Jealousy

Part 15

I answer the door and Yo's whistle was the sweetest compliment I've heard in years. "You look fucking hot, Doc Beam!" He gives me a wink. "If I didn't have a hot man in my bed, I'd be chasing you!"

He's definitely learned to flirt!

I laugh in delight. "What would Ming think if he heard you right now?"

As we walk down the path to someplace I've not been yet, Yo slips his arm through mine. "That I have good taste? Seriously, Beam, you look ten times better now than when you first arrived." He pulls me to a sudden stop and turns me slightly so we are facing each other.

I look down at him, his face is turned up. "What is it?"

"We have an audience. I'm trying to look sweet. Do you think it's working?" He leans in closer, so we are almost touching. I force myself to not back away.

"Who is it? Can you tell?" I bend closer, so our lips are almost touching. "I hate this, being close enough to touch you. It makes my skin crawl." The words make him laugh aloud.

"You're doing great, Beam." He casts his gaze around, and lightly places his hand on my arm. "Everyone except Kit's boyfriend. Forth looks ready to kill me. Are you sure you want to follow through with this plan? It's not to late to stop." Wayo asks once more.

"Are you trying to stop me?"

"No, I just want to know if you are sure that you want to do this? It's mean, Beam."

"So was what Forth did to me. If he stays after this, then we are meant to be together forever. If not, I can finally move on and heal. I'm finally ready too." I give him a slight smile. I don't realize that to those curious onlookers, it seems sweet and caring. I pat my pocket for reassurance. I put Forth's graduation picture there to give me courage.

Wayo nods and grabs my hand. Slowly we walk into a clearing where a long table has been set. A long table with 7 place settings is in the center. Off to one side, is another table with covered dishes. A man, dressed in a uniform stands beside it. There are flowers everywhere.

A chair is placed at the head of the table and down the table is three chairs on each side. Place cards carefully indicate where everyone is to sit. Wayo and I, with Ming's help, were very deliberate on how to sit everyone.

"You outdid yourself, Wayo!" He only smiled and escorts me to the head of the table. Forth scowled at the sight of my hand on his arm. At the head chair, I smile at everyone. "Good day, gentlemen! Thank you for joining me for this late lunch!"

Casually meeting everyone's eyes, Bennie gives me a big wave and smile. I smile back. Kit scowls. Forth refuses to look at me. Phana is the first to speak. I knew he would be. "What are you doing, Beam?"

I shrug. "Having lunch with the people who think they know me better than I know myself? Have a seat. Let's eat. Q&A is after food."

I pull out the chair and sit down. Phana and Forth both hesitate before sitting down. Phana is on my right and Forth is on my left. Could I have them anywhere else at the table?

Wayo snaps his finger and suddenly like magic a first course appears in front of us. We decided to keep everyone off balance by going with a Western menu, so it was a salad. Bennie was in heaven. 

Fresh juice drinks were poured. Kit finally spoke. "Is there a chance of getting something stronger, Wayo?"

"I'm not the host of this soiree. Please direct your questions to Beam." Wayo was polite with his redirect. He didn't even raise his eyes or stop eating. 

I held back my snicker as Kit glanced at me and swore. "Beam?" I just held his gaze and shook my head. He'd have to survive the tension at the table sober. Poor Kitty. 

The salad course was quiet while the unnerved participants tried to figured out what the hell I was doing. Ming and Wayo tried to initiate some conversation but finally dropped it after only receiving yes or no answers. I only nodded when asked something. Not yet... it was not yet time to talk.

Forth never was good with silence. I could see the cracks by the time the main course was served. Nostalgia was threatening to overtake me, it had been a long time since all of us were together. We were older, but the same. 

They had class reunions every year, but how would we see each other during those? It wasn't applicable to half of us. I forgot to keep my expression bland as I reach for the sauce to go with the main course. Some sort of fancy French chicken dish that Bennie went into spasms over that I'd never even heard of before.

Whatever look I had on my face, that was it. It broke Forth. With a loud crash, his chair fell backwards as he violently stood up from the table and placed his hand on it. "Beam, I sure as hell don't know what game you're playing but count me the fuck out of it."

Cue Bennie. Calmly he stood, picked up the chair and pushed, he pushed Forth back into it! "You will respect Beam, so sit your fucking ass down." His broken Thai was even more threatening because it was slow and even, with no tone. 

I went from shock to wanting to giggle in seconds! Who knew that teddy bear could do gangster??? I am not the only one, I guess, for Kit's literally curled up into himself. He looks more like a turtle now, than a curious cat... but he knows gangsters well. His older brother IS one.

"Bennie?" Kit says hesitantly, "Please come and sit down, it's not our business."

"Fuck off, Kit." Bennie says, "I told you, I'm here for Beam." He does sit down after ensuring Forth will not leave again.

I sigh, loudly, and look at the other six men. Wayo fights to control his face. Ming is blank but his eyes are dancing. Phana is so angry, his face is red. That makes me happy. He rarely shows any of his emotions, other than worry. Kit now has his head down to the table after being scolded. Bennie meets my eye and winks. I open my eyes a little wider, hoping he is smart enough to realize I can't DO anything else yet.

That leaves Forth. Forth is vibrating. Shock? Repressed rage? Once upon a time I could have said for sure what emotional state he was in, now I don't know. I want him to be in a state of jealousy. I want him to be so jealous that every man he sees associating with me, has to either be fucking me or be an ex partner. 

All lies of course... all HIS lies built to justify those feelings. He needs to face his jealousy and learn that jealousy has no place inside love, only trust and honesty.

"Please, let's sit and continue our meal, guys. After dessert, I will explain." I give a sunny smile as Forth's fork goes skittering across the bone china. Hmm, he's not going to eat? That's HIS problem! Wayo's chef has really outdone himself on this fancy food I don't know how to pronounce!