Chapter Four #2
Simon grinned. “No, I get it. My situation is odd. I met Brynlee first. We were in a few classes together at George Washington University, and we joined a study group. I’m gay, but I was drawn to Brynlee for reasons I’m still trying to figure out.
We’re not sexually attracted to each other, but we love each other deeply.
“We had a study group at their place in Alexandria, and I met Curt, Brynlee’s boyfriend. He made us some food—he’s a chef—and the looks we shared weren’t anything I’d ever experienced with anyone before.” Simon reached for a carrot, dipping it into blue cheese dressing.
Now I was sucked in. “So, how did it come to be? How did you start dating the two of them?”
I sounded hungry for details, and maybe I was because I had a shit love life. I wasn’t looking to be dating a man and a woman, but if Simon found a forever kind of love like that, I wanted to know how.
“There was a lecture on updates to the tax code, so Brynlee and I went to get coffee so we could stay awake through the dryest subject matter known to man. After we finished, she invited me to their house for dinner and to make notes regarding what we’d learned that day.
“Needless to say, we drank a lot of wine, and we didn’t make any notes.
She challenged us to a game of Truth or Dare, and it was nothing like I remembered it from middle school.
The three of us just started hanging out all the time.
I moved out of my shared apartment and moved into their spare bedroom, but I sleep with them more than in my own bed. ”
I was stunned silent for a moment. “This is none of my business, Simon, but can I ask you if it’s what you want for the rest of your life?”
Simon closed his eyes for a moment before he stared into space. I sipped my vodka and ate the pigs in a blanket that he didn’t eat. Had I pushed him too far?
“He’s a nice guy with a fucked-up life, but you aren’t pushing him to tell you anything he doesn’t want to discuss. Talk about it.”
Argh!
“Yes. It’s everything I want.” Well, that said it all.
Christmas Eve and Christmas Day were different than usual. Not once did Mom bring up my heart issues or ask if I was taking my meds like I should, which was a fucking relief.
Snow had fallen on Christmas Eve in big heavy flakes, painting the landscape white—a lot whiter than I wanted it to be considering I was driving a tiny ass car fifty-odd miles back to Maryland in a couple of days.
The day after Christmas, Dad and I sat in the kitchen at five in the morning listening to the weather since more snow had fallen overnight.
“You can’t drive in this weather, Avery. Wait until tomorrow after they have another shot plowing the streets, okay? The highway is probably fine, but getting there on these two-lane roads could be treacherous.”
I really had to get the hell out of McLean. Mom was quizzing me about Simon like we were on a game show.
She pushed me to call him and invite him to the New Year’s party at their country club, but I put my foot down at that. He had partners he’d rather spend time with. Besides, I’d rather shove my head in a microwave than stay that long with my folks.
“Maybe, but I’ve gotta get back to work tomorrow, Dad. I have a project that’s due before the first of the year.”
“What about Brooke and Kyle? Can’t they finish things up for you?”
What my parents knew about my business would fit on the head of a pin. “I’m the graphic artist, Dad. I prepare all the artwork. They can’t do my job.”
“I know. I just wish you were closer. We love you and miss you. Your mother tries to do what’s best for you, even though it might not always feel like it.” Dad’s eyes got a little watery, which was a surprise.
“She sees it that way, I’m sure, but tell her not to try to fix me up with anyone else, please. Simon is a nice guy who is already in a relationship. Don’t say anything to Mom. He doesn’t want Mrs. Brownstein to know about it yet.
“I am perfectly capable of finding someone to date, okay? I love you and Mom more than I can put into words, but there are some things I have to do on my own.” I didn’t want to hurt his feelings, but something had to give.
Dad put his coffee cup on the table. “Believe it or not, we know that you’re a grown man, but we were so afraid you wouldn’t live this long.”
My eyes stung with unshed tears. “I know you both suffered with every hospital stay and all the time we were waiting for word about a donor heart. I remember when they called to say there was a heart available if we could get back to Johns Hopkins in Baltimore. Remember, you’d brought me home for Christmas and I had to go right back?
Did you and Mom find out anything about the donor? ”
“Now you’re asking the right questions.” Fucking voice.
“We knew nothing about the donor. The doctor couldn’t share anything except the donor was healthy and didn’t die of natural causes.
The nurse accidentally said, ‘It’s a miracle her organs weren’t damaged and could help so many other people,’ so Mom and I assumed it was a woman.
She was a match for you, and we drove up and signed the paperwork as quickly as we could, son.
We wanted you alive, and we didn’t ask any other questions. ” Dad wiped his eyes.
What he’d just admitted to me was more than I’d ever known. “I owe her a lot.”
“Not a lot, but one thing in particular.” There was that voice again.
Huh? What one thing?