Laid Bare - Lauren Dane [111]
His mother stood. “I don’t know what to say. You’re an adult and I love you. That won’t change. You’re right that your father would definitely not understand. Hell, I don’t understand. I also don’t like Erin very much right now.”
He grabbed her hand. “You can’t understand how it was for me before. I can’t explain it except to say I was alone and lonely and Erin makes me feel whole and loved. I know this is strange. I know it’s hard to accept, but don’t be angry at Erin for making me happy.”
She squeezed his hand. “I have to go. Your secret is safe with me. You can always talk to me, Ben. But I need to think. I’ll see you tomorrow, I guess.”
He walked her out, and she didn’t look at Erin as she left. “Hey, Cope, why don’t you take Mom home?”
Cope looked back at Erin, kissed her cheek and waved at Todd before meeting their mother and walking her toward the elevator.
When Ben got back, Erin looked stunned.
“You told her.”
He nodded.
“She hates me.”
“She doesn’t.” He moved to her, but she stepped back.
“She wouldn’t even look at me! We’re supposed to go over there for dinner tomorrow and you told her? Without even talking to me first? They know you. They know Todd. You’re both family. I’m not. Oh my god, what must she think about me?”
“I had to tell her, Erin.”
Todd stayed where he was in the living room but listened intently.
“She thought I was hiding from my future because I was living like a twenty-year-old in my best friend’s basement. She said she saw how I looked at you and how she worried I’d betray Todd. I had to tell someone the truth. I hate living a lie. I have this beautiful, wonderful thing and I wanted my mother to understand that. Is that so wrong?”
She sighed, the rigidity in her back relaxing a bit.
“I only told her once she promised not to tell anyone,” he explained to them both. “And she won’t.”
He walked another few steps, all his tension falling from his shoulders when she allowed him to hold her. “Please don’t be mad. I had to tell her.”
“I’m not mad. But I’m worried they’ll all hate me.”
His heart ached. “She doesn’t understand, but she doesn’t hate you.”
His mouth found hers and took it. Claimed it because she was his and he’d said it out loud. Erin wrapped her arms around his neck and held on as he possessed her, giving herself to him, soothing him even as that submission enflamed him.
“They’re nearly done next door.” Todd spoke softly and Ben pulled back.
“She won’t tell your mother,” Ben said to Todd.
“I know. And I understand why you did it. I know how hard it is for you to have to pretend to be the best friend while I get to be her husband in public.”
Erin just watched them both, her men. Christ, this was unexpected. She didn’t blame Ben for wanting to be in the open with his mother, but she cringed to think about spending the entire day with them all tomorrow and pretending his mother didn’t think she was the whore of Babylon. She’d never been ashamed of her sexuality before, but for the first time she felt embarrassed at what his mother might think. Yes, it was someone else’s hang-up, but that someone was important to her because she was important to Ben.
“Bread is rising. That’ll take a while. Stay out of everything in the fridge in here. If you’re hungry, go next door. I’m going to take a bath over in our new bathroom.”
Both men looked at her lecherously.
“Alone, you perverts.”
She gathered her clothes. She’d moved her bath stuff up there a few days prior. Important things first. She went up the stairs and headed down the hall. The new space was perfect and she loved it. The bathroom was a work of art. The sunken tub put her old one to shame. She’d hung up sconces and lit the candles in them, turning on some music and starting the water.
The bath was the place she’d always gone to think and escape her troubles. Even as a kid she’d done it, in the tiny bathtub