Mine, Always

Chapter Nine

Tuesday and Thursday's between 3pm and 4pm have become the time in which I see Zach. I didn't plan on it becoming a regular thing but I just headed to the library on Thursday and he was there and he was there again the following Tuesday. Shortly after he showed up the second time I wasn't really sure he wanted to talk so I just stared at my phone the whole time, this time it feel awkward though and I keep sneaking glances at him, He's wearing black jeans today but they fit him just as well as the other pair, he's navy blue t-shirt is stretch to the max around his biceps and I wonder if I'm drooling. God he is beautiful.

"So, you know I have a little sister, what about you – any siblings?" Zach asks pulling up one of the many bean bags that are strewn around the reading area of the library.

"Erm..." I start to say and then realise that no one has ever asked me this before so I'm not sure what to say, I feel like I can't ignore that I'm technically a third child though so I go with the truth.

"I have – technically I have two older brothers, but only one is alive." I say looking up at him and feeling a bit awkward.

"Oh," Zach says obviously shocked.

"Yeah, Bobby is 22. George would have been 27 but he died when he was ten – two years before I was even born." I say hoping to ease the tension.

"Oh so you never knew him then?" He says and I'm grateful he doesn't say the I'm sorry I was expecting.

"No and as horrible as it may sound you can't miss someone you never knew," I say somehow sure he won't judge me.

"I agree- people are always saying I'm sorry when they realise I've not got a mother – but I've never had one – so I don't miss it you know?" he says seemingly relieved that someone finally understands him. I'm on the other hand silently freaking out because I'm pretty sure he had parents last week as in plural and now he is saying he has no mother.

"Hang on – you said your parents were at work as in two of them?" I question and I can see he's smiling; glad I've questioned him. To have pleased him even in the small way is making me feel amazing and I'm worried my heart is already far too involved in this guy in front of me.

"Yeah I have parents – they are just both men," he says laughing,

"Oh," I say, I can't tell what emotions my face are showing because I'm not sure how I feel about it but whatever he sees its obviously not positive.

"This is the part where you leave," he says bitterly and I'm shocked buy the change in his tone.

"Why would I leave?" I ask confused.

"Pretty much everyone in my old school hated that fact that I had two dads," he tells me.

"Really – it's 2019?" I question because I didn't think it was that big a deal really. I mean I know I have my own issues with coming out but I didn't think it was as big a deal as it used to be in the grand scheme of things.

"Yeah well either they were against gay people in general or they were in the closet and hated how easy I had it," he says angrily.

"Well that's a bit – I don't know – out dated I guess," I say confused; maybe being gay isn't as excepted as I thought.

"It was a Catholic School to be fair," he tells me laughing and I laugh too.

"There will always be people who hate other people, I just ignore it now," he tells me shrugging.

"So what do they do? Your dads?" I ask him.

"Oh well my dad, my biological dad that is; Ryan, he is a chef – he just opened that little restaurant in town called Mr. Jones -" he begins.

"Oh my mum wants to go there!" I say and then laugh at myself because I sound like an over excited teenage girl.

"Sorry, carry on," I say embarrassed.

"My other dad, Chris is a mechanic he just opened up a garage also in town called Baker's Bikes, Cars and More," he tells me and I'm laughing even though it's not funny.

"Why are you laughing?" he asks confused.

"Bobby just started working there. He had a job at Mr Mechanic's but they were arseholes- and the pay was crap, when he saw that Baker's Bikes, Cars and More was opening he quit and well your dad gave him a job," I tell him.

"Your brother really works for my dad?" he asks and I can see he thinks it's as random as I do.

"Uhuh."

We chat for a bit longer, mostly him explaining that his dad's new businesses were the reason he was so busy over the summer, they were busy moving into a new home, new town and two new businesses and then we head to swim practice.