Chapter Eight
SUNNY
Clutching a bottle of wine in one hand, I bring my other shaky one to knock on Sam’s door.
After three shifts in a row, I’m the least presentable with bags under my eyes and frizzy curls spilling out of my bun.
However, Sam was insistent I come, and from what she’s told me, it’s an honor to be included in the family circle dinners.
Essentially, I wasn’t in a position to say no.
If I’m being honest, a part of me didn’t want to say no anyways.
“You should know by now Sunny that you don’t even need to knock!” Sam yells through the door. I’m not greeted by Sam when the door opens. Instead, I’m greeted by a girl with mousy brown hair and big gray eyes.
I refrain from allowing my jaw to drop on the floor at the sight of her.
It doesn’t take me longer than a second to realize she’s the same girl I cared for in the emergency department.
That had been weeks ago. I swallow hard, trying to understand a reality where I’ve collided with three people all connected on such a visceral level in such a big city.
“So, you’re Sunny?” She smirks. I can’t decide if it’s a good or bad thing being known already. “I’m Macey.” She holds a hand out, nails painted in blue polish, giving me a flashback to her bloodied hand weeks prior holding mine.
“Yes.” I take her hand. I have so many questions for her. She seems so okay.
“Sam has a major crush on you, which I’m sure you already knew, but I could see why.” Macey moves from the doorway, allowing me inside. She locks the door as soon as she shuts it. “Keep those ratty boys out.”
“Fair enough.” I do the same thing every night with my own door.
“There’s my darling Sunny Sunshine!” Sam practically leaps in my arms.
“Hello to you too, Sam,” I chuckle in my friend’s neck.
Sam’s apartment isn’t unfamiliar to me at this point. The loft is covered in a series of pink and purple furniture pieces, and despite the fact she has people coming over, the place is still covered in her own chaotic mess.
Looking at the long table to fit the whole family, I notice it’s already set and ready for everyone. There is a place for me, too.
They invited me to family dinners.
Sam goes back to cooking while Macey opens and pours the wine that I brought. I sit on a barstool next to her, grateful I made some contribution to the dinner. I have so much to ask her, and I wonder if she’s picked up on who I am — though she really shows no semblance of recognizing me.
“So, I’ve heard the story over and over about how you and Sam met,” Macey hands me a glass filled with red wine. “The paint shop. Sam trying to hit on you. Realizing dick is your choice. Does it all seem to add up?” She smiles as she takes a sip.
“Sounds about right.”
“Welcome to family dinner. Once you’re in, you’re in for life. Which means you can’t leave, Sunny,” Sam chimes over her shoulder while cooking. The apartment fills with the smell of spices and tomatoes, indicating pasta may be on the menu for dinner tonight.
Chuckling, I take a sip of my wine to bypass the comment.
“Welcome to the family, Sunny. You’re going to love it and hate it,” Macey says, wrapping an arm around my shoulders.
“It’s an honor.” I raise my glass. Remorse hits me as soon as I say the words because I am leaving in a few months.
“Here, here!” Sam clanks her glass with mine and Macey’s.
“So, is Tyler bringing his girlfriend?” I ask, trying to make conversation.
Both Sam and Macey start hysterically laughing. Noted. That is an absolute no.
“No.” Macey shakes her head, her mousy brown hair shaking with it.
“That bitch can rot in hell,” Sam says.
“Although, maybe an arranged marriage is what I need.” Macey downs her glass.
“Oh, hush little birdy, you’ll find your match!” Sam joins the conversation.
A knock sounds on the front door, followed by incessant jiggling of the knob.
“Hey! Why is it locked?!” I hear a man's voice yell through the door.
“To keep nasty boys like you out!” Sam says, still neglecting to open the door.
“We won’t bite!” Another man's voice says, this one lighter, airy.
“Speak for yourself.” Tyler. His voice is like velvet night. Soft, smooth, like I can trace my finger along it. So easy to pinpoint among others.
“Each one of you is supposed to have a key! If you lose it, then you’re responsible for changing my locks!” Sam yells, stomping towards the door.
As soon as she opens it, three tall men topple inside, all on top of the other as if they were leaning against the door.
“Nice to see you again, Sunny,” Tyler purrs, straightening himself. His green eyes watch me as he comes in and rounds the island, making his way through the kitchen.
“Oh, she’s a blonde! We needed a blonde, thank god,” One of the two men chimes.
His eyes match the brilliant smile that pulls his full lips.
