Chapter 23 - Em #2
“Put me down!” she yells. “Dae, I’m serious. Put me the fuck down!”
He adjusts his grip, nodding politely to us as he passes. “We’ll be back in time for the festivities,” he says.
His hand connects sharply with her backside.
Stan laughs outright, shoulders shaking as he tries to stifle the sound.
Kaye’s protests echo down the corridor as Damon carries her inside, her voice rising in indignation.
Lix and I exchange a glance. The expression we share requires no explanation.
Some moments pass as Lix and I drink from crystal flutes, sipping soda and swapping stories about his stepfather and his research, while he does his best to stop Stan from trying to get the first taste of the cake.
“But babe, fuck’s sake, it’s ube!” Stan stomps his foot.
Lix rolls his eyes, smiling before distracting Stan with a kiss on the lips. It sufficiently silences him for long enough that we hear footsteps approach.
I notice them before I turn, the sound distinct against the frost-dusted ground. The air feels marginally warmer as the group comes into view.
Darius walks in, his gaze sweeping the space with silent assessment. Idris walks beside him, while he waves at us with his warm smile.
Sterling follows from behind, holding Elle by the waist. She’s smiling, a little tentative, as if bracing herself for the attention she’ll be receiving soon. I can understand that sentiment.
Everyone gathers around the table, helping themselves to drinks and appetizers.
Idris joins my conversation with Lix, recalling some information about Otis Dela Cruz’s research on Kys.
I can tell Darius is trying to look like he’s not listening, but he’s blatantly ignoring Stan, who’s testing out birthday puns on him.
“So when it’s your birthday, Dar Bear, do you like having your cake and eating it too?”
Darius doesn’t dignify him with an answer.
Stan pouts. “Truly a gift to be around you, Darius.”
Only Lix snorts in response, making Stan grin proudly.
Some minutes later, Kaye reappears at a near sprint. She runs straight into Elle, wrapping her arms around her with exuberant force.
“Happy birthday!” Kaye shouts. “The happiest birthday to my bestest friend! I hope today is perfect and full of cake and everything you could ever want!”
Elle laughs softly, arms coming up to return the embrace, her face lighting up.
Damon trails behind them at an easy pace, watching them as he fixes his cufflinks.
When Kaye finally releases Elle, Damon steps closer, his hand resting on Kaye’s back.
Elle turns then, drawing in a breath before facing everyone gathered.
“Thank you all for coming,” she says, her voice as soft as her smile. “I know it’s cold, and I know the roads to get here were difficult. Despite that, you’ve made it here, and I’m incredibly grateful to share my humble birthday with you.”
Elle draws another slow breath, fingers lacing together before she turns.
Her gaze settles on Sterling. “First and foremost, thank you to my husband. You saved me from what I couldn’t survive on my own. You stayed when everything felt impossible, and you’ve helped me restore a life full of my dreams I never thought I’d get to live.”
She reaches for his hand, their fingers fitting together flawlessly.
“I can’t imagine sharing the present, or the future, with anyone else. You’re the most perfect husband I could ever dream up.”
She rests her forehead against his shoulder. Sterling smiles down at her, his silver eyes shining.
Elle turns again, barely finishing the motion before Kaye surges forward.
“And Kaye,” Elle continues, chuckling lightly through her words, “my best friend in the entire universe. You brighten my days by being you.”
Kaye sobs immediately, loud and uncontained, arms locking around Elle’s waist. “I love you,” she cries, voice breaking. “I love you so much.”
Elle giggles, hugging her back as much as she can manage while she speaks. “Thank you, Kaye, for reminding me to be brave, loud, and joyful. I don’t know who I’d be without you.”
Kaye refuses to let go. Damon steps in, taking her away while she protests weakly, wiping at her eyes.
Elle looks at Damon and Stan next.
“And to Damon and Stan, my husband’s dearest brothers,” she addresses them.
“Your support has changed my life in so many ways. You gave me safety, Damon, in your impressively covert ways. And Stan, what’s there to say?
We both got through what could’ve taken us down.
But we got out of it with our heads held high.
You helped me keep my chin up. I won’t ever forget that. ”
Damon acknowledges her with a small smile. Stan presses his lips together, blinking back tears. Lix steps closer to him, caressing his back.
Elle turns to the motion, and her composure gives way.
“Calix,” she says, her voice wavering as her tears spill freely. “My baby brother. The sweetest, most caring man. I’m so glad you’re back. So glad you’re here, with me, with family, with loved ones, with us.”
