Three weeks have passed since the "home" date that Friday night, and my stress level has sky-rocketed because of school, work, and Lyric. Lyric has been pestering me about not dating Mason, and dating Chandler instead. It has gotten to the point where I have blocked my oldest brother from all of my social media, and his phone number. His complaint is that I should be dating Mason because according to my brother, Mason has a better job than Chandler, and that Mason and I will have a better life together due to our combined incomes (from when I graduate, and get a job in my field).
School is coming down to final exams for the semester, so I have been studying my ass off, and into the wee hours of the morning. I have been doing this everyday for the last 21 days, and then getting up early for work. Work has become busier, therefore my hours have increased, too. I also have not seen Chandler much these days between our hectic schedules. I think we have seen each other seven times over the last twenty-one days which is not enough in my opinion.
Upon my arrival at home, I place my keys onto the hook by the door before falling onto the couch face first with a loud groan. Before I can even get comfortable, there are loud, rapid knocks on the front door, making me groan in frustration as I roll off the couch to grumpily walk to the door and fling the door open. I am angry because everyone knows me, and where I live, knows my current schedule for everything in my life, and they would have called or texted before showing up to see if I am up for company.
"What the fuck do you want?" I huff closing the door partially as my anger rises as I stare at him with a firm grip on the door handle.
"I came to spend time with my brother, and talk to you, is that such a bad thing?" Lyric innocently asks.
Innocent my ass.
"Yeah, excuse me if I do not believe you," I fire back with as much anger and venom as I have inside my entire body. "You have always been an awesome brother until recently when Mason came into my life. Now. all you do is interfere in my love life because you think material things, wealth, and social status are more important! Fucking butt out of my romantic life, and get over who I love, and who I am with! Neither have anything to do with you! You should be happy for me that I am with such an amazing man like Chandler!"
After several seconds of stunned silence from Lyric, I start closing the door, but he regains some of his senses to grab onto the side of the door to stop me.
"What? Thought of more ways to insist I am with the wrong person? Gonna tell me that my sexuality is wrong, and that I should be straight like you? That my prosthetic is my fault, and that I need to hide away from the world because of my leg?" I demand, fighting back the urge to punch him in his face.
"No! None of those things!" he answers, almost hollering. "I do not think or believe any of those things! I just came by to apologize to you for being an intrusive asshole, and promise to never do that again!"
Staring at him for several heartbeats before telling him; "Thanks for apologizing. I still need time to process, and decide what I want to do about this and you."
"Okay, I can accept that," Lyric sadly replies as his hand from the door. "Give me a text or something when you know. See you later, Larken."
He quickly turns to walk away, and I close the door behind him in confusion. Holy hell, how did he find out where I lived?
Digging my phone from my back pocket to pull up the family group text; "Hey, Lyric just left my place. Any idea how he found out where I live? Not accusing anyone, just need to know."
Clicking out of the app, and turning off the phone because I do not expect an answer from any of them until tomorrow since it is late. Wandering to my bedroom to grab jammies, underwear and socks before showering, and going to sleep.
By 8 a.m., I am awake, but still lying in bed because I am not ready to be a functioning adult yet. I am reading through the messages from my family in the group text. Lyric is the one who actually answered my question because no one else knew how how he knew this information.
'Mason told me where you live, please do not be mad at him,' Lyric answered. 'I guilted him into giving me the information.'
Well, that seals the deal on Mason and I's friendship, and going low-contact with Lyric.
Clicking out of the group text to click on Mason's messages to type out a message to him before reading over it, and then sending; 'Hey. Lyric spilled that he guilted you into telling him where I live. You knew I was no-contact with him and why. You said you understood, and would not tell him. I do not appreciate you doing this, so we are no longer friends. Loose my name, address, and phone number. If we see each other in public, we do not acknowledge each other. I am done with people thinking they know what is best for me, over me. I am blocking your number once I have sent this. Have a good life, and I hope you find someone that is perfect for you, and you them.'
Once I sent the message, I did indeed block his number, and on all my social medias. I am over and done with people thinking they know what is best for me instead of me.
After another five minutes of lying in bed, I get up, and make my way to the bathroom for my morning routine after placing my prosthetic on. My day is going to consist of my five hour morning shift at work, then once I am home, I will be spending the rest of the day working on my coursework. My coursework consists of two online tests, finishing two papers that are due by 11:59 p.m., and homework from my classes. It is gonna be a long day, and another one without seeing Chandler.
Halfway through my shift, Chandler comes through the coffee shop door in all of his handsome glory, making me want to cry, jump into his arms, or both. He saunters up to the counter with a grin in place, and a twinkle in his eyes.
"Hey gorgeous, I have missed you, so I thought I would visit you at work for a few, if that is alright?" he says in his smooth voice.
"Is it alright? This is more than alright, you amazing man!" I sniffle meeting him over the counter as we lean forward to tightly hug each other.
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.
