Chapter 40
Brendan
Now
Who is Ky talking to? My thoughts slowly come into focus, and I hum, remembering last night.
Damn, that was something. Ky speaks again, then the other voice.
“Holy fuck!” I say the moment I realise it’s Lucinda.
Shooting upright, I grab the sheet and pull it up to my nose. Thank fuck I had my underwear on.
“Language Bren,” Ky says.
“Oh shit, sorry.”
Lucinda is standing at the foot of the bed, amusement dancing across her features.
“You two are ridiculous,” she says, giggling. “I just came in to tell you I made a big breakfast and to come and eat. Dad, I guess you have something important to tell me.”
She winks at Ky then prances smugly out of the room. Gotta admit, seeing her sass Ky is entertaining as hell.
The moment the door closes behind her, I relax and drop the sheet. “Why do I get the feelin’ I’m about to be wrapped around the finger of another Davies?”
Kyle smiles and nods. “That’s a genuine possibility. But how about I wrap myself around you instead.”
Before I know it, Ky’s on top of me and kissing me, and fuck, does it feel good to be under him, surrounded by his scent, his weight blanketing me.
Then he shifts slightly to the side and slides his hand down my chest and stomach until his fingertips slip inside my underwear, and I come to my senses.
“Not now, you horny bitch,” I say, pushing him off.
“Your daughter is in the house and made us breakfast. Now move your ass, I need some clean clothes.”
Ky chuckles, his eyes sparkling with mischief. “Alright fine, but your ass is mine later.”
He hops out of bed, erection tenting his boxers, and heads into the walk-in wardrobe. I’m about to follow when I spot something on his bedside table that I didn’t notice in my lust-fuelled state last night. It’s a shell.
No, it can’t be. Can it? I stare at it for a few seconds, sifting through my memories of that night on the beach. The first time we kissed and I had to accept I’d fallen head over heels in love with him.
Picking up the shell, I turn it over in my hand.
It’s periwinkle, without a single crack or imperfection.
It has a distinct brown and cream pattern and is larger than the ones you normally find on Mornington Peninsula beaches.
I run my fingers over its smooth surface, my eyes closing as I remember Ky spotting it and scooping it up off the sand.
I’d teased him for slipping it into his pocket and taking it home.
It brings a smile to my face, my heart swelling as my feelings from that night spread warmly throughout my body.
When I open my eyes, Ky is sitting beside me, watching me with a soft smile of his own.
“It isn’t, is it?” I ask, still not convinced it’s the same shell.
“It is.”
“You kept it all this time?”
Ky takes my hand. “Everything changed that night. I finally knew for sure that you had feelings for me. That it wasn’t just hooking up.
” Ky strokes his thumb over my cheekbone.
“I wanted something to remember that night, so I hung onto it. I kept it hidden until Lu and I moved here. Sometimes, I would go and visit that beach—our beach—when I missed you most.”
My eyes fill with tears; this shell, Ky’s confession, bring a wave of empathy for his experience. For his loss and grief. “Fuck, Ky. Just…just kiss me.”
He kisses me tenderly then pulls me close to his chest. We remain like that for a long time, just holding each other, the weight of our past and present settling between us like the ocean tide—profound and immeasurable.
The truth is, we were both adrift without each other, lost to the sea.
But in the end, it didn’t matter how much distance, how many years passed—we could never be undone.
We belong to each other. We always have.
“Hurry up you two! Breakfast is waiting.”
Lucinda yelling from the kitchen has us both chuckling, and we slowly pull apart.
“Coming,” replies Ky.
“Are you okay? Are you happy?” I ask.
“Happier than I ever thought possible. What about you?”
“I’ve probably got a lot of guilt about Chris to get through, but yeah, I know this is right. I know I’m where I’m supposed to be.”
“Good. You hungry? We should go eat.”
“I’m starvin’. I could eat a horse.”
We quickly throw on some clothes and head out to the kitchen.
I’m nervous as hell about how Lucinda will react to our news.
Especially since how this weekend plays out will determine if I move in or not.
Not only do I want to be accepted by Lucinda, but I also want her to like me and for us to develop a good relationship.
I know how important she is to Ky and her happiness must always take top priority.
The table is already set for three, with plates of pancakes, bacon, eggs, and toast in the middle, like a buffet.
