“What did I tell you about calling me that?” Julian glared at me as he stood up from the table, bringing me into his arms for a hug.
“You love it,” I giggled, wrapping my arms around his back and smiling at the familiar scent of his cologne. My brother and I shared many of the same features, from our dark brown complexion, dark brown eyes, sharp bridge of our nose and black hair.
“Yeah, okay.” His laughter tickled my ear before we pulled away from each other, his eyes immediately locked onto Nathan who stood idly by my side watching the exchange.
For a minute, neither of them spoke.
They sized each other up the way men do when they’re deciding what kind of threat or ally the other might be.
Julian was taller than me, though still a couple of inches shorter than Nathan. His broad shoulders stretched the fabric of a navy button-down, his expression calm but alert. Nathan stood just as steady beside him, posture relaxed, hands loose at his sides, his presence filling the space without him trying.
“Who’s this?” Julian was the first to break the silence.
“This is Nathan. My boyfriend.”
“Boyfriend? And why is this the first I’m hearing about this?” Julian demanded.
I fought the urge to roll my eyes. “Oh, I don’t know. Maybe because I’m twenty-four and don’t need to give you a play-by-play of my love life.”
“It’s nice to finally meet you,” Nathan said, extending his hand. “I’ve heard a lot about you.”
Julian took it, his grip firm but not aggressive.
“All good things, I hope.”
“Of course. You know you’re my favorite brother.” I replied.
“I’m your only brother.” Julian shook his head.
***
A FEW MINUTESafter we sat down, the table was practically groaning under the weight of every delicious dish I could have ever hoped for. Crispy griot with golden-brown edges, fried plantains, and bowls of rice and beans. Each dish was more fragrant than the last. It was a Haitian feast at its finest. And at the center of it all? A large bowl of pikliz, the fiery, vinegary slaw that my entire family swore by.
“Everything looks delicious.” Nathan said, admiring the spread.
“And it tastes even better.” I grinned before reaching for a fried plantain. “Are you sure you want to try that?” I asked, when I saw Nathan reaching for some pikliz, trying to hide the smirk tugging at my lips.
Nathan grinned, unfazed. “I’m always up for a challenge. What’s the worst that could happen?”
I wasn’t entirely sure if he was joking, but before I could stop him, he scooped a generous amount onto a fried plantain.
“Bold move,” I muttered, but I couldn’t help but admire his enthusiasm.
Julian watched him, amused. “You’ve got guts, I’ll give you that,” he said.
Nathan took a bite, chewed thoughtfully, and then—nothing. No dramatic reaction, no sucking in a breath, no panic.
“That’s pretty good,” he said, a hint of surprise in his voice. He took another bite, and this time I noticed a slight twitch in his jaw, but he powered through, his eyes bright as ever.
I tried not to look too impressed, but honestly, I was. He didn’t flinch or make a sound until the heat seemed to settle in. His eyes watered just a touch, and he cleared his throat.
I leaned in slightly, catching the small signs of discomfort. Nathan kept a relaxed grin on his face, like nothing about this bothered him. I could tell he didn’t want to admit that the heat was getting to him.
As his eyes flickered to me, I raised an eyebrow. “You sure you’re okay?”
He nodded, but I wasn’t fooled. That smile was a little too tight.
I grabbed my glass of water and slid it across the table to him without saying a word. He glanced at me in surprise but didn’t hesitate. Grabbing the glass, he took a long sip, his relief almost palpable.
