Chapter Fifty-Six #2
“Babe!” He shouts for his husband. “Get control of this menace, please! I simply cannot.”
Kellan gets up with a grunt. “Alright, child. Time to go outside.”
Dog sits and whines, finally behaving. But I’m afraid it’s too little too late.
“Nope. You blew it,” Kemper scolds, fastening the leash to his collar. “I told you all you had to do was act right while other Daddy was trying to eat, and you couldn’t even do that. So it’s out to the terrace you go.”
The rest of us chuckle, watching as he drags a whimpering Sobaka out to join his cousin, Parker on our terrace.
“Does watching the dogs being disciplined give you your own version of Vietnam flashbacks?” Ren is aiming a purely devious smirk at Velle, whose slice of pizza pauses mid-air before it can reach his mouth.
We’re all giggling, and he’s scowling.
“Does the way your dog is burying his nose in his cousin’s ass right now remind you of how much of a raging skank you used to be?” Velle quips, tilting his face smugly.
“Oh, snap,” Byron chuckles.
Ren’s glare, disguising his own snickers, moves from Velle to Byron. “Be careful, B. I could be talking about how Parker is just imitating his Uncle Byron, that time he slurped on Sobaka’s other Daddy’s bussy like a four-course meal.”
Dash chokes on his bite, and Kemper rushes over prepared to Heimlich him if need be, while the rest of us laugh and groan in horror.
“What the hell is wrong with you?!” Dash gasps in between coughing.
“Yea, no, I definitely deserve that.” Byron nods at Ren. “I invited you to stay in my home and provided dinner.” He rolls his eyes.
Ren blows him a kiss. “Love you, B.”
“Love you too,” he grumbles, smirking.
“And thank you for the dinner,” Luthor says pointedly. “Pizza party is where it’s at!”
“Yea, California pizza is pure garbage,” Ren hums. “No offense, babe.”
Luthor gapes at him. “I don’t own a pizza parlor, so… none taken?”
Joy and Rook snort.
“Aw, pizza parlor.” Dash grins. “That’s so cute.”
“Why, what do New Yorkers call it?” Luthor looks around.
“I don’t think we call it anything?” Velle chuckles. “It’s just a pizza place.”
“Maybe a shop?” Kemper says.
“Nice try, Missouri, but no,” Byron laughs.
“Can we please get back on topic??” Felix snaps. “We were talking about how The Ivory is paying you guys to write Alabaster Isle’s history. I think that’s incredible!”
“It certainly is cool,” Lemuel adds, offering us a curt smile.
“That mean we’re gonna see more of you, jeonsa?” Joy asks excitedly.
“Probably,” Byron replies, checking with me. I simply smile. “We only just started outlining. Rough shit, still reading through all the files he sent over. It’s a lot.”
“How much is he paying you?” Ren asks, all hubris, as per usual.
“Babe… honestly,” Luthor admonishes, shaking his head.
“It’s just a question,” Ren whines.
“Probably close to what he paid you for riding his dick then burning his club down,” Byron sneers.
“So four years in prison then half a mill?” Ren cackles.
“Exactly.” Byron nods, snickering. “Minus the extra year in prison. I’m getting time-served.”
“Wait, so are you gonna do this like a history textbook?” Joy smirks. “Or like smut?”
“Yea, ‘cause we know you can do the latter.” Felix smirks.
Byron suppresses his grin. “Probably like a combination of both.”
“That sounds amazing,” Rook chuckles. “Like a sexy textbook.”
“A modern-day historical romance,” I murmur.
“I’m just gonna write it the way I write shit.” Byron shrugs, smirking at me. “You can add all that poetic fancy stuff.”
“That’s what I’m here for, sweet fury.” I kiss his cheek. “Poetic fancy stuff.”
“Well, you are British.” Luthor grins.
“Please God, make sure you capture all the hilarious nicknames Ren gave Trevel,” Joy laughs. “My favorite was… hang on, what was it…?”
