“That was crazy,” said Riley, leaning forward so he could talk. “Your dad scares the shit out of me sometimes.”
Jake scoffed. “Like you haven’t gotten into a shouting match with him about the same thing.”
“I have,” said Riley. “But he’s never given me an explanation before. He either kicks me out or stares at me until I shut up.”
Jake opened his mouth to respond, but then Allen suddenly spoke.
“I don’t like him,” he said, still glaring out the window. “He reminds me of my father.”
Wincing, Jake put the car in reverse and backed out of the driveway. He needed to put distance between Allen and his father before his soon-to-be boyfriend jumped out and ran back to the house for another fight.
“That’s funny, because he seems to like you,” said Jake.
Allen’s head whipped around, and Jake glanced at him, worried he might have made things worse.
“If you want to be boyfriends,” Allen began, his tone sharp. “Then you’re going to learn how to stand up to your father. He’sdone treating you like you’re his daughter living in medieval times, waiting to be traded for three goats and a bag of grain.”
“Okay,” said Jake.
“I’m not going to stay silent and let him push you around, and I need you to have my back when I confront him.”
“Okay.”
Allen gripped his thigh, and Jake could feel the anger radiating off him. “And have I ever told you that I fucking hate Christmas?”
No, but that would explain why Allen had been so grumpy.
“At least the family thing is only on Christmas Eve,” Riley said, his voice cutting through the tension, instantly shifting the atmosphere into something more cheerful. “I’m expected to visit all the time, and I love Jake’s family, but they can be intense sometimes.”
Allen turned in his seat to face Riley. “Thank you for speaking up. I know that wasn’t easy, but it was nice to have backup.”
Jake knew it wasn’t a dig at him, and he agreed with Allen’s praise. That’s why he loved Riles; he had been putting himself between him and his parents since they had been rebellious teens.
“Thanks, babe,” Riley said, using his annoying flirty voice.
Allen made a noise of disgust and straightened in his seat. “Are you really straight?”
Riley repeated Allen’s disgusted groan. “I don’t know. Apparently, ten million dollars might be enough to sway me.”
When Allen stared at Jake, Jake shook his head, silently begging him to drop it. He ended the conversation by switching the radio station until he found something that wasn’t playing Christmas music, which greatly improved Allen’s mood.
The drive to Riley’s place was much more enjoyable than the one to his parents’ house. By the time they pulled up in front ofthe apartment building, the mood had brightened enough that Jake felt the tension unwind from his shoulders.
“Have fun, you two,” Riley called out with a cheeky wink, waving as he hurried inside.
Jake glanced at Allen, a soft smile tugging at the corners of his mouth. “Your place?”
Allen’s cheeks burned a deep, vivid red.
Jake frowned, concern flickering in his chest as he gently pressed the back of his hand against one flushed cheek, worried that Allen might be coming down with something.
“We need to talk,” said Allen.
Fuck.
“About what?” Jake muttered.
What had he done? Had meeting his parents been too much?