Laura S. Fox
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An Unforgettable Summer (Good Guys Don't Date Bad Boys Bonus Story, Patreon Exclusive) - Ch. 1
🕑 Added 2022-06-30 18:00:05 +0000 UTCChapter One – Can Trips With Parents Be Any Fun?
Maddox couldn’t stop smiling, phone in his hand, scrolling through the messages Jonathan had sent him over the last few hours they had been apart. It wasn’t in his nature to feel conflicted, and he always loved to see his family, but this time around he couldn’t wait to say goodbye to them and get back with his boyfriend. He really didn’t get how some people said that couples grew apart from too much familiarity, too much time spent together and all that. At the moment at least, he felt like there would never be enough. What was he even thinking? He couldn’t picture a time and place when he would have had too much of Jonathan.
And he had his parents’ example. His mom and dad even worked together, and that said a lot. Maddox doubted he and Jonathan would work in the same place, since their majors were different, but for sure they would spend all the time they could in each other’s presence, once they were married and had jobs to go to every day.
Definitely, he was getting ahead of himself thinking about all those things that were far in the future for now. They had senior year and, of course, their summer break, which he could barely wait to start properly.
He took one deep breath before entering the house. Over the phone, his mom had seemed all right with him spending so much of his summer vacation together with Jonathan’s family, but that didn’t mean that she had let it all sink in. Being away for college was one thing, but being away on summer break was not the norm. Plus, he would have to break it to Vern that he wouldn’t be able to help out all through the summer like usual.
His parents were in the kitchen when he entered, seemingly in deep conversation over something.
“Wow, no warm welcome for your favorite son?” he said loudly, taking them both by surprise.
His mom’s face lit up with a smile and she jumped up from the chair to come and hug him. “You’re a little early, pumpkin.”
“I don’t think so.” Maddox checked his phone for the time, but also to see if Jonathan had sent another cute message during the last ten minutes. “What were you guys whispering about, like a coven of witches?”
His dad shrugged, with a slightly guilty look on his face, then stole a glance at his spouse. Maddox didn’t miss how his mom stared back and pursed her lips.
“What?” he asked. “What’s the big secret?”
“Your mom and I--” his dad started.
“Not yet,” his mom cut short whatever her husband wanted to say. “How long are you going to be home?”
“Several days,” Maddox replied. “Jonathan told me that his parents are organizing a short trip to Europe, and they’re taking us.”
Another look exchanged between his parents made him narrow his eyes. “Come on, people,” he groaned.
“Not people,” his mom warned him. “Mom and dad. Dear mom and dad.”
“All right, dear mom and dad who don’t think they’re people,” he said, “what’s the big idea? What aren’t you telling me? Ah, you’re going to tell me that I can’t go to Europe.” Well, that was a bummer, but he could suggest to Jonathan that they remain at the estate while his parents were away, or travel around the country. They could even do some hiking and camping. Yeah, that might be a lot more fun than some boring trip to Europe. Maddox had never been out of the country, but something told him that a visit to the old continent was something people did when they wanted to pretend to be cultured or some shit. Yeah, camping with Jonathan somewhere in the woods could lead to a lot of pleasant times.
His mom interrupted his wide-eyed fantasies. “Why would we tell you that? You’re obviously going to Europe.”
“And us,” his dad said.
That gave Maddox pause. “What? Where is that coming from? Since when are you the kind to travel overseas?” Their family vacations usually involved cheap but lots of fun trips within the borders, so to speak.
“David,” his mom said, pursing her lips tightly. “What did I tell you?”
“Come on, Flo, you’re dying to go,” his dad retorted. “The Hamiltons called to invite us to come along on this trip.”
Maddox rubbed his chin to put his jaw back where it belonged.
“All expenses paid,” his dad added. “I don’t think I’ve ever had a stranger conversation over the phone in my life.”
“Stranger how?” Maddox asked. Oh, gawd, they were going on vacation with two sets of parents. They wouldn’t be able to move a finger, without everything being caught by so many pairs of hawk-like eyes, his mom as the leader. Hopefully, it wasn’t planned as a long trip, so they wouldn’t have to endure that kind of control for their entire summer break. Fuck, Europe sounded damn boring already.
