CH 19

The morning was inevitably rushed. Phillip awoke with a start when it took him a second to realize where he was and with whom. He was definitely thrilled about the turn of events, and even more so when the man next next to him pulled him back down for lazy caresses and fondling. Their movements quickly changed into something heavier, however, and the condoms and lube were called into service again. Both men were eager to try switching it up, and both were happily fulfilled, enjoying being so close with one another and sharing so much.

After his heart rate returned to normal and gathering his wits about him, Phillip glanced at the clock. He had 45 minutes before he and Gareth were expected at Bentman's Garden Centre. Phillip had his usual Sunday shift, and Gareth was supposed to collect the children from Mel. "Gareth, we're going to be late!"

As much as both men wanted to loiter about in bed appreciating the post-coital bliss, it was not to be, so instead they shared a hurried shower while the coffee maker percolated away in the kitchen. The shower was definitely needed to clean away the evidence of what transpired between the two men, but having one together was still a welcome luxury, even if it was rushed. While Phillip went back down to the basement bathroom to attend to his teeth and dress in his work clothes, Gareth threw together a lunch for his boyfriend.

Boyfriend. Gareth revelled in the idea that he finally had someone that he could call a boyfriend. He truly thought he was never going to have the opportunity to have a real partner; someone he could care for and lust after. But now, he was so incredibly lucky to have found Phillip, a wonderful and giving man, someone he could share everything with. As he put the sandwich into a container, Phillip came up behind him and nuzzled the back of his neck, his slight stubble tickling and arousing. Gareth shivered and bit back a groan, ushering him towards the front hall instead, trying to be the responsible one, and sadly, succeeding.

"Are we going to tell the kids?" Phillip asked Gareth nervously as they drove towards their destination. The quiet of the car had his mind working in overdrive.

"I'm not sure. I mean I think they'll probably figure it out, what with us kissing and all," Gareth chuckled.

"Yes, but do we need to say something formal? And should we avoid contact with them around?" Phillip was getting quite worried. This was probably a bigger discussion that they should have had over breakfast, you know, if they'd had breakfast instead of letting their lust take over like a couple of horny teens, as the slight ache in his backside reminded him.

Gareth could see Phillip was getting anxious, and that wouldn't do at all. "Maybe we should just tell them we're a couple. They're bound to notice us sharing a bed."

"Huh." Phillip seemed almost puzzled by this notion. "What do you mean?"

"No boyfriend of mine is sleeping on a pullout couch when there's half of a perfectly good bed going to waste. In my room. With me." Gareth gave Phillip a nudge with his elbow and a cheeky wink.

"You're not worried we're rushing things?"

"Phillip, you're 28 and I'm 29. I think there are glaciers that have moved faster than we have," Gareth chortled thinking of some of his friends who had slept together on the first date, or he and Leeann, who had never even dated yet managed to have kids. Hooking up really didn't work well for him. But then he started to worry and the smile fell from his lips. Maybe Phillip was rethinking a serious relationship with him. "I mean if you want to sleep with me and all..."

"Of course I do, Gare. I just want to make sure that everyone will be okay."

"One thing I've learned is that there are no guarantees in life, but I can tell you that being with you makes whatever is going to happen that much more bearable. And you make me so incredibly happy." The car had come to a stop in the parking lot, so Gareth leaned over and gave Phillip a tender kiss. "Whatever happens, I can promise you we'll make this work."

Phillip smiled softly at his boyfriend, insides brimming with joyous butterflies, then replied, "I guess that's all anyone can hope for."

..............................

Gareth entered the store with Phillip, but quickly went to look at merchandise while Phillip punched in and got his nursery apron with the Bentman's logo. He was assigned another day of affixing bows to plants, and pulled on the appropriate smock to wear at the table. Brian, who'd obviously been lying in wait for the man came stalking up shortly after.

"If it isn't our most knowledgeable salesmen. Not too proud now, are you?" Brian asked with a lift of his brow and a sneer of his nasty lips. It was going to be a long, hot day, and it was already tropical in the greenhouse. Brian's typical suit was showing signs of drooping already and it was only 10 am. The man was truly repulsive. "Don't you know all about ribbon types, too?"

"As a matter of fact, I--" Phillip was cut off by the calls of the three Lewis children who just entered the store with Mel closely at their heels. Mel stopped to talk to Gareth, bringing him up to speed about the night's events while the children continued rushing forward.

Franny launched herself at Phillip's legs to give him a hug, and in the process knocked over a riser of plants. Five hydrangeas and a bougainvillea fell to the ground. She instantly let go and her face went red, tears welling up in the corners of her eyes, soil and foliage on the concrete floor around her flashing pink sneakers.

"I'm so sorry, Phillip." Her voice was wavering.

"It's okay, Franny. Accidents happen," Gareth said, gently.

Brian however, wasn't quite so understanding. "Are you responsible for these children, Phillip? Because obviously their behaviour is somewhat lacking." Children came out of his mouth like a foul tasting word, as if he'd devoured a whole bunch of lemons. Gabe and Daisy let forth little huffs of indignation, seeing as they had nothing to do with the spill.

