Page 64 of Single Omega Dad
“You didn’t tell me you’re Saber’s financial guardian.”
“Oh, yeah. That was how we met.”
“I didn’t know you did that job at the bank.”
“Normally, not. But I was filling in for a friend.”
“Lucky for me,” Saber said, grinning. “He got me a new mortgage that kicked hundreds off my monthly payment.”
“I oughta be good for something,” I replied, letting one corner of my mouth crook up.
Saber laughed. “Agreed.”
Trigg just looked at us, his gaze going back and forth between our faces. Then he shrugged and said to Saber, “What can I say? My brother’s always been a genius with money.”
“What do you do?” Saber asked Trigg.
Trigg was off and running, fast-talking about his art teaching first, which was his passion, and then his design work. Saber kept up, though. He seemed very interested.
What I did for a living was dry in comparison. Sure, I crunched numbers. But mostly I kept up Father’s front. I was part of his brand, a money brand, but somehow Trigg had managed to squeeze out of that deal and go into his own thing.
Did I have a thing?
And why was I thinking all these questions right now?
It was annoying, all these thoughts going through my head, so I turned my attention to the boys and commented on the puzzles they were solving on their kiddie placemats. It was a good distraction and they never asked me questions that were difficult or required me to probe deeply into my own psyche. What a relief.
Dinner went by quickly with good food and drinks. I was glad Saber and Trigg were getting along. Something about seeing my brother and my lover casually talking, smiling, laughing made a lot of the deeper worries inside me recede. If they were happy, then my own situation might not be too far off from the same. This was the logic I used, along with a couple beers, to help me relax.
On the way out of the restaurant, in the darkness of the parking lot, Trigg came up to me while Saber was helping the boys into their car seats.
“This one’s a keeper,” he said.
“We’ll see.”
“Why do you say that? I mean it. I can see the bond forming between you. Smell it.”
“I don’t know.”
“You’re not holding back because he’s pregnant?” Trigg whispered.
“Gods no. Although Father would have a field day.”
“Fuck Father,” Trigg hissed. “Just—what about you? A ready-made family. You ready for that?”
I never thought I’d want to be. I didn’t answer him. Also, what I said was true. Father would possibly disown me. That fact was not as simple as it sounded. Father and his ideas and his expectations were deeply ingrained in me.
“You need to be ready, Math, because if you fuck this up, you’ll regret it forever. I can tell.”
I grunted in response. It was all I would allow him at this moment because Saber was ready to go and now looking at both of us expectantly.
Trigg said, “I had a good time this evening,” he said to Saber. “Such a pleasure meeting you!”
“Me, too!” Saber eyed me. “I didn’t know Mathias would have such a charming brother. Maybe I picked the wrong one?” He winked at me.
Trigg laughed. “You,” he said gesturing to Saber, “are much too sweet for this dour guy.”
“Let’s leave before this nice evening is ruined,” I heard myself mumble. I held the door open for Saber, who slid into his seat. Then I walked around my car to the driver’s side.
