Chapter 29 #2
“And I picked these up last week,” Scott grinned, patting the seat of a bright red Honda. “Figured when you boys came down this summer, we could actually hit the trails. I know you city boys probably don’t know how to ride, but it’s like a bike.”
Cal let out a genuine laugh, walking over to inspect them. “I grew up in Philly, Scott. My version of off roading was dodging potholes on I 95. But I think I can handle this.”
“I’ll teach you,” Scott promised, clapping a hand on Cal’s shoulder. “Just don’t flip it. Jayme will kill me.”
It was a small gesture, but it meant everything. Scott wasn’t just tolerating Cal; he was integrating him. He was planning a summer with him.
We walked back through the back patio door just as the front door opened.
“We’re home!” I heard Jayme call out.
“Back here!” I yelled back as we walked through the sliding glass door.
I heard the hurry of three separate sets of footsteps spurring through the house, and within seconds, there they were, Josie, Cadence, and Jayme, all looking like carbon copies of one another, just in different fonts.
Jayme smiled wide as she took in the sight of us.
“Hey, honey,” Scott said as he walked up and kissed her cheek.
The twins, however, stared at Cal and me with devious, knowing grins.
“Hey girls,” I said awkwardly.
“Daaaaamn Silas,” Cadence said, looking Cal up and down with zero shame. She turned to me, eyebrows raised. “Okay. Respect.”
Oh god. This is not what I think it is, is it?
“Look,” Cadence continued, crossing her arms over her flannel shirt. “I called you being gay like a year ago. But I didn’t expect you to be into the emo guys. But, now that I think about it? Totally fitting. You love a project.”
I turned crimson. Cal let out a loud, barking laugh as he placed a hand on my lower back, claiming me right there in the kitchen.
“Girls!” Jayme scolded, though she was fighting a smile as she walked up and hugged me.
“They’re assholes,” she whispered in my ear.
“Trust me, I know,” I said as I looked at the two girls giggling their heads off.
“So, who is this?” Jayme said as she pulled away, looking to Cal with warm, welcoming eyes.
“Jayme, this is my boyfriend, Callum,” I said, the word boyfriend feeling a little less terrifying this time. “Cal, this is my Aunt Jayme, and the two basket cases that look like her are Josie and Cadence. Cadence is the one that looks like a menace.”
Cadence rolled her eyes but grinned.
“It’s nice to meet you,” Cal said, stepping forward. Jayme didn’t even hesitate; she pulled him into a hug.
“It is so good to meet you,” she said, squeezing him tight.
“Well, I guess we need to get things settled for dinner so it’s ready when your dad’s brood gets here. Can you boys help me set up the table? We picked up Chinese on the way in,” Jayme said as she nudged the girls towards the kitchen and we followed behind them.
We spent the next several minutes prepping for dinner, laughing, talking, and enjoying the time. Truthfully, this was the first time in many years being on the land felt… nice. It didn’t feel suffocating, or like I was trapped. It felt like home.
“So,” Josie asked, popping a crab rangoon into her mouth before dinner even started. “Who’s the funny one? Because we all know it’s not Silas. Silas has the personality of a wet sponge unless he’s in the ring.”
“Hey!” I protested, grabbing a stack of plates.
“She’s not wrong,” Cal smirked, leaning against the counter. “I’m definitely the funny one. And the charming one. Silas is… the pretty one.”
“See!” Cadence pointed a fork at him. “I like him. He gets it. Wait, so you’re the funny one and the straightest looking gay guy we’ve ever seen? That’s unfair. Save some stats for the rest of us.”
“I’m not the gay one,” Cal deadpanned, keeping a perfectly straight face. “Silas is. I’m just uniquely obsessed with him.”
The girls howled with laughter. I stood there, face burning, but laughing too. Seeing Cal slide into this dynamic, teasing my cousins, charming my aunt, was something I never thought I’d see.
“So, Cal,” Jayme asked, wiping down the table. “Where are you from originally? Do you come from a big family of madness like Si?”
“Philly,” Cal answered. “Born and raised. I was a runaway. My best friend’s family took me in as a teenager, so I’ve got three sisters because of it. I’m used to the chaos.”
“Bless your heart,” Jayme smiled. “Are they… good? Do they know?”
“They’re good,” Cal nodded. “And yeah, they know. And honestly? They always kind of knew about Silas. He spent Thanksgiving with us several years ago. We were still trying to figure it out ourselves, but we were acting like a couple right in front of them. My mom has been asking about ‘that nice boy Silas’ for years. I think when I finally tell her we’re actually together, she’s just going to say, ‘It’s about damn time. ’”
“Speaking of relationships,” Cadence interjected, smirking. “Did he tell you he dated a woman a few years back? Amanda?”
