Chapter 21

CHAPTER

TWENTY-ONE

NATIE

Dylan : I'm jealous that you boys get to go to Nerd Con in two weeks.

Firass : If you're really jealous, you can come and help us unload a truck of merchandise.

Dylan : Insert joke here about handling loads.

Dylan : But I'm preoccupied with the new job at the newspaper.

Hamadi : Have a fun vacation!

Me : We're working the con.

Hamadi : Oh right, get me a souvenir.

Me : ( face palm emoji)

W eeks later, I walk into my house, ready to collapse on my couch. Firass has a lot of coordination going on for GBS Games with our impending work trip to Florida. He's still at the office, but he sent me home, since I'm a meager part-time assistant. The board game con sounds fantastic, but with all the product we need to bring, it's a logistical nightmare.

I toss my bag on the floor and head to my room, when an uncommon sight has me frozen—my parents and Johnny are seated on my living room couch.

"What uh…what's up?"

" Musuko , have a seat," Dad says.

"We'd like to talk to you," Mom adds.

Johnny's eyes are serious, and my mind goes to the worst-case scenario. "What's happening? What's wrong? Dad, is it your heart? I told you to buy low-sodium soy sauce."

"It's not that, Natie," Johnny mutters.

"My heart is strong. I'm as virile as ever," Dad says with a smirk. He glances at Mom, and I refrain from gagging.

"It's nothing bad. Please, have a seat, Natie," Mom says.

I sit on the loveseat facing the couch and Johnny nods at me solemnly. What gives?

"Well, boys, we've made it no secret that the upcoming expansion might be too much for Shiba's Seaside," Dad says.

"We've made a decision." Mom pats Dad's arm, then looks back at us. I hold my breath, unsure of what's to come. Please let them reconsider this new acquisition. "We're not moving ahead with the beach purchase, and we've found a buyer."

I breathe a sigh of relief and relax into the chair. The looming drama of the intricacies of another resort branch have been keeping me up at night—the nights where Santos isn't there to talk me down. We've spent the past two weeks sleeping over at each other's houses, and every night is better than the last.

But this isn't about the honeymoon phase of my relationship. Today is about my parents and my brother.

"What's the other news?" Johnny asks. He turns to me and adds, "They told me about selling the beach before you got here."

Mom glances at Dad, then turns back to us. "The two of us want to retire on top and not get bound up in all the extra red tape that would come from yet another expansion."

Dad clears his throat and says, "We came to this country to make something for ourselves, a patch of land with our name on it, and a legacy. And after forty years, we've accomplished it."

What . "You're…retiring?" I'm finally going to be the only manager of Shiba's Seaside. Wait, do I want that?

"More than that, musuko ," Dad says. With a nervous glance at Mom, he adds, "We'd like to move into this house. We're selling off all other properties to the managerial team, and we'll only keep this property."

"It's cozy. There's not many stairs," Mom says, looking around. "It needs some dusting, but it'll do…"

"Wait…what…what?" My head feels like it's spinning in a tornado. My whole world is altering with every passing second. "Huh?!"

"Natie, we're selling to Davi. She'll run the resort, and we'll only stay on as investors." Mom smiles at us. "We'll be hands off. Shiba's Seaside is our legacy, but we want to focus on our pride and joy; that's you two."

I turn to Johnny and he nods knowingly. "I sat them down to tell them I'm proposing to Firass, and they dropped this bombshell." He plays with his thumbs and looks down. "You just walked in after they told me."

My mouth hangs open as I look back at my folks. They're not kidding. They're really…relinquishing Shiba's Seaside? "But…but…your dream?"

"Our dream is right here!" Mom says. She leans forward and pats Johnny's hand. "Both of you boys are grown now."

"I would have liked some grandkids by now, but I expect you and Firass to get on that," Dad mutters.

Johnny and I wince at each other. Adopting kids is a personal, private matter, but we have other issues to address. "But…there isn't enough room for us here," I mutter.

Johnny shrugs. "Firass and I will probably move out soon."

Seriously? "Oh."

"But we won't go far." He gets up and sits on the arm of my chair. He pats my shoulders and continues, "You're still my brother, and he adores you more than he loves me. I promised I wouldn't walk out on you again, and I'm keeping that promise."

I place my hand over Johnny's. It seems like a lifetime ago when I resented Johnny for moving away as a teenager. But now my life is being inverted all over again. "Natie," Dad says. "You are free to stay on at the resort as a co-manager, but we're finalizing handing over the sole managerial position to Davi."

"But…but…" I sputter. I stare at the ground, feeling light-headed. I always dreamed of a time when the resort didn't need me, and now it's here. "I thought I needed to stay."

