Chapter 22 - Austin

Sometimes I wish I were a pigeon, so I could fly over certain people’s heads and shit on them.

~ Walker Thomas

“How much longer are you going to sulk? Because I got to tell you, bro, it’s getting real old real fucking fast.”

Ignoring Walker who leaned against the partly demolished bar beside me, I glared at the red drink Savannah had made up for him which he currently sucked back through a straw. I had been working my ass off on my sister’s bar all morning while my lazy-ass noob of a friend provided running commentary.

“What’s with the liquor before noon?” I asked.

Walker shook his head at me, a disappointed look on his face.  “Rules were made to be broken; that’s been our motto for the last fifteen years. This right here,” he lifted the blood red drink, “is a Bloody Mary, otherwise known as a hair of the dog. Mac and I went to Ibiza for a few days. I swear I left my fucking sanity in that crazy place.” Walker grinned, his eyes glazing over with memories. “You have to go, dude. They had half naked chicks dancing in giant champagne glasses . . . not that I was looking. Mac would curse my kahunas or something.”

My jaw had dropped open and I simply stared at him. Ibiza? Fucking Ibiza? He spoke casually of the trip as if he’d run down to the corner store for milk and bread.

“What?” Walker asked as his thoughts returned to present. Leaning forward, he checked his fly was up before checking he hadn’t spilled his drink without noticing.

“You went to Ibiza?” I said in a mystified voice.

“Dude, I would have invited you but you are a fucking Debbie Downer right now and taking your brooding ass to a party island would have sucked balls.”

Glancing around, I made sure we were still alone in the bar. My sister had ducked out to run a few errands and the other tradesmen who had been working in the bar all morning had taken the opportunity to have a break.

“So,” I began, running a nervous hand through my hair, I couldn’t believe we were about to have this conversation. Never, ever, did I think this would be my life. “You really are okay with this whole immortal shit?”

Walker huffed out a breath of air and took his time in answering my question. “The way I see it, it’s not much different to Mac being French or Swedish or some other sexy as shit nationality.”

I opened my mouth to speak, but the words I wanted to say weren’t there. Not much different to being French? Was he for real? This wasn’t an issue of ethnicity. This was two different beings from two different worlds! Hell, it was like dating ET, and Walker’s alien was the daughter of Hades! It was fair to say that I was having some trouble with Bee’s admission. Her confession shook up the foundations of everything I had ever believed. I’d been brought up a good Catholic boy who had trouble with the ‘good’ part. Nevertheless, I had beliefs and they’d crashed and burned the night Bee had told me there was not one god but, hundreds!

“Okay,” Walker said, turning to give me his undivided attention, placing his Bloody Mary to one side. “I can see you’re struggling, so let me help. What’s really got your junk twisted in knots? Are you scared of her father? Because I get that, he is a god and he could turn you into a motherfucking goat if he wanted to.”

That brought me up short. “He can? Well, fuck me. I wasn’t worried about him, but I am now,” I spat out, a little exasperated.

“He’s not going to turn you into a goat, and even if he did, I’m sure Mac or Bee could reverse it, or at the very least hook you up with a smokin’ hot lady goat so you’re not lonely. What else is bothering you?”

I shook my head at the easy way Walker brushed off my fears. “I’m not sure I want to live forever,” I confessed, and I wasn’t sure Walker would understand it. Unlike me, Walker was a fly by the seat of his pants type person, he didn’t think about the future quite like I did; hell, he barely thought past the next minute of his life. Where I liked to plan and have a direction in mind, Walker floated through life opening new doors as they appeared. “I like my life the way it is. I don’t want it to change.”

“Okaaaayyyyy,” Walker drew out. “Explain to me why living forever, never getting sick, and not having to worry about disease is a problem? I mean, you will never suffer from erectile dysfunction.” Walker slapped me on the back. “They should put that on the brochure. And who says your life is going to change? The girls like hanging out here in humanland, you can split your time between homes, and if you don’t want to be a kept man, which is just crazy talk, you can keep up the Noah’s ark stuff.”

While I wanted to smile at Walker’s logic, I couldn’t, because as far as I was concerned, it wasn’t logical.

“What about watching your family die? Burying your parents, your brothers and sisters, your nieces and nephews?”

Walker’s playful facade disappeared.

