Page 98 of Kiss-Fist
That’s the moment one of Robbie’s brothers—Quinn, I think, the older one—appears. He’s watching me intently, and then he flicks his gaze over to Alex who uses Rome’s name sign, anRin a wavy pattern near his head to indicate his perfectly set hair, that I now recognize.
He makes a disgusted-sounding scoff in the back of his throat as he sits. He’s a loud signer—he vocalizes and hums a lot and clicks his tongue. ‘That guy is a fucking moron.’ Alex interprets, but I don’t need him to. I understand Quinn, and I agree.
I nod. ‘True-biz.’ Then I blush. ‘Did I use that right?’
He grins and leans forward to punch me on the shoulder. A…sign of affection? I’m going to guess that’s a him thing and not a Deaf thing because Alex rolls his eyes and points at him to sit back.
‘Don’t let Rome get to you.’ He leans over his thighs again and looks me directly in the eye. Shit. This is about to get serious. ‘Don’t tell Robbie I told you,’ he signs while Alex interprets, and he uses Robbie’s name sign I keep seeing that he won’t explain, ‘but he likes you.’
He doesn’t use the casual like. The one Denver taught usin class. And it’s obvious he means it a deeper way because of the tone in Alex’s voice.
‘I’ve never seen him with anyone the way he’s with you,’ Quinn finishes.
“Not even Rome?” I blurt aloud.
Quinn sits back with a loud “pffft” and waves me off. ‘That guy is a—’ I don’t recognize the sign, and Alex hesitates before he says aloud, “Dick.”
I laugh and make a Y with my hand and tap it in the air. ‘That-that.’
Quinn beams. ‘Don’t worry about him. Not worth it.’
That’s a little easier said than done, considering I showed up to be introduced to Robbie’s family and Rome had beat me over here, but Robbie didn’t look happy about it, and Rome was very clearly being dismissed. So yeah. I can move past it. My insecurity won’t always be nipping at my heels.
And it’s helping that Robbie’s family has gone so far out of their way to make me feel like I belong here. I’d been almost sick with nerves in the middle of my yoga class this morning. I almost threw up all over poor Dianne, who would have never forgiven me. I kept thinking about what I’d do and how I’d handle it if they all looked at me the way Rome did.
There’s a loud stomping noise, and both Alex and Quinn turn to see Robbie’s dad giving them the Glare of Disapproval. In all caps. ‘Go help Mom.’
They shoot up like he lit a firework under their ass, but as I start to stand, he waves me back down to my chair. “Stay,” he says.
It’s always a little startling when one of them chooses to speak, but it’s also important because I know that takes trust, and it’s kind of wild that I’ve earned it. ‘Thank you.’
He smiles and takes Alex’s place. “How far along are you?”
He clearly means with the language class. I grimace. ‘Not long. This is my first semester.’
He nods. ‘I didn’t learn ASL until I was eighteen.’
I blink at him. ‘Eighteen?’ I’m not a hundred percent sure I have that number right, but he mouths it when I sign it and nods.
‘Why?’ Shit. That was such an invasive question, but he doesn’t seem bothered.
‘My mom and dad,’ he signs. ‘They didn’t want to learn. Doctors told them it would be bad for me.’ He’s signing slowly, more in English order than ASL order, which I know is entirely for my benefit.
And I’m horrified by that idea. ‘But…you’re Deaf.’
He smiles, and it looks a little sad. ‘Deaf isn’t always good news for hearing parents. When the kids were born, the doctors all told us, sorry, your baby failed the hearing test, as though being like me and their mom was a bad thing.’
I want to tell him I’m sorry, because I am. But I know that can be kind of condescending, and what the fuck do I know about parenting anyway?
He takes pity on me and smiles, leaning forward and patting me on the knee. ‘All we’ve ever wanted is for our children to be happy. I think you make Robbie happy.’
‘I’m trying,’ I tell him.
His smile grows. ‘I know.’
Dinner comes after, a big, hearty meal full of serve-yourself family-style food that smells amazing. The table is round, and their dining room is massive enough to fit the chairs that need to squeeze into that space.
The girls are shuffled off to a plastic kiddie picnic table in the kitchen, and they’re ear-piercingly loud. It’s odd to be in a room where almost no one reacts to the screaming. Even Alex seems immune to it, but he does catch me staring and winks.
