Chapter 16 #2
“Hey.” I heard some rustling before Easton came in through the speakers. “I got Yin. He’s a little wet but doing okay.” I turned to Ari, who looked like he was going to start crying again.
“Thank you,” I said, relieved they were both fine. “I have Ari here. I’m sure they want to check on each other.”
I raised an eyebrow in question at Ari who immediately opened his mouth to say something when Yin’s low voice came over the speakers.
“I’m sorry.” He burst into tears then and my heart broke for how distraught he sounded. Damn Ari’s uncle for doing this shit.
These were good kids, hardworking and on top of their shit. They did not deserve to be going through this. I was once again so fucking grateful for Easton, who made sure that Yin was at least out of the snow, if more than a little bit distressed.
“You didn’t do anything, bébé.” Ari’s voice, for the first time, sounded back to normal. Clearly trying to be strong for Yin. “You were kissing me. That’s all. My uncle is the one who did this. You and I didn’t do anything wrong. I have your phone, cher. I will keep it safe for you.”
“I love you.” Yin’s quiet but unafraid, unashamed words made me feel like an intruder.
It made me wonder if I’d ever be that brave, to tell Easton how I felt no matter who was watching.
I glanced over at Ari and how hard he was working at keeping himself together, but still fearlessly responded to Yin’s words. “Je t’aime aussi.”
I love you, too, no hesitation.
I cleared my throat, feeling out of sorts from the last few minutes. “Easton, why don’t we all meet at my place?” I looked to Ari, who was now staring out the window, his hand gripping a phone I assumed was Yin’s. “Ari, you okay with that plan?”
He nodded but didn’t look at me. It seemed almost like now that he’d heard his love was safe, he went into himself. His body there, but his mind had retreated somewhere else. I heard Easton whisper something, and then his clear strong voice came on the phone.
“We’ll see you there. Ari, did you get a chance to get all your immigration paperwork before you left? If not we can come with you to get them once things are calmer.”
I hadn’t even thought of that. Ari nodded, pointing as his backpack. “I got them.”
“Great. I’ll take a look at them when we get to the house, and don’t worry, I texted Jim and he said he’s got everything he needs to formally take your case. We don’t need your uncle for this.”
Ari’s lip trembled again. “Okay. Thank you, Easton.”
For the second time in the last hour, I felt immensely grateful for Easton Archer. “Thank you,” I said, my own voice quavering with emotion.
“Of course. I’ll see you at home.”
I was not going to question the literal ball of fire that the word “home” from Easton’s lips set off in my chest. I had things to take care of, and it seemed like I wouldn’t have to do any of it alone.
Easton
“How’s he doing?” I asked Patrice when he walked into my kitchen, looking completely worn out.
He sighed as he wrapped his arms around my waist, tired eyes flickering shut.
When he opened them, I could see the toll the last few hours had taken on him.
“I don’t know honestly. Yin’s sister agreed that it was better for him to stay here until the storm calmed down.
There’s no way she’s getting here from Trumansburg to get him in this weather, anyway.
I gave them some space and said I’d be up here if they need anything.
If that’s all right with you, of course. ”
This night had turned out very different than I had planned, but having Patrice here, coming to me for a little comfort…
I wouldn’t change that for anything. I turned around and tightened my arms around his neck, locking us together in the warmth of my kitchen.
“Of course, it’s fine,” I said, rolling my eyes.
“Like you don’t know I’d happily have you here all day every day. Is Ari still eerily quiet?”
Another tired sigh. “Yeah, he’s in worry overdrive. Worried about what’s going to happen, worried about what Yin’s sisters are going to think, worried about his papers…just worried about everything.”
“I just talked to May again and they’re just as worried about him; they’re not angry.
They see how Ari is with Yin.” I smiled remembering May’s words.
“She said, ‘he treats Yin like a precious snowflake.’ That, if anything, he needs to spoil him less.” That pulled out a small smile from Patrice’s lips.
“They know no one is more upset about this than Ari.”
Patrice gave me that puzzled look he got sometimes and I thought he was going to tease me about OD-ing on my own positivity, but instead, he bent down to kiss me.
He pressed his lips against mine. It was such a slow and chaste kiss compared to how we usually came together.
But the way his fingers dug into my back made the stress of the day start to feel a bit less oppressive.
I placed my hand at the nape of his neck and felt the prickle of his locs brushing against the back of my hand.
I groaned, wanting more, but Patrice wasn’t letting us get revved up. He was giving me this slow, gentle kiss and I was going to have to take it.
When we pulled apart, he had that same look from earlier, like things were getting too deep too fast and he wasn’t sure if it was a good or a bad thing. “How do you know Yin’s sisters?”
He asked the question like he already knew or suspected the answer. I turned back around and fussed a bit with what I was doing. I picked up a piece of pumpkin, wondering when Patrice would notice the ingredients that were scattered all over the kitchen counter.
“I just helped her out when they first came,” I said, peeling another chunk of pumpkin. “I can’t give too many details, but it was a tough situation. I’m glad she was able to walk away from it.” I was not going to disclose about the violent boyfriend who threatened her and her siblings for months.
He ran a hand over my shoulder and said, “I can respect that.” He sounded curious, but I knew he’d leave it at that.
After another moment, he gasped and came to stand right next to me. “What are you making?” he asked, as if he could not quite believe what he was seeing.
I looked up, feeling really awkward now, wondering if the second part of my failed romantic date would also be a bust. I put down the vegetable and lifted my eyes to him.
“I’m making soup Joumou?” It wasn’t a question, it was what I was making, but now I felt like an idiot for trying to make his traditional dish as a surprise. He was still saying nothing, his eyes assessing the ingredients scattered all over the counter.
“I thought it would be nice since it’s—”
He moved so fast that I had to lift my arms to the sides so I didn’t stain him with my hands. This kiss was one of our kisses. Teeth, tongue, and fire. He sucked on my lip as he dug his hands into me. I felt like I was sinking and he kept lifting me up.
I pulled back, gasping for air, and the way he was looking at me was going to make it very hard for me to get back to soup making. “You’re making Joumou from scratch?”
“Yes?”
He laughed then and held my face in his hands, kissing me hard again. “Stop answering everything like you’re asking a question.”
I laughed, feeling flustered, but so glad that I’d made him laugh in the middle of all this stress.
“I am asking, because I’m pretty sure I’m going to mess it up.
I looked for recipes, and it all seemed so straightforward, but now I’m kind of lost and there’s a large amount of pumpkin to peel.
” I looked around at all the stuff I needed to get done for this soup and felt my earlier enthusiasm starting to wilt.
“I could not find the Scotch Bonnet peppers that go in the soup anywhere and this might end up being more of a breakfast type of thing.”
He rolled the sleeves of his sweatshirt back and stood next to me, extending his hand.
“I’ll peel. I have years of experience; you get the other stuff ready.
With the two of us, we’ll have it ready before Ari and Yin come upstairs asking for dinner.
” His smile faltered a little bit when he mentioned Ari, but he seemed in better spirits.
I nodded and reached for the limes and oranges I needed to juice for the marinade. “You peel and I cook.”
When I looked over my shoulder, I caught him giving my ass a very thorough assessment.
“See something you like, Professor?” I asked, certain that the response would probably derail our food preparations.
He leaned down and nibbled my ear, making me run the risk of severing a finger. “I’m gonna rail you tonight, you know that right?”
I chuckled as I halved limes and tried to talk without sounding completely breathless. “That was the only part of my failed seduction attempt I was pretty sure I could count on.”
Patrice’s laugh rang all over my kitchen as we worked together, and I felt so happy it almost scared me.