Home

Thirty One

"So Alex, Charley said you play baseball," Michael said as we all ate dinner.

Jackson and Emma had joined us per my request. I thought it would be a nice way for Alex to get to know my best friend and our boyfriends.

"Yeah, I play shortstop and right field. We won the championship last two years in a row," Alex said proudly.

"I don't know what any of that is," Jackson stated, sharing a clueless expression with Mick.

Alex laughed, then realized both men were serious.

"Wait, really?" he asked, shocked.

Taking a sip of my beer, I laughed. "We don't have baseball over here, Al. That's the American pastime. Not Australian."

I don't think I've ever seen my brother so shocked and appalled.

"What do you guys have then?"

"Rugby," Jackson and Michael replied at the same time.

The guys spent the next ten or so minutes talking about sports while Emma and I picked up after dinner.

"Seems to be going good," Emma said as she leaned in towards me.

I watched the three guys chatted for a bit longer and noticed my brother stifle a few yawns.

"I love that you guys are getting along, but I think Alex is probably getting tired. It's a long flight and I know first had that the time change is brutal," I interjected, walking over to them.

"I've gotta get home anyway. Work again early tomorrow," Michael replied, kissing me quickly. He stuck his hand out towards my brother, "Alex, great meeting you, mate."

"Nice meeting you. I'm sure I'll see you again before you leave," Jackson waved.

"Glad I finally got to meet you," my brother said as he shook Michael's hand. As the boys left, he stretched. It was only 8:45 but it might as well have been the middle of the night for him. I knew he was exhausted.

"Go to bed, Alex. We've got you set up in the den. You can sleep in tomorrow, too. Try to get over that jet lag."

He walked over to me and gave me a hug, avoiding my injured arm, "I missed you, little sis."

He walked out of the kitchen and towards his room for the week.

"That seemed to have gone well," I said to Emma. "Right? That went well?"

Admittedly, I was a bit nervous for my big brother to meet my boyfriend, as they were two of the most important men in my life. After dinner and seeing the guys chat about sports and random other things, I was a bit relieved.

Retreating to our back courtyard, Emma and I sat outside and enjoyed the warm evening breeze.

"Whatcha got planned for the rest of the week?" She asked me.

"I dunno. Being broken kinda threw a wrench in my plans," I sighed. "Guess tomorrow we will just hang low here. Let him catch up on sleep."

After a while, Emma stretched. She headed off to bed, having to work in the morning. Tucking into bed myself, I picked my phone up and clicked on Michael's contact.

"Wish you were next to me," I texted him.

"If you lived with me, I could be," he shot back.

He had jokingly tossed around the idea of me moving in with him for the last few weeks. I had played it off, gently letting him down while reminding him I still wanted to take our relationship slow. Despite spending as much time as possible together, the thought of moving in within a few months of reconnecting was a bit scary. If things ended up not working out between us, I would be without a home. He didn't press the issue, understanding why I was hesitant. Instead, he teased me about living together, pretending like I was breaking his heart each time I told him no.

"Could be if you stayed tonight, too," I quipped.

He didn't have to tell me why he didn't stay the night. I had figured it was due to my brother's arrival.

"Soon," he texted.

It had only been two nights that I'd been away from him, but it might as well have been two months. I had grown used to the presence of his body next to mine, of his arm gently draped around my waist, of his smell filling my bedroom. His cologne lingered on my pillow as I shifted to get comfortable.

"G'night, Charley. I love you. Sweet dreams," Mick texted after a minute.

My eyes had grown heavy and I was dozing off with my phone in my hand. I smiled reading his text. I still wasn't used to him telling me he loved he again.

"Be safe tomorrow. I love you too," I replied.

I knew how tough his job could be, especially when the swells were big. There had been a few times when the lifeguards had gotten themselves in trouble trying to rescue people in rough waves. I knew he would be safe, but there was still an aspect of his job that was incredibly dangerous. I couldn't help but worry about him.