I raise my hands in front of my chest as if I’m trying to stop traffic. “Wait. I know it's not my business, but I humbly request a smidge of context here.”
Marcus laughs at that. “Our parents are all together.”
Say what now?“When you saytogether…”
“They're a quadruple. When Tristan and I became friends, and our parents got to know each other, they all fell in love. So my parents and Tristan’s parents are still married and live in separate houses, but they're also a quadruple with family date nights, individual date nights with their partners, and family-building activities. Tristan and I aren't just bros; we're stepbrothers, as far as we’re concerned, even though legally we aren't.”
Their entire dynamic makes so much more sense now. They’re all acting like lovers because theyarelovers.
“Wow, I can’t even fathom handling one, and you guys are handling three,” I chuckle out.
Elijah smiles over me and shrugs. “It’s the simplest thing that we have to work hard at all the time to maintain. We all love each other. Completely and unequivocally. We'd move heaven and earth to be with each other. But four strong minds in one relationship is hard. Especially when we were already established couples before we met. It takes consistent grace, understanding, and communication. It also really helps that we schedule one-on-one time for each of our partners, group dates for all of us, and family time as well. It reminds us of why we love each other individually, why we love each other as a committed, closed poly, and why we love our family as a whole.”
I nod my head, understanding so much about all of them with the simple knowledge. “That's really awesome. And it definitely explains why Tristan is always so open and communicative with Qi. He learned from example.”
“They both did. Our parenting styles were quite similar when weall got together. We’ve raised Marcus with that same openness and communication, and with accountability and responsibility. Not just acknowledging, but showing up and owning up,” Elijah adds before shooting Tristan and Marcus huge smiles.
The pride in both boys is evident in his eyes, and I realize, just as Marcus had said that he and Tristan are stepbrothers; it dawns on me that all four parents would consider both boys their sons.
“Hello, hello.” Speaking of Dawn, her voice travels from the front door as she and Samayah bring several bags in.
“We’re in the kitchen talking about the quadruple since our dads couldn't keep their hands to themselves in front of Qiang,” Marcus hollers back.
Dawn comes around the corner with a fond smile on her face. “They are awful; it's amazing they can keep their hands to themselves in public,” she teases.
Trevor snorts with amusement at that. “Cuz you're not just as bad? Need I remind you of the pool house incident with Samayah?”
“Cover your ears, Qi. This is about to get indecent,” Tristan whispers loudly.
“No, it’s not. We have reservations at Kairos at six, and we need to be getting ready,” Samayah says before we get an earful of whatever escapades Dawn and Trevor are teasing each other about.
“Kairos?!?” I ask, shocked.
Kairos is the kind of place that costs triple per plate what a restaurant I would consider extravagant would cost for an entire table of four. It’s not just fine dining; it’selitedining owned by an elitist and designed to cater to the elite.
“Of course, Kairos. It’s my favorite restaurant, and I only get to enjoy it when I’m here,” Samayah simpers at me sweetly.
It’s an amazing talent that she has because she presents herself so regally and fiercely that sweet doesn’t seem to be a part of her visage, yet she’s got this way of twisting her smile so that it softens her eyes and gives her a sweet simper that would melt even the stoutest of hearts.
“Oh, well, I…” I stutter a bit because Kairos is so ridiculously out of my budget; I wouldn’t even know how to behave or eat in a place like that.
Samayah’s eyes widen in understanding before she shakes her head. “Oh no. You have to join us; it’s the least we can do to repay you,” she says placatingly.
My eyes widen at that, because so far, since they’ve been here, or even since I’ve even known her really, I haven’t done anything but receive. Compliments on my work, praise for my talent, about a million move-in gifts along with a ridiculous number of makeup exclusives, and getting me on two podcasts since she’s been here. I haven’t done a damn thing except have Qi repeatedly kick my shin to remind me to just accept it gracefully.
I triedonceto humbly deny the gifts and learned the hard way that it was pointless. If Samayah wants to give, then she’s gonna give, and that’s just that.
“Repay me for what?”
Samayah’s lips curl up into a smirk. She’s laying the groundwork for something; I just know it. “The makeovers, of course.”
“Makeovers?” I ask skeptically, because if that’s all, then she didn’t need to work up to it so hard. That’s more of a gift for me than for them. Giving me time to play with my craft with fresh faces.
“The ones you’re about to give Dawn and me for dinner, silly,” she laughs like she’s reminding me of something I agreed to and have simply forgotten.
We did not discuss this, and I did not forget, but since this is so far in my wheelhouse, I’m not gonna complain. In fact, I’m pretty stoked about it.
“Oh, right.Thosemakeovers,” I agree playfully at this point, realizing she walked me into a trap I’m more than willing to walk into.
