9. Burton
CHAPTER 9
BURTON
It was funny how time passed when you were in love and untroubled.
Two weeks after Hale Aalto threatened Phoenix’s livelihood and those of the neighbors surrounding Phoenix Rising, our man called a meeting to discuss their game plan and get other’s opinions on how to fight their looming evictions. Phoenix became more determined when Aalto sent him and the rest of the business owners an official letter of intent.
As Luka and I passed through the doors of the bakery, a sense of pride encompassed me as I spotted Phoenix, who was an introvert, laugh with Arthur, his husband, Charlotte, and several customers, as though it was an everyday occurrence.
As Luka reached him, the bright smile on his face was brilliant, only dimmed when he sensed I wasn’t next to them. But as he caught my eye from across the room, the sparkle was back. He wrapped himself around Luka, burying his face against the man’s neck, and relaxed against him.
Helpless to stay away from both of my men, I turned toward them. Before I could take a step, a hand clamped onto my arm and spun me around. I groaned when a familiar, yet unwelcome, woman popped up in front of me.
“Still hanging out with Luka? You’ll never find a woman to stick with you if he’s always around.”
I chuckled at Cindi’s assumption I’ve wanted a relationship with a woman, especially because I’ve turned her down more times than I could count. I’d been clear, telling her in direct terms I wasn’t and would never be interested in dating her, but she wouldn’t take no for an answer.
Sighing, I opened my mouth to reply, but Phoenix walked up to me hand-in-hand with Luka. Without hesitation, he reached up and ran his fingers through my hair before he kissed me. Deeply.
As the kiss broke, I growled, “Fuck, Petal, I missed this. I missed you.”
The happiness dancing in his eyes as he relaxed against me, bringing Luka with him, settled me like nothing ever had. Although I’d seen him hours before, taking advantage of waking early with the three of us showering together, I understood with certainty after the surge of feelings whenever we were together, I’d grow old and my desire for these two men would never wane.
After our experience in the living room, we no longer held back from giving each other affection.
So when Luka’s smiling face leaned closer, I captured his lips in a searing kiss. Growing hard as I inhaled their mingled scents, I groaned as I thought about pulling both of them upstairs and —
A screech jerked me back to reality. “What the fuck?”
In a daze, I opened my eyes and blinked at both men after the interruption. It was then I noticed Luka’s stormy frown and Phoenix’s mischievous smile.
Phoenix turned to Cindi and asked, “Yes, honey? Can we help you?”
There was a bit of spluttering, but I couldn’t tell if it was from Phoenix’s sassy question or because of the three of us embraced. Either way, I couldn’t care less.
“Since when are you gay , Burton?”
The devious sparkle in Phoenix’s gaze caused the words to die in my throat as his eyes traveled down my face until they stayed on my lips. I licked them, savoring the taste of both men, and gave Phoenix a wicked smile when he whimpered.
“Are you gay, handsome?” Petal asked.
Luka grunted in dissatisfaction.
I answered. “Labels aren’t important to me. I’m with both of you, so I’d say you and Luka are my boyfriends, but I don’t feel the need to define my sexuality.”
Understanding Phoenix’s protectiveness, I wrapped an arm around his waist. When he leaned back against me, I snuggled my shoulder against Luka’s wide chest and sighed when his arms enveloped both of us.
“Well, there you go,” Phoenix said.
Cindi’s face flushed a frightening red. I predicted she was about to go apoplectic when a gigantic, striking man stepped forward with a beaming, accepting expression.
“Congratulations, Phoenix! I’m happy you found not one, but two men to take care of you and keep you from working yourself to death.”
Phoenix scoffed, “You should talk, Gio. I’ve all but begged you to get yourself a partner. After all these years, both men and women pine for you and yet you never notice them.”
The adonis with black hair, scruff on his face that made him look debonair instead of disheveled, and a muscled, hard body accepted Phoenix’s move for a hug, wrapping our man in his arms, giving him a firm squeeze, before stepping back.
