“Shut the fuck up!” Stu says, earning himself a slap from his partner. “Sorry, it’s just, that’s huge! But don’t repeat daddy’s bad word, Lizzie. It’s very, very naughty,” he adds, and I can’t help but smile.
“Yup, he’s definitely dating her. Look at that smile,” Jack says, causing my grin to vanish and a glare to replace it. “How long?” he asks, both of my brothers leaning forward on the table. I cock an eyebrow, getting ready to play dumb.
“How long what?”
It goes against my nature not to be forward and efficient, but I like to have my fun with these two sometimes. They’re so fucking nosey, just like the rest of my family, Quinn, and even Adrian, who I’ve become strangely fond of for inexplicable reasons. The only person who understands boundaries is Chiara.
“How long have you been in love with her?” Stu explains Jack’s vague question, and I lean back in my chair, watching Liz take a bite of her biscuit and stare out the windows at the garden. Then I bring my eyes back to the two men expecting an answer.
“My whole life.” And fuck, I will be for the rest of it.
“Why did it take you so bloody long to figure it out?” Jack asks, and I shrug, not quite sure myself.
“I’m an idiot. She’s a pain in the arse. It took me a while to figure out I’mheridiot and she’smypain in the arse,” I explain with a small chuckle because I know she’d love what I just said.
I’ll text it to her later.
“I saw it the day I met you two. Should have asked me,” Stu chimes in with a little snort, and I glare at him.
“Me too,” Liz chimes in, and I let out a breathless laugh.
“Okay now, all of you,shush. Or, I’ll leave,” I warn, but Jack merely lets out a low laugh, his brown eyes meeting mine. He looks like an older version of me with softer facial features and more laugh lines around his mouth and eyes.
“You can leave if you’d like. I got my answer to the one question that prompted my extending an invitation to you,” he replies, and I feel the urge to be immature and flip him off, which I haven’t done in years. I’m twenty-eight and a Formula One world champion. I can’t go around showing people the middle finger whenever they piss me off.
“Can I go play outside?” Lizzie asks her dads, who tell her to be careful and have fun.
They recently installed a swing in their backyard, which their little girl absolutely loves. I can’t count how many videos they sent me of Liz wanting to show me how high she can go. Chiara and I always watch them together. Fuck. I miss her. I saw her an hour ago, and I fucking miss her. Maybe I should check in on her. Then again, I don’t want to interrupt her day with Mum.
“You’re thinking about her right now, aren’t you?” Stu asks, and I place my phone on the table, bringing my focus back to both of them.
“I’m always thinking about her,” I reply simply and let out a small breath. “What’s going on with the both of you?” I ask both because I’m done with the spotlight being on me and because I genuinely want to know how they’re doing.
“We're good. Actually, Jack, can you get the photo album we just had done?” Stu asks, and his partner stands up, pressing a quick kiss to his lips and then disappearing out of the kitchen. “Okay, listen to me. I need your help,” he says, and I sit up straight, on high alert now.
“Anything,” I assure him, and he gives me a small smile.
“I’m going to propose to Jack, but can Chiara make one of her art shows but with photos of me and him?” he asks. I take out my phone and start writing ideas into my notes app.
“I can most certainly ask her, but she’s very busy at the moment. If Chiara can’t, I can ask a few of my other contacts, if you’d like. Either way, I will make it happen for you, don’t worry,” I reply, writing down some more things while I listen to Stu explain how he’s going to ask my brother to marry him.
I never asked either of them why they haven’t proposed or gotten married. Part of me always thought they were waiting for the right time. Another part thought they were merely happy with the way things are now, but I’m beyond excited to help Stu propose in any little detail I get to. Graham doesn’t believe in the concept of marriage, so I only have one shot at being the best man for my brothers. I almost smile at the thought of everything we’ll have to arrange. Quinn’s sibling got married last year, and the ceremony and location were beautiful. Maybe I can contact her and ask who helped them plan their wedding.
“What did you say to him? His gears are turning so hard, steam’s coming out of his ears,” Jack says, and I shoot him an unappreciative glare.
“God, you’re hilarious. Have you ever thought about doing stand-up comedy?” I ask, gathering my things before standing up and straightening out my back until it cracks. “Anyway, it was lovely chatting with you both, but I have to head home. Chiara and I are buddy reading a book, and she’s a lot further ahead than I am,” I explain, a yawn slipping past my lips, but I cover my mouth so I’m not impolite.
“You’re buddy reading a book with your girlfriend?” Stu asks, shock lacing his words. I stare at him, unimpressed.
“Yes. You got a problem with that?” I challenge, but he merely raises his hands in mock surrender and smiles.
“No problem, bubba, I’m merely surprised. I thought you’re more of a music man than a reader,” my soon-to-be brother-in-law replies, grinning at me like never before. He’s happy with this new version of me, and, honestly, I can’t blame him.
In my twenty-eight years of life, I have never, ever been in a serious relationship. I didn’t run my life around a person I’m in love with, not like I’m doing with Chiara now. She likes my cooking, I do so every night. She wants to help me in the kitchen, I let her in. She wants to buddy read a book with me, I’ll buy two copies and start it right away. She wants the moon, the stars, the sun, the entire universe, I will lay it all at her feet. Anything and everything she desires, I arrange for until her heart and life are equally full. I’ve never felt so alive before, never knew how to use that organ in my chest properly, but Starling taught me. As a matter of fact, she taught me everything from the ages of eight to twenty-eight, and I’m only now understanding her lessons. Now I'm planning a future in my head where we’re growing old together, where my grandmother’s ring has rested on Chiara’s hand for decades, and we watch our children succeed in whatever careers they choose.
A year ago, all of these thoughts wouldn’t have made sense to me. I’ve never been someone to fall in love with another person, but maybe that’s because I never had to fall. It’s more like Chiara shoved me in love with her, probably around the time she shoved my face into the remains of her sandcastle when we were kids. I don’t mind it one bit. I thought I had to push her away, pretend like I didn’t like her because she didn’t seem to reciprocate my feelings, but the way we are now, happy and together, it’s everything I could have dreamt of. I’m complete because my other half is mine in the same way I am hers. Forever.
“Thank you both for having me,” I say and walk outside to say goodbye to Liz before leaving their home.
