No one laughed.

Nick was going to fucking kill him.

***

The whole evening was a disaster. Bryce knew he had been an asshole to Nick. He should have told him what was on his mind, but it was too late now. So instead, he practically ignored the man all night. Not completely. He’d reintroduced Nick to his parents as his boyfriend, even though they obviously knew that part. He made sure Nick had a drink when he needed one, and that he felt comfortable in that respect, but that was it. His sisters-in-law had taken to keeping Nick company. Bryce hadn’t held his hand, or so much as touched him all evening, which was something he knew he really should be doing. He wanted to show his family who Nick was to him, what this man meant to him, but he was doing a really shitty job of it.

“What’s your problem?” Jamie pulled him aside and asked.

“Nothing. What do you mean?”

“Don’t bullshit me, Bryce. I’m not stupid. Don’t tell me you’re already having second thoughts about the guy.”

Huh? Absolutely not. “Hell no.”

“You’ve hardly spoken a word to him all night. You’re letting Hope and Abbey fawn all over him like you don’t give a shit.”

Bryce shook his head. “I had a bad day. We’re all entitled to bad days, Jamie. Nick and I are fine.”

“Dinner’s ready!” his mom called, breaking up their conversation. Bryce would prove to them that everything was okay. He went straight to Nick, tried to smile at him, and then held out his hand. It took Nick a minute, but he latched on and let Bryce help him up.

“Come on, let’s go eat.” He hated that he’d been a miserable bastard all day.

They all made their way to the table.

“I hope you like it, Nick. It’s nerve-racking to cook for a chef.” Bryce appreciated the hell out of his mom for trying. That’s the way she was. She might be unsure and angry at Bryce, but she wouldn’t take it out on Nick.

“Thank you. I’m sure it’s fantastic. It’s nice to have a night off,” Nick replied, and they all began to dig into their lasagna.

It was a few minutes later when his mom spoke again. “I was disappointed that Christi couldn’t make it tonight.”

So much for her being polite to Nick. “Mom.”

“What?” she asked.

“It’s fine,” Nick replied.

“No, it’s not,” Bryce countered. “As much as we all love Christi, she’s not a staple to our family dinners. I don’t appreciate you bringing her up like that. Nick’s here. He’s who I want here. Hell, Christi’s a whole lot happier seeing me with Nick than she was when we were together. If you’re not going to respect Nick, then we’re leaving.”

His dad started, “Bryce—”

“No. We don’t need to discuss it further. That’s how I feel.”

He could feel Nick tense beside him, but it was his mother who spoke. “You’re right. I’m sorry, Nick. I didn’t mean to disrespect you. You’re a very nice man, and I like you a lot. I just... Please excuse me.” She got up and walked out of the room. They were all silent for a minute. Bryce knew he should say something to Nick, but he wasn’t sure what.

“It’s not that we have a problem with Bryce being gay, or with you, Nick. You just have to understand that Christi has been a part of this family for years, and we thought she and Bryce were in a relationship for longer than they actually were. We found out in one swoop that they’d been broken up for months, and that he’s suddenly with you. We’re just trying to make sense of it all.”

Which was Bryce’s screw-up. Bryce’s fault and he knew it. “That’s on me. Take it out on me, not Nick. He doesn’t deserve it.”

For the first time since he saw him at work, Bryce turned and really looked at Nick. At his dark green eyes, which were pretty fucking lost right now. At the hair Bryce often had his hands in, and the lips he often kissed. The man he wanted. The man he loved. He pulled Nick forward and pressed a kiss to his forehead. “I’ve been an asshole tonight, and I’m sorry. Come on, let’s go.”

Nick smiled at him. “Go talk to your mom first. It’ll kill you if you don’t.”

They were the exact words he needed to hear. Bryce kissed him again, this time on the mouth, where Nick could kiss him back. “Thanks.”

“So, Nick, how long have you had your restaurant?” They all looked up at the sound of Mitch’s voice, and Bryce knew exactly what it was. That was Mitch’s way of showing he accepted Nick as Bryce’s. He believed in Bryce and was supporting him.