My phone rang, and I did my best to ignore it.

“Lulu, your phone,” Dorian muttered before snuggling into my neck.

“For me to get it, you have to let go of me.”

He sighed but lifted one arm, allowing me to sit up. “New rule, no early calls after keeping me up all night.”

“I kept you up?”

“Are you denying it?”

“We kept each other up,” I giggled as he kissed my back.

I leaned over him to pick up the phone and looked at the screen. It was Eva.

“H-Hello?” I shivered as Dorian kissed back up my back.

“Are you okay?” Eva asked. I was about to wiggle away from him when his phone rang. It seemed the real world wasn’t going to let him have his way.

“Damn it,” he hissed, rolling over to get it.

“I’m fine, how are you?”

“What’s going on? You sound off.” Leave it to Eva to see right through me, even on the phone. I wasn’t fine, I was amazing.

“Sorry, I’ve had a lot going on.” Mostly Dorian and I screwing each other every spare chance we could.

“Do you need me to—”

“Don’t worry, Alaric and I are fine. You don’t have to look after me.”

She snorted. “If I don’t, who will? I was calling to ask when you guys are coming home. Alaric has school on Monday, remember?”

It was Saturday. Dorian was sitting up, his expression serious and annoyed. “Goldie, I don’t care if he’s called ten times. Hang up on him. Better yet, let go of the shares we already own.” He got out of bed, not caring that he was naked.

“Lulu?”

“Huh? Oh, I’m not sure when we will be home,” I said, more worried about Dorian’s conversation.

“Does Alaric need a new uniform?”

Shit.

“I will order it online right now.”

“I’ll pick it up at the store.”

I loved her. “Thank you. I will wire you the money.”

“Any money you have, you should be saving—”

“I paid off the debt, Eva.” I leaned back against the headboard. “I’m free, and I have more than enough to finally take care of anything else.”

“Wow. When did that happen? Why didn’t you tell me?”

Dorian went into the bathroom, and I lowered my voice. “Because things between Dorian and I kind of—”

“Lulu!”

“I know what you’re going to say, but it just feels so right, and I don’t want to fight it.”

I heard her sigh before someone called her name in the background. “I have to go, we’ll talk later. Love you.”

“Love you too, thanks again for his uniform. We’ll get any other supplies he needs while we’re here,” I replied, not noticing what I had said until afterward.

Hanging up, I took a deep breath and just fell back onto the pillows.

“Everything okay?” Dorian came out of the bathroom with a towel around his waist. I smiled, staring at all of him.

“Eva reminded me the week is almost over. I don’t want to leave, but Alaric has to get ready for school.”

“We can leave tomorrow night. I promised to take Alaric golfing, but I might be on calls all day.” He approached the bed, and I sat up, allowing the sheets to pool at my waist. I was naked from the waist up.

His eyebrow rose. “And you said you weren’t the reason I didn’t sleep last night.”

“It’s a two-way street, Mr. Rhys-Gallagher.” I got up onto my knees in front of him.

His gaze traveled my body. “I can live with that.”

He stroked me from my shoulders down to my thighs, and I grabbed his cock. His blue eyes glazed over, and his lips parted slightly as he cupped my pussy. I stroked him, and he fingered me.

“Mommy?” Alaric’s voice called from his room, and I could hear footsteps.

“Shit.” I let go of him, and he handed me his shirt.

“We will have more than enough time together soon.”

“Okay—”

“Mommy?”

I went to his room. He was wearing his Thor pajamas and staring down at Hercules.

“Baby, what is it—”

He held up a hand. “Stop.”

“What?”

“Hercules had an accident, and I stepped in it.” I saw the wet spot on the carpet. “Is Dad going to be mad?”

“No. Why don’t you get ready for a bath? I will handle Hercules.”

He gave the dog a hug, then me, and started taking off his clothes.

“Alaric,” I called loudly and waved to get his attention. “Today we get school supplies. Think of everything you need.”

“A cellphone?” He signed with mock innocence.

“Funny. Keep thinking.”

He pouted, heading into the bathroom. I crouched in front of Hercules. “You are the only dog left, Hercules. I know it’s a lot of pressure, but you have to be strong.”

He barked at me.

“Don’t raise your voice—”

“Are you having a conversation with my dog?” Dorian stood in the doorway in sweatpants and a T-shirt.

“I thought you were going to take a shower?”

“I was, but I wanted to make sure Alaric was all right. Even if he doesn’t see you first thing in the morning, he still never yells out.” He glanced around the room.

“He’s getting ready for a bath, but he wanted to let me know Hercules had an accident.” I rose, pointing to the stain on the rug. Hercules whimpered and shined his big doggy eyes at Dorian, as if to say he was sorry.

Dorian patted his head. “What’s wrong, boy?”

“He isn’t sick, is he?”

