Page 80 of Afterglow
Muted squeals and the laughter of children sound out from the yard as she inspects the solid woodwork of the banister with a sweep of her hand. Her eyes twinkle at the light shining through the stained glass window on the landing. A soft awe sweetens her tone. “So pretty.”
There’s a scuffle coming our way when the heavy wooden door slams behind us. A gaggle of my older sisters and their husbands halt their stampede and gape at us, then at our held hands, then between me and Bea. Blood rises from my chest with a fury, tinging my neck and face with red. She squeezes the hold.
“Holy shit.” Lucas blinks three times, like a cartoon. Greer elbows him. For a pair of English teachers, they’re suddenly lost for words.
”Pipe!” Dylan calls over his shoulder without breaking his eye contact. Piper is the only one missing. “Look what the cat dragged in.”
Bea mutters under her breath, speaking into my arm. “Am I the cat or you?”
My oldest sister rounds the corner from the kitchen in the back, coffee mug in hand, and sees me first. “Aw, hey, Annie! You made it.” She joins the frozen group when she notices my plus-one.
“Annie?” Bea’s voice is no longer at a whisper.
A dozen questioning eyes fall back to her, then to me.
“Anne brought a girl,” Greer says to Piper behind a cupped palm.
“That’s never happened before,” she replies from the corner of her mouth.
“I didn’t even know he liked girls,” Dylan chimes in, the entire commentary happening as if we weren’t standing in front of them, within earshot.
“Same,” Cameron adds. “I thought maybe he wasn’t attracted to anyone, what’s it called? Asexual.”
That’s too bad. Miller’s husband was previously my favorite.
Bea shifts her weight onto one leg. “Definitely not.” The confident announcement startles them speechless once more. “Heyyyy,” she singsongs with a wave. “We can hear you.”
She deserves better than my silence. Iahem, intentionally slowing my words to avoid a stammer, which would surely lead to more teasing. “This…is Behraz.” Her name alone quiets the anxiety and I breathe in, gathering more confidence. “My girlfriend.”
She flashes a glorious smile at the simple introduction and gives another wave, this one giddy and childlike. “Hi!”
I name them in age order and couples: Piper and Dylan, Greer and Lucas, then Cameron. They exchange stiff handshakes, still stupefied.
“What’s that?” Piper tugs at my sleeve, eyeing the ink peeking out over my wrist. “You got a tattoo?”
“No way!” Greer pushes her aside to inspect it herself. “He’s not cool enough for a tattoo.”
I pull up the sweater sleeve to let them have a better look. “Bea drew it.”
“That’s nuts.”
Is there no end to their slack-jawed responses? What happened to small talk and tokens of appreciation?
“Miller’s not here?” Behraz looks to me for an answer.
Cam throws a mindless thumb past his shoulder. “She’s in the basement with Park and the kids. I’ll go call them up.” He backpedals and disappears through a lit doorway.
Cautious footsteps come down the stairs one by one, faded orange curls bouncing on her shoulders. “Fletcher? Is that you?”
Bea loosens her grasp, but I don’t let her. I climb two steps to meet her, keeping my girlfriend at my side.
“Hey, Mom.”
She opens her arms and tucks into my shoulder, using one hand to bring my cheek down a few inches so she can reach it for a kiss. “Hi, sweet boy.” The greeting is as warm and familiar as the embrace. Mom pats my cheek twice before releasing me. “How are you?”
“Good,” I confirm, sharing a small smile. “Really good.”
“I can see that.” Her attention moves to Behraz, gaze sweeping over her excitedly.
