The next three days, I work, attend classes, spend time with Jace outside of work, and think about the situation with Mason. I have made my decision, and how Mason might react to my decision will either break or make us.
'Hey Mason, I have thought over our our situation, and what I believe should happen. Let's meet up, so we can discuss this in person. I am free tomorrow afternoon from 3 p.m. on,' I send through a text as I lean my back against my bed headboard.
As I wait for his reply, I grab my book off the nightstand to read, and he replies a few minutes later; 'Hi Larken. We can meet tomorrow at 5 p.m. at the coffee shop you work at, and we can talk.'
'Sounds good. I will see you there and then,' I send back before clicking my phone off, and setting it on my nightstand to continue reading my book.
An hour later, I stop reading and head upstairs to start cooking dinner with Lochlan.
"We need to make enough food because Warren, Axel, Alyssa and Lyric are having dinner with us, too," Lochlan tells me as we start deciding what we should cook.
Nodding, we then decide to make spaghetti with meat sauce and garlic bread. About an hour later, dinner is done, the table is set, and everyone is sitting around the table to start eating. Dinner starts off pleasant until asks me a question that pertains to a topic that I am trying to avoid.
"Have you worked things out yet with Mason?" he asks with a serious expression.
"Lyric, love, I thought we agreed to not bother Larken about this topic?" Alyssa gently reminds him.
"How about you stay out of my personal business, Lyric? Excuse me, I am no longer hungry," I say, standing with my nearly full plate of food to leave the plate in the kitchen.
"Larken?" dad says, but I shake my head to leave the dinning room for the kitchen.
"I am going out, and I am not sure when I will be back, so do not wait up for me," I tell dad.
Dad replies with a tiny nod with an irritated expression; "Okay son, please be careful."
Dad's irritation, I have no idea if that is directed toward me or Lyric, or both of us.
"Dad," Lyric says as I walk out the front door.
Walking toward the bus stop, I pull my phone from my back pocket to text Jace, but decide against this, and text Chandler instead of Jace because he has a family obligation tonight.
'Hey, are you busy?' I send as I walk, and try to watch where I am going.
'Nope, are you okay?' he sends back as I sit down on the bus stop bench.
'I am okay, I am just irritated with my oldest brother over Mason,' I send back as the bus pulls up to stop, and I stand to climb on. 'So, I am getting on the public bus after leaving family dinner because Lyric had to bring up the situation with Mason.'
"Where are you going?' he texts as I sit down after paying the fare.
'Downtown to wander the shops,' I answer while nibbling on my lower lip. 'Bookstore is first cuz I need a new book or two.'
'Nice,' he sends, and then goes silent which makes me think is actually busy, and did not want to tell me this.
Slipping my phone back into my pants front pocket, and silently wait for my stop. Twenty minutes later, my stop arrives, and thankfully it is on the outskirt of parking lot of the outdoor mall. Exiting the bus along with the fifteen or so other people, I make my way to the bookstore.
"Hey stranger, how are you?" Chandler asks from behind my right shoulder, causing me to flinch from surprise before I broadly grin at him as I turn to face him.
"Hey Chandler! What are you doing here? Why didn't you mention you were here?" I excitedly ask as we tightly hug.
"I decide to surprise you, and hangout with you if you do not mind that is?" he answers with a soft chuckle as we separate from the hug.
"No, I do not mind! I am really excited to see you!" I gush, bouncing on the heels of my feet in pure joy, and my anger from earlier is pushed to the back of my mind.
Walking side by side, we wander the bookstore searching for any books that catch our attention, and we chat and laugh the entire time. We learn things about each other, and enjoy each other's company. I can definitely see us becoming great friends, and I wonder if Jace and Chandler would get along.
"Alright, where to next?" he asks after we purchase our books.
"Um, can we grab something to eat since I did not finish eating my dinner?" I tentatively ask with a hopeful smile.
Chandler nods with a bright smile; "Sure, I am a little hungry myself."
"Okay, so what are you in the mood for?" I question as we exit the bookstore to look at our options.
"Um, I am feeling either Mexican or pizza. What about you?" he replies, gently bumping his shoulder with mine.
"Mmhh, Mexican sounds really good," I softly moan, and we make our way to the Mexican restaurant.
"Okay, what is your favorite color?" he asks as we wait to be seated, and we are currently third in line.
"Baby blue, what is yours?" I answer with a grin.
"Mine is pale pink," he answers with a matching grin.
We continue to do this until we are seated, and give our drink orders, and then continue until I hear Mason speak behind me with his voice coming closer.
"Larken, what are you doing here? Are you okay?" he questions.
Turning to face him, I nod as he stops at the end of our table; "I am fine. I am just having a late dinner with my friend."
YOU ARE READING
Shark Strike Survivor
RomanceLarkin Carrigan is a 22-year-old gay man who lost his right leg from the knee down from a shark strike. He wears a prosthetic, and lives at home with his dad and two brothers while he works, and attends university.
