CHAPTER 38
The sky is really fucking grey today.
The blue, cloudless skies that had been abundant at the beginning of the month, seem like a fever dream now. Like Mother Nature was mocking us, and we were the punchline.
It’s been nothing but storms and sleet since we burst into my brother’s cabin and handled things about as poorly as we could have.
Hindsight is a great thing, but it hasn’t really made the past two weeks any easier.
If anything, it’s piled more things onto my plate.
I’m treading so lightly with every interaction I have with Eden that I haven’t even told him about Tek and I yet. And I want to be the one to tell him.
Tek thinks it should be him, but I just don’t see how that would possibly end well.
A week ago I called a meeting between Tek, Eden, and Reeze, with myself as mediator.
The second Eden walked into the shop he started running his mouth about the painted over mural, the framed sketches on the wall, and the line of slippers laid out by the door.
He kicked one pair clear across the floor, and it wasn’t until I picked them up and calmly walked them back over to him, that he agreed to put them on.
The tension was so high it was like the whole room was full of set jell-o and we were suspended in it as the three of us waited for Reeze.
Tek had already apologized to Eden over the phone, but this was their first time seeing each other again.
And still, it was Reeze’s arrival that worried me the most. They both said they wanted him back.
They both agreed to be on their best behavior.
But there’s no way I could hold back the pair of them if the sight of him flicked a switch and their blood lust took over.
My stress was all in vain, though, because Reeze calmed the pressure like a force of nature.
Strong, and silent, but in a way so different to Tek and Eden.
He cut through the bullshit. He made no excuses about what he had done with Shawn, and he seemed genuinely happy for Eden and Jintae.
But his acceptance didn’t make me feel better.
Eden talked about Jin.
Reeze announced he was seeing someone new.
And I had to just sit there, witnessing their joy, with my own boyfriend in the seat next to me and I couldn’t acknowledge it. Couldn’t touch his hand. Couldn’t even look at him for too long in case one of them picked up on it, jeopardising the peace that had just been established.
But that changes today.
A lot of shit is going to change today.
In two weeks, the quaint existence that Tek and I have created will no longer exist.
The shop won’t just be me and him, with Liv popping in uninvited every second day. It’ll be chaos. Three chairs, three clients, me, and a steadily increasing stream of walk-ins shopping the sketches for sale. And I will not allow myself to wilt in that melee.
Today, I am going to tell my brother that Tek and I are in a relationship.
Today, the sun will not go down without everyone who matters knowing…
We aren’t that far inland, but it feels like a different world. The long expanse of highway leading towards the Washington mountains stretches out in front of us, and even on this gloomy day, the sporadic houses look happier to be here.
Back in the newly renovated van, we cruise along until the sign for Daintree comes into view, and my chest whirrs with adrenaline.
Tek veers to the right, and the trees thicken before opening up to more densely packed housing. Then it’s only a few more minutes until we’re at the traffic lights, waiting to turn onto the main street of Daintree.
The town is a lot more quaint than Broadrock, though I suppose it has to be. It’s too far from the coast and not close enough to the mountains, so what it lacks in location it makes up for with charm.
“Fuck. They actually showed up,” Tek huffs in disbelief when he pulls into the small parking lot beside Treetop Tea House Cafe.
“They’re early too,” I say, looking towards where his father’s navy Range Rover is parked.
“Probably have to psych themselves up as well.” Tek pulls into an empty space. “Or calm themselves down.”
Unfastening my belt, I spin towards him. “Telling them yesterday was the right thing to do.”
“Arranging to meet on neutral, public, ground was the right thing to do.”
“True,” I agree. “But they’re here. That’s gotta mean something.”
“You didn’t see her face.”
I give Tek a look that says well what did you expect? “You told them you found Jin, then dropped the he’s been with Eden the whole time and they’re in a relationship bomb. It was never going to go well.”
“Eden really weaseled his way out of that one—”
“Don’t start.” I reach over and dig my thumb into the tender spot above Tek’s knee. “It was better coming from you first. And if he shows up today, he hasn’t weasled out of anything.”
Tek rolls his eyes and lets his head fall against the window. “I love you, Carey, but I just don’t share your enthusiasm.”
“C’mon. It’ll be great. Remember how good it felt to tell Anaise and Austin?”
“They aren’t my parents.”
“But it’ll be off your chest and we won’t have to hide anymore.”
“I know.” Tek reaches towards me. I weave my fingers with his and playfully circle my thumb over his palm.
“I’ve lost count of the number of times you’ve said that I’m the only thing you need to be happy. So it’s time for you to live up to those words. Show me you mean it, because I mean it, too. I don’t need anything else if I have you.”
Tek smiles but tries to hide it by pinching his lips together.
“That’s a shitty start,” I smirk, and dig my nail into his hand.