Cal’s face dropped. He let out a sharp, annoyed breath, his eyes darting to me.
“Yeah,” Cal grumbled, crossing his arms over his chest. “He told me in January. I’m still trying to scrub the information from my brain.”
“Why would you get him started?” I groaned, glaring at Cadence. “Seriously? We were having a nice time.”
“It’s shocking!” Cadence laughed. “I feel like you need to know his darkest secrets. And her bangs were definitely a dark secret.”
“I didn’t need to know,” Cal muttered, looking visibly offended by the concept. “I really didn’t. ‘A girl?’ he asked me. ‘Really?’”
The twins ate it up, looking between us like we were their own personal reality show.
Mid conversation, the doorbell rang.
My stomach hit the floor. The laughter in the room died instantly. That was it. Maverick was here. Fuck. I had to do this all over again.
We were all sitting together in the living room when the doorbell rang. I was close to Cal, and I slid away instinctively. He didn’t think anything of it this time. I knew he didn’t.
Shannon walked through the door first, looking tired but happy, followed by the boys, then Maverick.
“Alright, where’s my boy?” Maverick said as he walked toward the living room, his voice booming. I stood up as he came into view, along with my brothers.
“Si!” All three of them yelled as they ran up and hugged me.
“Hey guys,” I said as I reveled in the hugs.
Even though the boys were getting older, Taylor was nearly taller than me now, they still ran to me like little kids.
It made me feel guilty for not being around more, for holding resentment at the fact they had a sober dad in Maverick, but I never resented them.
“Oh shit, you brought company with you,” Maverick said with a smile, though his eyes sharpened slightly. Cal stood up.
“Yeah, uh, you know Callum,” I said even more awkwardly as my dad gave me a half ass hug.
“Sure do. It’s good to see you again kid, you’ve come a hell of a long way since the last time I saw you in person,” Maverick said as he shook Cal’s hand.
”It’s good to see you too, sir,” Cal said firmly.
I knew Maverick put Cal’s back up. Hell, I think Scott did too.
Cal had heard more than one shitty story about my life growing up with them, and I knew in his own way, he held some form of anger towards them.
I knew it for a fact when I’d mention my panic attacks, and how a lot of times they were triggered by memories from my childhood with them.
”Alright, I’m starving, can we move this party to the table please?” Scott said, sensing the tension radiating off me.
”God, please,” I groaned.
We all walked over to the massive table in the dining room, and for the first time probably ever, sitting down for a meal with my entire family didn’t feel like a chore. It didn’t feel like I was wearing a mask to tolerate it. It felt real.
We sat around the table and ate. We chatted about the kids, what had been going on since I went back on the road, how the prom dress hunt went today.
“I’m telling you,” Taylor said around a mouthful of rice. “Coach says if we win regionals, scouts might come look at me.”
“That’s incredible, Tay,” I said, genuinely impressed. “You gotta send me the schedule. If I’m off, I’ll come down.”
“Really?” Taylor’s eyes lit up. “With the belt?”
“Maybe,” I laughed. “If Cal lets me borrow it.”
“Hey,” Cal interjected, stealing a dumpling off my plate. “That belt is legally mine right now. But I might make an exception.”
Life felt average. Like everything I’d dreamed of for so many years. And to make it even better, Cal was sitting next to me, and as always, he had his hand on my thigh underneath the table, keeping me grounded, keeping me sane.
After we all finished eating, Scott cleared his throat.
“Hey, Silas? Cal? Why don’t you two come to the den with me and Maverick? Need to catch up on some business stuff.”
It wasn’t a question. It was a summons.
Jayme and the twins got the hint immediately. “Come on boys,” Jayme said, standing up. “Let’s go see if we can find that movie you wanted to watch.”
This was happening. And fuck, it felt like I was starting to suffocate all over again.
We walked into the den, Scott’s sanctuary. It smelled of cedar and old books. Maverick took his usual spot in the big armchair, looking relaxed. Scott sat on the edge of his desk, and Cal and I sat on the leather loveseat.
“So,” Maverick started, leaning back, “what’s the word? Why are you two down here on an off week? Shouldn’t you be resting?”
“Just… needed a break,” I mumbled, my hands sweating.
“And you?” Maverick looked at Cal. “Surprised you aren’t up north with your folks.”
This was the opening. Scott looked at me, giving me a small nod. Go.
“I…” I started, my voice cracking. I cleared my throat, looking at the floor, then at Maverick. “Cal is here because… because I asked him to be.”
Maverick looked confused. “Okay. That’s good. Glad you boys are getting along again.”