Page 64 of His Last Chase
“I promise, it won’t happen again. I love you, son.”
Fuck, there wasn’t a dry eye in the room that held only three bodies.
Chase and his father embraced again and through my little songbird’s tears I heard him utter those heartfelt words. “I love you, Dad.”
“I owe you a debt I’ll never be able to repay,” Johnny said to me. We stood off to the side with a couple of the guards while the bands went through their meet and greet routine. “This is amazing to watch. I know Hannah is smiling proudly down at Chase. How could she not?”
“No debt needs to be repaid. Just love your son as he deserves to be. He’s a wonderful man and I’m lucky to call him my partner.” Heartfelt words that nowhere near covered the depth of my love for Chase.
“Let’s exchange numbers,” Johnny suggested, and handed me his phone. I entered my contact information and texted myself so I’d have his. “If Chase ever needs anything, please don’t hesitate to ask, though I doubt I’ll ever be able to give him what he doesn’t already have.”
“You are the only one who can give him what he truly needs, and it doesn’t require fame or money. He only wants your love and to spend time with you.”
Johnny teared up again. “Thank you, Casey. That much I can promise to do.”
I sincerely hoped for both their sakes Johnny remained true to his words.
As the line neared the end, Johnny slid into the last spot. When he got to the table, David, Rhone, Seltzer, and Chase came around and posed for pictures I took of them as a group then a couple ofChase and his dad. In my mind, the walls of our house would finally be filled with pictures of happy faces. Something it had sorely missed. I myself had lived in the dark, so to speak, since my religious zealot parents kicked me out the day I came out.
I never heard from them again.
That was over twenty years ago.
Thankfully, I met Richard in college and much as he and Cecilia had done with Chase, his family adopted me. Funny thing was the Jordans were devout Catholics, yet they found nothing wrong with being gay. “We are all God’s creatures, and he creates no mistakes. Choices his children make are what condemn them, not how they are born.” Richard’s Nana repeated that to me anytime I was down.
Why couldn’t everyone see that? Religious or not, we all served a purpose and love between consenting adults should be just that—love, regardless of what was between their legs or how they identified.
Freshman year of college I came out. Freshman year was the last year my parents paid for my tuition. Had the college powers that be not refused their request for a refund I’d have been screwed.
By the time sophomore year rolled around, I had a job and applied for various grants that helped get me through the remaining years. I worked my ass off to get where I was. Was my home a hugemansion filled with lavish things? No. It was simple and humble, and it was mine.
Johnny said goodbye to everyone with a round of hugs and promised to attend more gatherings. He and Chase exchanged numbers, too, parting with smiles on their faces. Now it was time to face the aftermath of my actions and see how it had been received by my boy.
He held my hand as the limo dropped everyone off at their homes, ours being last since I wasn’t in the same area as David and Rhone’s homes were.
“Home sweet home,” I said as I locked the door behind us. With Chase moving in I’d invest in cameras and a security system sooner rather than later.
When I turned, Chase stood before me and wrapped his arms around my neck. “Thank you, Daddy. I know you’re the birdie. Kind of ironic considering you call me your little songbird.”
“Well, birds of a feather and all that.”
“Thank you. That was by far the most thoughtful thing anyone has ever done for me.” Chase pressed his lips to mine in the sweetest of kisses. “He’s already talking about getting together for the holidays.”
Now there was an idea. I could see Chase’s dad here on Christmas day. My sweet songbird excitedly ripping his presents open. Chase had enriched my life in so many ways and I looked forward to each andevery day.
“That sounds wonderful and I’m glad it worked out. I was afraid it would backfire, and you’d be angry with me. But Johnny needed a swift kick in the tush to see what he was missing.”
“Daddy, everything you do, you do with me in mind. I don’t believe you could ever do wrong by me. I love you to the moon and back.”
“Me, too, Little Songbird. All the love in the universe I have for you.”
“Come on, Daddy, let’s shower.” My sweet, sexy boy took my hand and led me to our shower.
I turned on the water and enjoyed the show Chase performed just for me, slowly removing each piece of clothing he had on as he sang the song he wrote for me. Gods, I was a lucky man.
“Chase, you’re perfect. Don’t change a single thing, ever.”
“Daddy, you say the sweetest things, but you have way too many clothes on.”