“I’ll have him checked out. Go take care of Alaric. I got this.”

“Let me know.” I moved to leave, and he stopped me. “What?”

“Kiss me.”

“Ew.” Alaric watched us from the bathroom, butt naked. Rolling his eyes, he retreated and closed the door.

After a stunned moment, we burst into laughter.

DORIAN

Showered and dressed, I sat behind the desk in the study as Goldie got ready to patch me through to a video conference with the board members of Edmund Enterprises.

“Mr. Rhys-Gallagher, are you ready?”

“Yes.” The screen came on, and once again I was staring at all the idiots. “You wished to speak with me, here I am. Note that the statement I made last week about wasting my time is still in effect.”

“Mr. Rhys-Gallagher, we wanted to see if you could delay some cuts until next quarter,” a woman said.

“And why is that?”

“We got a call from the governor—”

“Is the governor now the CEO of Rhys-Gallagher National?”

“No, sir, but—”

“Then why the hell would I give a damn what he wants?”

A few of them whispered among themselves.

“Mr. Rhys-Gallagher,” the older woman said. “Edmund Enterprises oversaw more than a hundred department stores and hotels, closing half of them will—”

“Look bad?” I finished. “Moreover, look worse for the governor, since he is running for re-election?”

None of them spoke.

“Seeing as all of you would rather bargain with governors for favors than do your jobs or use your heads, let me remind you why I’m closing forty-seven stores, twelve of them in this city alone. It was your choices that led to empty shelves, atrocious locations, and unexciting merchandise. There are videos on YouTube of employees skateboarding down aisles because there is nothing else to do. Keeping these stores may look nice, but I will not continue to pay for the failed experiment that is E&E. It will not only cost billions down the line but hurt the economy. Tell that to the governor when you go back to kiss his ass. My answer is ‘no'. Am I clear? Brilliant. Have a good day, ladies and gentlemen.” I ended the call.

“Would you like me to call the governor’s office, sir?” Goldie asked, still on the line.

I pulled off the tie I had put on for this meeting. “No, just ignore him for now.”

“Like Mr. Sinclair?”

“Goldie,” I groaned, not wanting to think of that old fool.

“Mr. Rhys-Gallagher, please explain to me what happened with Mr. Sinclair?”

I closed my eyes, rubbing my temples. “The deal with Sinclair is dead. I used to think he had good insight despite his flaws, but I no longer trust him nor wish to do business with him. It didn’t work with my father, and it won’t work for me. That is all I shall say on the matter.”

“Of course, sir. Have a good day.” She hung up.

I reached into the cabinet drawer for some aspirin.

“You okay?” Luella asked. She was in shorts and an oversized white blouse.

“Yes, just work.”

She strolled over and sat on the desk, her bare feet swinging back and forth. “Do you like your work?”

“Do I like it?” I repeated slowly, not sure how to answer.

“I will take that as a ‘no'.”

“Can’t I think?” I latched onto her leg.

“No, because when you like what you do, when you love it, you don’t need to think about it. Even on bad or hard days, you still love everything.”

“Do you love cooking?”

“Yes. I love food. I’m secretly jealous of Anthony Bourdain. Actually, that’s a lie, I’m openly jealous of Anthony Bourdain. It would be amazing to travel around the world, tasting and learning about different cultures through the food they eat. In my dream life, that is what I would be doing.”

“Your dream life?”

“Everyone has one.”

“I don’t.”

“I call bullshit,” she said with the worst southern accident I’d ever heard, which was probably what made it so damn cute.

“I really don’t have one—”

She jumped off the desk and went around behind my chair, placing her hands over my eyes.

“What are you doing?” Alaric asked.

Her hands lifted and she signed, “We are looking for your dad’s dream.”

“Can I help?”

“Sure.” I held my arms open for him, and he ran toward me. “What do you want to do when you grow up, Alaric?”

“I want to be a soccer player.” He even pretended to kick a ball.

“Try speaking, Alaric,” I said.

“I…I want to be a soccer player when I get older.”

“When did that happen? I thought you wanted to be a pilot?” Luella asked him.

He looked at her like he didn’t understand the question. “I’m going to do that on the weekends.”

I felt the need to add a mental duh. It was funny and inspiring how kids believed they could do anything, and it made me wonder when we stopped believing. “Alaric just reminded me what my dream was.”

“What?” He got excited. “Did you want to play soccer too?”

“I wanted to be a photographer,” I confessed.

“Really?” Luella leaned against the desk.

“I loved taking photos, but my dad told me that wasn’t a real job, and I should forget about it.” And because I’d lived to please my father, I did. Almost completely.

“You won’t tell me to forget about soccer?” Alaric asked.

“Never. You’re going to beat even Lionel Messi.”

He nodded proudly at himself, like he could already see it happening.

“Who is Lionel Messi?”

Alaric and I gasped at Luella’s ignorance.

