24. Hayes
Chapter twenty-four
Hayes
My sister is smart. She can clearly tell Kai is more than my roommate.
Even Meg and Wayne were giving me a look that called bullshit on my excuses.
I’ve known Wayne since elementary school when we started playing football together, and he’s always seen me as a ladies’ man.
Hell, I dated his cousin, Christine, for a couple months.
The thing is, I need to tell my sister I’m not straight before anyone else. She was my only family until Meg came along. Wayne, too, but he’s more like a friend than a brother.
Running into them was awkward, and I know I hurt Kai pushing his hand away, but I don’t know how to come out. Straight people don’t have to come out. Kristen didn’t have to come home senior year and announce she was straight before telling me about the boy who asked her to prom.
Actually, she could be bi. I’d have no clue, because we’ve never talked about sexuality before. For all I know, she was kissing just as many girls as boys at those farm parties I’d pick her up from. All I cared about was that she called me instead of driving home.
Now I have to contemplate what to say, because I don’t think I can hold this secret any longer.
As we make our way out to the Belham property that evening, I try to stop thinking about how handsome Kai looks in a new plaid shirt that matches mine except for the color, his in subtle yellows where mine is red and black.
He asks me questions about their family business, and I explain the family is kind of ridiculously rich for such a small town.
“The family owns an island in the Caribbean. They fly out at least once a year to check on the land, rental properties, and for a vacation.”
“Wild,” Kai nods, and I have the urge to ask him not to care about their wealth. I only think of it in the sense that Kristen and Meg never have to worry about money.
Wayne is a country boy who drinks cheap beer, used to have a tobacco chewing habit before Kristen made him stop, and likes to drive his big, tricked-out truck.
All I need to know is that he treats my sister right and is a good father to my niece.
Everything else is window dressing to me.
I have a sinking feeling Kai cares about those things, though.
We drive up to their big house with the rice fields on either side, and Kai seems more interested in the crop than the house, so that’s a good sign.
Wayne and Meg greet us at the door since Kristen is cooking, and we’re led through the living room with its vaulted, wood-beam ceiling and oversized leather furniture.
“You have a lovely home,” Kai comments as we make it to the kitchen where Kristen gives us side hugs. “This smells delicious.”
“Thanks, it’s my take on a Spanish paella with white fish, onion, saffron and garlic in one pan. Should be ready in five.”
“And rice,” Meg adds with only a touch of bitterness in her voice that makes me laugh. “Of course.”
“Of course, you have to honor the family business,” Kai replies, having been briefed on our effort to show Meg how many ways rice can be eaten. “In Hawai’i we eat a lot of rice. Even MickyD’s has it on the menu!”
Meg’s eyes bug out in shock, “No way?”
“Way,” Kai nods solemnly. “I bet some of it even comes from your dad’s farm.”
To call the Belham Rice Company a farm is kind of funny, but the assertion is probably correct. “I bet it does.”
“No way,” Meg says again, and I’m getting the hint this is her favorite new phrase. It’s nice to see her impressed by the family business instead of annoyed by it for once.
“Dinner’s ready, go wash up,” Kristen calls, and Meg rushes off. She’s a good mom. I need to babysit so she can take a night off soon, but I want to ask Kai first. “Take your seats.”
We all gather around the eight-person table where Kristen hosts Thanksgiving dinner and Easter brunch, and I have a strong urge to hold Kai’s hand. I don’t, settling for sitting beside him.
Everyone digs in and the conversion flows easily. The dish is better than what I made, and I plan to get her recipe, because I’ve never cooked with some of the spices she used. “I wonder how hard it is to grow saffron?”
“I actually looked it up! It’s apparently pretty easy and is an early fall crop,” Kai tells us and we all look at him in surprise. He grins back at us and shrugs. “My Pinterest shows me all kinds of things with the research I did.”
Kai doesn’t elaborate on what he was researching, but my body heats up at the thought that he’s been looking up the things I grow, even beyond what I’ve told him about.
He goes out of his way to learn about my special interests.
Maybe I should finally download a social media app to read up on his stuff too?
When we’re clearing the table with full bellies, Meg pops up between me and Kai. “Can you read me a story, Kai?”
“Oh, I don’t know if—” Wayne tries to step in, since he knows how Meg likes to get her way and Kai is basically a stranger, but Kai cuts him off.
“I’d love to!” He stands up and takes her hand. “What’s your favorite book?”
We watch them walk off while Meg tells him about a big bull who everyone thinks is mean, but really, he only wants to play in a field of flowers.
Wayne blinks at them as they exit the living room for the hallway. “Well, then.” Chuckling at the ease with which Meg has wrapped Kai around her finger, he takes our plates and stands, kissing his wife on top of her head. “I’ll wash up.”
“We’ll finish our iced tea on the porch,” Kristen informs me, and I’m reminded of her daughter. Both are strong-willed. This also means Kristen gets her way, the evidence clear as I trail behind warily.
Sitting on the porch swing, I’m thankful the night has cooled a bit and her porch is screened in from the bugs. I never use the front porch on my house since it faces the road and isn’t screened in.
“Nice night.”
“Mm-hmm.”
Kristen doesn’t add more, seeming to have a sixth sense about my need to talk.
Not that I was planning to, with Kai tagging along, but she always knows when I’ve got something on my mind.
My only goal was to get through tonight without scandalizing my sister from Kai and I accidentally flirting in front of her.
“It’s cool that Meg seems to like Kai. She doesn’t like everyone so easily.”
“I like him too.” She sips her tea and we watch a bright star twinkling beside the rising crescent moon. “You know you can tell me anything, right?”
Nodding, I take a gulp of tea, wondering if I should rip the bandage off. Swallowing it down before blurting, “I’m bi,” means I’m left staring into my cup waiting for her reaction.
“Okay,” she replies, and I turn to look at her.
There’s no surprise, only the kind smile I know and love on my little sister when she is sure she understands but isn’t going to comment yet.
Now she reminds me of our mother and my throat is clogged with emotion.
When I don’t go on, she asks, “Any reason you’re telling me now? ”
Taking a deep breath, I know she’s fishing.
If the town busy-body didn’t already gossip about seeing Kai holding my hand, Kristen can probably guess from the fact that I let Kai move onto my farm, brought him over for dinner, and allowed him to go off alone with my niece.
I’ve never done those things with any woman I’ve dated, even when they were Kristen’s friends.
“Kai is… He has helped me learn about this other side of myself.” I realize this sounds like I’m only into him, and not that I’m bisexual in general. “I kept it pushed down where I didn’t think about it most of my life, but it’s not new. Or specific to him.”
“So you’re not dating the adorable boy from Hawaii currently reading to my eight-year old?” Kristen asks with a tone of calling me on my bullshit.
Shrugging, I set my drink between my legs and rub both hands over my face. My beard is softer since using the product Kai gave me. “Can you call it dating if you’ve never been on an actual date yet but you really like kissing him?”
“I knew it!” Kristen squeals and goes to hug me, only stopping when she spills her tea on the porch. Instead, she takes my hand and squeezes. “One, ask that man on a date, already. He’s a catch. And two, I’m happy for you, big brother. You deserve sunshine in your life that doesn’t cause a burn.”
“Have you been watching that hockey romance show?” I ask at the subtle reference and laugh when she gasps over my recognizing it.
“Oh shit, I can talk to you about it now!”
Ignoring her, I say what’s really been on my mind. “I’m worried I’m getting too attached. He’s not here long term.”
Kristen fixes me with a no-nonsense look over her glass. “Then give him a reason to stay.”