Page 29 of A Layperry's Hope
“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’reenjoyingbeing 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 chestachessomething 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 blessedwith 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 saysomethingor 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.
