like this. “Well, yes. I do, actually. My boyfriend is here and we weren’t expecting you so he’s…”
“Boyfriend?” His father’s eyes widened as if he had no understanding of the word.
“You have a boyfriend?” His mother was quieter in her amazement but seemed no less surprised, which grated on Jonah’s nerves.
Was it really so impossible for them to believe he had someone that cared about him? Loved him even? That he had found someone that he wanted to share his life with?
He straightened his spine and his voice came out clipped, “Yes, I have a boyfriend.”
“Oh, don’t take that tone.” His mother sighed disapprovingly. “We’re just surprised. That’s all.”
“Why is that so surprising to you, Mother?”
“We thought you were focusing on your studies, Jonah.” His father spoke up quickly, his tone just as disapproving.
“I am focused on my studies.” He grit his teeth, “But I’m also allowed to have a normal life outside of classes and studying.”
“Oh here we go again with that asinine quest for normalcy.” His father harrumphed and Jonah felt his hands clench at his sides. “I suppose it’s safe to assume this boyfriend of yours is just a normal average guy as well then.”
“No.” Jonah snapped the word. “Reed is amazing. He’s smart and kind and generous. He has more determination and tenacity than anyone I’ve ever met. He’s not average, by any means. He’s special and he’s important to me and you will not come into my home and judge him when you haven’t even met him yet.”
“Jonah, please calm down.” His mother straightened her scarf, “We didn’t come here to fight with you. You’ve just taken us by surprise.”
“Yeah? Well, the feeling is mutual.”
His mother’s lips thinned, “Rufus told us you were doing so well with your new position as Professor Lambert’s TA. We thought we’d surprise you and take you to lunch to celebrate your accomplishment, but it’s clear to me now that we’ve made an error in coming here this morning without checking with you first. We should go.”
Jonah’s anger deflated at her easy acceptance that they should leave. It wasn’t his fault that they weren’t privy to everything going on in his life. They were the ones that chose to put their careers ahead of being present in his life. But they were here now, and as angry as Jonah was that they’d shown up unannounced and proceeded to discount his choices, they were still his parents and he didn’t want them to go again so soon.
“No.” He sighed, “Don’t leave. Please.”
“Well, I’m not sure why we should stay.”
The door to Jonah’s bedroom opened and Reed stepped out, carefully closing the bedroom door behind him, and then turning to walk towards them. His eyes were on Jonah the whole way, telling him without words that he’d heard every word of the argument and was here to back Jonah up now however he needed.
He looked incredible, but then, Jonah always thought he did. His hair was messy and falling over his forehead. His bright eyes and broad grin giving him a playful edge that most people couldn’t see past. He’d put on a long-sleeved shirt that Jonah recognized as