Chapter Eleven
Joaquim
#FoundMyOmega #NowWhat
I’d never been one of those people whose gaze is anchored to his phone all the time. Mostly because I was either too busy or too tired to care. But ever since Harris showed me Brent’s picture, I could barely concentrate on my work, which wasn’t like me at all.
Man, I had it bad.
I got a text from my dad, demanding I video him as soon as possible.
After I got off work, I was dead tired but videoed him anyway, not wanting to upset him.
“Hey, Dad. What’s up?”
“Is it you everyone is talking about? They are saying the guy’s name is Joaquim and that he’s a nurse. Is it you and that New Orleans guy?”
His face, bright and cheerful, beamed over the chat line.
“Yeah, that’s me, but how did you find out?”
“Well, someone I know does the Tweeter so she told me about it after I mentioned you.”
She. My dad didn’t have a she in his life—or did he?
“She? Something you want to tell me, Dad? Are you dating?”
I wished he was. My mom had been gone long enough for him to date, and my dad was a social man. He loved to go to parties and hang out with his friends playing dominoes. I’d been encouraging him to date for a while.
“We went out a few times. Maybe I had a magical night like you did with Brent.”
I smiled at him, but inside I knew that no one ever, in the history of nights together, had a night like Brent and I had.
Period.
“I’m happy for you, Dad. I’m glad you’re getting out there. Mom wouldn’t want you to be alone.”
He shrugged. “So what are you doing about Brent?”
Brent. I loved the sound of his name.
“There’s nothing I can do but wait. I sent him the video, and I’m not sure if he’s seen it or what. A waiting game. It’s the worst, Dad.”
“I know, mijo. Waiting for someone you love can be the worst thing in the world. Is there something I can do? Something to help you find him?”
“No. There’s not. Are you okay with this, Dad?”
“I’m more than ready to have you settled and giving me grandchildren, if that’s what you’re asking. That is what you’re asking, right?”
I chuckled. “Kind of, yes.”
“Good. Invite me to the wedding when you find him.”
“Yes, sir.”
“Okay. Celia is going to teach me to tweeter or whatever it’s called so I can keep up with the sexy nurse.” He laughed hard and hearty.
“Okay, Dad. Whatever you say. Love you.”
“I love you, too, Son. You’ll find him soon. Don’t worry.”
We hung up, and I couldn’t help but hang on his last words. I was worried, worried as hell that Brent would never see that video and that the picture I now kept as my wallpaper would be the last time I ever saw him.
Until he was in my arms again, that worry would remain.
A text came in from Harris right before I hopped into the shower.
Get on Twitter, like now.
Wrapped only in a towel, I grabbed my phone and scrolled through Twitter. I had so many notifications lately, it was hard to keep up, so usually I didn’t. There was only one tweet I was looking for.
I noticed a little red number at the top by my picture that I’d never seen before and clicked on it. A ton of messages were on there, but it was the latest one that piqued my interest.
Hello. I am Brent’s cousin Kayson. He’s here in Mapleville. If you want to see him, call me.
Below the message was another one containing this Kayson’s phone number and a pic of Brent, much better than the one I already had.
With my other hand, I grabbed the bathroom counter for balance. Brent, this guy who for all intents and purposes I was madly in love with and had searched for months to find was simply a phone call and a flight away. Well, a flight and possibly a car drive.
With shaking hands, I pushed the number, and it led to the phone picture popping up. I only had to press the green button in order to find him.
Just one button.
And so I did.
“Hello?” someone answered on the first ring.
“Hello. Is this Kayson?”
A lot of shuffling and the sound of a shutting door came through the phone before he replied. “This is Kayson. Is this who I think it is?”
“Um.” I ran a hand through my hair. “This is Joaquim.”
The guy on the other line let out a little squeal. “Hello, Joaquim, I’m Brent’s cousin. Before I tell you where he is, I have one question.”
This was all happening a little too fast, but at the same time, not fast enough.
“What’s that?”
“Do you love him?”
I hefted out a breath that carried all the stress and anxiety I’d held inside my chest for so long. I only had a few visions of Brent, but they were so close to my heart that my brain had a hard time remembering sometimes. I could hear his voice in my ears as I slept, calling my name. Sometimes I smelled the scent of him when I was by myself. I woke in the middle of the night, calling out his name.
Love was the least of what I felt for Brent and I didn’t even know his last name.
I wanted him to have my last name one day.
So my answer took almost no thought at all.
“Of course I love him. I think I have since I first saw him. Does that sound stupid?”
Kayson made a sound of approval. “No, J, it sounds just right. So, tell me, how fast can you get on a plane? I have a plan.”