“Well, Francine,” his dad explained, “that’s Jonathan’s mom--”
“I know,” Maddox said quickly, wanting his parents to get to the crux of the matter already.
“She was very apologetic about interfering with any vacation plans we might have--” his dad continued.
“Like there could be something better than going to France,” his mom said, incapable of postponing her own interjections any longer.
“So, wait, did you say yes?” Maddox asked.
His dad forced himself to hide a smile, but his eyes were already laughing. “Sure we said yes. Francine made us an offer we couldn’t refuse. And your mom here, I swear, she started to dance around the kitchen, just imagining herself in the city of love, as we have heard people call Paris.”
His mom punched her husband in the shoulder. “Stop twisting the truth, dear. Pumpkin, we were waiting for you so we could ask you if you are all right with us coming along.”
By how his mom’s eyes were shining, he could tell what the right answer would be. His mom had the best intentions, but he didn’t want Jonathan’s parents to become scared of her and say ‘no’ when the question of he and Jonathan getting married popped up, eventually. Hell, if that happened, they’d just elope.
“Yeah, sure, if you want,” he said.
His mom frowned. “I can see that you’re very enthusiastic.”
“They’re young. I bet they’re not crazy about going on vacation with their parents,” his dad intervened to placate his wife.
“Guys, I mean mom and dad dearest,” Maddox said, “it’s totally fine.”
But his mom wasn’t about to let that drop so easily. “Do you think we’re going to embarrass you, pumpkin?” That endearing term had never sounded so menacing in anyone’s mouth in the history of terms of endearment.
“What? Where did that come from?” he asked, obviously surprised. “No, not at all.”
“But the Hamiltons are here,” his mom gestured in the air above her head, “and we --”
“You’re not seriously saying that,” Maddox said with a groan. “Hey, if they invited you, obviously they want to get to know you, and I don’t think the difference in how much money they and you have is the main topic here anyway.”
“But they offered to pay for everything,” his mom pointed out.
“Francine did so in a very delicate manner,” his dad intervened. “She said that she needed to hear a yes from us.”
“That woman does have a way with words,” his mom admitted. “She sure acted like she wouldn’t take no for an answer.”
Maddox could tell that his parents must have been quite bewildered by their talk over the phone with Francine Hamilton. “Yeah, she can be pretty scary,” he said.
“Scary?” His mom and dad looked at each other, surprised, like that would be the last word to cross their minds to describe Francine Hamilton. “That’s no way to talk about your future mother-in-law, Maddox.”
Oh, no, he had stepped on something, if he was called by his name and particularly in that manner, like each letter weighed a ton.
“Now, that we have our son’s blessing to go on vacation with him and his boyfriend’s family, don’t you think you have a lot of things to get ready, dear?” his dad asked his wife.
That seemed to propel her into action. “Yes, like a thousand. Oh, boy, the Kingsleys are going to Europe,” she said with a big smile and rushed out of the kitchen. For a moment only, she stopped, and gave Maddox a kiss on the cheek.
Maddox remained there, a bit dumbfounded. “What’s all that about?” he asked, once he was alone with his dad.
“Your mom’s been in quite the mood ever since we received that invitation,” his dad explained.
“Wait, Jonathan barely messaged me about the trip to Europe. When did you guys get the phone call from Jonathan’s mom?”
“Oh, a couple of days ago, and from that instant we haven’t had a moment of peace around here. Let me tell you,” his dad said in a conspiratorial voice, “I sort of gotten tired of eating burned food, but I haven’t got the guts to tell your mom anything. She’s over the moon about this trip.”
“So, did you tell Francine yes?”
“Your mom must have forgotten that we needed to confirm.”
“But why wait?” Maddox asked, quite puzzled. “If you guys want to come, too, just say so.”
His dad gave him a warm smile. “As I said, your mom has been in quite the mood. First, she was happy. Then, she worried. Then, she worried some more. And eventually, she almost cried, while fearing you might feel embarrassed by us if we come.”
“Cried? I hope she didn’t cry over something like that. And I’m sure this trip is going to be uber boring,” Maddox said.
“Boring?” his dad asked, quirking an eyebrow.