"Franny didn't mean to do it." Phillip came to her defence instantly. It's funny, a few months ago, Phillip may of had similar thoughts about children knocking stuff about in the store, not that he ever would have voiced it. But now Franny's unbridled enthusiasm for him was rather endearing. It was fantastic to be hugged by her little arms and wonderful to know she missed him. And why was the display so unstable?

"Oh I beg to differ, as does that riser of plants," he said haughtily, as he tugged at his moist suit jacket and straightened his tie. "You will clean this up and pay for any damages."

"Of course, Brian," Phillip acquiesced, trying to keep his response from being too rude.

"Did I get you in trouble, Phillip?" Franny's liquid-filled eyes blinked, sending a new trail of tears down her cheeks, which Phillip quickly wiped away.

"No, Franny, it's fine."

"It most certainly isn't fine," Brian insisted. "What if a customer sees this mess?" Gareth strolled up just as Brian was finishing with his contemptuous surveying of the area.

"Is there a problem here?" Gareth inquired, holding a few hanging baskets.

"No Sir, our sales associate was just going to tidy up this little disaster."

"Ah, Phillip I was thinking we could get these?" He raised his arms slightly, baskets weighing heavily.

Phillip smiled at the New Guinea Impatiens in bright pinks and purples that Gareth had chosen, "Sure, just leave them, and I'll get them at the end of my shift." They might not have been Phillip's first choice, but if Gareth wanted them, who was he to deny him?

"Excuse me, Phillip, you can't just use your employee discount for friends you know. That's inappropriate," Brian puffed out his chest in self-importance.

Daisy stepped forward. She took her father's arm and Phillip's hand, effectively outing them to Phillip's boss. "He's not. It's for our home. Phillip's home. We all live there." She gave a defiant look, angered that Phillip's boss was so mean to her second favourite adult, behind her father. Although actually, sometimes Phillip was her first favourite adult. She'd seen enough bullying from her mother that she didn't want to stand for it anymore, and this man wouldn't dare hit her.

"Oh, well, I..." Brian seemed stunned for a second, confused as to exactly what Daisy meant, looking back and forth between the two men. Rather than think too much about his least favourite employee, he just reverted into uber boss mode. "Clean up the mess, Phillip, and get these kids under control. You're on your last warning." Brian turned on his heel and went to storm away, but almost bumped into Mel. "You. You're not needed here. Greenhouse one." Brian pointed at Mel, flicking his finger towards the other room, like she was an annoyance. Then he continued on his way, towards his air conditioned office where he might be more comfortable.

"Okay, I'm going to take these rugrats out of here," Gareth grinned at Phillip as he leaned in to kiss the man on the cheek, causing the kids to gape and Mel to giggle. "We'll be waiting at home with dinner ready."

"Bye Phillip. Bye Mel, thanks again for the sleepover," the kids called as they trailed their father out to the parking lot.

After the waving was done, but before Phillip could start on the clean-up, Mel gave a little chuckle. "So you and Gareth made it official, huh?"

"Pardon?"

"Seeing as you didn't even flinch when he kissed you, I'm guessing you've been a whole lot closer."

"I didn't sleep on the pull-out couch, is all I'm saying." Phillip's cheeks reddened from his bold statement and a little at the thought of what he and Gareth had actually done. He was starting to feel a little uncomfortable that Mel now knew and couldn't believe he'd actually made that comment. Gareth must be rubbing off on him. Ohhh....also inappropriate.

Mel also noted Phillip's growing unease, but was still happy with how far the introverted man had come since Gareth and the kids came into his life. "I think there might be a dirty joke in there somewhere, but I've got a greenhouse to tend to." And much to Phillip's relief, she just patted him kindly on the shoulder and zipped off to her designated area. He sighed and began to clean up Franny's little mishap, still annoyed that Brian had acted like such a pompous ass.

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"Daddy and Phillip sitting in a tree, k-i-s-s-i-n-g," Franny sang as he buckled her into her seat.

Gareth cleared his throat and tried to sound more authoritative even though his cheeks were flushed, "That's enough of that, Franny."

"Yeah, besides, we know they kiss, remember?" Daisy stated from behind her novel. Before Gareth could even question that one, the next one started up.

Gabe couldn't help but chime in with the proper terminology, "Daddy and Phillip are gay for each other, remember?"

"That's not exactly right, we're not gay for each other, we're just gay and always have been. But we are attracted to each other, and are in a relationship," Gareth answered simply. He was pretty sure this was the case. He knew for sure he'd never been attracted to women sexually (unless insensibly drunk, perhaps, but even then it seemed like a stretch), and was pretty sure Phillip was the same.

In a way he felt very bad for Leeann. Now that he knew what it was like to be in a relationship where there was true concern and caring for one another--even though the sleeping together was new--he could see why Leeann was so angry the whole time they shared a house. She had hitched her wagon to someone who could never give her the affection she craved, and in turn, her anger had alienated him and their children. Not that Gareth was absolving her for hitting him. Although fists were used first in her household growing up, that was no excuse for her to do the same. She really was a complete bitch, and her behaviour yesterday was inexcusable.

"Is Phillip your boyfriend, Daddy?" Franny inquired.

