Chapter 5
Chapter five
August
“We need to talk” was one of the worst phrases in history.
Coming from my parents made it even worse. I’d already gone through a breakup this month—were they going to break up with me too? Not that I thought I’d show up and Mom and Dad would say, “Hey, Son, we hate you now.” We’d always had a rock-solid relationship.
I pulled up in front of their two-story on the outskirts of Kennett, and a wash of memories flooded over me, the way they always did when I returned home.
From skinning my knees on the driveway trying to make obstacle courses to the butterfly bushes out front with the flowers I used to make “soup” with that my parents would pretend to choke down, this house was filled with so much happiness I could burst.
My heart thumped hard as I hopped out of my car and headed up the walkway. Maybe they bought a puppy, and that was all they wanted to talk about. I didn’t bother knocking, just walked inside.
“Hey,” I called out. “You guys in the kitchen?”
“Living room,” Mom called back.
I detoured to the left and walked in to find my parents both chilling on the couch, my mom working on one of her knitting projects while my dad read a book on foraging. Both of them had plentiful hobbies in their retirement, and it comforted me to see them sinking into theirs.
“So, a talk?” I asked, shoving my hands in my pockets and rocking back and forth on my feet.
Mom wrinkled her nose, and my stomach dropped. That was her bad news tell.
“So, your dad and I have been trying to figure out some things,” she started, then paused. They both glanced to each other.
“The winters have been getting harder,” Dad continued for her, placing his book down beside him. “And we’ve started to look at properties in Florida.”
My mind stopped. “To go down to for the winter?”
Mom shook her head, sadness tugging at her expression. “We’re going to put our house on the market.”
No. My chest sank, and I slumped onto the loveseat. Where was this even coming from? They’d never sought out that Jimmy Buffet life in the past, just the occasional family visits to Grandma and Grandpa. “You’re kidding, right? This is some April Fool’s prank?”
“You could always come down to Florida with us,” Dad offered. “We’d help you relocate.”
I couldn’t.
My home was Kennett Square. It had always been. I’d built my client following here, my place at Alchemy Ink. Starting over in tattooing, especially in a whole new region, sounded exhausting.
“But we also understand you wanting to stay,” Mom said. “A lot of our friends have been moving down there, and a space opened up in one of their communities. It’s not that we want to leave you…”
“But you’re going to leave me,” I said, the sadness washing over me fast and fierce. Both Mom and Dad settled into silence, and none of us spoke for a few minutes. Part of me wanted to lash out like I was a kid, even though I was well aware moving was a normal thing for people to do.
I just didn’t think my parents would.
Even though I was an only child, we still celebrated every holiday together, and I stopped at their place to eat dinner with them regularly.
“When did you guys start thinking about this?” I asked, not sure if I even wanted the answer.
“We’ve been discussing it for six months,” Mom said. “I didn’t want to bring up a move if we weren’t going to go through with it.”
Right, because dropping the news on me was better.
I chewed my lower lip, the urge to bolt rising inside me. I couldn’t sit here and small talk, not right now. I’d planned on crashing their dinner, but I had somewhere else I could go.
“Do you mind if I take some time and think on all of this?” I asked, restraining my inner temper tantrum. “This is a lot to take in, and… yeah.”
Mom swallowed hard, her eyes going glassy. “Of course, sweet boy. I just need you to know nothing in our decision has anything to do with you.”
I struggled to wrap my brain around it. We’d been a unit for so long that getting cut out like this stung.
I pushed up from my seat and strode over to offer hugs to each of them, a tight but brief squeeze as my mind reigned with chaos. “I’ll talk to you guys soon,” I said before heading back out the way I came.
When I reached my car and glanced out at the house, my stomach gave a sour twist. All those soft, watercolor memories were going to be washed away when someone new bought the house. They’d move in and scrub every trace of my childhood from these walls.
Well, fuck. Apparently my parents had decided to break up with me. Sort of. Or at least wanted a long-distance relationship.
All that did was make my guts churn. My attempts at finding a partner of my own hadn’t gone so great over the years.