“Yeah, I mean, I suppose that we’re going to go to museums and operas and stuff like that.”
His dad made a face. It looked like at least one of his parents was starting to think the same as he did.
“I’ll have to sneak out with Jonathan--” Maddox clamped his mouth shut.
“Sneak out?” His dad narrowed his eyes. “You’re going to ditch us while I’m falling asleep at some opera?”
“Oops, sorry, dad,” Maddox said with a strained smile.
To his surprise, his dad just shook his head and laughed. “That was what you were worried about earlier, right? That we’d keep our eyes on you all the time.”
“Well, kind of.” His dad could see through him like he was made of glass.
“Then, you can rest assured that I’ll divert your mom’s attention so that you two boys can have your fun. And I don’t know about Jonathan’s parents, but I bet that I can be clever enough to divert their attention from you, as well. Although, Jonathan’s mom sounds like a formidable woman. Don’t let your mom know I said that.”
“And risk becoming fatherless? I’d never,” Maddox vowed and made a quick cross over his chest. “For real, though, don’t even think that I’d ever be embarrassed of the two of you. For me, you’re the most awesome parents on the face of the earth.”
“Because we’re yours.”
“Clearly. Still, I bet that a lot of guys and girls my age would like to have as cool parents as I do.”
His dad smiled and nodded, pleased with his reply. “How are Jonathan’s parents?” he asked. “Your mom may be busy choosing our wardrobe and whatnot, but I’d like to get ready in other ways.”
“Well, they have always been very strict with Jonathan, forcing him to learn French and how to ride a horse--”
“Riding a horse sounds like fun. The other thing, not so much,” his dad admitted, mirroring exactly what he was thinking.
“However, I need to tell you that they met Rusty--”
“Right, he was with you on that Christmas trip.”
“Yeah. He made quite the impression on them. So, nothing from my part of the world, so to speak, can shock them in any way.”
“What impression did you make on them?” his dad asked, taking him slightly by surprise.
“I like to think a good one. You saw that stack of books I came home with, right?”
“Scary thing,” his dad admitted. While he was clever and witty, his dad was not the kind to spend all day with his nose buried in books. He was the kind of person who was happiest when he was doing things with his hands. “But don’t be worried, son. You only need Jonathan to like you. If his parents aren’t crazy about you, that’s something you can live with.”
“Was that like a piece of fatherly advice?” Maddox asked.
“Yeah, you can consider it so. Nonetheless, rest assured that your mom and I will do our best to make a good impression on the Hamiltons. We might not come from money, but how impressed can someone be with good ol’ Europe?”
Oh, no, Maddox thought as he saw his dad’s somewhat strained smile. His dad might be worrying about the trip but in different ways than his mom.
“As I told you, I think it’s going to be a chore since it must be really boring,” Maddox said.
His dad shrugged. “That only means that I need to think of ways to keep the Hamiltons entertained. And your mom away from you boys so that she doesn’t end up suffocating you. By the way, she mostly is joking when she talks about you getting married to Jonathan, but she’s also serious. She might be reading a little bit too much into this invitation.”
“I’m not completely sure. As far as Jonathan’s mom and dad are concerned, I’m committed already. So, it’s nothing short of being practically engaged. Oh, damn, I haven’t actually asked you, have I? Are you okay with me and Jonathan, you know, getting married?”
His dad stood and moved around the table. He patted Maddox on the back and looked him in the eyes. “We are both very proud of you, son. You do well in school, you look like you’re going to have a brilliant career in front of you, and your choice of a partner shows that you took the best from both of us.”
“What’s that?” Maddox asked with a grin. “The ability to pursue someone until they can’t say no anymore?”
“That’s one way of naming it, sure. No, what I mean is the ability to choose the right one.”
Maddox blinked a couple of times. “Thanks, dad,” he said. “He is the right one.”
“Then, all the rest, this boring trip, as you call it, is nothing. I’m sure the two of you will have fun, no matter what you do. And your mom is beyond happy to be visiting Europe, which means that I’m happy, too.”
“We’re not only going to France. I think Jonathan mentioned at least Italy and Greece.”
