6. Chapter Six
Chapter Six
Ryan
" Y eah. Sorry again. Just wanted to tell you that I'm okay. And it was really cool you didn't think I was a weirdo." I’d stepped into the prefab, found Simeon standing in the middle of the room, and blurted that out.
He appeared startled to see me.
Oh shit. Should have knocked. Except the door had been open. Which, in retrospect, didn’t necessarily mean I should just walk in.
“N-not a weirdo.” He scratched his chin. "I d-don't talk m-much."
I winced. Here I was, forcing him to communicate again. “Right, so I should just—”
“Y-you don’t have to leave.”
Remaining rooted to the spot, I met his gaze. Why is that so hard? Right — maybe because you don’t look people in the face anymore?
Anymore? I hadn’t before much either. Too busy playing my games, thinking about playing my games, or obsessing about which new game I was going to try. People just didn’t factor into my life.
In war, all that had changed.
Simeon tilted his head.
Right, he’d spoken. I was supposed to respond. “I, uh, just had a session with Justin. He had to come in early to fit me in…which made me feel all kinds of guilty and—”
“He w-wouldn’t mind.” Simeon said the words with absolute certainty. “He c-cares.”
I rubbed my hands over my eyes. “Yeah, he really does. They all do. Which just makes me feel more guilty.”
“Why?”
I stopped what I was doing and met his gaze. My eyes still blurred. “Because they don’t need to be cleaning up my shitty life, you know?”
“What’s s-shitty about it?” He appeared genuinely curious.
Do I tell him about the tech phobia? Do I tell him about the war?
What the fuck? Of course I shouldn’t tell him about the war.
Still, I drew in a breath. “So, like—”
“Hey, Simeon, this is the last can of—” A gorgeous man with jet-black hair and lightly tanned skin stopped as soon as he spotted me. “Uh, I was going to say I think we have enough to finish the trim, but—”
I waved. “I was just going.”
“No.” The guy spoke up. “I’m just doing trim in the bathroom. Gio, by the way. Well, Giovani. But everyone calls me Gio.”
“You work with, uh, Simeon?” Could you ask any dumber question? They’re both here…working…
He grinned. “Simeon’s my boss.”
Simeon made a noise low in his throat.
Gio grinned. “He hates when I call him boss . Sometimes I do it just to irritate him.”
The boss sighed.
“But today I’m feeling giddy with good news and so I figured I wouldn’t annoy him.”
Simeon’s cheeks turned ruddier.
“Uh, what good news? I love good news.” And I should’ve been leaving, but couldn’t help myself. Clearly this man wanted to share.
“I bought rings. I’m going to propose to my boyfriend.” His grin split his face. “I’m waiting until the right moment, you know? We already live together, so that’s not such a big deal. But his younger siblings sort of come and go and…” He paused. “The first snow, right? That’s romantic. I can take him out, and we’ll be bundled up and—” He scrunched his nose. “We’ll just be wet and cold. Oh, but we could do it by the fireplace. I mean, we’d have to make sure we weren’t too hot. But a night when the wind’s howling and the snow’s falling…?”
“Might his siblings interrupt?”
“I’ll plan it on a night when they’re not there. Although…” He considered. “Maybe I should get them involved? They’re a really tight-knit family. Their parents died in a head-on collision with a drunk driver, and—” He stopped abruptly, gazing over at Simeon.
“M-my parents’ train derailed and they d-died. N-not the same thing.” He offered Gio a tiny smile. “I’m h-happy for you. M-Mercer is a lucky man.”
“Mercer is the best.” Gio whispered the words with reverence.
I liked that he talked openly and casually about his gay relationship, and that Simeon didn’t seem the least bit bothered. I hated to stereotype, but I usually thought guys in construction would lean more toward homophobic. A few of my online gamer friends had been as well—which bugged the shit out of me. I never spoke up, though. I was ashamed of that now.
“T-this is Ryan.” Simeon grinned. “He’s going to help me sort the f-flooring in the bedroom.”
Gio grinned. “Oh, maybe he could help me paint this room once I’m finished with the bathroom.”
“I would…” I considered. “I could probably do the baseboards.” I leaned closer. “But I’ve never held a paintbrush in my life.”
He placed a hand to his chest in clear mock distress. “Never painted? I do declare, you are missing out on one of the greatest adventures in life.”
Simeon glared. “He’s h-helping me.”
I wasn’t certain how coming in to apologize led to me helping…but I loved the idea. The book Marnie the librarian recommended was good—but not enough to hold my attention for the entire day. I tried to schedule my appointments to see Justin midday so I would have something to break up the monotony, but this morning was extra. I was lucky he’d been able to fit me in at all. I hadn’t, however, been totally honest with him.