He is leaner than Tyler and the other man, but by no means any less strong.
The warm light of Sam’s apartment dances across his brown skin, complimenting his eyes in all the best ways.
“Anthony seriously?” The other man says, bringing my attention to him. He runs a hand through his dark hair, lifting it off his shoulders for a brief moment. He looks like the kind of guy my mother would tell me to stay away from in hopes I won’t hop on his motorcycle.
“Hi, I’m Cole. Don’t mind my brothers, they can be a bit much sometimes.” His hazel eyes gleam with mirth.
“We all have our moments. I’m Sunny.” I shake his hand back.
“I know.” He grins.
I’m not sure what that means, but I also don’t want to find out.
Everyone settles into their roles so easily. Moving around with a fluidity I never had after I moved out of my parents home.
“So, you guys do this every week?” I ask.
Tyler makes his rounds to Sam and Macey, greeting the two with kisses on the cheeks and hugs.
“Sunny.” He greets me again, no doubt out of obligation, but refrains from the physical contact he gave his sisters. He has a boyish smile. One I hadn’t seen on him before.
“Every single week! The day depends on schedules, events, holidays. Things like that,” Anthony says as he pours himself a drink. “But we spend every holiday together. At least part of it. Then part with the families that don’t actually matter.”
“Hey, speak for yourself. I actually like my family.” Macey finds her place back on a barstool.
They all move in Sam's apartment as if it’s their own. I couldn’t even act that way in my own apartment with Ryan. Being able to see people do this so comfortably with one another feels so foreign to me.
These people found family, comfort, love, and hope in one another—despite their painful upbringings. It’s a relief that it exists. That you can find it after turmoil. These friendships, this love, this life.
It all exists.
“Every week, we alternate who will host it.” Tyler lays the dessert out on the kitchen island along with homemade, uncooked pasta noodles.
“We do it based on our schedules and who can prepare the food. Sometimes we do potluck style. Sometimes the person cooks. Sam can’t bake for her life, so we brought dessert from Mike’s Pastry.
” He motions to the box he places on the island.
I eye the pasta. “I didn’t know pasta was considered dessert.”
He chuckles, picking up on my sarcasm. “I guess my pasta is just that damn good.” He winks and walks to the stove to take over the cooking for Sam.
“How long have you all known one another?” I ask. I want to know all about them, hear all their stories, and learn the dynamics. I know this dinner isn’t a trial run for me. No, this is it.
I’m actually a part of something now.
Tyler watches me as he moves around the kitchen, like a predator watching its prey. I’m sure introducing someone new is a scary thing, considering he and Sam love this family beyond measure.
Anthony slings an arm around me and I see a smile play on Tyler’s lips. His eyes move back to the stove. It’s safe.
“I have known these two dipshit siblings since we were in diapers.” Anthony points to Sam and Tyler
“True,” Sam says, flinging her spatula in the air. “We shit our pants together on the daily.”
“Nasty.” Macey scrunches her nose.
“Our parents know one another through money and the company. My dad has his own insurance firm. They contracted together before we even existed. My parents learned quickly I was too personable to be captivated in an insurance office. So Tyler’s dad put my abilities to good use, and I somehow became a high-end party planner for all their investing journeys,” Anthony says satirically.
“Sounds important.” I add.
“Tyler and I got into a bar fight.” Cole seats himself on Sam’s purple couch. He kicks his boots onto her glass coffee table and drinks his beer.
“That’s definitely a story I need to hear in detail.” I note.
“Another time.” Cole waives a hand. “We’ll have plenty of chances now.”
Against my will, a smile actually pulls my lips. I realize very quickly there is a difference between being wanted and being controlled. These people, they want me.
“Then we have our sweet little baby bird,” Anthony chimes, approaching Macey on the barstool, placing his hands on her shoulders.
“Oh god,” she huffs into her drink. “Why baby bird of all nicknames?”
“Moral of the story is,” Tyler announces.
“That family doesn’t mean blood. It’s love.
This family is very strongly knit together, once you’re in, it’s impossible to get out.
So, being welcomed in is a big honor. Welcome to the family Sunny.
” He raises a glass, his eyes focused on me with a calm threat dancing in them.
You hurt my family, I’ll hurt you.
“You missed your chance, Tyler. We already did this,” Sam says over her shoulder.
“Sam, don't ruin the moment!” Anthony bites back, raising his glass up. “Cheers bitches!”
“Cheers!” We all clank our glasses together.
That’s that. I’m officially part of the family.