Chapter 61
So Proud Of you
Adrian and I spend the rest of the night in his room, making up for all the sexual frustration of the last couple months. The next morning, when we emerge from his room, we’re greeted with a round of applause. Most of our roommates, Robert of course, and his brother, are all lounging around the kitchen.
“Glad I came to visit with your friends while you made up with your girlfriend,” Brandon teases.
Adrian extends his arm, offering a fist bump. “I have you to thank, brother. After spending a couple hours with your boring ass, she practically threw herself at me.”
I smack his stomach. “Don’t be a dick to your brother, besides,” I say, dropping my chin to look at the room, “he was begging, like a kid in a candy store, for me to take his ass back.”
Adrian raises a brow. “Really? Who was begging last night?”
I smile, remembering that he did, in fact, have me begging. I crinkle my nose and raise my hand as I turn back to him. “That would be me.”
There’s an echo of “Ewws” and I think Robert may have gagged, but I don’t give a shit.
We all enjoy a couple hours of laying around and getting to know Brandon. Watching Adrian with his brother sheds light on yet another of his personalities. For the most part, he treats Brandon like a close friend, but there are definitely discussions in which Adrian takes the big brother role. Around lunchtime, Adrian asks a question and the answer changes the mood for the day.
“When do you have to go back?"
Brandon’s expression warns us his answer is not one Adrian is going to like.
"I've got four weeks."
Adrian looks confused. "Why so long? Don't get me wrong, it'll be nice having you around for a while, but you're usually not here for such a long period."
Brandon shakes his head looking forlorn. "I don't mean I have four weeks here in town, I mean I have four weeks before I deploy."
Well shit. This has been one of Adrian's biggest fears, second only to their dad coming back into their lives. Having been a surrogate parent to all four boys, responsible for their safety since their mom died. The idea of Brandon being on the front lines in war will gut him.
Adrian stands stoic for several seconds before he finally nods, accepting this is out of his hands. He extends his hand to shake Brandon’s, then pulls him into a tight hug.
I hear the catch and his voice as he begins to speak.
“Proud of you bud. I'll worry about you every fucking day… but I'm damn proud of you."
I glance around the room as I wipe away a tear, noticing that everyone else is doing the same.
I hear a slow clap begin and turn to see Robert has pushed to his feet. He increases the rhythm of the clap and is looking at all of us as though he expects us to follow. I shoot him a look that says sit your ass down.
He stops clapping and raises both his hands in a shrug. "It seemed like the right thing to do."
And just like that, he has managed to turn a room of crying people into a room of laughing friends.
***
That evening, while lying in bed, Adrian opens up and talks about his brother leaving.
"I feel like he told me he has a terminal disease. I mean, it’s not a far stretch. When he leaves, there's a chance I'll never see him again."
I know too well what it feels like to have somebody leave you and know you may never see them again.
I hold onto him and listen as he continues to talk about his fears. Even if I were the kind of person who knows how to comfort people, I'm not sure there are any words to give comfort at this time.
Chapter 62
I’m Not Your Wife
The week after Brandon’s visit is extremely eventful, but thankfully not because of mine and Adrian’s drama. No, this time it's all about Shyanne and Kade. The following couple of weeks play out like a suspense novel, and Kade is left waiting for her to make the decision, that will also be his fate.
Seeing Shyanne and Kade torn apart like this, has brought Adrian and I closer together. When I go to see Shy, and I see the pain in her eyes, I remember it all too well. Although unfortunate for Shy, her pain is pushing me closer to my happiness.
One day, when Adrian and I emerge, from a rather strenuous round of morning sex, we find Kade sulking in the living room.
"Oh shit," Adrian says when he sees Kade. "It's Captain Mopey Pants."
I slap him on the back of his head. "You need to be more supportive, even if he is being a stubborn ass," I say, narrowing my eyes on Kade.
Adrian holds his hands in the air as if he's seeking surrender, “Hey, I was supportive for the first week. Then Danny Downer started playing 80s love songs and crying himself to sleep every night. A roommate can only handle so much.”
"Shut the fuck up," Kade snaps. "Your jokes aren't funny anymore. Besides, tell me how you'd feel if Keegan left you?"
“That's just it,” Adrian practically yells as he leans into him, getting his face. “She didn't leave you. You left her, genius." He enunciates each word.
Looking uncomfortable, Kade changes the subject. “When are you all leaving for break?”
This is finals week, which means the semester is almost over, which means everyone leaves to go home to their families. I’m going to my mom’s and Adrian is going to his aunts. He’ll spend a few days at home with his family, and then he’ll come to stay with me for a week.
He’s been to my house and has met my mom and Christopher, but only once. With all our relationship drama and school, I’ve not had time to meet his family. But that all changes the week of Christmas.
***
Adrian comes to pick me up Christmas night. I told him I’d drive, but he insisted. He’s got a four-wheel drive, and the snow is two feet deep, so I let him have this one.
When we walk through the front door, everyone is waiting just inside. The woman, who must be his aunt Diane, is in front of the boys, wearing a smile that brightens the room. She’s a few inches shorter than me, has wavy black hair that’s cut to her chin, and she’s thinner than I am, which means she’s too thin.
With his hand on my back, Adrian nudges me toward her. “This is my wife, Keegan,” he says as his introduction.
I roll my eyes and stick out my hand to shake hers. “I’m not his wife,” I say, as Diane ignores my hand and pulls me into a hug. She’s not said anything, and she’s still smiling, so I’m assuming she’s familiar with his delusions.
