Chapter Thirty-Two #2
Selina has changed into a sleek black dress that suits the occasion. Armen steps out after her and offers his arm with an exaggerated bow. “Ma’ lady.”
Selina rolls her eyes but grins and loops her arm through his anyway.
Ray helps Lorraine out of the second car. My mother would notice if Lorraine wasn’t with us, and I’d rather not deal with the questions.
I walk through the entrance without waiting. The waiters’ eyes widen the second they see me, but I hold up a hand. They know better than to speak. I head straight for my usual table in the back, the large private one that seats eight, always reserved for nights like this.
The moment I enter the main dining area I feel eyes on me, but my attention locks on the table ahead.
My parents are laughing with Kit. Laughing.
He’s sitting in my usual chair, looking far too comfortable.
He probably has no idea that’s where I always sit.
My mother’s leaning toward him, animated, while my father chuckles at something Kit just said.
I approach from behind and place both hands firmly on Kit’s shoulders, squeezing. The deep, instinctive need to touch him flares up instantly, especially when he looks like this.
I lean down and whisper against his ear, low enough that only he can hear, “Baby… this is where I sit.”
Kit tilts his head back and grins up at me lazily, a little too confident, a little too wine-flushed. “Hmm… looks like it’s where I’m sitting.”
I flick my gaze up. Sure enough, there’s an empty wine glass in front of him.
I narrow my eyes at my mother. “You’ve known him for thirty minutes and he’s already drinking?”
She smiles warmly, her own cheeks pink from the wine. “He’s a lovely boy, Soren.”
I wonder what on earth they could have possibly talked about in that short time.
Kit stands up smoothly and shifts to the chair on my right. I feel a sharp surge of satisfaction at how quickly he obeys, but I bite back the praise that wants to leave my mouth. Not in front of my parents.
◆◆◆
The meal is going surprisingly well. The conversation flows easily enough.
Lorraine and my mother have fallen into their usual rhythm, chatting like two old friends who’ve known each other for decades, even though they’ve only met a handful of times.
My mother keeps asking Lorraine questions about how I’m “really doing,” as if Lorraine’s the one who actually raised me.
I keep glancing at Kit, making sure he’s eating more than the small portions he’s been managing lately. His body is still adjusting. He’s not putting away as much as I’d like, but he’s doing better tonight. That’s enough for now.
My parents have taken to him immediately.
My mother keeps smiling at him warmly, and even my father, who’s usually reserved, has been engaging him in conversation about books and films. They have no idea what Kit actually is to me.
They just see a polite young man with a scarred face and gentle eyes.
My mother suddenly turns to me, wine glass in hand, cheeks flushed. “So… are you still my lonely, brooding son, or will we be having Sinclair grandchildren anytime soon?”
Kit bursts out laughing, bright and loud. I try, and fail, to hide my grin.
Kit, still laughing, says without thinking, “Well… I don’t have the reproductive organs needed for that, so…”
Armen chokes violently on his drink. Selina covers her mouth with both hands. Ray just shakes his head grinning.
My eyes widen as I stare at Kit.
My father clears his throat, looking slightly red. “What?”
I let out an awkward laugh, rubbing the back of my neck. This is not how I planned on telling them about Kit, or the fact I’m in a sort of relationship with a man. Hell, I hadn’t planned on telling them at all. In my mind, it’s none of their business.
Kit stands up a little too quickly, wobbling from the wine my mother kept pouring for him. I catch him instinctively by the waist.
“Where are you going?” I ask.
Kit grins at me, completely tipsy, and whispers, “I need the toilet.”
I nod and glance at Ray. “Ray, show him where the bathrooms are.”
Kit laughs. “Maybe he should come into the stall with me, so I don’t get kidnapped again.”
My jaw clenches. I’m glad he can joke about it, but it’s not fucking funny.
Selina gasps at Kit’s comment and looks at Ray. “Just wait for him, yeah?”
Ray stands immediately. “Obviously.” He puts a hand on Kit’s shoulder. “Come on, kid.”
I watch them walk away, tense until they disappear around the corner. I should have gone with him, but I know my parents are about to interrogate me.
My mother leans forward, eyes sparkling with curiosity. “So?”
I sigh. “What?”
My father shifts uncomfortably. “So… you’re…”
I exhale through my nose. “What? Just because of my size and reputation I can’t be with another man?”
My father goes slightly red. “What? No! I just… I wasn’t expecting it. Christopher is… uh…”
Armen finishes for him with a grin. “Soren’s complete opposite? Much smaller? Delicate? Boyish? Yeah, we all see it, Mr. Sinclair.”
My father nods. “Exactly. Just not what I expected.”
My mother waves a hand. “Well, I think he’s lovely, and charming. So what if he’s small? I’m small. You don’t see people messing with me.” She pauses, then adds more seriously, “Besides, he’s clearly got some strength if he survived whatever horror he went through.”
I nod slowly. “Yeah. He’s… one of the strongest people I know.”
Armen starts to speak, pride in his voice, “Boy can that kid swing a…”
I clear my throat loudly and glare at him. My parents do not need to know the details of how Finn died, of what Kit did to him; I know that’s where Armen was going.
My mother smiles warmly. “Well, you can always find a nice surrogate then…”
I slowly turn to look at her, eyes wide. “Um… what?”
My father laughs and groans, running a hand down his face.
My mother continues cheerfully, “You see it all the time these days! Gay couples adopting or using a surrogate for a biological child…”
“Mother,” I cut in, stunned.
Right then, Kit returns with Ray. He looks between all of us, still a little flushed from the wine. “What are we talking about?”
Ray gives me a subtle thumbs-up, letting me know Kit’s fine.
I laugh awkwardly and say quickly, “Nothing. Nothing at all. You just… sit there and look pretty.”
I whisper under my breath, “Jesus Christ.”
My mother, bless her oblivious heart, leans forward with that sweet, curious smile she gets when she’s had a few glasses of wine. “So, Christopher,” she says, trying to sound casual, “have you ever thought about children before? Or… would you like them in the future?”
The table goes dead silent for half a second.
Kit, who is now pleasantly tipsy and clearly not thinking straight, blinks at her with a bright, dopey smile.
“Oh! Kids?” He laughs, a little too loud. “I mean… I’ve never really thought about it? But I like them, they’re cute. Tiny humans running around. Chaos… I could do chaos.”
Selina, the traitor, jumps in immediately. “You’d look so cute holding a baby, Kit!”
Kit’s eyes go wide and dreamy. “Aww… a tiny baby in a little leather jacket. With curls. That would be adorable.”
Lorraine covers her mouth, shoulders shaking with silent laughter. My father looks like he wants the river to swallow him whole. He’s gone slightly red and is staring very intently at his wine glass.
I close my eyes for a long second, seriously debating just standing up and walking out of the restaurant. How the fuck did we get here?
My mother, encouraged by Kit’s response, continues happily, “Well, surrogacy is such a wonderful option these days! You two could have a biological child if you wanted. Or adopt! There are so many beautiful children who need homes.”
Kit nods along like this is a completely normal conversation. “I think I’d be a fun dad. I could teach them how to code and hide from Soren when he’s grumpy.”
Armen snorts into his drink. Selina is grinning like this is the best night of her life.
I pinch the bridge of my nose. “Mother,” I say through gritted teeth, “perhaps we could talk about something else.”
But Kit, still happily drunk and oblivious to my suffering, turns to me with a soft, tipsy smile. “Do you want kids, Soren?”
The entire table looks at me. I stare at him. My brain short-circuits for a full three seconds.