Out of Nowhere (Balls and Brawn Bodyguard #4)

41. Chapter Forty-one Seo-jun

Chapter Forty-one: Seo-jun

T he holiday with Dex’s family ended too quickly, and no one was more surprised than Seo-jun to be thinking that. On the day before he and Dex left, Bea noticed Seo-jun admiring her pot of violets in the kitchen, and asked him if he liked plants. Seo-jun admitted that he loved them, but his hectic schedule and the small size of the apartment he and Dex lived in only allowed him to keep a couple of hardy snake plants. Bea took Seo-jun to the back of the house where her solarium was located. Seo-jun hadn’t been in there before because she kept the door closed. Dex had told Seo-jun the room was her private sanctuary.

As she opened the door, Bea explained that she’d had the extension added to the south end of the house for the best exposure to sun as well as the beautiful view of the woods. Seo-jun loved it on sight. The space looked like it belonged in a magazine showcasing homes with both beauty and comfort. The walls and ceiling were made of windows framed in the same beautiful maple wood as was found in the rest of the house; a colorful rug accented the gleaming maple wood floor between a warm red couch and a couple of moss green chairs; and low shelving for the dozens of plants Bea owned made the room a perfect place to escape to read or meditate. Seo-jun could easily see why Bea was reluctant to share it with anyone. When he told her that, she shocked him by inviting him to use the room whenever he wished.

“I can’t believe you won my mother over,” Dex said on the flight back home. Seo-jun had only taken half of a pill for the trip, wanting to see if he could overcome what he thought of as his ridiculous phobia. He would never be so judgmental if it were someone else’s irrational fear, but he’d always tended to be hard on himself. It had been Dex who had pointed that out to him, but, perversely, the insight had only made Seo-jun more determined to overcome his fear of flying. Besides, he didn’t want to miss the time he could spend with Dex because he was zonked out on tranquilizers.

“I wouldn’t say I won her over ,“ Seo-jun objected. “She tolerated me.”

Dex shook his head. “No. My mother does not invite anyone into her sanctum sanctorum. Even Garfield isn’t allowed in there.”

Seo-jun frowned. “Then why in the world would she invite me?”

Dex shrugged. “Maybe she recognized a kindred spirit in you. Who knows? I’m just relieved. You don’t know what a load off my mind it is to have my family know that I’m gay and be accepting, at least on the surface.”

Their hands were already linked between them, and Seo-jun gave Dex’s hand a squeeze.

“I’m glad.”

“What did you think of my sister’s behavior?” Dex asked after a moment. “I mean, with the baby. Do you think she acts motherly toward him?”

Seo-jun did not. In fact, Anna seemed to distance herself from her son a little more each day. But because Dex looked so worried, he said, “I’ve heard there’s an adjustment period for new mothers. She’ll come around. And she has your mother to help her.”

Dex winced. “That’s…not very reassuring, I’m sorry to say.”

“You’re mother loves you,” Seo-jun said. “I could see how much.”

Dex sighed. “I know. She just isn’t very motherly, and a child needs that. I think it’s why the short period of time I had my father with me stands out so much. Even though he didn’t want to be there and left in the end, he showed me a lot of affection during that time.”

Seo-jun squeezed Dex’s hand comfortingly again.

“Some people have a hard time showing their love.” Seo-jun knew he was one of those people, but he hoped, with Dex, he was learning to do better. He never wanted Dex to wonder if Seo-jun loved him. Leaning toward him, he kissed Dex on the cheek, earning him an affectionate smile.

It had been decided that Anna would stay with her mother through the holidays, and then everyone would reassess the situation. For Dex’s sake, Seo-jun hoped Anna’s motherly instincts kicked in by the time the family gathered again for Christmas.

Ignoring the hum of the plane’s engines, which made him so nervous, Seo-jun concentrated on Dex. “Being at your parents’ house got me thinking about something.”

“What’s that?” Dex asked, turning in his seat so he could see Seo-jun better.

“I’ve always wanted a house. But when it was just me, it seemed silly to buy one. But now that I have you with me…well, I want a place we can call our own, you know? Of course it can’t be anything like your mom’s house, but maybe something small with a garden?”

Dex stared at him, hazel eyes going wide. Seo-jun hoped it was from shock and not horror.

“Dex?” Seo-jun finally ventured when his boyfriend hadn’t uttered a word in several long seconds. A sudden bout of turbulence made Seo-jun gasp and grasp Dex’s hand so tightly, Dex winced.

“Sorry,” Seo-jun said, loosening his grip, but Dex wouldn’t let him release his grip entirely.

Wiping a drop of sweat from Seo-jun’s temple with his free hand, Dex said, “It’s okay. Just light turbulence. Everything’s fine. And I’m tougher than you think—you didn’t break my fingers.

Taking a deep breath and letting it out, Seo-jun managed a tremulous smile. “Well, I hope not.”

“Do you really want to get a house with me?” Dex asked.

“Yes,” Seo-jun said emphatically. “But if it’s too soon for you, I understand. I don’t want to push you into anything that makes you uncomfortable.”

A smile broke out on Dex’s face. “It’s not too soon. I’m sure some people might think—“

“Who cares what they think?” Seo-jun interrupted. “This is us we’re talking about. Ours are the only opinions that matter.”

Dex bit his lip, then broke out in a grin. “This is exciting.”

Anticipation rippling through him, Seo-jun nodded.

“Is there anything you particularly want in a house?” he asked.

“Well, it has to have good Internet,” Dex said,

Seo-jun laughed. “Of course.”

“A sunny kitchen would be nice. Maybe a garage? I don’t know. I’ve honestly never given the subject any thought.”

Lifting Dex’s hand to his mouth, Seo-jun kissed it. “Well, start thinking, baby. Because we’re going to be house-hunting very soon.”