Guys, girls, they all ended up wanting friendship rather than anything more.
Eventually, it was impossible to avoid that I was the common denominator.
The forever friend, too boring or chill or whatever was wrong with me that made everyone want something more with someone else.
I drove down the street and made a quick stop at Wawa for a hoagie before continuing my route to Owen’s. The plan had been to swing over to movie night after dinner with my folks, but I guess I’d be earlier than everyone else tonight.
Our boss had been hosting movie night at his place on a monthly basis for years, and I’d attended as many as I could. I wasn’t even a die-hard horror fan like Nyx, but I came for the camaraderie.
Owen’s rustic powder blue two-story came into view, and I slowed down to park behind another familiar car already parked along the front.
The first pinpricks of relief fluttered through me at the sight.
I hopped out of the car and headed for the side entrance Owen preferred us to use.
Something about too many solicitors at the front door, but we didn’t question his reasons, just went with what he asked.
My mind still raced as I entered his house, the bag with my dinner in hand. My stomach rumbled, and I hoped maybe I could silence the turmoil in my head with that—even if it wasn’t likely.
Owen stood in his kitchen in just a muscle tee and some shorts, which showcased not only his ink but his impressive physique.
I wished he were my type, or that I felt something beyond friendship, because whoever landed that silver fox would be the luckiest person on the planet.
But like most of my exes, I couldn’t make friendship turn into something more, no matter how much I wished it could be.
“You’re here early,” he said, in the middle of slicing up some veggies for a platter.
“Ugh,” I commented, taking a seat at his kitchen table and setting my Italian hoagie out.
“That good, huh?” he said, making a quick detour to the fridge to get out a dip for the tray.
He brought a few cheeses and cured meats as well, then began to assemble another platter.
The man always had the best spreads, yet another reason I couldn’t fathom how Owen was single.
And not for lack of trying either, since he dated on the regular.
“I was going to have dinner with my folks, but they dropped the bomb they’re planning a relocation to Florida.” I took a vengeful bite of my hoagie, a few shreds of lettuce fluttering to the wrapper.
Owen continued cutting the cheese and meats. “That sucks. Do you have a big family network up here?”
And that right there lay the heart of what bothered me so much. I had an aunt and uncle in another state on Dad’s side, but Mom was an only child, and with them leaving, I had… well, me.
All their announcement did was hammer home the reality that I wasn’t nearly where I wanted to be in my life. I took a few more vicious bites of hoagie, which helped with the churning in my stomach, at least. Food, the cure for everything.
“Nah,” I responded in the middle of chewing on some more of my hoagie.
“Trick question,” he said, coming over to sit at the kitchen table with me. “You’ve got all of us at Alchemy. Might not be blood, but we’re family.”
My heart squeezed tight. This was why the idea of starting over in Florida held no appeal. I could guarantee I’d never find a tattoo shop like this one, with the closeness I’d always craved. “What movie are we watching tonight?”
“Going for a classic with Army of Darkness,” he said, passing me the small stack of cheese and meat he’d brought over. “Here.”
I lifted my brow. “Look like I need more meat?”
He let out a bark of a laugh. “Boy, it looks like you’re desperate for it.”
I pouted and leaned back in my seat. “You’d think being bisexual I’d have so many more options, but the guys, girls, and nonbinary babes aren’t interested.”
“Their loss,” Owen said, clapping a hand on my shoulder. “You’re one of a kind, August Jones.”
Warmth filtered through me at Owen’s words, even with everything else still in disarray.
“Need any help?” I asked, the urge to distract myself strong. It was that or cry in Owen’s kitchen.
“Sure,” Owen said, taking pity on me by the soft grin on his lips. “Grab one of the platters and help me take it to the living room. Folks will be arriving soon.”
I hopped up and took my crumpled hoagie wrapper with me, disposing of my trash along the way.
When I grabbed the platter of veggies, I sucked in a deep breath.
I refused to end up alone and eaten by cats.
Given that I didn’t even have a cat, the likelihood wasn’t high.
