“Oliver I brought you dinner and ibuprofen,” Sebastian pushed the door to my childhood bedroom open, a small tray in his hands and I sat up, adjusting the pillow under my leg, “do you want anything else?”
“Are you eatin’ too?” I looked at him confused as he set the tray across my lap.
“Your parents have bullied me into eating with your family,” he laughed, “I do not mind. I enjoy them.”
“Right okay,” I pouted and he sat down next to me.
“Silas went to Papa Layne’s house and brought you back something. Would you like to join us?”
“You… call him Papa?” I looked at Sebastian surprised and his cheeks turned pink.
“He told me to and it makes me happy so…”
“I’m glad… yes I’d like to be out there with all of ya.”
Sebastian immediately took the tray, setting it on the nightstand and I grabbed the pills, taking them quickly as he ran to the door and came back in with a pair of crutches.
“Ah fuck,” I grumbled and he laughed softly, “I can’t believe they kept ‘em. These are the crutches I used five years ago when I was here and fell off a ladder hangin’ lights. Tore my knee bad. This time is nothin’ I just have to be careful. I was just panicking earlier. Can’t afford to be hurt right now. Got too much goin’ on.”
“But you are not handling everything alone,” he helped me stand and I took the crutches, grateful that they took the weight off my leg, “you have me.”
“I have no idea what I’d do without ya anymore,” I whispered and Sebastian poked my nose.
“Me either.”
I followed him to the dining room and we took our seats, a free one to my right so I could rest my leg on it, “sorry y’all. Ya didn’t have to wait for me.”
“Of course we did,” Winifred rolled her eyes as she fed Mylo, “we can’t have family dinner without part of the family and we knew if you weren’t here at the table then Sebastian wouldn’t be.”
“Sure he would’ve,” I shook my head and started making a plate for Sebastian, separating the food how I knew he’d want.
“Non,” Sebastian smiled, “I do not eat if you don’t,” he looked at the plate confused as I set it in front of him, “oh… Merci, miel,” he squeezed my leg and I nearly kissed his cheek, stopping myself at the last moment.
“What does that word mean?” Silas called, his mouth full and Lincoln smacked him on the back of the head making all of us laugh, “Ow babe!”
“We’re at the table have some manners,” Lincoln huffed, “I know what it means. It’s cute.”
“Do not tell, Lin… please,” Sebastian’s voice was soft and Lincoln reached over to pat his hand softly.
“I won’t. I’m not that kind of man.”
“Oh! Tell us more about you, please. We know so much about Sebastian,” Grayson giggled from the head of the table.
“Well. I co-own “The Garden” with Silas. He added me as an owner as soon as we were married. I’m from Sevierville, Tennessee. Raised in a trailer park with my mom and 3 sisters. We moved to Denver when I was 5 after my dad got out of prison. They threw me out when I was 17 and I met Silas. I was trying to find a restaurant that might be willing to give me food or water if I did some kind of chore. Instead, he took me in. We lived above the restaurant for a while. Then suddenly, Silas showed up with keys to a house.”
“Yeah… suddenly,” I cleared my throat, taking a bite of food.
“You… bought us our house?”
“I did. Silas called me and said he needed a loan for more space. It was too hot to live above the restaurant anymore. So I just… told him to send me the listing of a house he liked. He sent me this rundown ass house. But he deserves better than that. I love my brother y’all know that. So I started lookin’ around Denver and found a really nice house near the restaurant. Sent that back and told him it was his and to go get the keys from the realtor. I did kinda fuck with him though by findin’ one that was pink.”
“Well, I… thank you, Oliver.”
“Mhm.”
“Anyway. We moved just after I turned 18 and Silas poured his feelings out for me. It was really sweet. We didn’t have much of anything at that point. He’d been sleeping on the floor for almost a year so I could have his bed. Made sure my clothes and everything were clean and I had a quiet place to study so I could graduate high school. It meant a lot to me and I… I realized that I loved him too,” Lincoln smiled, kissing Silas on the arm who had taken to looking anywhere but at the family, “so I obviously told him I’d like to be together. We got married a year later and… here we are. We finally have a furnished home, the restaurant does incredibly well, and we make enough money due to not having a mortgage to talk about having a baby.”
“Silas you…” Serenity suddenly got up and hugged Silas who tried to smack her away before giving up and leaning into the hug, “oh I am so happy for you,” she then hugged Lincoln who smiled brightly, “the both of you.”
“Thank you, Serenity,” Lincoln wiggled happily.
“Um…” Sebastian cleared his throat and we looked at him, “Sorry I was just… feeling… curious. You do not have to answer me but why did your family kick you out? That concept is odd to me. You are family, Oui? Your family should love you no matter what.”
