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Javy never really thought he’d be in this type of situation, standing in an itchy suit in the corner of a ballroom at the Governor of Texas’ Christmas Ball.
Jake had invited him. Well, he should probably say dragged, not invited, since Jake basically begged him to pretend to be his boyfriend for the sake of this Ball.
Javy had been confused, which he thought was a fairly reasonable reaction all things considered, but Jake had elaborated.
His mother would try and set him up with people at these events, she meant well, but she would try to convince Jake to go out on dates.
She sounded like his own mom, convinced he was lonely in the military and needed help finding someone to keep him company.
He’d agreed, of course. Half for selfish reasons, half just to help out his friend.
This was the closest he’d probably get to being with Jake in any sense so yeah, he’d agreed, quite happily agreed in fact.
So here he was, in Texas watching Jake charm the pants off of every single person he spoke to.
Everyone loved Jake, it was hard not to. He was charming and funny and handsome.
Javy had to frequently remind himself not to get lost in Jake’s eyes or get too distracted by his smile or any number of things about him.
Jake was extremely distracting and he had a suspicion the man either had no idea or knew damn well what he did to Javy and enjoyed it.
Either way, Jake distracted the hell out of him.
“You must be Javy.” He was yanked out of his thoughts by a woman he immediately recognized.
Evelyn Broussard, Jake’s mother.
“Yes ma’am.” He smiled, glancing around to look for Jake, mentally cursing when he couldn’t find him.
“I’ve heard a lot about you, ever since Jake started at the academy, I’m surprised it took him this long to bring you home to us. And just call me Evie dear, you’re already part of the family.” The smile she gave him was kind.
He could see where Jake got his smile from.
“Well, to be fair I usually went home whenever possible for the holidays. My Mama'd have my head if I missed. The only reason she didn't kill me for this is cuz I told her Jake had invited me to a Christmas ball.”
“Well, I appreciate her allowing you to join us. Jake was thrilled when he informed me you'd be coming, and I have to say I was relieved to find out he was finally bringing a partner home.”
“I gather my mama will have a similar reaction.” Javy hummed, taking a sip of the champagne he'd grabbed earlier. He wasn't big on the drink but it's what everyone here was drinking so he could manage.
“Have you told your mother about you and Jake?” No.
“Not yet, I uh- wanna tell her this sorta news in person. She’s bound to have a lot of questions it’ll probably be much easier to answer them in person.” He chuckled, rubbing the back of his neck.
“Oh well, you should’ve had Jake tell me to invite your parents! I would love to meet the people who raised you, Jake talks about you like you hung the moon and stars after all.” She smiled.
He could feel his face heating up. That was likely the truth since he didn’t see any reason for Mrs- Evie to lie to him.
“Oh.” He shifted, taking another sip of champagne.
He had to resist the urge to grimace. It really didn’t get any better the more you drank it.
“Not a fan of champagne?”
“Not really…” Was he that obvious?
“I get it.” She smiled. “You know, Ja-”
“Mama!” He looked up at the sound of Jake’s voice. “And Vee.” Jake grinned at him. “Two of my favourite people in one place.” Javy leaned into it when Jake wrapped an arm around his waist. He was gonna enjoy this while he could.
Granted, Jake was never *not* physically affectionate with him.
“Jake.” Evie smiled. “I was just introducing myself to the young man you’ve been hiding for so long.”
“Mama…” Jake sighed.
“What? It’s true. I’ve heard all about Javy for these past few years and not once have you suggested bringing him home! But now I understand why you were so insistent I stop trying to set you up.” He felt Jake’s grip on his waist tighten just momentarily. He placed a hand on Jake’s and lightly squeezed, he felt the other man relax as he did.
“Mama. I didn’t want you to set me up because most people can’t handle dating someone in the military, especially the Navy.”
“I know, but if you had Javy waiting for you, I can see why that would also be a motivation to get me to stop. All you had to do was tell him you were together that first time you brought him up.” Evie scoffed.
“Mama that was back in the academy?” Jake sounded confused.
“Yes, but you talked about him like he was the sun.” Evie gave Jake a look. “A mother knows these things Jay baby, and you loved him since day one. It took me a bit to realize that though. Granted with all those stupid rules I do understand why you hid this so long.” Evie sighed.
Javy felt like he couldn’t breathe.
What the hell? Jake had mentioned him years ago? To the point, his mom thought-
“Mama.” Jake’s voice sounded strained. “Why don’t you go find Daddy.”
“Alright, alright, I’ll leave you lovebirds alone.” Evie’s eyes sparkled. “But do me a favour, make out on the balcony, there are kids here.” Javy stayed silent as she kissed Jake’s cheek and walked off.
It was quiet for a minute before Jake spoke up. “I am… so sorry about her…” He sounded mildly horrified.
“You talked about me when we were in the academy?” Jake grimaced, stepping away. Javy immediately felt cold, missing his warmth.
“Yeah, I mean. We were roomies, after all, it was kinda hard not to.” Jake shrugged.
“I mean… yeah, but you talked about me to the point your mom thinks you were in love with me. That’s a little different than just… hey, my roommate Javy is… whatever. Those are very different things…” He frowned.
“Yeah well, my ma likes to see things that aren’t there when it comes to my love life.” Jake sounded extremely unsure as he said that.
“You don’t sound too certain of that one.” He grumbled.
“Shut it, Javier.”