“You little prick.” He shakes his hand away then grabs my jacket and tugs me towards him for a kiss. “You promise to never leave my side?”
I rub the tip of my nose against his. “Never.”
“Even if Eden calls me names.”
“You’d deserve it.”
“Even if my parents disown me?”
“I doubt that’d happen. Cause then they’d have to disown me, too. And you know how much they love me.”
“Cheeky shit.” Tek pulls me closer until I’m leaning on the driver’s seat for support.
“Careful. Or you’ll be in a very inappropriate situation should your parents walk by.”
He leans in until our lips are touching. “Screw ‘em.”
“How quickly your outlook changed.”
“I just needed to be reminded of how perfect you are.”
“And cute. Don’t forget about cute.”
“Just shut up,” Tek mumbles into my mouth, unable to hold out for a second longer from kissing me properly.
Just like every other kiss he’s gifted me, it makes me high knowing that he kept them all for me.
Twelve years of them. Twelve years of thinking no one would ever deserve them again until we found each other.
Then, like a perfectly timed intrusion, I’m broken out of the moment by a truck screeching into the lot two spaces down from us. Eden’s truck.
I lightly tap Tek on the cheek before climbing back over to my side of the van with a giant smile on my face.
“You still wanna do it on your own?”
I nod, and exit the van.
With my heart in my throat, I wait until Eden is out of his truck before approaching. “Where’s Jintae?” I ask, looking through the driver’s side window into an empty cab.
“Oh, he’s, um…” Distracted, Eden looks back out of the parking lot and onto the street. “He got out. He’s nervous. He—” Finally looking at me, he smiles—as much as he can. "Nice jacket," he says, eyeing his plaid parka before glancing towards the van. “Did you come with Tek?”
“Of course.”
“Do you do everything with him?”
“I don’t have a car, and it’s a bit too far to skateboard.”
“Whatever,” he dismisses, and moves towards the footpath, his eyes trained on something in the distance.
I follow, and step in front of him. “Could I have your attention for one minute?”
He sighs; “What?” but his gaze keeps flickering.
“I’ve got something I need to tell you before we all meet up.”
“Yeah?'“
“It’s really important.”
“Okay, so. Go.” He waves his hand for me to hurry up, but I know he’s not listening.
I love my brother. He was my saviour when I was a kid. He offered me somewhere to stay. But he’s also not the only man in this conversation madly in love with someone to the point of being problematic. “For fuck’s sake, would you just look at me?”
“Goddamnit. What could be so important that you need to tell me right this fucking second?”
“I’ve met someone.”
“Congradu—fucking—lations. Are you a pain in their ass as well?”
I roll my shoulders back, and raise my chin. “That was uncalled for.”
“Yeah, okay. Fuck.” He tucks his long black hair behind one ear. “I’m just worried about Jin.”
“And I’m worried about how you’re gonna react when I tell you who I’ve been living with.”
“You mean you’re not in my apartment?”
“Haven’t been for a couple of months.”
“Were you ever gonna tell me?”
“And you answered so many of my phone calls.”
“I had shit going on.”
“How stupid of me to forget that the world only revolves around you.” With sarcasm and spite thick on my tongue, I continue. “While you were off playing house, I was helping keep your business afloat.”
“I never asked you to do that.”
“Yes you fucking did! You told me to get my ass into the shop and help.”
“Helping does not mean—”
“Save it.” I raise my hand, stopping him in his tracks. “Without me, Tek would have gone under. Or you would have come back to Brooklyn running things, so spare me. You are not the victim. While you were away, things had to keep on spinning.”
“And what does this have to do with your new girlfriend?”
“Who said it was a girl?”
“Huh?” Like a magnet, Eden's full attention is drawn to me for the first time. His face screws and his top lip curls, but his look isn’t of disbelief, he almost seems annoyed. Like he thinks I’m joking. Making fun of him. Trying to take away his limelight. “That’s not funny.”
“I’m not trying to be.”
“But you’ve—“
“Don’t you dare say but you’ve had girlfriends. Cause coming from you, that’s what’s funny. And I’ve had boyfriends, too. You’ve just never paid attention.”
He stumbles over his words, and I wish Tek was by my side. Maybe it would have been easier for him to break the news after all.
“Is it that unbelievable that Mom would have two bisexual sons?”
“I-I guess not. It’s just a shock.”
“You’re not the only one who's been keeping a secret.”
“Why didn’t you say anything at the shop last week?”
“Do you think you’d have heard me? You made that whole night about you from the second you walked through the door. You’re barely listening to me now.”
“That’s because my boyfriend is off having a panic attack somewhere.”
“Well my boyfriend is—”
“Holy fuck, Jin!” Eden pushes me out of the way and sprints down the main street of Daintree.