“Oh because I’m gay and was born a girl. So when I decided to tell them I'm trans,” Lincoln shrugged, “it went against the Bible. I was raised Baptist.”
“Ah. Oui, I understand more now. Merci, Lin. That is why I renounced my faith. I am gay and transgender too. It felt as if the… church hated me. I still believe in God. But as I want to. That they would love me for who I am as I was made in their image.”
“We aren’t a religious family,” Hunter smiled, “but it makes me happy to know that ya have that comfort still.”
“Merci,” Sebastian smiled and I reached under the table to rub his leg, “may I ask something?”
“Of course.”
“How does a family become so… warm?”
“I’m not sure I understand what you’re askin’ kiddo.”
“Um…” Sebastian tapped his chin before snapping, “Okay. Let me explain what I mean. Life for me was cold. Unaffectionate. The Sisters were never allowed to hug or hold us. We could not go for them as comfort. There were many times other enfant would be adopted and I was alone with no one at the orphanage. It is so different here and I’d like to know how you make a family that is so open and caring of people they barely know such as myself or Lincoln.”
“I can’t take any credit,” Sawyer laughed, “that was 100 percent Judah and Allie.”
“Well. Sorry, Silas and Nita but it starts with Hazel. Has Oliver ever talked about her?” Allison began, looking at Sebastian.
“That is your sister, Oui?” He nodded to Hunter who returned it, “which makes her your birth giver,” he gestured to Serenity who rolled her eyes but nodded, “I do not like her either do not worry.”
“She came to us at 15 and told us she was a lesbian. We never cared,” Allison shrugged, “just wanted her to be happy and loved. This prompted Hunter into sharing he was gay. Then we found Grayson,” she smiled, hugging Grayson tightly around the shoulders, “watched as they fell in love, brought Sawyer and Layne into our lives and raised four amazing children into even more amazing adults. I suppose the reason it feels so warm and comfortable here is simple. This is a house and family built entirely on love. We don’t turn our backs on each other or judge. We simply support each other through the changes. So while yes, it’s shocking to see our grandson married or to suddenly have two great-grandchildren, we couldn’t be happier because it’s simply more people to love. You’re part of that now too, Sebastian. Because you care about Oliver.”
“Of course I do,” he answered quickly, a squeak to his voice, “he… he is my best friend.”
“We know,” Judah laughed, giving me a knowing smile and I took a long sip of my drink so that I would no longer have to look at him, “we are so happy you found him.”
“Non. He found me. I was supposed to interview with him and got lost in Manhattan trying to find my hotel. Oliver happened to be walking Aldo and I asked for directions from the first person willing to talk to me. He was the tenth I had asked. But he stopped, guided me to the hotel, and when he discovered I was going to interview… he offered me the job instead right there on the street. I am grateful he did. I came here with nothing, just the desire to work at Parallel. Now…”
“Oliver made him the chief financial officer,” Serenity laughed, laying her head on Garett’s shoulder, “but it was an amazing idea. Sebastian is incredibly intelligent and handles financials better than we ever could have.”
“Merci,” Sebastian giggled, “I have always been good at maths. That is why I went to university for financial and systems operations as well as business management. I have a bachelors in both.”
“Wait how?” Winifred gasped, handing Mylo to Hunter who immediately went into grandfather mode, “You’re twenty-three.”
“I did both at the same time. It only took three years in France. I did a year of university work during lycée. I do not remember the English.”
“High school,” Layne called softly and Sebastian snapped happily.
“Oui! That. It was hard work but I did it on my own.”
“You did wonderful,” Grayson patted Sebastian on the top of the head and he wiggled happily, finally eating dinner.
“Ugh,” Serenity groaned, “Grandma why didn’t you tell me being pregnant sucks?”
“Because I didn’t know you were my love,” Allison laughed, “I have plenty of advice for you. Come on,” they moved to the living room and the rest of us continued eating, everyone leaving the table slowly except for Sebastian and myself.
“I love it here,” Sebastian rested his chin in his hand, smiling at me, “I understand now why you wish to move closer when you buy your home.”
“Mhm. I hate being away from ‘em but I’ve been too busy to really focus on my family. They deserve better than that.”
“You can do it now.”
“And I will,” smiling, I gently rubbed his jaw, “Hey?”
“Oui?”
“When I move to Montana again, once I find or have my house built, will you come with me?”
“Of course. If that is what you want.”
“Stop it. I want to know what you’d want.”
“To be with you. I… I meant I do not wish for things to change. I want to keep living and working together. So yes I will come to Montana.”
“Good,” I whispered, still rubbing his jawline, “I can’t do it alone. I need ya, Bas.”
“Well, you will only need my help until you are married.”
“No. That’s the furthest from the truth. I need you… just you. My best friend. The person I’m closest to.”
