Page 22 of A Furry Thing Called Love (Friends of Gaynor Beach Animal Rescue #7)
Luka and Graeme lead us through the house to the living room. “That’s Rory’s room, the bathroom is the door right next to it,” Luka says.
“The sunroom was over next to the kitchen, which we can show you after dinner, if you want. Grae and my room’s downstairs, as is the laundry and office, along with the second bathroom. Upstairs is a guestroom and Callum’s room.”
“You can come check out my room if you want,” Cal offers.
Graeme says something in…French, I think? That has the teen rolling his eyes and replying in the same language.
“Can I play with the dogs now?” Callum asks once we’re all sitting in the living room.
Graeme says something else in French and Luka elbows him. “We have guests, can you maybe wait until later for that?”
Graeme’s cheeks flush. “Sorry about that. Rory and I decided early on to teach Cal French, and to do so, one of us will exclusively speak to him in the language, which he has to respond the same to. It’s also how we’re teaching Denver and Luka.”
I shrug. “It doesn’t bother me. I think it’s cool. And yes, Callum, you can play with the dogs.”
I unstrap Eli from his harness, and he gives a full body shake once I do so. Callum drops straight to his knees, and holds his hand out. Eli sniffs at him, and lets the boy pet him.
“You’re so gorgeous, yes you are. You want to live here with me and Jolene, don’t you?”
Indie, not one to be left out, makes her way over. Callum gives her attention as well. “You’re also gorgeous. Yes, the most prettiest pup I’ve ever seen.”
The cat, who’s now draped across Callum’s shoulders like a scarf, climbs down and sniffs at Eli, who stares back, but otherwise, doesn’t show any interest.
“Do you have any other pets?” Cal asks as he sits on the ground, a dog on either side of him, the cat in his lap.
Valery, Luka, and I all laugh at that. “Well,” I tell him. “I have another dog, Millie. She’s at the border's though, because she’s too young and a little too rambunctious to make the trip. Jordan, however, has a menagerie.”
Callum’s attention snaps up and he looks at Jordan. “Really? What animals do you have? I want another pet, but Da said one is enough, especially if I’m going to go to college next year. Which, I’m not entirely sure I am. I mean, I know I’m going to go to school, but leaving home sounds terrifying.”
“We have time to decide, mon c?ur. Your da and I will be happy if you are.”
“Yeah…” Callum keeps his attention on the dogs.
Jordan clears his throat. “To answer your question, I have a parrot—an Amazon parrot to be more specific. A potbellied pig, and a Nigerian dwarf goat.”
“A pig!” Cal squeals. “Do you have pictures?”
Jordan laughs and takes out his phone. “Yeah, my petsitter sent me some earlier.” He gets on the floor with Callum and the two of them coo over the pictures of Jor’s menagerie.
“Toss me your phone, Ar, so he can see Millie.”
I sigh and shake my head, but toss it over to them.
As Jordan and Callum are bonding over their love of animals, the front door opens. “Sorry I’m late,” the newcomer says.
“I told you to come straight here after your shift,” Graeme tells them.
They step into the living room. “Yes, well, my mistake. I’ll remember that for next time.” They look at me and smile, lighting up their entire face. “Hi, I’m Denver; Luka and Grae’s partner.”
“Arlo, Jordan’s friend.”
Jordan looks up from where he’s sitting. “I’m Jordan, Luka’s better-looking cousin.”
Denver laughs. “Mmmm, I don’t know, I’m partial to the freckles.”
Jordan sighs. “My sisters got my mother’s redhead genes, I sadly did not. Makes me feel as if I'm the blond-headed stepchild.”
Luka snorts. “You’re so fucking dramatic.”
“You mean delight.” Jordan grins and Luka shakes his head.
“I see Cal’s in heaven,” Denver says.
“Jordan has a goat, a parrot, and a pig, Den! That’s like my dream life.” He looks to Graeme. “Do you think?—”
“No.” Graeme shakes his head at his son. “Whatever you’re thinking, the answer is no.”
Callum pouts. Before he can say anything in response though, Rory comes into the room. “Food’s ready.”
“You need help with anything, Ror?” Denver asks.
“Nah, I got it. It lets me practice my homemaking skill.” Rory winks. “Never know when I’m going to snatch up the Dom of my dreams who wants me to be his houseboy.”
“Eww!” Callum protests. “I am a child !”
“Okay, well, child of mine, go wash up,” Rory replies, not seeming sorry at all about potentially scarring his son.
Callum extracts himself from the tangle of animals.
“When I need therapy in a few years, I’m sending you guys the bill.
I have many things to unpack and work through!
Starting with my dad giving birth to me, and ending with Da making sex jokes around me!
” With a dramatic twirl, Callum stomps off to the bathroom.
“I think I need therapy because of him,” Rory says.
Graeme snorts. “You and me both, Ror.”
“You guys can wash up in the kitchen,” Luka says. “Let Cal have his dramatics in peace.”
Jordan and I follow everyone into the kitchen to do just that, and then take our seats at the dining table. Callum is already there, a mischievous smile in his blue eyes.
“Everything I said was true,” he says not so quietly. “Dad is trans and had me himself. I don’t care about that. But I do care about being traumatized because my parents make sex jokes!”
“You’re the one that asked me if I took my T regularly enough, and was very interested in my future surgery plans,” Luka tells him as he takes a seat next to the teen.
“Because, and I quote “I like being the spoiled only child.” You were worried we’d have another baby and replace you, or some dramatic shit. ”
Callum shrugs. “It’s true, though.”
“Okay, but can we not scare Arlo off?” Denver says as they take their seat. “We’d like for him to come back.”
“What about me?” Jordan protests.
“We’re related,” Luka informs him. “Which means you’re stuck with all this.”
“I’d apologize for this,” Rory says as he brings in the food. “But well, this is actually them behaving.”
“Oh please,” Luka says. “As if you didn’t contribute to this.” He waves his hand at Callum.
Rory smirks. “I’m the innocent one.”
“Bullshit,” Graeme says, taking the seat on the other side of Callum. “You’re the reason he is the way he is.”
“Pot meet kettle.” Denver points at Graeme. “You’re quieter, but still sassy as fuck, Grae.”
“I don’t know what you’re talking about.”
Valery sighs and leans over Jordan to talk to me. “Really, if you need to run, tell me now, because it’ll only get worse from here.”
“No, I love it.” And I really do. It reminds me of my family. Well, of me and my sister. And…I didn’t realize how much I needed that sense of normalcy.
It’s perfect; they’re perfect. I will never not be grateful for Jordan and him wanting to share his family with me.
Reaching under the table, I grab his hand, squeezing it tight, hoping it says some of the words I can’t speak aloud…at least not yet.