Beautiful Things//O2l/Kian Lawley By Emily

Chapter Eight: Eric

I parked looking around the busy airport. People hurried from one place to another, checking watches, talking on the phone, pulling their kids along, or just plain running. My eyes scanned the busy escalators and the other doors waiting for a familiar face. I look down at my own watch frowning.
The flight from New York got out half an hour ago.
Suddenly I see him, a taller well build young man with sandy blonde hair cut short. He smiled catching my glance.
"Eric!" I said running into my older brothers arms. I had been talking to him from time to time but a month ago when our dad died he dropped off the grid refusing to have contact with anyone. Eric and dad were really close, they would do everything together.
When Eric was little dad would take him hunting, at first he was a terrible shot but when he finally hit something he almost never missed again. As the family grew older Eric was more like dad every day, he even looked like him. When he loved something you could see the light in his eyes dad always had. When dad died Eric stopped traveling the world, he started coming back by plane for the funeral but he couldn't do it. He went to New York isolating himself in his condo with a bottle of tequila and a photo album sending one text out to everyone explaining his situation and an apology before dropping off the face of the earth, until now that is.
I pulled away looking at my big brother. "How have you been?" I asked holding him back from me so I could observe his changes.
"I've been better." he replied quietly.
I gave him a sad smile taking one of his suitcases as we walked out to the car.
When we got home I noticed Kian's car still in the driveway. I hopped out of the car smiling. I ran around to the other side pulling him out of the car. He slammed the door trying to keep up with my pulling. "Hey watch the new car," I say glancing back at him, "Come onnn there is someone I want you to meet!"
I pulled him up the front steps opening the door. All the blinds were drawn and Kian was asleep on the couch where he had been watching something on Netflix.
I rolled my eyes smiling and walking over to him. He was in the exact same spot as when I left two hours ago. I sat down next to him taking a breath and giving my brother a devilish smile.
"OH MY GOD KIAN THE HOUSE IS ON FIRE!!!" I screamed trying not to laugh. Kian woke up spasming causing him to knock the bowl of chips off the coffee table before he rolled over falling off the couch. I covered my mouth laughing so hard tears came to my eyes. He stood up looking around confused.
"Babe, I was joking calm down." I said putting a hand on his wrist. He took a breath calming down and kissing my forehead.
"I hate you." He informed me before picking up the chips he knocked over. Eric cleared his throat in the doorway shifting uncomfortably. Kian looked up getting tense. He looked for me to Eric frowning. I had told him Eric was coming but he fell asleep watching tv before I could tell him he was coming today.
"Kian, Eric my brother. Eric, Kian my boyfriend." I said standing up and walking over to Eric.
He looked at Kian up and down probably trying to figure out if he was any good or not. Kian wasn't dressed fancy, he had a bandana in his hair, his shirt was just a tye dye tank top and he was wearing, his favorite pants, black skinny jeans with holes in the knees, and his outfits were never complete without a pair of his converses (he had like four). Kian put the bowl of chips down walking over to shake Eric's hand. "Nice to meet you." Kian said letting go of his hand and taking the bowl of chips into the kitchen. Eric turned to me with questioning eyes.
"Boyfriend?" He said sounding unsure. Yes of course I had dated before but every time I found someone new Eric reacted the same, always super protective.
Kian came back casually putting his arm around me. Eric shifted slightly looking between us. We stood their in an awkward silence for a few minutes before I decided to break the ice.
"So uh have you talked to mom yet?" I asked. Eric looked at me like I was crazy and I knew I was. He hated our mother more than anything.
Even as he was growing up she never supported him, which just got worse when he told mom and dad he wasn't going to college for the things they wanted. Dad understood supporting him but mom blew up unable to understand it was his life not hers.
I guess that's why after he left everything was resting on my shoulders to be the "perfect child" which I'm not.
After a few more minutes of awkward silence Kian got the brilliant idea to go get something to eat. We all piled into my car happily, I let him drive so Eric and I could catch up in the back. Kian contently listened to our conversation adding little things once and a while.
Eric got comfortable around Kian after a few minutes so he started talking more freely starting with all of my embarrassing stories as a kid. By the time we reached the restaurant we were all laughing hysterically.
"Eric you swore you would never tell anyone that!!" I said even though it was the funniest story ever. He enjoyed the traumatic story about how I managed to get a Barbies plastic shoe stuck in my right nostril. Kian tried to open his door but couldn't because he was laughing to hard he couldn't see straight. His face was turning red and their were tears in his eyes but his smile. His smile made the world around me stop.
I watched him laugh feeling my love for him grow even more. He was amazing, the way he acted and looked, he was absolutely perfection and he was mine. I smiled getting out I opened the door for him helping him out of the car.
"Breathe!" I instructed patting his back. He started coughing trying to catch his breath, this made me laugh more which actually hurt now since I had been doing it for so long. Finally he stopped dying taking a deep breath he calmed himself down.
"Okay, okay I'm good." He said smiling at me. He poked my nose lightly smiling and shaking his head. He took my hand and we all walked into the restaurant together.
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After eating we went back to my house to hang out before Eric went to the hotel for the night.
We sat out on the deck watching the sun disappear and listening to the beautiful sounds of nature.
"So how long are you here for." I asked Eric handing them both bowls of ice cream and sitting down with one myself.
"I'm not sure yet," he said taking a bite of the ice cream, "A week probably, maybe more."
I nodded glad to hear I would have a little time with him. I closed my eyes listening to the nature around me smiling.
Summer was such a beautiful thing I wished it would never snow. I opened my eyes smiling, Eric seemed to really like Kian. They were having a small side conversation while I enjoyed the outdoors. I looked at them both feeling extremely happy. This summer was the best summer I have ever had. I wanted to save this moment forever, listening to the leaves rustle in the trees the sun went down casting a pink orange glow in the sky that was breath taking. The crickets rose up to add to the chatter of Kian and Eric talking and laughing. I closed my eyes again resting my head against Kian's shoulder. I took it all in loving every second of it.
After ice cream Eric said goodnight before leaving for his hotel room in my car for the night. Kian cleaned up the dishes gladly while I rested my head for a little bit. He joined me on the couch kissing my forehead then my lips. I shifted putting my feet up on him. He grabbed the remote flipping on the tv.
"So what do you want to watch?" He asked flipping thought Netflix. We finally agreed on American Horror Story since I had gotten him completely obsessed. We grabbed a blanket cuddling up and watched the show until we both fell asleep for the night.