“Oliver,” he gripped my wrist, “really?”
“Mhm,” I smiled gently, “you and me silly. The little family we’ve made with Aldo. That’s how I like to think of it.”
“Me too,” Sebastian whispered, his cheeks pink, “Oliver… there is something I’d like to tell you.”
“Right here?”
“Yes.”
“Okay.”
Sebastian moved his chair closer and I shifted my hips so that I could face him, his hand sliding from my arm to the back of my neck and I swallowed slowly, studying his face.
Is this it?
Right here in my parent's dining room?
I’m the one who is supposed to take control of these situations.
So why do I bend to give him anything he asks of me?
“Oliver may I… instead of going as friends to the wedding in Italy or as… your assistant I was wondering if…”
“Sebastian, would ya like to be my date to the wedding?” I blurted out in a rush, my face suddenly warm.
“Oh,” Sebastian smiled, “Oui that is what I was trying to ask you!”
“Does this mean… do you…”
“Mhm,” he slowly nodded, “Well wait what is it you’re talking about?”
“Well… I…”
“Oliver!” Silas called and I groaned, pressing my forehead to Sebastian’s who laughed softly, “Oliver, Dad is breaking out the whiskey, do you want some?”
“Sure,” I called back before rubbing my nose with Sebastian’s and making him giggle, “we can pick this very important conversation that keeps gettin’ interrupted up later yeah?” I whispered and he slowly nodded, “Good. Do ya want whiskey?”
“I’ve never had it.”
“Hm… hey Si!” I leaned away from Sebastian and slowly laced our fingers together, “does Dad have lemonade?”
“Always!”
“We need that too. Bas ain’t had whiskey. He can’t be drinkin’ it straight like we do.”
“Oh come on,” Silas came into the dining room, carrying a bottle of whiskey in one hand, lemonade in the other, “it’d be fun to see you both drunk.”
“Ya know I don’t drink to get drunk anymore. Not since the accident,” grumbling, I made a drink for Sebastian and pulled his chair closer, my arm coming to rest on the back of it, “here. Try it.”
“Hm,” Sebastian took the glass and sniffed gently before taking a sip, “Oh… C'est sucré, mais il y a du mordant… I do not like it.”
“Really? Okay,” shrugging, I took it from him and started drinking, playing with the bottom of his hair, “do ya like wine?”
“Oui,” he smiled, setting his hand in the middle of my chest and I turned to Silas who was watching us with a wide grin.
“Stop that. Can ya see if Gray has any white wine around?”
“You know that he does. Winnie stole the bottle, hang on,” Silas jogged off and I took the moment to nuzzle the side of Sebastian’s throat with my nose.
“Oliver,” Sebastian whispered gently, “oh…”
“Shh,” I let out a soft hum and left a feather-light kiss behind on his pulse point, “you always smell so nice. It’s better than any cologne on this planet.”
“You… uh…” he stuttered and I smiled, never moving away as he wrapped my hair around his hand.
“What is it?”
“I like your scent too,” he coughed embarrassedly and I kissed his throat again, “I am so sensitive there please… stop.”
“Do ya dislike it?”
“No. Not at all. I have been thinking about this a lot… for a while.”
“Flirting?”
“We always flirt,” he laughed and I finally pulled back, moving my hand to gently rub the place I had been kissing, “just… Oliver do you… as-tu des sentiments pour moi?”
“Hm… I wish I spoke French so I could answer your question, Sebastian but as I don’t…” I pinched his ear gently and his eyes fluttered closed, “I’ll need ya to ask me again in English. Or Italian.”
“I… want to know if-”
“Here,” Silas interrupted, setting a bottle of white wine and a glass on the dining table and I glared at him, “Whoa there Ice King, I was doing something nice for you. Sorry to interrupt whatever the hell is going on. Didn’t know Bas could turn that shade of red. It’s cute.”
“Hey!” Lincoln huffed, stomping into the dining room, “Oh wait. You do look cute never mind,” he snorted, looking at Sebastian who buried his face into my chest.
“You two are gonna kill him, my God. Bas, do you want some wine?”
“God yes,” he mumbled and I poured it for him, “Merci,” he immediately drained the glass and set it on the table, “more.”
“Sebastian I can’t take care of ya if you get drunk right now,” I poured slowly.
“I will be fine. I have a high tolerance. I used to drink two bottles a night by myself. I just want one or two more glasses. I promise to not get drunk.”
“Okay okay,” smiling, I pushed the glass to him, “I believe you.”
“You better,” he winked and I gripped the nape of his neck gently, the way he bit his lip as he closed his eyes sending my heart rate through the roof.
My sweet little kitten.
Well… not mine yet.
But almost.
You will be.
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