His dad nodded. “Good. There’s at least cheese and wine in France. I’d like to go to a soccer game in Italy. I might drag the Hamiltons to one of those.”
“Good luck with that, but, hey, I have great faith in you, dad.”
His dad laughed. “Thanks, son. As for Greece, I’ve heard plenty about their beaches.”
Beaches. Ah, well, that sounded like fun, Maddox thought. “Totally. So you guys are going to be fine?”
“We’ll do our best. And you know what Kingsleys’ best means, right?”
“Sure thing I do. Maybe I should also do some research on cool activities to do while we’re in Europe.” And especially, the beaches. Maybe they’d find a secluded spot and he could convince Jonathan to get rid of everything, just to see his skin getting all golden all over. That was enough to put a smile on his face.
His dad patted him on the back. “I can see that you’re already in better spirits. Go rest a little. You deserve it after working hard for an entire year.”
“Thanks, dad, you’re the absolute best,” Maddox said. “Um, can you make sure mom doesn’t burn the food this time? I’m starving.”
“To be completely sure,” his dad said, “I’m going to throw together an omelet. This way, none of us will have to suffer.”
“Good plan, dad,” Maddox confirmed while he hiked his luggage over his shoulder and headed toward his room.
***
“You invited them?” Jonathan said the words slowly. He was not the same person he had been a year ago, but he still didn’t know how to express his feelings in front of his parents.
“Why? Is there a problem? By the way you’re frowning, I can tell there is.” His mom inspected him with keen eyes.
He was barely home, and they sprang this on him. A myriad scenarios were playing in his head. Maddox’s parents might feel obliged to say yes and then have a miserable time while trying to live up to who knows how many expectations.
“I’d say there is a problem,” he said, mustering all his courage. “You should have told me about it first.”
“Ah, so that you could have enough time to fret over it and imagine who knows how many impossible situations?”
It seemed like his mom knew him a little bit too well, after all. He pursed his lips and said nothing.
“It’s going to be fine, Jonathan, despite what you might be telling yourself at this very moment. Obviously, you don’t believe it important enough to share with me, so I can only assume--”
“Mom, don’t.” He even surprised himself by how loudly he said that.
“All right,” she said, waving a hand. “Enlighten me, then. What’s bothering you? We are going to become family with Maddox’s parents. It is only natural that we want to get to know them.”
“Was it your idea or dad’s?”
“It was ours. I really don’t understand. Explain where your displeasure with this plan comes from.”
Jonathan took a moment to think. It was so easy to say the wrong thing and insult his mom, or Maddox’s family, although they weren’t present. “They will feel overwhelmed,” he said slowly.
“What’s to feel overwhelmed about?” his mom countered. “It’s only a ten-day trip.”
“Yes, and during that short time, you might just have enough planned to ruin everything,” Jonathan replied impatiently.
“Ruin everything?” His mom gave him a long upset look. “How?”
“By… being you,” Jonathan uttered in frustration and with much difficulty. “Maddox’s parents are hardworking, normal people.”
“While we sit on our asses and do nothing all day,” his mom retorted and crossed her arms. “Ah, and we’re somehow abnormal.”
“I didn’t say that.”
“Not so clearly, no. You are not getting away,” she warned him when he started to turn away. “You will stand right here and tell me what’s on your mind.”
“I’d rather not. Obviously, you have your mind set, and it has to be your way.”
He waited for the expected reprimand. But nothing came, so, in the end, he had to raise his eyes and look at his mom. She seemed quite taken aback by his reaction. “I only have the best intentions in mind, Jonathan. We want to make sure that they have a great time while on this trip.”
“Are you sure you’re not going to make them feel uncomfortable because they don’t have as much money as you do?” Jonathan finally found a way to express part of what he was thinking.
“I’m sure I can be diplomatic enough to avoid any such problems,” his mom said.
“It’s not like you meet people like Maddox’s parents every day,” Jonathan pointed out.
“Then a new experience will do us all good. You went to Sunny Hill and survived, even if you lived here all your life.” His mom gestured to their surroundings. “I suppose your father and I will survive just as fine spending several days in the company of people that we are very interested in knowing, and knowing well.”
“So, it’s not some kind of test?” Jonathan asked.