“Sexy coatrack?” Velle asks.
“Adam’s Family exchange student?” Felix laughs.
“If Elvira didn’t get that abortion!” Byron cackles. It takes great effort to force a scowl, but I pull it off enough for him to fake a pout. “Sorry.”
Joy is toppling into Rook’s side. “No… no, oh my God, but those are all so good. I was thinking of the time Posh Spice joined Taking Back Sunday.”
Ren snorts. “Oh yea. That was a good one.”
“Yea, cheers,” I chuckle, shaking my head.
“We kid because we love.” Ren winks at me.
“And that’s actually a compliment because he loves Victoria Beckham and Taking Back Sunday,” Luthor giggles.
Byron is rumbling out sexy chuckles, wrapping his arms around my waist. Kissing my neck and whispering, “I love you, British Chalamet.” He laughs and I turn my face to get his lips.
“Aww! Cute,” Dash squeals. “I’m happy you guys are so in love. Living the dream here in this lavish penthouse.”
“I know right?” Felix bounces. “This place is amazing.”
“We’re just glad you guys could all make it out here,” Byron says. “We haven’t all been together since Dash and Kemper’s wedding.”
Everyone nods wistfully, recalling the memory of that beautiful evening on the beach in Tulum.
“And soon, we’ll be doing it all over again for your bougie fucking wedding,” Velle teases Luthor and Ren.
“Hey, you know me… I’d love to do something simple,” Luthor mutters. “But this one needs a fifteen-foot ice sculpture of Superman and Lex Luthor making out.”
Byron cackles so hard he falls off the couch.
“Are you fucking kidding me?” Rook looks disturbingly intrigued.
“Oh, come on! Don’t act like you’re not creaming in your little nerd panties over that detail.” Ren pokes Luthor over and over while he smacks his hands away.
“Okay, fine, it’s cool.” He grabs Ren hard on the jaw, kissing him quick to shut him up.
All the love and utter foolishness in this room is truly intoxicating. To think that I came into this group as an outsider; a traitor who was stealing their friend from them. And now I get to be part of the madness.
I think that is why I was harassing Byron about the proposal weeks back, after we saw Michelangelo. In my heart, I know it wasn’t fully the lad’s fault.
We ran into him again the other day—apparently now that we’re living on the Upper West Side, we’re in his neck of the woods—and we wound up inviting him to lunch.
As it turns out, he’s a darling bloke, and he isn’t harboring any residual feelings for Byron, other than maybe thinking he’s hot, which he is.
It also doesn’t hurt that he’s dating someone, though from what I understand, it’s a bit hush-hush.
Being in love with Byron Kang means accepting his past, just as he accepts mine.
Though mine is much less scandalous than his, being that my crush on Lemuel was just that.
We never actually hooked up, and now that I’ve watched him marry the love of his life—and was his best man at their wedding—I have zero of those feelings leftover.
I know Byron feels the same way about Ren, and Joy. And Luthor, and Dash. And The Ivory? Bloody hell, my man has hooked up with all of his friends. I can’t believe they were giving Dascha shit, when Byron was a secret slag himself within the walls of Alabaster Penitentiary.
Still, it’s all just part of loving someone. Accepting their baggage as your own, and carrying it so that they don’t have to go it alone.
I just want to know that Byron sees this as permanent, because I know I do. I want to be a part of this family with them. The way the others are with their partners.
The balls and chains they actually want.
Heh that’s sweet.
“Can you make that your cake topper too, please?” Dash begs.
“We’re thinking about it,” Luthor chuckles.
“And make mini versions to give out to all the guests.” Felix beams. “That would be amazing.”
“So has he said anything about when he’s supposedly coming out here?” Byron asks Velle, shifting back to Ivory-talk.
Velle gets this seriousness about him he only gets when talking about The Ivory. My theory is that he does it because he feels guilty about keeping in contact with the evil bloke. Although he doesn’t need to. We’re the last people in the world to judge.