She laughs softly through the tears. Sterling’s at her side, quietly kissing them away.
“I remember when you were little, Calix. You could barely keep your balance, but you were so determined to run. Since then, I’ve watched you grow up so fast into this amazing man.”
My chest tenses at her speech. Then Elle turns to me, my breath catching from her unexpectedly direct attention.
“Em, thank you. For giving my brother purpose. For giving him the chance to take part in your world, your brilliance, and your experiment.”
The reminder of my failed experiment strikes me. My pulse stutters, heat rushing abruptly into my chest and throat. I feel it in my hands next, a faint tremor that feels like my fingertips are freezing.
“I know,” Elle continues, meeting my shaken gaze, “that what you’re working on will change the world. No matter what.” She takes a deep breath. “And your existence alone has changed all of ours.”
For a moment, sound recedes. I’m acutely aware of my breathing, of the pressure behind my sternum, of the way my body reacts before my mind can supply structure.
Idris is at my side. Stan stands in front, and Lix draws closer. They’re whispering to me, and there’s a rim of glass pressed onto my bottom lip. I drink the water, letting it cool the heat in my chest.
I can hear Elle apologizing, but Idris reassures her that I most likely need something to drink and didn’t expect such kind words during a day that should belong completely to Elle.
She shyly says she understands, and when I’m leaning the side of my head on Lix’s shoulder, I find relief in breathing right.
I apologize in turn for ruining the moment, but Elle brushes it off with her bright smile that rivals Kaye’s cheerful grin. “That’s Elle for you,” Kaye says. “She’s got a way with words that make you feel like you’re not the bad guy.”
Elle’s gaze goes toward Darius and Idris. “I’m also glad the Adels could join us.”
Idris nods and smiles at her thoughtful thanks. “Our father, Set, will be by a little later,” he says. “Some of the roads have unfortunately frozen over. He was determined to come regardless.” After a heartbeat, he adds, “He’s bringing quite a gift.”
That last detail draws a ripple of interest from the group. Stan speculates, while Kaye frowns in thought beside her husband, who doesn’t seem moved by the notion at all, along with Sterling.
There’s still tightness forming in my sternum. My breathing has to recalibrate around it, simply from hearing Set will soon arrive.
Time moves forward as everyone turns their attention back to the table. Plates are filled. Fingers reach across one another, apologies murmured and waved away. The cold keeps us clustered close, steam rising faintly from cups of cocoa Kaye serves in one corner of the table.
Stan reappears at my side, fork loaded with a piece of the purple cake. “Trust me,” he says with a smirk. “If I love ube, you’ll love it too, gorgeous. We’re soulmates with the same taste.”
I eye the bite-sized piece, angling my head.
“You have to try it,” he says, his enthusiasm barely contained. Before I can respond, he guides the bite toward my mouth.
The ube cake melts on my tongue. There’s a nutty depth beneath the sweet cream, and I find myself taking a second breath before I swallow, registering the texture as much as the flavor.
Stan watches my face expectantly. I nod slowly, pouting in thought while appreciating this new taste.
He smiles, shaking his head slightly. “There it is,” he says. “The little things you do, gorgeous. Fucking lethal.”
“I’m merely reacting to sugar,” I reply. “A cake’s food chemistry will often result in a rewarding experience.”
“Sure,” Stan says, grinning. “Tell that to the way you just looked at me.”
Lix steps up to us, finishing his own bite. “It really is good, though,” he says. “Nostalgic for me too.”
“Can you tell me more about ube? Am I saying that right?” I ask.
“It’s pronounced oo-beh,” Lix supplies.
I try out the pronunciation. “Ube?”
He smiles while Stan raises his brows, who quips, “Look at you go, Em. Gonna conquer the culinary world too? Heard they give out blue ribbons instead of PhDs in that field.”
“Actually, there are doctorate programs in the culinary industry,” I say.
“Particularly in food science. In this case, there’s chemistry at work.
Flavor-wise, the ube’s nutty sweetness integrates well with the cream, and the cake’s structure comes from aeration in the batter and protein coagulation during baking, which traps moisture and keeps the crumb soft. ”
Stan chuckles, elbowing Lix. “God, listen to our girl. She could make a grocery list sound sexy.”
Lix breathes out loudly, almost like a laugh, as he nudges Stan back. “Behave.”
“For you?” Stan makes a smooching noise. “Anything, babe.”
The party continues on. Sterling never strays far from Elle, their proximity almost as constant as Damon’s is to Kaye. Though, she often leaves his side, much to his chagrin. She’s usually following after Elle.