Thankfully, movie night served as a reminder that I did have community here, and I clung to that with all my might right now.
I set the veggie platter on the coffee table and nabbed one of the comfortable seats on the main couch, a nice black leather one.
The folks who arrived last struggled to find a seat, especially when one of us was dating someone and brought them along.
We only introduced serious dates though, long-term ones.
Which, I guess should’ve been a sign Serena and I weren’t meant to last since I hadn’t even asked her.
“Heard you got here first.” Rory’s voice drew my attention.He stepped into the room and plunked onto the couch next to me. “Why so glum, babe?”
I wrinkled my nose, hoping that would mitigate the slight sting to my eyes at admitting the reason out loud. “My folks are moving to Florida.”
His expression fell, a rare moment of seriousness from the guy who was perpetually a flirty charmer. He dove onto my lap and wrapped his arms around me in a tight squeeze, and I hugged him back, grateful for his big response, all while I tried to shove mine down.
“Do I need to sabotage the move?” he asked. “I could always poison their realtor.”
I snorted and drew back. Rory hopped off my lap but sat glued beside me, our thighs touching. I appreciated the contact right now.
“Nah, no poison needed,” I said. “It’s just shit news.”
“You’re telling me,” he said. “If my family members tried to move, I’d kidnap them and lock them in our basement until they relented.”
My lips quirked. Hearing Rory’s response made my own upset feel a bit more reasonable. He was always good like that. “Honestly, while the news would suck no matter what, it hits harder coming right after a breakup.”
“Mmk, next time you get a phone number at work, I’ll make you call them,” Rory said.
“Unlike you, I don’t go after shop clients,” I teased.
“Thank you for that,” Owen muttered, joining us with his cheese and meat tray, along with the crackers for it. “Rory stirred up enough trouble for the entire place.”
Rory shrugged. “Harps isn’t mad I’m boning her dad. And she doesn’t even work at Alchemy anymore.”
I rolled my eyes. Rory and Wyatt were perfect together, but the situation had been a bit awkward when Rory had picked him up while piercing his cock. And that Wyatt was our former piercer’s dad. Regardless, they’d somehow made it all work.
“What are we watching tonight?” Rory asked.
Owen shot him a flat look. “I told you two hours ago.”
Rory waved a hand in front of his face. “And you think I retain information? Ha.”
“Is Wyatt joining us tonight?” I asked.
Rory shook his head. “Nah, he’s taking Harper out for dinner, and as much as I’d love to see her too, we agreed they needed some one-on-one time.”
“Damn shame she didn’t tag along,” Owen said. “I miss seeing her face in the shop.”
“Are you going to replace her?” I asked. She’d only been gone a few months, but Rory was taking on too much being the sole piercer at the shop.
“Working on it,” he said. “I’m picky though.”
“I’d say it’s a problem, but you choose good people,” I responded.
Owen glanced at his phone. “I’m going to start the movie.
Cas was a fifty-fifty, and Nyx and Becky are arriving late.
” He popped the TV on, and within a few seconds, the familiar opening to Army of Darkness played on the screen.
I hadn’t seen this movie in ages, but I could appreciate it for the campiness alone.
“You know,” Owen said, giving me a glance. “If you need the extra friend time when your folks move, I’m always here.”
My chest squeezed tight. “Thanks.” He couldn’t realize how much that meant to me, because the offer was everything right now. “I’ll take you up on it. I’m needy.”
“Not as needy as me,” Rory said, elbowing me in the side.
“I could give you a run for your money,” I responded. It was the primary complaint I’d gotten from significant others my whole life, that I was too codependent, too needy, fell too hard. It’s not like I tried—those things were just hard-wired into my personality.
My phone buzzed, and I checked the screen. Serena.
Did you get the number I sent over? My replacement for the concert can pick up the ticket from you there.
A sigh escaped me involuntarily.
Do they want to join me for the concert? I typed out but then untyped it. See? Needy.
No problem. I typed instead. I’ll text them where to meet me at the show.
Even if going to my favorite band’s show alone didn’t hold the same appeal.