But hey… I’m no shrink.
He’s right over there. And I’m sure he has thoughts.
“He’d mentioned it a while back, but I thought he was just talking,” Velle replies. “He’s trying to steer clear since the new governor took office. Apparently, much of what Russo was up to is under investigation…”
“Good,” Byron and Dash both say at the same time.
“Knowing him, he’ll pop up on the anniversary of when we thought we got rid of him, like Michael fuckin Meyers,” Velle snorts.
“Would you be okay… seeing him?” I ask. “All of you?”
They’re quiet for a moment.
“Why do you ask?” Joy murmurs.
I’m hesitating, so Byron jumps in for me. “He wants to see Angel.”
“I like him.” I pout. “He’s sweet. We really bonded when I almost killed us driving from the mansion to the armory.”
Some chuckles resound.
“I mean, I’m fine,” Ren says, and Luthor nods. “But then we didn’t suffer his wrath as badly as some of you.”
“We’ve moved on,” Lemuel says, taking Felix’s hand.
“I mean, I feel better after kicking his ass,” Joy says. “And after the way he acted with my dad. He totally stood down, it was nuts.”
“Gotta respect the way he’s stayed away,” Byron sighs. “Even though he’s probably listening to us right now.”
We all look for the cameras this time. It really is a reflex.
Velle chuckles, but it fades. “I took some time… in between sorting everything with the island. But I found that it was better to stay in touch. It helped me feel like all of it was real. Everything that’s happened… A.A. After Alabaster.”
Dash huffs. “That’s funny… A.A. Angel Alvarez.”
“I know,” Velle sighs. “It’s crazy, but… I don’t know, I’m glad it’s not over, ya know?That bad stuff, yes. But what came out of it is pretty amazing.” Everyone nods. “Say what you will… but he did that.”
“He did,” Dash murmurs. “I wasn’t sure for a while… If I’d be able to speak to him without remembering it all. Especially with my dad being involved the way he was. But I agree with you. It turned out… pretty awesome.”
“Really fucking awesome.” Byron grins. He peeks at me. “Welp… no better time than right fucking now, huh?”
My brows furrow.
He sighs and slides onto the floor before me.
On one knee.
What the bollocks?!
“Holy fuck, what’s going on?” Ren whispers.
“Shh!” Luthor smacks his arm, grinning, eyes wide.
In fact, they all are. Everyone’s eyes are round, including my own.
But they’re smiling eagerly. Just as Byron is, on bended knee, slipping something out of his pocket.
“Trevel Fenwick,” he rumbles, confidently deep brogue shaking just enough that only I can hear it.
And I’m in love. “I’ve never felt for anyone the way I feel for you.
You’re fucking crazy… And I hate it.” He smirks.
“Two truths and a lie, violet eyes.” I snort, biting my lip to stop the trembling. “Will you marry me?”
He holds up a ring; a shiny sterling silver band lined with colorful stones… Blue, purple, red, and orange. The Ninja Turtle colors!
“Bloody hell…” I croak, holding out my hand. “Yes, sweet fury. Yes yes fuck yes, all truths, baby. I love you.”
The moment he slips the ring on, I launch at him, kissing him hard while he chuckles into my mouth and everyone cheers.
They’re whooping and wailing things, but I’m too busy knocking him backward and straddling him on the floor, kissing his face all over.
“Release the hounds!” Ren hollers, opening the door to the terrace.
The two crazy dogs scamper inside and attack us with kisses and rambunctious barking.
“Well, if they get to do it…” Felix whimpers, diving on us.
And then they all do. Clamoring and hugging and kissing, and grinding on us—I’ll go out on a limb and say that’s Ren.
They’re happy for us. So happy, and I’m so happy, because now I get to be a part of this family of oddballs. This group of incredible bloody outcasts. These survivors.
Anyone would be so lucky to even just watch from the outside. But to be in it is something you never want to end.
And now, it won’t. I’m indoctrinated into their madness.
Forever.