THE BLACK SEA | Gay Novel

Ch 6

"Hey Elia, can I ask you a question?" The seventeen-year-old Teegan asked, she was pushing around the food on her plate, not eating.

She had been acting strange the past few days, it's been two years since the heart transplant surgery and she's turning eighteen soon, "sure, kiddo," I put my fork down, giving her my full attention.

She looks around, opening her mouth and closing it, putting her fork down and picking it up again, then sighing.

I smile at her and she smiles back, she knows that she doesn't have to fear anything when she's with me, giving both of our backgrounds opening up is kind of difficult but we've agreed that when it comes to both of us, maintaining a healthy and trustful relationship is key to make our relationship work.

"Um, will you ever adopt me?" She nervously asked.

I couldn't help the grin that broke on my face, "I would in a heartbeat," I answered her question honestly.

Sensing there was a but, She asks dejected, "But?"

I sighed, "Remember the cuts and scars you've seen on my torso?" I asked, knowing she has walked in on me changing my shirt.

"Yes," she nods.

"You see my father gave me those scars," her eyes go wide, and her mouth falls open, "my father is a scary man, who works with scary people, he wanted me to follow in his footsteps, but I ran away from him, for years he has sent men after men to bring me back, but I managed to escape from every one of them," I roll up my left sleeve, tracing over a linear scar caused by a pocket knife, "but not without injuries," she eyes my forearm, her fingers twitching to reach out and touch the scar, "if I adopt you," I say getting her attention back, "if I adopt you, you'll have his last name, and if he finds out, he'll come after you, and not just him, his enemies as well," she looked scared and dejected, "maybe you should adopt me into your family instead," I suggest, making her break into a smile.

I woke up from my sleep, feeling restless, that was a random memory to dream about.

It's been more than a month since that night, I had come back home exhausted, taken the ring off and put it away, then took a shower and slept through the next day.

I really wanted to call in sick but I knew I can't let these two ruin my life.

I sit up and get off the bed, today Is my day off again and Teegan wanted a few things she needed, so we are going shopping.

I get dressed for the day and leave the house, I'm meeting her at Brookfield Place in downtown Manhattan, there we can have brunch together, It takes a while to get there since I live in the suburbs, so it's better to skip breakfast.

I've been driving in silence, thinking back to the dream I dreamt of earlier and the unsettling feeling I felt right after.

It's probably because I've kept this from Teegan, ... and Farah, and Wayne.

I don't want her or them to get mixed in this.

Maybe I can tell her once the divorce is final.

Once I took care of the car I wait at the ground floor level, shooting Teegan a message and letting her know about my whereabouts while I window shopped.

A jewelry store catches my eye, so I decided to go in, it was a high-end store and I feel out of place, a shop assistant approaches me and asks if I needed assistance, which I declined, I'm not really looking to buy anything today, just taking a look, consider it a field trip if you well.

Just getting an idea of what to get Teegan for when she gets accepted for an internship next year.

I look at one of the heart-shaped necklaces in the glass case, sending me down memory lane.