"Is it a problem if he is?" Gareth said, noncommittally.

"No!" all three voices chorused happily in unison.

"Good, because, yeah, he's my boyfriend," Gareth's face was a little red from embarrassment but with a huge grin, and he was pleased the kids were so supportive. They liked Phillip and that went a very long way in his books.

"Now you don't have to wait to kiss until after we've gone to bed," Daisy informed him.

Gareth coughed, swallowing the wrong way, "Uhhh, yes. Right." Nothing got by her. Nothing.

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After the excitement of the previous week, a much quieter week was a welcome respite. Although there was very definitely a relationship between the two men, they were still careful around the kids. Sure they kissed with timid little pecks to say hello, goodbye, and when they passed each other in the kitchen while making meals, but mostly they kept their hands off. That just meant once the kids were asleep, the men had to make up for lost time. Quietly, though, since apparently Daisy had already caught them previously. It was so incredibly frustrating for them both to be so close to one another all day yet forced to keep their distance. So much so, that each started watching the clock with anticipation as bedtime for the children drew nearer.

"I feel like Pavlov's dog," Phillip panted as the two men broke from their heated kissing on the couch. Phillip was reclining on the sofa with Gareth firmly pulled against him.

Gareth took a cruel lick at Phillip's available earlobe, causing shivers. "I know what you mean. It's like when nine o'clock rolls around, I start to get all excited and I just want the kids asleep."

"Would you like me to make some tea? I know you have papers to grade." Phillip struggled to sit fully upright, wiping his ear with a grin. They had been locked in an embrace for the past half hour and unless Gareth did some work now, his marking would take a back seat yet again.

Gareth sighed in resignation, "I suppose so, but I can think of something I'd rather have." He eyed Phillip's plumped crotch lasciviously.

"Yes, but your papers won't grade themselves." Phillip rose from the couch and headed towards the kitchen, evidence of their makeout session showing in his tented track pants.

"At least the school year is almost done. Then I can ravage my boyfriend without a bunch of assignments making me feel guilty."

"Yes, but you can still ravage me after," Phillip replied, readying the teapot.

And sure enough, when the papers were marked and the tea things cleared, the two men fell into bed together finishing what they had started on the couch earlier, both drifting off into quite a satisfied sleep with grins on their faces.

...................................................

"So, Gareth, you're looking a little sore today, but all smiles. Good night last night?" Abby commented with a saucy grin over the lunch table in the staff room.

"Seriously, Abby? Here? You know the primary teachers are watching." Gareth eyed the table of early childhood educators wearily. "You've got to keep it PG. They can't handle anything naughty passing their pristine ears." Sure enough a few of them were looking at the intermediate teachers with derisive looks, like it was their fault the older students occasionally muttered curse words on the playground.

"Ah, so you're admitting to general naughtiness, are you? Phillip keeping you up at night?" At least she had the decency to keep her voice lowered this time, Gareth couldn't help but note. "I'll have to meet your man, hun, and I have just the thing. Here's the wedding invitation. I'm saving a whole dollar on postage by handing it to you in person. Besides, I don't know your address."

Abby passed over a thick cream coloured envelope that was addressed to Gareth and Phillip both. Gareth's cheeks turned red when he saw their names in the fancy script and couldn't help but think how nice it would be to dance with Phillip all dressed up. Another thought crossed his mind and he couldn't help but laugh.

"What?" Abby cocked her head to the side, confused as to how her invite was the least bit funny.

"The last wedding I went to resulted in Franny's conception. Somehow I doubt that'll be a problem this time."

Abby's loud laughter garnered some unwanted attention from across the room, so she tried to control herself. "Yeah, and you'll probably enjoy it a lot more too, or you know, actually remember it."

"Speaking of Leeann, Phillip and I ran into her last weekend." Gareth hadn't meant to tell Abby, but out it came. He swore, sometimes she was like a father confessor.

"Oh, and was the interaction polite?" Abby lifted an eyebrow, eager to hear of Leeann's transgressions. She was sure there were some, otherwise Gareth would have mentioned it earlier.

"I'm pretty sure polite and Leeann is an oxymoron," Gareth said. "She spouted all sorts of hateful things, and I just sat there and took it, like time had never passed. Phillip actually stood up to her and threatened to call the police."

"I'm glad he did, but you should have. That piece of trash doesn't deserve to stand in the same room as you, let alone make you feel bad."

"I just couldn't, I froze. Besides, I think she was already riled up. She was getting a pregnancy test."

Abby's eyes widened at that tidbit. "Oh god. I hope to hell it's negative."

Gareth snorted. "That's exactly what Phillip told her."

"I like him more and more," Abby said with a grin. "Now I totally need to meet him. Preferably before the wedding."

"I'll think about," Gareth teased as he tidied up the remnants of his lunch.

The bell rang and duties beckoned them back to class.

A/N: Happy men sharing kisses and a bed, with full approval from friends and the kids. Things are looking up :) Wouldn't it be nice if they could stay this way?

Thank you all so much for reading, commenting, and voting! Next update will be Wednesday. And a cast will be coming soon.

<3 JJ