All characters in this story are over the age of eighteen.
A Mother and Son Forced
Olivia 'Liv' Munn was forty-two. She was five-ten, slim, shapely, and beautiful. Her hair was as black as coal, and she had gray eyes that seemed to look into your soul. They drew people to her. Usually, people who used her. She had never been good at picking partners.
Her first love, while in college, had dumped her the day she told him she was pregnant. He was followed over the years by a string of losers. Her most recent was Pete Marston, a forty-five-year-old tow truck driver. He was a loud, beer bellied, abusive, drunk. They had been living together in Liv's house for two months. Pete was typical of the men she seemed to attract.
Her plan, in her younger days, was to become a professional dancer, but raising her son by herself had ruined that dream. After Russ was born, she found a job working for an event planner. Over the years, she started her own company which became very successful. As her son grew, he became her dance partner, and her best friend. The closeness between Liv and her son had been a source of jealousy with many of her previous boyfriends. One had warned her repeatedly that being that close could cause her son to turn faggot. She knew better, but to appease him she signed Russ up for a Taekwondo class. He enjoyed it but still continued his dancing.
Russ was finishing his third year of his Performing Arts scholarship and would be returning from New York for the summer soon. He and Pete had never met. Pete, however, had already decided that this queer dancer boy wasn't going to be to his liking. Liv was over the top with excitement.
Russ arrived at the airport at two pm on a Saturday. His mother was doing a wedding and wouldn't be home until late. Pete was away for the afternoon at a college football game with some buddies. Russ took an Uber home, unpacked, then sat on the couch to watch television. He was flipping through channels when Pete walked in the front door. Russ put the remote on the table and stood to greet him, not paying any attention to what was on the TV.
"Hi, I'm Russ," he said, offering his hand to Pete.
Pete looked at the TV. The scrolling had stopped on Brokeback Mountain and the men were kissing. Russ hadn't noticed it.
"Jesus Christ!" Pete grumbled, grabbing the remote and turning the TV off. "Let's get somethin' straight right now. I don't put up with sissy boy shit. I don't even want you to touch me with your nasty hands. God knows what kind of diseases you might have. Keep your queer ass away from me. Keep your faggot boyfriends out of this house too."
Pete walked to the kitchen, grabbed a beer from the refrigerator then went out to the garage.
"Nice to meet you too," Russ said, under his breath.
Russ had several friends who were gay, but he was a full-blooded heterosexual. As a good looking, straight male, who worked and studied with mostly hot looking women, he was very experienced in male/female relationships, and had several friends with benefits. He really wasn't that surprised or put off by Pete. He knew the macho type guys that his mother attracted and had been through this before with a few of the others. Russ turned to the TV and chuckled when he saw what movie was playing.
During the rest of the afternoon and evening Pete came in from the garage several times for more beer. They ignored each other. Russ ordered pizza and after eating, left the box on the kitchen counter so Pete could have some if he wanted. Pete fixed himself a couple bologna sandwiches rather than touch the contaminated pizza.
At about eight, Russ put the pizza away, turned off the TV, and went to his room. Pete came in a short time later and saw the empty living room. He grabbed another beer and sat in the recliner to watch TV. Liv arrived home about nine.
"Is Russ here?" she asked.
"He was. I don't know where he is now."
Liv went upstairs and knocked on his door.
"Russ?"
"It's unlocked. Come in," he said, getting off the bed.
Liv walked into her son's room smiling. They kissed on the cheek then hugged for a long time.
"I'm so glad you're home," she said.
"Me too. I've missed you."
"You met Pete?"
"Uh, yeah."
"What do you think?" she asked.
"Mom, where do you find these guys?"
His mother shrugged. "Did you eat?"
"I ordered a pizza. There's some left. I put it in the fridge."
"It's probably gone by now. Leftovers don't last long around Pete."
"This will. He's afraid he'll catch something from me," her son said, grinning.
"Are you sick?"
"No. I'm fine. He's worried about AIDS or something."
"AIDS?"
"Mom, he thinks I'm gay."
"Don't be silly. He's not like that," she replied.
"If you say so."
They chatted for about thirty minutes before Liv went back downstairs. By now there were a half dozen empty beer bottles on the coffee table. She collected them and started toward the kitchen.
"How about fixing me a bite to eat?" Pete asked. His speech was a bit slurred.
"Sure thing. What would you like, honey? Russ said there's still some pizza."
"Oh, hell no! I don't eat after girly men have touched it."
"What do you mean by that?" she asked.
"Your queer boy son has picked at it. I might catch something," he replied, sneering.
"Pete, you have the wrong idea about Russ. He's not gay. Even if he was it wouldn't affect the damn pizza."
"Liv, I ain't eatin' after him. It's disgusting!" he shouted.
Russ heard Pete shouting and stepped out of his room to see what was going on. As he entered the living room, he saw Pete's red face staring at his mother.
"Mom, are you okay?"
His mother and Pete turned to him.
"I'm fine, baby. We're discussing dinner," she assured him.
"One of you is discussing it pretty loud," her son replied, looking at Pete.
"Yeah, what's it to ya?" Pete snarled.
"Pete, I don't want any trouble with you, but I don't want you yelling at my mother."
"Or what, queer boy?"
"Russ, it's fine," Liv said, reassuring him.
Russ looked at her and nodded, then started back to his room.
Pete laughed. "I thought so, chicken shit."
Russ stopped for a second then turned back to Pete. "You yell at my mother again and I'll show you what," Russ said seriously.
Pete took a step toward him and ran into the coffee table, causing him to fall onto the arm of the reclined then rolling onto the floor.
"Oh, fucking hell! I think I broke my goddam ribs!" Liv rushed to him to help him up. "Leave me the fuck alone! I can do this!"
She stepped back and looked at her son. He was smiling at her. She grinned but shook her head at him. Russ went back to his room.
It took Pete a moment to get up while trying to hold his ribs with one hand and pulling himself up with the other.
"Let me see your chest," she said.
"I'm fine. Get me one of my pain pills."
"You're not supposed to mix Vicoden with alcohol," she replied.
"Fuck it! I'll get it myself," he grumbled, starting toward the master bath. "Fix me something to eat."
Liz did as he said and about fifteen minutes later served him a couple of burgers and some fries. He ate his dinner then sat watching the TV and drinking beer for the rest of the evening. Liz spent the evening in her son's room visiting with him. It was almost ten when Pete called for her from the hallway.
"Bedtime, Liz!" he shouted.
"In a couple of minutes, Pete," she replied.
She walked into their bedroom about ten minutes later to his glare.
"Was twinkle toes telling you about his boyfriends?"