“A test?” His mom sighed and let her arms drop. “Despite how much we want you to be your best, that doesn’t mean that we’re going to start judging your boyfriend’s parents.”
“I’m not entirely sure I believe you.”
“Jonathan!”
Ah, great, despite his efforts, he had insulted her. At a deep level, he thought there was a part of him that wanted to make sure his mother understood what was at stake, no matter what her thoughts on the matter were. His mom was too much of a force of nature for anyone to stand in her way, but this time, it was important, and just thinking of Maddox’s parents feeling out of place because of his family’s propensity for everything expensive in life made him sick to his stomach.
“All right, I can clearly see that you have yet to forgive us for what happened at your old school. No, let me finish,” she said and put one hand up. “It is understandable. Had I been in your place, I would have done the same.”
He gave her a startled look. “Would you have run away from home?”
“Maybe not that,” his mom said. “But I would have had my parents feel my wrath and disappointment. Therefore, I am bent on proving to you that Maddox and his family are welcome and that we will do everything in our power for them to be happy.”
Jonathan felt his jaw go slack.
“Oh, darling,” his mom continued and looked at him with tender eyes, “I really want you to trust us again. And I understand that these things take time. We have already met Maddox and we both believe that he is a wonderful boy. I have no doubt that his parents are just as charming. And in case they aren’t, rest assured that we will not let that stand in the way of your happiness in any way. After all, if you are happy with Maddox, it is the only thing that matters.”
“Wow,” Jonathan whispered. “I don’t know what to say, mom.”
“Say yes,” his mom said patiently. “We are still waiting for their answer, but I would hate to go against your will in this.”
Jonathan had a slight sensation that he had just been manipulated into agreeing, but by how fondly his mom was looking at him, he understood that the cause was good, in the end. “What if they say no?”
“They won’t,” she said with conviction. “Well, if they do say no, we will need to get ourselves invited over to them. One way or another, we must get to know each other. Our children, after all, are getting married.”
His mom now sounded as if she had been reading Xpress. “You make it sound like that is an imminent event. I told you we’d wait at least until the end of our studies.”
“At my age, Jonathan, that’s like saying it will happen tomorrow.”
“At your age, right,” he said with a snort.
She gave him a surprised look. “You’ve become a bit sassy lately.”
“Sassy?”
“To put it mildly. Anyway, it is settled. We are all going to have a tremendous vacation, and I will eat my hat if the Kingsleys are not in love with us completely by the end of it.”
“What hat will that be? Hopefully, that atrocity with the long feather,” Jonathan quipped.
His mom narrowed her eyes at him while she walked over to the door and held it open for him, a clear sign that their conversation was over. “Sassy boy,” she muttered under her breath as he walked out.
***
“What do you think about this trip thing?” Jonathan asked as soon as Maddox picked up.
“Well, hello to you, too,” Maddox drawled.
“We’ve exchanged so many messages today that it feels like we can skip greetings,” Jonathan explained.
“And I thought you were the embodiment of politeness and good manners.”
“Stop pulling my leg. Come on, tell me, how this whole thing feels on your end?”
“Mom burned the food, according to dad. Today, we had to rely on his cooking.”
“And how is that related to my question?”
“Mom behaves like she just got asked to the prom by the coolest dude in school. Dad finds it funny.”
“Well, I’m surely happy that your parents are taking things in stride. I had quite the confrontation with my mom. My dad’s not home,” Jonathan explained.
“Did you have a fight with her? I should give you a badge of courage,” Maddox joked.
“And I’d take it. Clearly, she’s dying to meet your parents, and you know that she can be a lot. Will your parents be okay with my parents’ extravagant ways? Unlike me, they haven’t exactly left their golden tower for decades, if ever.”
“Spoken like a true prince,” Maddox teased. “I think they’re going to be fine. Dad told me that he’d find ways to keep all the adults busy, while we sneak away and have some fun on our own.”
“I hope you are well aware that your dad is going to meet some pretty redoubtable opponents.”
“He’s a skilled player. According to ancient history, his charm managed to conquer our mom’s heart.”
“Well, his charm will be well put to the test.”