Water under the bridge.
Or whatever the dumb expression is.
I smiled at Simeon. “Happy to help.”
Gio saluted and headed back into the bathroom.
Simeon made his way to the bedroom, and I followed. For the next two hours, I helped him install tile flooring. And he hadn’t really needed my help—but things went a bit faster with the two of us working. I eyed the kneepads. “Is this a tough job?”
He sighed. “S-sometimes my knees ache. N-nothing I can’t handle.”
I didn’t quite believe his dismissive words. Given how much my chest ached sometimes, I admired he could do the work.
After that, we didn’t speak. I expected that to feel awkward…but it didn’t. He had a quiet presence about him. He was almost like a gentle giant. Not hulking, by any means. Just a solid guy. About half a foot taller than my own five-nine. That blond hair falling over his eyes was adorable. Those eyes, when they met my gaze, were as stunning today as they’d been yesterday. In the morning light that spilled into this room, they had flecks of gold.
“Coffee!” A woman’s voice carried from the main room.
Simeon met my gaze and grinned. “R-Rainbow.”
“Okay. Well, I don’t have to—”
He gestured for me to get up. When I didn’t, he nodded. He rose—with a wince—then he held out his hand.
Damn. He gets it. Standing from a sitting position on the floor is hard.
Not only did he grasp my hand, he bent and supported my left side as he guided me up.
I barely felt a twinge. I managed a smile. “I need to keep you around all the time.”
His eyes flashed with something I couldn’t identify. I wanted to grab onto it. To ask what he was thinking.
The moment passed, though, and he smiled. “C-coffee.”
“Yeah.”
We made our way to the main room. The design of the house offered a small bar from the east wall—dividing the kitchen from the living space. A couple of barstools would fit nicely, and whomever was in the kitchen would still be able to see everything going on.
Rainbow stood with Gio near the bar as they sorted four insulated mugs.
She spotted Simeon and me and grinned. “One strong latté for my hard-working friend, and what I have left is a tea for…” She cocked her head as she looked at me.
“Your o-other hard-working f-friend.” Simeon grinned. “He’s h-helping me. And doing great.”
“Oh.” She met my gaze. “I noticed your car in the parking lot and wondered if you might be here. If not, I would’ve found a home for the tea.” She held up six colored packets. “If there isn’t a flavor you want, I can easily hustle back to the house. I think we’ve got…about thirty flavors.”
“Do they make that many?” Gio sipped his coffee. “You are my hero.”
Rainbow grinned. “You’re so easy to please. Sunshine has nice things to say about you. I think she had a crush on you in high school.”
“I love mint, thank you.” I advanced as she handed me the packet and pointed to a mug on the bar. “Sunshine?”
“My older sister.” She gestured to Gio. “He was between Sunshine and me at Mission Collegiate.”
“Sandwiched in.” Gio raised his coffee in salute. “A rarity—I didn’t have a Dixon sister in my class.”
I glanced at Rainbow.
She placed her mug on the bar and yanked her phone out of her back pocket. She swiped a few times, then handed it to me.
I stared. And quickly counted. Seven raven-haired beautiful women with varying shades of blue eyes.
Then Kennedy, my almost-therapist. With her brown hair and brown eyes. After a moment, I realized the significance of what I saw. “Eight of you?” I might’ve croaked that.
“Yep. Kennedy’s the eldest. Then Torah the dog trainer, Zephyra the vet, Sunshine the…” She frowned.
“Is she the one who works at The Owl’s Nest?” I hadn’t made the connection between the very helpful sales clerk and the woman before me who’d greeted me when I arrived. In reality, though, they could be twins. The seven non-Kennedy sisters were nearly identical.
“Yes.” Rainbow grinned. “I just…she’s also…” She furrowed her brow.
“Nosy.” Gio offered that up. With another grin.
I read that as teasing.
Rainbow cocked her head. “I was going to say intuitive. She reads people better than any of us, even Kennedy.”
Something coalesced in my mind. When I’d first stepped into the store, she’d been bright, cheerful, and—to me—irritating. Almost immediately, she’d backed down. I figured that was because of the frown I gave her. And possibly it had been. But it might also have been her intuition that I needed to be left alone. “She’s…nice.”
“O-overwhelming at t-times.” Simeon smiled. “In a g-good way.”
“Right.” Rainbow grinned. “Then it’s me. I’m sort of the middle child. Then Spring who is working at the Mission City Gazette as a reporter. Finally the twins, Autumn and Summer. They’re starting university soon.”
