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Chapter Eleven

Christian

Sweat drips down the side of my head as I put the finishing touches on everything. I really shouldn’t be nervous. I don’t normally care what people think of me. They never last long enough to really make a difference if they like me or not anyway. But this is different.

Instead of just hosting Ghenie’s parents, I got the bright idea to have a dinner party. I figured it would be a nice buffer so that things never get awkward, but that also means they’re all going to be here at once. So many things could go wrong.

“Are you well?”

I freeze before slowly turning around, finding Ghenie watching me. His eyes sweep over my face before he’s stepping into my space, wrapping his arms around my back.

“I’m fine,” I say right away, lying through my teeth. “Totally not freaking out about impressing your parents. Nope. That would be silly.”

“Very silly indeed,” he says, nodding his head. “They will love you because you are you. You have nothing to prove.”

“Except I’m working overtime trying to make up for leaving.”

“Oh, Christian,” Ghenie says, squeezing me tight. “You don’t have anything to make up for. You did what was right for you at the time. You have to forgive yourself eventually.”

“If you say so,” I whisper. “Will you help me set the table?”

“Of course,” he says before leaning down and kissing the tip of my nose. It’s such a silly gesture that I find myself blushing. And then I immediately curse myself for blushing. I don’t blush!

We carry platters into the dining room, setting them out on the long table we brought in just for this dinner.

Maribel is lying on the floor on a blanket, making adorable gurgling noises at the toys that hang above her.

She reaches up and hits one, giggling to herself.

I don’t think I’ll ever stop feeling so much wonder when I look at her.

Instead of preparing a huge meal for everyone, I’ve made a bunch of random finger foods.

Everyone can assemble their own charcuterie boards.

There are random cuts of cured meats, there are veggies that have been cut into sticks.

Next to those are some crackers and some soft bread.

I’ve added a bit of chocolate and other sweets along with some fruit.

I’ve also whipped up two different types of dips for everyone to try.

The variety should make for interesting tastes and textures while being small so it’s easy to eat as we all talk. Ghenie also got us two bottles of wine so everyone can have a drink while we eat.

God, I really want this to go well. Since when do I give a shit what people think? This is downright maddening, but I can’t deny the pull to impress Ghenie’s parents.

“I think that’s everything.”

Ghenie plucks a fruit from the table, popping it into his mouth. “It’s perfect, Christian. Stop fussing.”

“I feel like our roles are reversed today. You seem so carefree.”

Ghenie shrugs. “I’m about to be surrounded by my favorite people without any responsibilities or tasks. It is going to be a good day.”

“You just jinxed it,” I murmur as someone knocks on the door. I give Ghenie a look as I walk over to the door, leaving him giggling behind me. If anything goes wrong, I can absolutely blame it on him.

“Hey, bestie!”

I take the bottle from Miles’ hands and turn around. “Don’t ever call me that again.”

Timalah lets out a booming laugh. “Did I not tell you he would hate that?”

“I thought he would make an exception!” Miles says and I can hear the pout in his voice. “Hello, Maribel. Aren’t you so sweet? She’s so aware these days, it’s amazing!”

“She’s captivated by the mobile. I think she likes the churato the best.” A churato is something similar to a rhino. It has a horn on its nose but its skin is dark purple and it has giant floppy ears. There’s one on Maribel’s mobile and she’s always trying to grab it.

“Smart girl,” Timalah says as he walks over to the table full of food. “What do you think, Druim? Would you like to try some fruit?”

“Fruit. Fruit. Fruit.”

“Very good,” Timalah says, grinning from ear to ear. “He is catching on quick. Soon enough he will be outspeaking us all.”

Ghenie gives him a soft smile. I know he has some sort of weird Toralleh connection to everyone but he’s also mentioned to me that he’s fairly certain Druim will be the next Toralleh after him.

It’s weird knowing that. Druim is just a baby still, but someday he’ll be grown and when he is, he might well be leading the Layperry people.

The next people through the door are Maria, Aldo, Gendry, and their daughter, MJ. I clasp Gendry on the shoulder and welcome the rest inside.

“I have to poop,” I say to Gendry. Aldo bursts into a fit of giggles.

“Excuse me?” Maria asks, looking put out. I hold up my hands.

“Sorry, it’s an inside joke.”

“When I was on Earth, Christian told me that was a phrase humans used to greet each other. That is the first thing I said when meeting Aldo.”

Maria raises her brow at her son. “That’s how he introduced himself and you still fell for him?”

“I did indeed,” he says with a grin, looking up at his mate. These two are somehow sappier than Timalah and Miles. Okay, enough eye fucking before I toss up my lunch.

“Right this way,” I say, ushering them towards the table. “You can make your own plate and mingle as you see fit. The kids have a little area in the living room. Let me know if you need anything.”

Now I sit by the door and wait, hoping I don’t look like an idiot to everyone else already here. When there’s a knock at the door, my heart jumps up to my throat. I take a breath before opening it up.