“Oh, you’re single?” Cindi’s voice piped up, making all of us turn to her with confused expressions.
Gio stepped behind me as I glared at the woman who, not even a minute before, had a fit when she learned I was with Luka and Phoenix.
“ Mi dispiace, donna , I am very much gay. But thank you for your inquiry.”
Arthur came out of nowhere and grabbed onto Gio’s wrist. “And that’s why I invited Fergus here tonight.”
“Oh, no, Arthur, there’s no need...”
The man’s voice faded away as Arthur pointed out a cute copper-haired man with striking green eyes behind the cutest pair of blue rectangular glasses. The smattering of freckles along his cheeks stood out as he blushed, but I noticed his uncomfortable stance as he backed away from several men vying for his attention. And Jude, who did his best to protect him from the sudden onslaught of admirers.
Without a word, Gio started toward him, drawn by a gravitational force which was familiar to me because I experienced it when I laid eyes on Phoenix.
“Who’s he?” Phoenix asked.
“Fergus Regan, isn’t he cute? He opened the pottery shop two doors down and creates everything he sells, even teaching classes every Thursday night.”
We watched on as Fergus spotted Gio’s tall form as he strode across the bakery as if he owned the place. The younger man excused himself without taking his eyes off his target. As he walked around Jude, he tripped and fell right into Gio’s arms. The seriousness on Gio’s face as they spoke sparked a flame in Fergus. After a minor exchange of words and a nod, Gio turned back to us.
“I’ll get the plan from you later, Phoenix. But whatever you decide, we’re in.”
Fergus gave us a little wave before Gio draped his arm around the younger man’s back as they headed for the exit, disappointing all the other men in attendance.
“Now that my job is done,” Arthur grinned at us.
“Yes, now comes the simple part of coming up with several brilliant ideas to save our businesses from a ruthless real estate tyrant with a dead heart. But I can see how you’re exhausted from pointing out Fergus to Gio. You didn’t have to be a psychic to see chemistry between the two,” Phoenix retorted before he rolled his eyes and sashayed away. He changed directions when our parents arrived, and he fell into my mom’s arms as Luka’s mom rubbed his back.
“He’s such a bitch. I’m blaming you two,” Arthur growled. “He was cordial, timid even before he met you. But look what you’ve done! You turned him into a sassy warrior. What the actual fuck?”
Opening my mouth to answer, Jude swept in and rushed Arthur away.
Luka turned to me, his face a mask of pride, and I couldn’t stop myself from kissing his irresistible mouth.
“How is this our life now? It’s so much better. Hell, he makes us better.”
A booming laugh shook my entire form as the big man, who never showed emotion, held onto me and buried his face against my neck.
“Yeah, he does. We better help him bring out the trays before Arthur threatens to scratch his eyes out again.”
Various business owners and their families crowded the bakery, also people around the neighborhood who didn’t want the area changed. There was history surrounding them, including several generations with businesses passed down and who all lived in the same area. They told stories about the past and loved to show pride in the successes of their community.
Throughout the meeting, Phoenix listened and got to know the people who worked as hard as he did. They were proud of the lives they built, and with each person’s narrative, the determination grew in all of us to save what we had built with love and passion.
The room grew silent as we all contemplated how we’d go about fending off Hale Aalto and his threat. It was then Phoenix gasped and sat up in his chair.
“What about a series of street fairs in the neighborhood? We could set up food stands, put tables out for the stores, raffle off prizes, and even invite the historical society down and show them we’re vital to the economy of the city. We’ll get tons of people if we advertise and post on social media.”
A sudden excitement encompassed the room and before long, they had a list of ideas, raffle prizes, and the permits we would need in order to close the street for several weekend days.
Luka said, “The permits will be easy. I know a guy in the transportation department, so that won’t be a problem.”
“We’ll get our neighbors and friends to come and support you, Phoenix. You aren’t alone in this,” Lew said.