When she releases me, I nod toward Adrian. “I would apologize for him being a dipshit, but since he’s your dipshit, I don’t see the point.”
She laughs, a soft, gentle laugh, then waves him off. “Trust me,” she says, “I stopped listening to the crap that comes out that boy’s mouth, years ago.”
As I properly introduce myself, Adrian grabs hold of the biggest of the three boys, putting him a headlock.
"That's Kylar,” Diane says, nodding to the boy holding his own against his big brother. “He idolizes Adrian.”
"Oh that's not good," I say, kinda teasing.
Diane laughs and gestures to the two younger boys standing nearby watching Adrian and Kylar wrestle.
"And that's the twins, Dakota and Dylan.”
The twins look like identical, smaller versions of Adrian. They are laughing and pointing at Kylar, who is now face down on the floor.
Diane waves them off and grabs my hand, towing me off to the kitchen with her. She begins talking about the boys, and shuffling around the kitchen, preparing dinner. She pushes a large bowl of cooked potatoes in front of me and hands me the mixer. Looking between her and the electrical device, I consider my options. I could try to mix the potatoes, and pray I don’t hurt anyone, or I can tell her about my lifetime ban from cooking, and risk her disappointing look.
Deciding the lives of Adrian’s family members is more important than my pride, I place the mixer on the counter and tap Diane on the shoulder, interrupting her talk of Kylar’s recent game. I give her a quick explanation of a couple fires, multiple stitches, two cases of possible food poisoning, and the blown circuit. After she recovers her horrified expression, Diane places a chair in the doorway of the kitchen, sits me on it, and instructs me to stay while she cooks. She continues bragging about the boys, and I continue to listen, enjoying every story.
During the meal, the three younger boys tell Adrian stories about each other, trying to get the other in trouble. I don’t eat much because I can’t stop smiling and taking in all their interactions. I feel like I’m watching some family on television, and there’s an audience somewhere laughing hysterically at this show.
After dinner, Diane begins to stand, clearing the table but quickly sits back down. Adrian doesn't miss the grimace of pain that crosses her face.
"What's wrong, Diane? Are you okay?"
Diane waves him off. "I'm fine, it's just a headache. I'm tired, and at my age it's a lot to drive to boys to football practice and one to soccer every day the week."
She smiles, but I can tell it’s forced. I also feel like that line has been rehearsed.
"I offered to quit football," Kylar says.
"No," Diane and Adrian both say at the same time.
Diane grimaces again, then sits back down.
"Football is the only thing keeping you out of jail or out of the pregnancy clinic downtown,” Adrian says, “Any more free time and you would have multiple girls knocked up in this town."
Kylar shakes his head. "No girl of mine is going to be getting pregnant." He wiggles his brow, attempting to look as sexy as a sixteen-year-old can. "I wrap it before I tap it."
I can't help the bark of laughter that escapes. When I was that age I know I thought it was hot when a guy would talk that way, but now, looking at a sixteen-year-old boy trying to look and sound sexy, it's just comical.
"Uh-huh," Adrian says. "And exactly how many times have you tapped it?"
I smack Adrian's head again and this time he yelps like a puppy. "Don't ask your brother how many times he's had sex. That's extremely inappropriate."
His aunt clears her throat and so we all turn to look at her. She's wearing a smirk and I'm glad to see this conversation hasn’t made her headache worse. "That's okay Keegan. This is one that I would love to hear. I mean if I've got myself an up and coming porn star, then this is information I surely need to know."
Our gazes all shift to Kylar, and he no longer looks like the cocky adolescent sex fiend he was a mere few seconds ago. His eyes are looking everywhere but at any of us and he's shifting uncomfortably in his seat. I can now see why Diane has allowed this conversation to go on. It's obvious he’s never had sex.
"Well,” he says, not making eye contact, “I almost did a couple of times, with this one girl. And I totally had a condom ready that time."
I cough to cover my laugh. I feel like I'm looking at and listening to a teenage Adrian.
“Right,” Diane says, standing again. “I’m going to bed, you boys clean up the dishes,” She points to the three younger boys, giving them a look only used by mothers who aren’t messing around.
“Yes, ma’am,” they all say, in unison.
Once Diane’s in bed and the kitchen is clean, Adrian and I spend the evening playing Heads Up with the boys. Thank God Diane’s room is on the other side of the second floor because we are loud. I laughed so hard I know I peed my pants a little. Of course, I had to announce it, grossing out the younger boys, but earning a kiss from Adrian.
I’m sad when I leave the next week. It’s been my mom, Christopher, and I since I was fifteen, and it was a somber household. I’d forgotten what it’s like to have family laugh together. I’ve fallen in love with Diane and the boys and promise to visit often.
***
Adrian
Before I go back to school, at the end of Christmas break, I double-check to be sure Diane has a doctor appointment scheduled. Although she tries to minimize them, I can tell her headaches are getting worse.
Also, before returning to school, I help her plan out the next semester for the boys—filling lunch accounts, scheduling carpools for sports, making sure they all have shoes and clothes that fit, and lecturing the boys on schoolwork. I also go grocery shopping the day before I leave, to stock the house with extras of everything.
The weekend before spring semester starts, I load up my car, give everyone hugs, and drive away, feeling like my life is going to change soon, but having no idea if it’s going to be for the good or the bad.