“Make me Jacob.” He grinned at Jake’s eye roll and subtle middle finger. “Love you too asshole.”
“Fuck off,” Jake grumbled, taking a sip of what Javy knew damn well was probably whiskey.
“You’d miss me too much.” He chuckled.
“Uhuh.” Jake sighed.
Javy was about to say something when his phone rang.
“Hold on.” He dug his phone out of his pocket, frowning when he saw it was his mom calling. “It’s my mom?”
She didn’t usually call him with no warning, especially since she knew where he was right now.
“Maybe take that outside. Events like these have ears everywhere…”
“Speaking from experience?” He raised an eyebrow, but let Jake guide him out onto a balcony.
“Yup. Now answer your mom before she loses it.” Javy snorted, but picked up the call, holding his phone to his ear.
“Hey Maman, what’s up?”
“You’re dating Jake!?” He had to pull his phone away from his ear, blinking at her volume.
“Huh?”
“Don’t play stupid Javier!” Oh shit. “Tell me why your father and I had to find out from Seth Broussard!”
“Wait, you know Jake’s parents?” He saw Jake’s eyes widen out of the corner of his eye.
“Don’t try to change the subject!” His mother hissed. He grimaced.
“Sorry maman.”
“But yes, your fathers are good friends.” She sighed. “That is beside the point. Why am I only finding out about the two of you because of Seth and not from your mouth?”
“I uh-” shit. Shit they had not planned for this. He shot Jake a panicked look. Jake looked just as spooked. “I wanted to tell you in person maman. I was planning to come visit after things were done here. I was gonna bring Jake so I could tell you and you could meet him as my official boyfriend.”
He needed to get better at on-the-spot bullshitting.
His mom sighed. “You still better come by *ma petite étoile*. I want to see my son and future son-in-law.”
Fuck.
“Of course maman. We’ll come there after we’re done here, okay?”
“I’ll hold you to that. Is Jake there?”
“No.”
“Hmm. Well, tell him hello for me, okay?”
“Okay, maman. I will.”
“Good. Well… have fun. Be safe. I will see you soon right?”
“Yes, maman.”
“Good. Be safe *petite étoile*.”
“I will maman. I promise.”
“Good… good. I suppose I’ll let you go.” She sighed. “Bye, darling.”
“Bye, maman.” He quickly hung up, staring at his phone for a minute.
His lock screen was a photo of him and Jake. Callie had taken it when they’d graduated from the academy.
He’d been in love with Jake then. Still was. And now he was in a really messy situation… shit.
“Shit,” Jake whispered.
“You said it.” He slowly looked up at the other man, trying to gauge his reaction. Jake was a little pale, he looked… stressed. He didn’t blame him.
“Okay so now we not only have to fake a breakup that can convince my parents… it has to convince yours.”
“And my siblings.” He sighed. “My parents probably already told them, so, we’ll have to convince them, and they’re gonna believe we’re in love till we either each marry others or die.” He grumbled.
“Should we ask Cal for help?”
“She’ll laugh at us and call us morrons.” He sighed, shaking his head. She would too.
“Yeah, but she’s good at…” Jake paused. “Manipulation… god that sounds horrible.” Javy snorts.
“Yeah, it does. But hey, if you wanna get made fun of by her be my guest and call her, I choose life.” Javy shrugged, crossing his arms and leaning against the railing.
He watched Jake run a hand through his hair, letting out a string of curses in Italian that Javy pretended not to understand.
Jake did not know he spoke the language and Javy would really like to keep it that way, for now at least.
“So, we’re going to New Orleans.”
“Unless you want Inês Machado hunting us down for not coming to see her, yeah, we are.”
“Hunt us down?” Jake raised an eyebrow. Javy gave him a look.
“Think your mom, but without the mask of being a governor's wife.” He knew damn well that title didn’t stop Evelyn Broussard from raising hell, but it did masl some things.
His mom only had the title of General’s wife and well… his mom had never given a shit about what his father's Air Force buddies thought of her.
Jake grimaced.
“Okay, yeah. We’re uh- going to New Orleans after this, yeah.” Jake nodded and Javy hid a snort behind his hand.
“Mhm.” He took a sip of champagne. “Ugh- I keep forgetting I hate this shit until I take a sip.” Jake snorted.
“Why are you still drinking it.”
“To be polite.” Javy sighed.
“Mission accomplished, c’mon, let’s go get you something stronger.”
“Yes please.” He sighed, following Jake to the doors and smiling when he held them.
He stepped inside to wait for Jake, frowning when he saw Ainsley Broussard giggling at him.
“Uh- Jay?”
“Yea?” Jake looked up, pausing when he saw his sister.
“What’s up Ains.”
“She sees the mistletoe.” Javy jumped a little at Seth Broussard’s sudden appearance.
“The huh-” He quickly looked up, freezing when he saw the stupid plant above their heads.
He heard Jake sigh. “Daddy…”
“You know the rules Blue-jay. I promise not to tell your mom.”
Javy was gonna die tonight.
“FIne,” Jake grumbled. Javy felt his cheeks heat up as Jake grabbed him by the tie and yanked him over and-
Shit. Jake’s lips were soft.
He practically melted into the kiss the second his mind caught up to the situation.
It was over far too soon for his tastes.
“There, happy father?”
“Extremely.”
“Good. C’mon Vee, let’s get you a drink.”
Oh, he was so royally fucked.