“Tell her, Alaric.”

“He’s only the number one soccer player ever.” He threw his hands wider to show just how great he was.

“I thought that was David Beckham?” she asked to his horror.

Alaric slapped his forehead.

“I know, what are we going to do with her?” I tried to be as serious as he was but I couldn’t, I was shaking with laughter.

“Teach her.” He made a fist. “We are watching all the matches.”

“Are we?” Luella crossed her arms.

He gave her a look. “Please.”

“After we get your school supplies. Which reminds me, why are we here to begin with? Do you want to come with us?”

“Sure, but I’m driving this time.”

“You make it sound like there’s something wrong with my driving.” Alaric and I headed for the foyer.

“Well, Mommy—”

I clasped a hand over his mouth.

“Hey!” She chased after us.

Who knew this would be my life?

RAFAEL

I stood outside the hospital room, staring at my family through the glass. If it hadn’t been for the news, I would never have heard my father had a heart attack. He’d always thought he was so tough, like nothing could hurt him. He needed to slow down, but Chief Gonzalo Morales always had to prove he could do it all. I took the fact that he was now being forced to relax for a while and seeing him play chess with my sister as proof that he was okay. Placing the flowers on the trolley outside his room, I turned to leave.

“Rafael?”

My grandmother appeared, hunched over a cane, a piece of chocolate in her hand, as always.

“Abuela?” I whispered.

She lifted the flowers I put down, waving it as if it were a bat. “Rafael Felipe Esteban Diego Alejandro Morales, after a year you can’t even hug me? Tú y tu padre son dos cabezas de cerdo. Lo menos que podrías haber hecho fue venir a mí. No tenía idea de dónde estabas o si estabas vivo. Oh, si supieras lo preocupado que estaba.” You and your father are two pig heads. The least you could have done was come to me. I had no idea where you were or if you were alive. Oh, if you only knew how worried I was.

Before she finished ranting at me, I pulled her into my arms. I knew she was trying not to cry.

“I was so worried about you, mi hijo.” My son.

At least there was one person. “I’m all right, Abuela.”

“It’s not about you, it’s about me.” She smacked my back.

I laughed. Yeah, if there was anyone I could relate to, it was Abuela.

She looked me over. “You’re too skinny.”

“I’m fine, and you look fine too,” I added before she could hit me again.

“Go. Let us see your father.”

“You know as well as I do that he does not want to see me.” I stuck my hands in my pockets. “I’m a homosexual.”

“Congratulations, now come.” She pulled me into the room.

I really wished she hadn’t. I could handle watching them be happy without me. What sickened me was how cold and uncomfortable everything became when I stepped into the room, like I was death.

“Get him out.” My father looked away.

“Mi hijo—”

“Madre, le quiero fuera. Go!” Mother, I want him out. He spat at my feet.

“I’m glad to see you’re still well enough to hate.” I smiled and avoided Abuela's reach when she tried to take my hand. Shaking my head, I moved to the door.

“You think I want to hate my only son? You think I take pleasure in turning my back on you. I had so many dreams for you, so many high hopes—”

“That was the problem,” I snapped. “Your dreams somehow meant more than mine. What you wanted was supposed to trump who I am. What I want. I’m sorry. I love myself too much to let you make my dreams for me. I love you, Papa. I always will, but nothing will change who I am.”

“Rafael, you should go—”

“Of course.” I cut my mother off before she could hurt me any more. My father yelled, and she always just looked away.

“Bye, Paulina.” I waved to my baby sister, running away as fast as I could. I ended up in the stairwell. I screamed, smacking the wall until my hand burned. I finally just sat down.

Pulling out my phone to call Goldie, I saw I’d missed a message from Dorian. What the hell have you done now? I played the voicemail.

“Rafael, I am currently inside some store called Uncle Esteban Supplies because my son needs school supplies. I have no idea how the hell this became my life.” He sighed, but he sounded happy. “Anyway, I was getting lectured by Russell last night, and he brought you up. He told me you call your family every weekend, only to have your father insult you. I advise you to stop. I always sought my father’s approval too, and even now that he’s gone, part of me is always seeking his approval. Truth is, neither you nor I need that. You, Rafael—I would say your full name but it’s way too damn long—are a good person and good friend. The fact that the Chief can’t see that is his fault, not yours. We will talk more when I get back. Now delete this message, because I swear if it is—” Beep.

I laughed. What did he do, go on a spiritual retreat? I reached up to wipe my eye, and my arm ached.

“Ah shit.” I gasped at the redness of my hand. “Way to go, Rafael, you think you’re Superman now and can hit walls?”

I’m losing it.

I texted the only other person who’d understand how I felt. Talk me off the edge. I just visited my father in the hospital.

Her reply was, “Ain’t life a bitch like that.”

Oh God, thank you for my friends. They often make up for my family.