“Christian! Hello! It’s so lovely to see you. Thank you again for inviting us,” Scrintum says, pulling me into a tight hug. I let out a squeak of surprise before composing myself and hugging him back.

Plun on the other hand reaches over and takes my hand, giving it a firm shake. “Nice to see you again, son.”

There’s that word again. Son. He says it with such warmth and casualness but it leaves me feeling some sort of way.

“Come in,” I say, closing the door behind them. “I have a table of food for you to pick from and a bottle of your favorite wine. Ghenie picked it out because he knew you liked it.”

“That is quite thoughtful, Christian.”

Timalah, Gendry, and Ghenie are talking in a corner together while Miles, Aldo, and Maria are sitting in the living area with the kids. I guide Scrintum and Plun to the food table, showing them the selection.

“You seem nervous,” Plun says, picking up a plate and piling food onto it. He’s a man of few words so when he speaks, it usually means something.

“I’m not! Of course not! What do I have to be nervous about?”

“Nothing,” he says, reaching over and clasping my shoulder. “Take a breath.”

I suck in a sharp breath and I have to admit, I do feel a lot better afterwards. I go to grab the wine but I misjudge the distance. Christ on a cracker, I spill it across my pants.

“Fuck.”

Scrintum is there, pushing me into the kitchen. “No worries. Let me get you cleaned up.”

“No, you don’t have to.”

“I insist. Let me dote on you.”

Scrintum pushes me down onto the breakfast stool, running around the kitchen in order to grab a rag and some water.

Then he wipes the mess from my shirt and pants.

Plun on the other hand, grabs a different rag and cleans up the table in the other room.

Both do it without any fuss. There’s no shouting or anger or resentment that I’ve ruined the moment.

They take care of me and do it with soft smiles on their faces. Like they’re enjoying being able to care for me.

I am floored with emotions. They hit me square in the chest so hard I suddenly can’t breathe.

My entire life, I wondered what it would be like to have parents who loved me and suddenly, out of nowhere, I have them. Plun and Scrintum barely know me but I think they’ve adopted me without me realizing.

“There we go,” Scrintum says, tossing the rag into the sink. “All fixed. Please don’t fret. Mistakes happen. There’s no reason to cry over spilled wine.”

“Table is clean,” Plun says as he walks back into the room. “That spread you have made looks delicious, Christian. I am looking forward to getting my plate.”

I look at them for a long time, doing my best not to do something ridiculous like burst out crying. My throat is tight, my eyes are watery, and my chest aches something fierce.

“Thank you,” I tell them, hoping to convey everything I’m feeling in those two words.

Scrintum grabs my cheeks, squishing them together. He’s being silly in order to break the tension and I appreciate him for it. “You are getting sappy in your old age. Do not worry, we won’t tell Ghenie.”

“Won’t tell me what?”

Scrintum quickly lets go of my face, looking guilty at being caught. He tucks his hands behind his back and rocks back on his heels. The perfect picture of innocence. I can’t help but laugh and in response, he narrows his eyes at me.

“Don’t worry,” I say, looking back at Ghenie. “They were just taking care of me.”

“Should I be jealous? You let them care for you but always argue when I try.”

I smile so wide my cheeks hurt. “Nothing quite like the care of a parent, huh?”

Plun hums, the sound soft and understanding.

Scrintum looks like he’s about to burst a blood vessel trying to keep himself quiet but his eyes shine with joy.

Not only have I been blessed with someone like Ghenie as a partner, but I’ve also somehow gotten adopted by two wonderful people who’re willing to show me the love I never got when I was younger.

I was so worried about this dinner party but apparently, it was exactly what I didn’t know I needed.

“Thank you for that,” Scrintum finally says, like he needed to say something or he would burst. I nod my head in acknowledgement. Plun gives me a look before he’s wrapping his arm around his mate and pulling him back out towards the food.

Ghenie replaces his dad in front of me. He places his hands on my cheeks but he doesn’t squeeze them like his dad did, instead he caresses my cheek.

All of those unworthy feelings are back, but they’re getting easier and easier to ignore.

I do deserve good things. I do deserve this love that these people are offering me. It’s up to me to accept them.

“I think today is a success.”

“Very much so,” Ghenie says. Then he leans down and kisses my lips.

The kiss is soft, barely there. Our friends and family are so close and if someone walks in, I might throw myself out the window but for a moment, I sit here and let Ghenie show me love.

I can be soft for him and him alone, everyone else can fuck off.

“I lo..” the words catch in my throat. I try again. “I adore you, Ghenie.”

Ghenie’s smile is breathtaking. “And I you.” Then he grabs my hand and hauls me out of my seat. “Let us get back to our party before they think we are back here. Umm, what’s the phrase? Right. They might think we are back here fucking.”

“Ghenie!” I gasp out in fake surprise, chuckling softly as we go back and join the others. The rest of the night goes off without a hitch.