“I’m hearing you. I’ve thought about that, but Mac told me when I’m made immortal I’ll be able to hold an illusion that will help me age so I can keep in touch with my family. And as for burying them? Many children have to go through the heart break of watching their parents die, that’s life, mortal life. And what’s to say your sister won’t get hit by a bus while grabbing lunch? The way I see it, is living forever gives you the chance to watch over your family, to be there for future generations. Burying your family is going to hurt a shit-ton, no matter if your mortal or immortal. Man, you like this girl, like really like her, I can tell, and you’re going to give up the chance because you’re scared?” Walker shook his head. “Grow a set,” he scoffed.

I was speechless. I had never known Walker to be profound or the voice of reason. It was an odd feeling to have my childish best friend talking to me as if I were the immature one.

“She lied to me,” I grumbled almost mulishly. It was one of my deal breakers, and she had broken the rule. To be honest, though, I got why she did it. I was just grabbing on to excuses, but I wasn’t sure why. Probably like Walker said, I was scared and really needed to grow a set.

Walker snorted. “No, she didn’t, she simply withheld information until the time was right. Telling you who she is was a deep moment, something she wouldn’t waste on just anybody. She was making sure you were ‘the one.’ Remember that mythical being you spoke about like a vagina growing pussy?”

“I’m supposedly her potential soul mate, and she knew that from the beginning.”

“But you blatantly ignored her from the beginning. You had no interest in her until Decker’s wedding! That’s on you, dude.”

Again, voice of fucking reason. My shoulders slumped. Truth of the matter was, I liked Bee, really liked her, possibly loved her. Was I that gutless that I would walk away because she was different from me? And was she really that different from me? I would never know unless I gave it a chance.

“Lunch is up!” called out Savannah as she strolled back into the bar with a bag hanging from one hand.

“Damn, woman, I could kiss you!” Walker growled which was promptly followed by a yelp. I gave him a wary look and Walker grinned. “Mac,” he mouthed. “Just kidding,” he added loudly. “I wouldn’t kiss anyone who wasn’t my beautiful, sexy, future baby-momma!”

Savannah looked at him as if he’d grown horns before clearing a table to spread out their lunch.

“Mac is here?” I whispered, wondering if she had just heard our conversation.

“Nope, but after watching the near naked dancers in Ibiza she did her magic mojo and made it so any time I flirt or show affection to someone of the opposite sex, who isn’t a family member, I get zapped with an electrical charge.” I was kind of horrified. “It’s my own fault. I dared her to do it because there is no way I’d ever want anyone but her. Seems like the mojo is a little uncompromising, though.”

We sat down at the table with Savannah and I watched my sister dig into her burger. Savannah and I were close, we’d even lived together during college. I thought about being able to watch her children grow, and being there for her children’s children, making sure they wanted for nothing, kind of like a guardian angel. I liked the idea.

“What’s that look for?” Savannah asked through a mouthful of food, pointing in my direction.

“Your brother is in love,” Walker blurted out.

I wondered if I became immortal if I’d be able to zap my friend with an electrical charge as well.

“No way!” Savannah said, gawking at me like I’d grown an extra head.

“Yeah way,” Walker added. “She’s a total sex kitten, but one with brains, and she’s tough.” I watched as Walker grimaced through another electrical shock and smiled.

“Do continue,” I said when Walker became quiet.

“Oh no, you can tell your sister how wonderful your girlfriend is. I have my own girlfriend and she’s a million times better than yours.”

I huffed out a chuckle.

“This is the girl you brought to the bar a while back?” Savannah asked and I nodded. “Damn, I thought she was just a hook up, I would have paid her a little more attention otherwise. She was gorgeous! When are you going to bring her around to meet the family?”

“Soon,” I replied. The thought of introducing Bee to my family filled me with all sorts of pride.

“What’s she like?”

“She’s funny and spontaneous, and a little bit wild. She keeps me on my toes. But she’s clever and witty, too. You’d like her.”

Savannah’s gaze softened and a dreamy look fell upon her features. “You love her,” she whispered in awe.

There was a damn good chance I did. “I haven’t known her for long, but she’s special.”

Saying it out loud seemed to help settle the decision I’d been fighting with for the last four days. I wanted Phoibe Cupid, and no man, mountain, or god would stand in the way of me getting what I wanted.