“M-my friend Dean, from Australia, told me a-about Spring’s column in the n-newspaper. She writes a-amazing human interest s-stories.”
Rainbow beamed. “We’re proud of her. But she wants scoops and exposés and stuff she’ll never find in Mission City. Personally, I think she should move to a larger market—like Vancouver. Or even Surrey. That city’s growing so—”
“N-not Surrey.” Simeon spoke firmly. “N-no.”
I gazed between Gio, Rainbow, and then him—as if to divine where his vehemence came from. I’d never lived in Surrey, but I knew it to be a vibrant multicultural growing city. A bit of a gang problem, but nothing too serious. I couldn’t think of a reason why Spring couldn’t move there. Or, hell, she could even commute. It’d be brutal, but it’d be just over an hour each way in rush hour traffic.
“Okay.” Rainbow laid a hand on Simeon’s forearm.
He breathed again.
“She’s not going to go, so you don’t need to worry. I think she’d move to Calgary or Toronto before she chose Surrey. We just…I like the idea of keeping her close. Not on the other side of the country. But that’s big-sister protectiveness. I also want what’s best for her, and if that means leaving and spreading her wings, I’ll support that too.”
“You’re a good big sister.” I still couldn’t fathom. “Only child, here.”
“I have a twin. I’m the better-looking one, though.” Gio thumped his chest.
Rainbow laughed. “I believe you’re identical. Like my sisters Autumn and Summer.”
“Yeah, but I style my hair better.”
We all laughed at that.
After a moment, Simeon pointed to himself.
“You’re an only child as well?” Rainbow asked the question casually.
I hadn’t been certain whether Simeon was drawing attention to himself or if he was trying to say something. I was grateful for Rainbow’s intuition. Maybe Sunshine wasn’t the only sister who saw things. I gently nudged Simeon’s biceps with my own. “We solo kids have to stick together.”
Rainbow laughed. “There were days, in my childhood, when I very much wished to be an only child.” She pressed her hand to her heart. “But not a single regret.” She dusted off her sleeve. “I didn’t mean to interrupt—”
“Yeah, you did.” Gio grinned. “You just wanted to see the three handsomest men in Mission City.”
“Uh…” Simeon grinned. “M-Mercer…?”
Gio’s eyes widened. “Uh…oh shit. Right…three of the handsomest men in Mission City. Because clearly my soon-to-be fiancé is the best looking of all of us.”
I managed a smile. About the sixth one this morning. I had no idea what Mercer looked like. He could be the ugliest, but Gio’s love shone through and I’d lay odds he didn’t care what his future fiancé looked like.
“Soon-to-be…?” Rainbow cocked an eyebrow.
Gio’s eyes went wide again. “Oh, God, please don’t say anything. Especially to Sunshine.”
“One of the biggest gossips in Mission City?” She appeared to be considering.
Simeon laughed. “Rainbow w-won’t say anything.”
“No, I won’t. But you’ll have to share over lunch. With a bunch of therapists who won’t say a word. I have enough chili for everyone. Come when you’re ready. Oh, and I’m baking fresh rolls.”
“I…uh…”
She met my gaze. “Everyone is welcome to our extremely informal lunch.”
“I have my l-lasagna,” Simeon protested.
“You can heat it up in the microwave.”
I flinched.
Rainbow met my gaze as she continued. “Why don’t you come a few minutes before Gio and Ryan? We’ll get you set up, and then they can join us when lunch is ready.”
My heart stuttered as my breathing returned to normal. Just the idea of a microwave set me off. And Rainbow clearly knew that. And I wasn’t even bothered that she did.
“All right.” Rainbow snagged her mug. “Three of the handsomest men in all of Mission City…although my dad’s pretty distinguished with his silver hair and his pilot’s uniform. Just have to toss in that older guys are in the running.”
“M-Maddox.” Simeon grinned. “Or Stanley.”
“Oh, good one.” Rainbow winked. “Justin will love knowing you think his husband, an older gent, is handsome.”
Simeon’s cheeks pinkened.
With a laugh, Rainbow left.
Gio waved and headed back to the bathroom.
Simeon turned to me. “You o-okay with this?”
I chuckled. “I’m getting the feeling the Dixon sisters are kind of like steam rollers.”
He squinted. “I d-don’t know Zephyra or the younger t-three, but yes, the other f-four are a bit… Okay, maybe a lot.” He held my gaze. “If you keep putting in the time, I should be p-paying you.”
I shook my head. “You’re getting me out of my apartment. I should be paying you.” I sipped my tea. “Let’s get back to work.”
And so we did.