“And persistence. He’s very good at that. Also, since he heard about the trip including Italy, he got this idea in his head that he wants to watch a soccer game.”
“Well, tell him not to use the term soccer.”
“It’s football over there, right?”
“Actually, Italians have their own term for it. It’s calcio.”
“Calcio? Okay, I’ll let him know. He’ll love to act like a connoisseur. Wait, don’t tell me you speak Italian?”
“Just enough to know how to order pizza.”
“That’s enough for me, then. Have you had Italian pizza?”
“Not yet. But I plan on having some with you. Let’s say that pizza places have not yet been on my parents’ bucket list while traveling.”
“Ah, right. That was how I managed to seduce you with that kind of food. Hey, do you think they have good pizza there?”
“They should. It’s where the thing came from, after all. How about we try them together? They have different styles over there.”
“Cool,” Maddox said. “So, it might not be that boring a trip, then, right?”
“Boring?” Jonathan didn’t hide his surprise. “Were you thinking that it would be a boring trip?”
“Yeah, I mean, like what’s there to see? Old things, right?”
“Hmm,” Jonathan let out a non-committal grunt. That wasn’t exactly the reaction he had expected from Maddox. Maybe he assumed too much.
“But I’m going to love every minute spent with you. And I’m counting on my dad to help us get away together.”
“It’s good to have allies,” Jonathan agreed. “I’ll also have to work hard to make sure this trip is not as boring as you imagine it right now. You know, we’ll go to the beach.” There had to be something for Maddox to like about this trip, and offering some enticing previews didn’t hurt.
“My dad said something about getting excited about the beaches in Greece. Are they really better than the ones we have here?”
“I’d say yes, but I don’t want to sound biased. Actually, there are some that I want to explore with you.”
“Sure thing. And I want to see you naked on the beach.”
Jonathan laughed. Well, that was more like it. “You’ll get that chance, since I really want to hit some of those famous nude beaches with you.” He could swear he had heard Maddox gulp, and the silence that followed made him slightly nervous. “Maddox?” he asked tentatively. “Are you still there?”
“Yeah, I’m here. Nude beaches? For real?”
“For real. I have never been but, you know, if we’re going there anyway… of course, only if that’s up your alley.”
“Nude like in you shouldn’t wear anything or you’ll get arrested?”
Jonathan chuckled. “I doubt the latter would ever happen. People in Europe and especially in Greece are pretty laidback. But we shouldn’t let ourselves be accused of some faux pas if we go there, right?”
“I totally agree with you,” Maddox said, this time enthusiastically.
“Good. I’m glad to hear you’re looking forward to at least some part of this trip.”
“Don’t mind me,” Maddox said quickly. “And I hope I didn’t come across as some ungrateful brat. I just thought that a trip with the parents watching our every move was going to suck.”
“I’ll make sure they leave us alone. I know how to tug on my mom heart’s strings, I think. So, do you believe now that trips with parents can be fun? At least a little?”
“I do,” Maddox said solemnly. “Then all that remains is for us to get together, right?”
“I already miss you, so hurry up.”
“Will do.”
***
Maddox held the phone to his chest and he couldn’t keep in a smile. He was going to sneak out with Jonathan and hit the nude beaches in Greece. For sure, that trip didn’t sound so boring anymore.
TBC
Author's note: And this is how it begins, the first bonus story for Good Guys Don't Date Bad Boys! I will try to take as many of your suggestions into consideration and turn this summer for the boys into one they won't forget, and hopefully, you either :) Thank you again, for all your support while writing this story, and I hope this token of my gratitude will make your summer more enjoyable!
Comments
Laura S. Fox
And hopefully Rusty is doing a fairly good job keeping you interested in the sequel :)
Stephen Dewayne Smith
I stumbled across your "Good Guys Don't Date Bad Boys" book and I have to say I fell in love. I like to read a good romance story and yours kept me hooked all the way through, and I am grateful you have written more because I was heartbroken with what I thought was end of the story. You are an amazing writer and I'm very glad to delve into this world you have created.
Laura S. Fox
So happy to hear that, Gregory!
Gregory Andrews
Looking for more content, Laura (a/o 11/11/22); I love your Maddox/Jonathan love story.
