Page 17 of Trouble in Love
“Dude! How fucking thin are these walls?”
It may only have been one hour and twenty minutes since we left Sydney but schlepping from the plane at Ballina-Byron airport felt like stepping back in time. There was no fancy-covered gangway. Just mobile stairs to trudge down and a short walk across the cone-lined tarmac toward the terminal. By this stage, any cortisone or dopamine or whatever-the-fuck hormones make you feel like the king of the world after multiple orgasms were gone. Poof! Sayonara. Just like that.
“How long are we staying here?” I grumped to Teddy, who sympathetically rested his head on my shoulder. “Because I do not want to see another plane for a long time.”
“Lucky you have a month to recover then, Hot Hockey Man.”
It seemed fatigue was affecting Asher, too. Tolerance of his man’s flirting was down to record levels. “You do know I’m right beside you, Ted? Are we ever going to lose HHM?”
With a single-handed flourish, Asher was dismissed. “I’m just pumping him up for the locals, babe. He’s not famous down here, you know. He needs all the help that he can get; I mean, look at him. What chance does he stand snagging another piece of tail just being a normal 6’4, gorgeous Adonis?”
Jovial affection I couldn’t have imagined feeling just twenty-four hours earlier, zipped through me like an awesome pre-workout. As annoying as he could be, I had to admit that Teddy had the most amazing zest for life. Even yesterday, after the four-hundred-hour flight, a sleepless night, and a morning spent listening to me get off, he was still chipper. Whatever he was on, I wanted it.
“Thanks for thinking of me, Ted.”
“Anytime, babe.” Taking Asher’s hand, he winked before steeling his always cheeky expression into something akin to seriousness. “Now, Luca, I need to remind you again. Evie is one of my dearest, most loved friends. But she is also terrifying and likely to tear you apart. She may well nurse you back to health once she’s done, but you don’t want to wait and see if that will be the case. With that in mind, remember the following. Don’t tell her to calm down. Never imply she’s overreacting, and never, ever mention her height … or remotely tell her what to do, or—–.”
“Or,” Asher interrupted, “look at her from the corner of your eye or blink rapidly. Nate calls her Gidget, but for the love of fuck, you can’t. And definitely never imply ballet is not a sport. Learned that the hard way.” He protectively cupped his groin, and Ted tapped his chin, lost deep in thought.
“Good point, Ashy. We couldn’t have sex for a week after that.” He stopped and stared into the distance like a daytime soap star before rushing to catch me. “You know what, Luca? It’s probably best if you don’t look or say anything to her unless she speaks to you first.”
Unease prickled beneath my skin. “And we’re staying with this woman for more than a month? Great. Can’t wait.”
Asher offered further reassurance as we entered the terminal, but it mostly drifted in one ear and out the other. I was too distracted by Teddy screaming like a banshee and waving at four of the best-looking people I’d ever seen, two guys, and two girls: a bisexual man’s dilemma.
What is it with airports and hot people?At first, I had no idea who to focus on, but when a tall blond guy I recognized from Ted’s photos as Finn, flashed a killer smile, and ran his hand through his curly, golden locks I quickly made up my mind.
“Teddy,” I thought I whispered while elbowing him in the ribs. “Heterosexuality is such a fucking waste.”
“That’s what I always say! I really do think we’re becoming best friends, Luca. Our bond is almost … spiritual.”
“Excuse me.” Unable to hide her smile, a beautiful redheaded woman scanned me suspiciously. “I believe you’re objectifying my husband and stealing my best friend before we’ve even been introduced.” She then launched herself at Teddy, almost knocking him off his feet with her exuberance before burying her face into the crook of his neck.
“Fuck my heart, Scar,” Teddy gasped, “You smell amazing. Let’s ditch this lot and go make out by the beach.”
That one cuddle was a crack in the dam, leading to another, then another, then swoosh. A tsunami of love the likes of which I’d never seen flooded the terminal. It was glorious to watch but painful, too. Agony. Once again, I was surrounded by love and joy, yet none of it was mine.
Maybe this was a bad idea.
Feeling utterly alone, I scanned the signage, seeking direction before heading for the luggage carousels.
“Hey! Where are you off to, big fella? Not making a break for it already, are ya?” A strong hand gripped my elbow. “Geez. You’re the size of a brick shit house. What does your poor bloody mother feed you?”
Kind of stunned, I managed to stammer, “Pasta mainly.”
“Sounds about right. Oh, I’m Nate. You must be Luca.” Before I could respond, it was my turn to be wrapped in a warm, sticky embrace. Actually, warm didn’t begin to describe it. It wasn’t even summer, but the air was moist and as thick as the layer of sweat I’d amassed in minutes. “Welcome to Byron.” He slapped me on the back a few times, then released me, glancing over his shoulder as Teddy disappeared beneath a mass of red and blonde curls.
“They really missed him, by the look of it.” I smiled.
“You could say that. Admittedly, it has been a long time. The surrogacy planning means the boys haven’t met Finn and Scar’s little girl, Shelby, and she’ll be one before we know it. Or our four, but still. They’re as mad as cut snakes, the lot of them.” Yawning as he spoke, Nate stretched his long arms above his head. “Speaking of babies, this is the first time we’ve been away from the baby twins since they were born.” Rocking back on his heels, he scratched his belly as his eyes slowly closed.
“Wake up, dip.” Finn cruised up beside him, shaking my hand before nudging his brother-in-law awake with his elbow. “Look at the girls, would you? Ted’s been here five seconds, and they’re hanging on every word.”
Nate glanced over his shoulder and nodded. “It’s a bit of a worry. Evie’s still recovering from the cesarean. Hope she doesn’t laugh too hard and bust a stitch.”
While the boys grossed each other out with birthing stories, I zeroed in on identifying which of the hundred generic black spinner cases before me was mine. I had nothing against babiesand the process in which they arrived. A wife by my side, carrying our child, creating our family I could lavish praise and love and attention on was something I dreamed of. Having said that, when I thought of babies, I thought of Clara... and Dallas.
Fuck him for stealing that dream, too.