It looks and smells incredible and I’m very grateful to Lucinda for cooking for us.
It’s another reminder of what a great dad Ky must be, to have raised such a kind and caring teenager. Not that I’m surprised.
When we take our seats, Lucinda has that same smirk on her face that Ky gets and I figure it’ll be pretty damn easy to love this kid. “Lucinda, this looks amazin’. Thanks for cookin’.” I pile a bit of everything onto my plate.
“Brendan, you can call me Lu, everyone does.”
“Okay, and you can call me Bren if you want.”
Smiling at Ky, I receive a quick thigh squeeze under the table. I bite into the pancakes first. “Lu, you’re a fuckin’ good cook.” It’s out of my mouth before I realise. “Sorry, I’ve gotta remember not to swear so much.”
Lu giggles. “Don’t worry about it, Dad is just as bad. Seems like you can take the man out of The Pines, but you can’t take The Pines out of the man.”
I scoff. “Your dad’s a soft bitch these days. You should’ve seen him back in the day.”
“Heeeey!” Ky objects. “I’m not that soft.”
“Whatever you wanna tell yourself, Davies.”
Lu smiles brightly at her dad, then shifts her attention to me. “I’d love to hear your stories about Dad. Didn’t you two meet when you were about my age?”
I turn to Ky, sentimentality rushing over me as I think of him at sixteen. “We knew of each other before then, but I was kept down in year eleven and that’s how we ended up in the same class. We became friends pretty soon after that. And yeah, I can tell you a few stories ‘bout your dad one day.”
Lu moves on, asking us both the big questions, like am I separated and are we dating or in a relationship now? She’s not afraid to be direct so I tell her that I’ve left my marriage and I want to be in a long term, committed relationship with her dad.
“I’m happy for you both,” she says, her eyes watering up when she looks at Ky. “It’s the fairytale ending you both deserve. I guess that only leaves on more question. Will you be moving in with us?”
I look to Ky, not knowing what I should say. This is really a conversation only for father and daughter. What I want doesn’t really matter at this point.
“Lu, Bren doesn’t want to do anything that would make you feel uncomfortable. Or feel rushed. We can talk about it together later, then you can take some time to think about it and—”
“Dad, what’s to decide? Bren should move in if you both want that. You’ve waited twenty years to be together and you guys are getting old.”
Kyle is clearly offended. “Hey, we’re not that old. Forty isn’t old!”
Lu rolls her eyes at her dad then turns back to me. “I’m serious, Bren. Don’t let me stand in the way. It’s obvious you two love each other and I trust my dad. If it makes you feel any better, it can be on a trial basis, okay? How does that sound?”
I look to Ky, his face lighting up. “Looks like it’s been decided, then.”
“Okay, trial basis,” I agree. “And Lu, if you want me to leave at any time, you just say the word and I will. You don’t have to explain yourself or have a reason.”
She stands and pushes her chair in. “As long as you love my dad and look after him then that’ll never happen. My dad’s been through enough and he deserves someone who’ll treat him right. So just don’t fuck this up, okay?”
“Language,” Ky and I say in unison, before the three of us burst into laughter.
I stand too, and Lu walks around the table, giving me a hug.
“Welcome to the family, Bren.” I pat her gently on the back, feeling a bit overwhelmed, then step back, stunned by her willingness to accept me.
Ky gets to his feet next, brushing a few tears from his cheeks.
He’s a sentimental bitch, but I love him for it.
Lu wraps her arms around Ky next, receiving a kiss to her forehead. “Okay then, I’ve got some homework to do and then maybe later we can watch a movie together?”
“Yeah, we’d love that, wouldn’t we, Bren?”
“As long as Lu’s picking and not you,” I reply. “You’ve got shit taste in movies.”
Ky screws up his face. “You might change your mind about that when Lu makes you watch a cheesy rom-com.”
I blush because, as much as I hate to admit it, I like a good romance. “Maybe these days I enjoy watchin’ one every now and again.” I jut out my chin out.
Lu laughs. “Suck it, Dad. Two to one. We’re watching a rom-com.” She turns triumphantly and heads off in the direction of her bedroom.
“I told you, Bren. Come here.”
I walk into Ky’s open arms and nuzzle his neck.
I think of Stacey's words and smile. I guess my heart did win out in the end.