“You’re ours now, zaja , and we’ll always back you and your dreams,” Mi agreed.
“And we’ll offer a complete backyard landscape makeover for the raffle,” I threw in.
Phoenix moved to sit on my lap, reaching for Luka and linking their hands together. “Thank you,” he whispered.
I squeezed him closer as Luka said in his gruff voice, “Anything for you, Sunshine.”
“Aren’t we in this position in the first place because of you, Phoenix?” Cindi sneered.
A snarl traveled up my throat, but before it escaped, Phoenix sighed.
“As I explained in the letter you all received, my father is doing this because he doesn’t approve of our relationship. Well, it’s because he’s a petty shithead. The one way he knows how to assert control in any situation is to either throw money at it or take over. He doesn’t care about our businesses or the families trying to survive.
“I understand it’s a bit much to take, especially because he’s my father, but I’m working on saving this block and I’ll fight until the very end in order to do just that. If you want to blame me, that’s fine, but we’re in this together and if you don’t want your beautiful jewelry boutique closed permanently, this is the best way to succeed.”
Silence met his impassioned speech until Arthur chuckled. “Your little green monster is showing, honey. Burton is happy with his men. It’s time to move on.”
“I, for one, can see how happy you three are and love this for all of you,” Angela from the knitting store on the opposite corner from the bakery spoke up.
“Thank you,” Phoenix said.
“And it shouldn’t matter. We live in a diverse neighborhood and we accept everyone,” Michael from the hardware store said.
The atmosphere relaxed as more and more people agreed that our relationship wasn’t the issue.
The meeting lasted another hour, and by that time, Phoenix’s energy was waning. Despite him changing his working hours, he still grew tired at night after years of the same early morning schedule. Adding to the fact his father was a constant source of pain for him, his emotions drained him.
“Petal, how about we head home? Arthur and Matthew can close.”
He turned in my arms and whimpered. “Why do I let him get to me? Why does he hate me so much?”
“Ah, Sunshine, please don’t cry. There’s nothing about this situation with your father that’s your fault. And of course his opinion matters to you. He was your only parent after your mother passed, but there’s no trying to understand why he’s an asshole to you. You are perfect.”
My heart broke as Phoenix worked to hold back his tears. I rubbed his back and whispered into his ear.
“There is nothing about you that’s not ideal. You’re hardworking, caring, sweet, and the most dedicated friend and boyfriend ever. We will be here anytime you forget how sensational you are and will do everything in our power to make sure you know how much you’re needed.”
Everything inside me screamed for me to tell him.
Moving from loving Luka as a friend to falling in love with him had been a simple transition, because we’d known each other for so long. But with Phoenix, he captured my heart when he gave me permission to touch him. The moment our lips met, my life righted, and I understood why I existed.
But it wasn’t the right time to make confessions. His emotions overwhelmed him with his heart hurting because the one person who was supposed to love him either didn’t show it at all or he had no heart.
I glanced at Luka as he pulled me and Phoenix close.
“You’re not alone, Sunshine. You have us, our parents, friends, and even the entire community. And B’s right, we’ll show you every day how essential you are to us.”
“Sorry—”
“No, Petal, it’s not your fault. It wasn’t healthy for you to keep all this anxiety inside. I’m glad you told us. But there is nothing that can drive us away. We’re in this together with you for the rest of our lives.”
When he lifted his head and a tear broke off from his lashes and rolled down his cheek, I lifted my thumb and caught it. I lowered my head and captured his lips in a soft, chaste kiss before Luka did the same.
Phoenix centered himself before taking a deep inhale, letting out a long breath, and blinking up at us. “Let’s go home.”
I nodded at Luka, who scooped Phoenix into his arms and cradled him close to his chest as we walked out.
Determination washed over me and I started planning a night with just the three of us together. And it’d be a night where Phoenix would come away with no doubt how much we both loved him.