8. Chapter 8 #2
Interesting, though I shouldn’t have been surprised. Sully and I were a lot alike, except he experienced joy and pleasure, whereas I struggled to. Well, I could, but not to the extent Sully experienced it. “What did you tell him?”
He thought back, getting lost in the memory. “I told him about my angel and how he makes my tummy get all tingly. I want to kiss and hold him all the time, even after almost two years. If something happened to him, I would want whoever hurt him dead in the worst possible way.”
For such a timid young man, he lusted for his revenge. He didn’t shy away from death, probably because of his horrible upbringing, seeing the darkest in people. I didn’t feel empathy for him as others did, but I understood him because I had similar feelings of rage.
“Do you feel that way about your boyfriend?” he asked.
“His name is Thomas. He’s mine. For as long as he’s mine, if anyone hurts him, they will pay. It’s simply a fact.”
He smiled and bounced excitedly on the couch again. “You’re in love. ”
“I don’t love.”
“Of course you do. Just like Sully can. You may not feel it like I do, or my angel does, but you do love in your own special way. It’s not all about brain chemistry, but what you do for your partner and how you protect and bond with them.
Look at Sully and Malik. They are bonded through time, space, and blood.
They were destined and have been together for nearly two decades.
Sully doesn’t feel love like I do, but he loves Malik all the same. ”
I hadn’t thought about it like that. “I feel like if I tell someone I love them, that it would be a lie. Thomas enjoys my honesty, so I give it to him.”
“No one says you have to say the words. Just show him.”
I held up the book again. “That’s the plan. I know what to do. I’ve seen it often enough in movies, but I want to read about the feelings inside… feelings I don’t have. If Thomas is happy, he’ll continue to make me happy.”
Luca nodded, his curls bouncing. “Yes, love is given and taken in equal measures. If he gives you something of himself, you need to give him something in return.”
“Thank you, Luca,” I said, knowing he would like those words.
“Oh, you are so welcome, East. I hope Thomas loves you back. We all deserve love, except those who hurt us. They deserve pain and to die.”
I grinned at that because I couldn’t agree more, but it was also such an odd thing for someone like Luca to say, again reminding me of how similar he was to Thomas, although Thomas showed no fear so far.
I stepped inside Sid and Dalton’s home, the place smelling like Italian pasta. They recently purchased a new house together in Vienna, Virginia. It was a two-story colonial that had five bedrooms, one of which had been mine for a short period before I decided I needed a place of my own.
“Easton!” yelled Owen, who came barreling at me as soon as the door was shut.
I lifted him, and he giggled. I would never understand that child, but his worship of me left me feeling warm.
“Did you have a good day, Owen?” I asked, knowing he liked such questions, as I carried him into the kitchen.
“Yes! I got to read my favorite book, ‘ The Adventures of Beekle ,’ out loud. Then we got to do some art. I don’t like math much, but Dad says I have to know it.”
I said nothing as Dalton and Sid turned to me, smiling. Owen wiggled out of my arms, and I set him down.
“How was your assignment, Sid?” I asked. Even though he was legally my father on paper, I didn’t call him that. I did enjoy having his last name instead of my bio-father’s name. Sid had been more of a parent to me than anyone else.
“Good. All went according to plan.”
We didn’t speak about the details for Owen’s benefit.
“We’re having lasagna,” Dalton said.
It was one of my favorites. “Okay.”
“It’s also ready, so everyone go sit down.”
We all gathered at the round table as Dalton plated our food from a casserole dish sitting in the middle.
“Dalton tells me you’re seeing someone?” Sid asked.
“Yes. Thomas.”
“Who’s Thomas?”
“He works at Sweet Bean, serving coffee.”
Sid’s eyes twinkled, and he grinned crookedly. “Seems a little beneath you, East.”
“What he does is irrelevant. He worships me.”
“Ah, that explains the interest. How do you feel about him?”
“He’s mine for now.”
“I hope he’s good enough for you.”
“He meets all my needs.”
“Good. But also be careful, East. People with sensitive emotions can be easily hurt. If you lose interest, there’s no need for your typical bluntness. Just be gentle about it.”
“Why?”
Sid smiled patiently. He was always patient with me, and the first person who truly understood and accepted me. He allowed me to be myself freely, without manipulation. I also knew he loved me like a father should. He was great about teaching me things I didn’t always understand.
“I think you’re smart enough to figure that out. You don’t have to experience the loss of a breakup to understand that it hurts. It will hurt less if you’re not blunt about it.”
“Okay. But he’s mine. There’s no need for me to break up. He pleases me. And he doesn’t make me put on my mask. He likes me for me. ”
“Good. He should. That’s what makes a great partner,” Dalton added, leaning forward to kiss Sid on the cheek. “Look at Sid and me. We’re opposites, but we also balance each other. It makes us stronger.”
“When do we get to meet him?” Sid asked, grabbing Dalton’s hand to hold. I always watched their interactions when I was around, learning from them and what made their relationship work.
“Whenever you want,” I said.
I took a bite of my lasagna, loving the garlic, tomatoes, and cheese. Dalton and Sid were great at cooking, and they had taught me a lot when I’d been living with them.
“Let us know when you both have some time off, and I’ll make us dinner,” Dalton said.
“Okay.”