Bad Ideas

6

Chapter 6

Kamren

Me: I'm an awful person.

Stan: Why? You turned on over chess? :)

Me: I'm turned on by you being this close to me.

Stan: Awe, shucks.

Behind me Stan inched closer. I put my phone up and smiled. It was standing room only in this small chess area and we were in the back huddled in a corner with people on either side of us. Stan closed his arms around my waist, managing to make us so close there was no room for air between us. Without him my brain would be buzzing with the events of the day.

I have a child. A beautiful child who looks exactly like me, brains and all. She also looked like Ruby with her stern face and attitude. A perfect combination. I watched Cynthia as she won her 5th game of chess in a row. Apparently she was playing for money and the title of this competition. When it was over she was the new grand champion and won $1,000 dollars. I was very proud and even a little shocked at how good she was.

"You guys want to go eat?" She stopped looking at me and Stan and then Ruby and Scott. "Oh, my god." She whisper yelled. "I have four parents. I'm the most loved girl in this town. Everyone is going to be jealous. No, not everyone, but Effie for sure." She said excitedly running out of the building. Her parents followed behind her shaking their heads at her antics, as I stared after all them. 

"Do you think we should tell them we aren't a couple?"

Stan looked at me and smirked. "Or...we could just be a couple and see what happens? I mean the girl doesn't mind the idea of three gay men together so why should we knock it?"

I laughed, hitting him in his shoulder. "I'm saying yes to you. Because I.....love you and am not ashamed to admit it. The rest of it is a ridiculous notion."

"Oh my goodness. Did you just confess your undying love to me in a chess hall? You fucking nerd." Stan teased kissing me briefly.

"Come on. Let's go see what dinner in public with our new family is like." I wrapped an arm around his elbow letting him lead me.

All of this sounded like a bad idea, but I was into those.

****

The all night diner we wound up in was the same one we'd met the kid in early in the day. It was exactly the same on the inside as when I was a kid. Old vinyl red seats that were ripping at the seams. A jukebox in the corner. Peeling yellow paint on the walls and food to die for.

"I'm getting a hot fudge sundae." Cyn said, closing the menu.

"No you're not. It's too late. You'll be sick." Ruby told her. "Get a burger with no bun. Or a chicken plate. No ice cream or fruit. And here take your meds."

"Mom, I'm getting the ice cream." The girl pouted taking her pills.

I reached over taking the menu from her. "You are going to listen to your mom. Without wrestling your dad. Or me and Papi are going to make you do laps around the parking lot."

Stan beside me chuckled. Ruby nodded in agreement. Scott rolled his eyes. Cynthia glared at me, crossing her arms over her chest. She made a gabby hand gesture with her hand when the waitress came back to take our order, I ordered a hamburger for her. She glared harder than anyone had ever glared at me.

"Whatever, Pops." She scoffed.

The rest of the dinner was actually fine. We talked about normal things like what was happening in town. Some local gossip and stupid shit. It was nice just to veg out and talk to people who weren't in my line of work or soldiers. Just normal people from my hometown. After an hour of talking Stan looked at me with a smirk.