Chapter 22 #2
‘No. Whatever you need is fine.’
I drop my hands to my lap and wait, and it’s not long before Archie appears again with the little case. My fingers tremble, and I fumble with them, but it’s not long before there’s that obnoxious humming whirr that happens the moment my hearing goes online.
It takes a moment for my brain to process all the noise and turn it into actual sound, but when the room isn’t slightly tilted, I look back at Jasper and offer something that feels like a smile.
I take a slow breath, then say, “It seems that I’m a stalker magnet.” I hesitate, then look up at Archie. “But it’s only been worth it one time.”
The room freezes, and then Milo bursts into laughter and leans toward me. “I think I love you.”
Archie stiffens. “No. You do not. And I will cut your tongue out if you—”
“Boys,” Jasper says. His voice is a low rumble, soft, quiet, commanding.
They all settle back in their seats, though Milo looks irritated.
Jasper turns his attention back to me, his mouth set in a soft grin.
“I’m glad my boys are taking care of you, and I am sorry they haven’t been able to solve this problem before now. ”
“It’s not their problem—”
Jasper cuts me off with a soft hum. “I suppose that’s technically true, but I have a feeling Archie has made it his problem. He did declare you his, after all.”
My body warms at that. I want to tell Jasper that Archie is also mine, but it feels like a weird thing to say to Archie’s father ten seconds after meeting him.
Luckily, I don’t have to say anything.
“Oh, honey,” Nico says. His voice is lighter than I thought it would be, and it’s a little hard to understand all his vowels and consonants, but his lips are easy to read, and he lifts his hands to sim-com a second later, adding, “Trust me when I say they’ll get the job done.
That’s how I became part of the family.”
“I’m not angry that it’s taking a while,” I say quickly. God, they can’t possibly think I’m annoyed at that, can they? “I’m grateful I have any help at all.”
Jasper looks at his sons, then at Nico, then back at me. “We will handle it. I have other business here to sort out, but I’ll have plenty of free time to look into it.”
At that, Percy pales, but he doesn’t say anything. At this point, I know it’s better not to ask.
Jasper stands up, then claps his hands together before saying, “Alright. I think it’s time for a family meeting. Nico, can you keep Denver company?”
Nico smiles at me, his eyes glinting. It’s not dangerous, but it’s clear he’s no one to fuck with. “It would be my pleasure.”
Archie leans in and lays a possessive kiss over my mouth. It’s chaste, but it lingers, and he drags a touch along my jaw before he follows his dad and brothers out of the room.
When Nico and I are alone, he points to the side of my head, then signs, ‘You can take those off. I can tell you prefer Deaf.’
I want to tell him I don’t mind wearing them with new people, but then I remember he signs fluently, so I pull them off and settle back into my comfortable silence.
‘They will accommodate you,’ Nico says after I tuck them back in the case. ‘You don’t have to do that.’
‘I have a concussion,’ I tell him, and his eyes flick to my bruises before he grimaces. ‘Right now, I’ll go for easy. My patience is thin.’
‘Concussion from the stalker?’
I nod, the motion making me a little dizzy. ‘It’s a mild one. Percy stopped him before it got too bad. And yesterday—’
‘You in the bathroom and Archie with his knife after the stalker,’ Nico says. Clearly, Archie explained everything. ‘He’s good at that.’
I don’t want to tell him how good I know Archie is with knives. I have no idea if Archie and Nico were ever a thing, and right now, with the way I’m feeling, I don’t want to know. Ignorance is bliss.
After another beat of slightly uncomfortable silence, Nico waves to get my attention and says, ‘Archie likes you. More than he’s ever liked anyone. And I can see why.’
My eyes widen. ‘Really?’
Nico shrugs. ‘You’re everything he’s ever wanted in a partner. I’m happy for you both. But…’ His fingers hover in the air. ‘Don’t hurt him. If you don’t mean it…if you’re not serious about him—’
‘I am.’ I lick my lips, then say, ‘I would do anything for him.’
He must understand the emphasis I put on that sign because his eyes widen, and then he sits back with a small grin on his face. ‘Great. Now, is there anything fun to do around here?’ Before I can lift my hands, he adds, ‘Queer?’
I almost laugh. ‘This weekend Deaf drag show.’
His eyes light up as though I just told him that they were throwing a parade in his honor. ‘Deaf drag?’
‘Typically, I star in it. Not now,’ I quickly clarify. ‘Not until I’m better. But the other queens are amazing.’
‘Can you get tickets?’
I almost laugh. ‘For anyone I want.’
He leans forward, and his cool, thin fingers close around my wrist for a quick squeeze. ‘I think I’m going to like having you around.’
I want to still be jealous—to hate him on principle for how close he is to Archie—but I can tell the relationship is both different and important. And in spite of the fact that I’m not overly fond of making new friends, I like him. And I think he might feel the exact same.