Page 4 of Stained Hearts
“They what?”
He turned away, and I had to strain to hear his voice. “I’ve shamed my family. Dishonored them in the worst way. I am now alone in the world, as my father has said he no longer has a son. He told me I could never use my true name again, as it would disgrace him and my family.”
“Your true name?”
A sound like he’d been hit in the stomach emanated from him. “My name is… was… Jun Chen.”
He stood there, a look of absolute devastation on his face. I reached out and put a hand on his arm, stroking it gently.
“No. Your name is what you want, not what he says. If you want to be Jun, then we’ll call you Jun.”
His eyes welled with tears. “You don’t understand. I can’t be Jun any longer. I won’t shame my father.”
I was desperate to stop him from crying. No one that beautiful should ever be so unhappy. “We can fix this.”
He snorted. “You always need to be the white knight, don’t you? There are some things you can’t fix, you know. I can no longer be Jun.”
Anger bubbled up inside me at his words, but I stomped it down. It was his choice, and he’d claimed Brian, so that’s what it would be.
“Then Brian it is. It’s my pleasure to know you.”
He smiled, but then his eyes went wide. “You can’t tell anyone. Promise me.”
“I swear I won’t. You’re Brian, and that’s all that matters.”
“But your parents….”
“My family will love you. I promise. My mother will take one look at you, and she’s going to push me aside just so she can throw her arms around you. And my father? He’s going to say it’s about time I found someone.”
The moment the words left my mouth, I regretted them. I hadn’t even told Brian yet that I cared for him. When he smiled and pulled me down to plant a soft, gentle kiss on my lips, I was confused for a moment.
“I’m glad you found someone. I’m especially glad that someone is me.”
And then he kissed me for real. It was sweet and chaste, and it melted my insides. With that one act, Brian Chen owned my heart.
It was exactly as I’d said. When we stepped into the house, Mom turned and her gaze landed on Brian, who stood in the doorway, his hands at his side, trembling. He’d worried his lower lip all the way to Milwaukee, and it had left a bleeding divot in the skin. Without a word, she rushed forward and gathered him up in her arms. He stood stock-still for a moment, until she whispered something in his ear. Then he sobbed and sank into her embrace.
“I know.” She kept saying it while rubbing his back. “You’re safe here. You’ll always be welcome in our home.”
That made him cry harder and made me love him all the more. He wore his heart out in the open where everyone could see, but he was used to people bruising it, not treating it as something precious.
Things took a turn when my father entered the room. The thing about my dad—he was a big man. He was like a quintessential lumberjack with boulders for biceps and a big, broad frame, even though he’d never hefted an axe in his life. Wide in the chest and stomach, with a headful of red hair, a bushy beard and mustache, and piercing blue eyes that when he turned his gaze in Robert’s or my direction, there wasn’t any way we could help but feel like a bug trapped in a jar. I remembered full well when he’d glare at me after I’d gotten home late. He didn’t have to say anything to make me break down and confess my sins.
So, of course, when Brian saw him, he tried to step back.
Mom held him tight. “I told you, you’re safe here. Don’t be afraid. He might look gruff, but he’s got a marshmallow heart.”
Dad stepped over and held out his big beefy hand. “It’s good to meet you.”
Mom let Brian go, and the way his gaze darted around the room, I was afraid I’d have to run after him. Instead, I moved in, wrapped my arm around his waist, and squeezed. He sucked in a deep breath and reached out to take Dad’s hand.
“It’s a pleasure to meet you, sir.” Then, seemingly flustered, he went a different route. “I mean, Mr. Kotke.”
Mom stroked Brian’s arm. “We don’t stand on formality here.”
Dad smiled. “My name is Dwight. Please, call me that.”
“And I’m Rachel.” She leaned in close and stage-whispered, “But you’re welcome to call me Mom, if you want.”
