Mark's Not Gay [Brac Pack 11] by Lynn Hagen

acceptable to be an unwed mother. When she refused, they cut her funding. She still had two more years to finish school, but since she was poor, she couldn’t.” His son’s breath hitched, but he cleared his throat a few times before looking up. Mark knew this must be as awkward to Curtis as much as it was to him.
    “Idiots.”

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    Curtis smiled for the first time and parroted Mark. “Idiots.”
    “Come on. I have some people to introduce you to.” Mark’s Not Gay
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    Chapter Seven

    Mark cleared his throat, all eyes swinging his way as he stood in the dining room entrance with his arm around Curtis’s shoulder.
    Caden looked at him questioningly.
    “Everyone, this is my…son, Curtis.”
    “Son?” Maverick asked.
    “Yeah, son. I just found out about him. Is it okay if he stays here for the summer?” If it wasn’t, he would be finding his own place.
    “Your son is welcome anytime he wants to visit.” Maverick smiled at Curtis. The kid looked like he was going to run at any moment, but Mark held him firmly at his side.
    Mark walked him over to where he had been sitting, grabbed an extra chair for Curtis to sit in, and turned to his mate. “Caden, this is Curtis.”
    “Hey, buddy. Welcome to our home.”
    Mark breathed as sigh of relief. He thought Caden would throw a fit, get angry and storm from the room. He hadn’t expected Caden to take it so well, not when he was struggling with it himself.
    “Will you need an adjoining room, or will young Curtis want one of his own?” Maverick asked Mark but was looking at his son.
    Mark turned to Curtis. “Your choice.”
    “I can sleep on my own.”
    “Then that’s settled. Cecil will show you to your room to put your bag away.” Maverick nodded at his mate to help the young man out.
    Curtis looked up at Mark, uneasiness in his eyes.

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    “It’s okay. I’m not going anywhere. Cecil’s cool, and he’ll bring you right back.” Mark squeezed his shoulder, reassuring the nervous young man.
    Curtis nodded, reaching down to grab his backpack, scooting his chair back, then followed Maverick’s mate. As soon as his son was out of earshot, the questions were fired at him from everyone in the room.
    Mark held his hand up, looking only at his mate. “I didn’t know.
    He just showed up on the front doorstep with his birth certificate. I dated his mom in high school. She never told me she was pregnant. I talked to her, assured her Curtis was fine. Are you mad at me?” Caden widened his eyes, looking at Mark as if he was daft. “Why would I be mad? You didn’t know about him. It’s not like you were hiding him from me. No, I like him, seems like a nice kid.” Mark kissed Caden, happy that his mate understood. Now all he had to do was explain to Curtis about Caden. Would he be disgusted with his father? Would Curtis want to leave once he found out his dad was gay? Too much shit was happening in such a short span of time.
    Mark needed to think, clear his head. Once Curtis was settled in for the night, he needed to take a ride.
    “Take all the time you need. I know it’s a lot to take in.” Caden cuddled up next to Mark. He gazed in wonderment at his mate, knowing what he was thinking, being so damn understanding. He didn’t deserve Caden.
    Mark looked up as Curtis and Cecil came back and saw his son studying Caden lying against him. Mark just watched as his son walked back over, pulled his chair to the other side of him, opposite his mate, and took his seat. He smiled up at Mark, and then looked around him to Caden.
    “I’m going to take these two upstairs.” Mark stood, his arm still around his mate as his son followed.
    “What room did Cecil put you in?”
    “I don’t remember, but he said yours was right across the hall.” Mark’s Not Gay
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    Mark led them to his room. “Go on in yours, I’ll be right with you.”
    Curtis nodded, staring at Caden once more before closing the door behind him.
    Mark led his mate into