The Rookie (manxmen)**Hothouse Book 1**

Chapter 11

Chapter 11

 (Thad's Truck----------->)

 

Blowing out a  heartfelt sigh, I slammed the truck door and reluctantly trudged my way up the path to my mother's front door. It's not that I wasn't happy to have brunch with mom and Henri, it's just that Nate was here as well. His truck was parked on the curb and what I really wanted to do was turn around and call Lance to see if he was free, but I didn't want to come off as clingy type. We had sex, some extremely hot, mind blowing, awe inspiring sex...And despite him claiming me as his in front of the guys. I was wondering what exactly were we to each other. Were we now boyfriends, huh listen to me going on like some high school kid. Are you my boyfriend? Yeesh, I just shook my head and opened my mom's front door and stepped inside elegant foyer.

Making my way towards the kitchen, I heard Nate's obnoxious ass long before I laid eyes on him. He was already whining to my mom about having to take time out of his precious afternoon to come here and spend time with HIM, the usual reference he used when he spoke of the absent Henri. Nate was a selfish spoiled asshole, and ever since my mom met, dated, and married Henri. He made it a point to go out of his way to make life as miserable as possible for Henri. My mom was at her wits end, and I had an inkling that when Nate bit off his nose to spite his face at eighteen and refused to let Henri pay for college, my mom had told him to get out and make his way. I felt he always resented that, and he had it in his head that our mom had chosen Henri over him, no matter what she said or did. And the fucker used to use her feelings of guilt to get his way sometimes. That was until she had put her foot down.

And to add fuel to that fire, poor naive little me didn't have a clue at the time as to what was going on. I was too busy trying to sort out the fact that I liked boys instead of girls, and how  was I going to tell my Southern Belle that her baby boy wanted a Dapper Dan instead of a Blushing Debutante. Needless to say I had my own issues going on at the time.

"Oh, so the princess graces us with his presence, what not showing off today little brother?" Nate jeered at me the minute I walked into the kitchen.

"Nathan, you know what get out. I am not dealing with your petty bitterness today. You don't want to be here, alright then fine. Go on." My mother ordered as she pointed towards the door.

Nate stared back at her in shock, I mean what the hell did he expect? Did he really think that our mother was one take his belligerent attitude for so long before snapping back. He should be lucky she didn't crown him with one of her cast iron skillets.

"Fine, Mother." He spewed like it was some kind of dirty word or something. "I know you really don't want me here. You prefer your perfect husband and your faggot of a son, you always...."

My eyes went wide as the smack she delivered to Nate's cheeks echoed around the kitchen. With her ample chest heaving, and her eyes blazing, she stepped up to my shocked brother and used his collar to pull him down to her so that they were face to face. "Listen here, you are my son,  and I love you more than the good Lord could ever allow me to put into words. But I will not let you continue to make me feel guilty  that same Lord granted me the precious gift of being able to find love again after your daddy passed away. I will not apologize for grabbing my chance at happiness with Henri. And as for your brother, he is your flesh and blood. Whether he is gay, straighten or bended, he is still that same one that used to hero worship you when you were a kid. The same one no matter who he loves. Now I am giving you the chance to really think on your life, mine, and your brother's. You need make a choice if you want to be a part of this family. If choose not to be  a part of this family and let go of all your angst, then son, I love with my whole heart. But I will not continue to put up with your bitterness and resentment anymore, it's like poison to the rest of us. Get a shrink, get a girlfriend, a dog, or a cat, but do something to get rid all this." She waved her frustrated hands in front of him. "I am here if you want to talk about it,  if you want to resolve your feelings I am here, but boy, if you continue to disrespect me you can forget this address." She finished and with shaking hands she removed and folded her apron before silently walking out of the kitchen.