“I am in awe of all that you do, Ghenie, but as your father, I wish this burden had never fallen to your shoulders. I wish I could protect you more.”
“I know what you mean,” I tell him. “The thought of this happening to Maribel is unthinkable. Some day, I will train our next leader and I, in equal parts, dread and look forward to it.”
“Things are changing,” my father says, mirroring my words. “Maybe this will change as well. Maybe we can find a place to let our Ancestors rest, a place our leaders can go and pray with them instead of having a living vessel.”
“Something to contemplate,” I say, ignoring the volume of the voices inside my head. They are shouting over each other, their emotions rising so hot and high I can’t push them down. That is apparently a subject we’ll be deep diving into in the near future.
“Darling?” My dad walks back into the living room. “Would you like to come stay with us for a bit? Until you’re feeling more settled now that Christian is back? It would be lovely to have you back in the house with us, and it would allow us to see Maribel more often.”
I shake my head. “Thank you for the offer, but I think I am okay staying here.”
My dad raises his perfectly manicured pink brow, popping out his hip. His tail whips back and forth behind himself. “What about Christian?”
“What about him?”
My dad looks at me like it’s obvious. When he realizes I still don’t understand, he explains. “This is his house. Surely he will want to live here again now that he’s back, right?”
My eyes widen. Oh. Oh shit. I completely forgot that this is Christian’s home. I’ve been living here but now that he’s back, my dad is right, he’ll want his home back. I can’t believe I didn’t think of that until right now!
Just then, there’s a knock on the door. Oh, by the Ancestors! How could this possibly be happening?
My dad peeks through the front window. “Yep,” he says. “That’s him.”
“Fuck,” I hiss out, rubbing at my eyes. I stand up and grab Maribel from my dad’s arms. “You two need to get out of here so we can talk.”
“Do you want us to take Maribel?” My father asks softly. I shake my head.
“I think it’s time for Christian and I to have a long conversation. You’re right, it’s time I fight for him.”
Chapter Four
Christian
I wrap Miles in my arms. This hug is about to get awkward in about four seconds but I don't fucking care. My best friend is here, in my arms, after a year of being apart. The only thing that could stop me from hugging him is if this alien planet started shaking. Or if pigs started falling from the sky. Even then I probably wouldn’t let go.
“Jesus,” Miles says, holding me just as tightly. “I’m so fucking glad you’re here, Christian. I know you hate when I get all sappy on you but I’ve missed you so much.”
“I missed you too,” I tell him, burying my face against his shoulder. I know Timalah is standing right next to Miles, holding their daughter but I can’t bring myself to let go and greet them properly. Not yet.
“Okay, okay,” Miles says, being the one to pull away. “I know how much you hate this mushy stuff.”
I look at him. “You can be as mushy as you want to be, it’s okay.”
Miles blinks slowly, looking up at Timalah before looking back at me. “What have you done with my Christian?”
“I have so much to talk to you about,” I say instead of responding to his joke. Then I look up at Timalah. “Hi, Timalah. It’s really fucking good to see you again.”
“I am glad you are here,” he says with a nod.
“And how is my godson? Jesus, he’s grown! He looks like he’s ready to head off to his accounting job anyday!”
Timalah tilts his head to the side. “I don’t know what this accounting is but our son does not have a job yet. He is only two years of age, Christian.”
My chest feels lighter than it has in years. It might be the therapy I made myself go through while back on Earth or it might just be the fact that I’m back here, with my best friend. Or maybe it was watching Gendry and Aldo bring a new life into the world together on the trip here. Whatever the reason, I feel so goddamn happy. Happier than I’ve been in a really, really long time.
It’s wild what an entire year can change. When I left this place, I was certain I’d never feel like I belonged. I had to unpack a lot of my past trauma, face it head on, and somehow I’ve come out the other side feeling better than ever.
By no means am I perfect. You don’t heal in a day. It takes work and time, but I’m on the path of healing from my past hurts. I’m tired of being the guy who pushes everyone away. It’s time that I took a chance at letting people in, starting with my best friend.