"Only if you want to," Mom says. I look up at her, concern in her eyes. "We trust Davi to run the operations, she's so competent." Can't argue with that. "But more importantly, honey…"

She waves us over, and like magic, my brother and I are compelled to sit next to her. The four of us are crowded on the couch, but I'm too shaken up to care. Mom takes my hand and says, "You're free now. You can do whatever you want, go where you want to go. We're gaining back a lot of money in our retirement, and once you cash out, you can start a dream career wherever you want."

My throat feels parched, and my eyes sting. Everything I thought I wanted is falling into my lap, but moving on feels so bittersweet. "Think it over, musuko ." Mom pats my face and her eyes tear up. "It'll be some months before our retirement is finalized and we move in here."

"More importantly, you won't have to get frustrated with us anymore." Dad snickers. "As your father, I order you to be free and be happy."

The four of us laugh, and I pull Mom in for a hug. "This…is a lot to take in," I say through a tearful smile.

"Take your time, bro," Johnny says, patting me on the back.

"Shiba's Seaside isn't holding you back anymore," Dad says, pointing at me. "Now what do you want to do with your life?"

Isn't that the million-dollar question?

It's my duty as a caring boyfriend to distract my significant other from work. We have a lot to talk about, but he's been crazy busy the last two days. So, I make up some excuse from GBS Games to make my way to his production office.

I peer into the warehouse window and notice two of his workers hauling boxes. He's been producing board games as well as banners for various nearby companies. I'm glad Santos's company has the work and that GBS Games is also thriving. But right now, I'm a man on a mission.

I spot my sexy target in the far corner, and I creep into the warehouse. When I get to his office, he and Keisha are glued to their respective laptop screens. It never occurred to me that they might have to work through lunch. Looking down at my hands, I'm second-guessing my brilliant idea.

I'm about to walk out when—"Do you smell pizza?" Keisha perks up, and her words make Santos turn to me. His face goes from stressed and strung out to shining and hopeful. I've never had that power over someone before, and I like making Santos feel good.

I can't believe I ever hated this guy.

"Um…I brought the specs for the next prototype game." I look down at the file in my left hand and the giant cardboard box in my right. "But you're um…too busy to take lunch, so I'll…"

"Oh, no we're not!" Keisha rolls her chair to me, eyes gleaming in hunger.

"This is so sweet of you!" Santos stands up, but Keisha is busy opening the container.

"It's pepperoni," she says with a mouth full of pizza. "And I'm starved. You the best, Natie."

"I don't want to disturb you, so…"

"You're not!" Santos says. His bright smile warms me from the inside out. "You're a s-s-sight for sore eyes."

"Hey, love birds. Take a break and get out of here." Keisha grabs two more slices and stacks them on a tissue. Then she all but pushes us out the office door.

"But, what about the specs?" I ask.

She snatches the file out of my hand. "We'll work on it after lunch. Now shoo."

Ten minutes later, we're seated at the picnic table, finishing our lunch. We sneak kisses and cuddles between bites, and his presence calms the turmoil in my soul. Four months ago, we sat in this very spot, but everything about us has changed.

Santos lets me drone on and on about my parents' decision. He doesn't interrupt, but merely nods as I describe the details of my parents' retirement. After letting my feelings out, we gaze out at the cars on the highway.

"So what should I do?"

"Well, you said you weren't happy about working at the resort."

I shrug. "Yeah, but it's all I've known."

"What was your major in college?"

"Hospitality." I play with my fingers. "And business."

"There you go. You could start a business. As someone who's f-f-familiar with red tape, I can offer my expertise."

I look at his handsome face. "You'd do that for me?"

"Of course, sweetheart. If it's what you want."

He bumps his shoulder into mine, and I chuckle. "Sweetheart?"

"I'm trying different nicknames."

"Okay, Handyman."

"Ugh, I despised that!"

We share a laugh, and I lean into him. "How about honeybee?"

"We'll put a pin in that." He keeps laughing, and it's a soundtrack I want to build my life around. It's early, but forever is starting to sound pretty good with Santos.

After we calm down, we stare out at the road in silence for another minute. "My dad messaged me," Santos says.

My smile drops. "What?"

"He got out of jail and the hospital. He lives a bit away, but he found me on social media." Santos looks down as he digs his shoe into the ground. "I already knew his handle, but I never engaged him. Now that I'm back in Connecticut and with Santana's wedding, he keeps r-r-r-reaching out to me."

My mouth goes dry. I've spent so much time spiting my parents for hovering over my life, while Santos has had almost no support.

"Wow. What did he say?"

"He wants to meet up with us and apologize." Santos bites his lip. "Would you judge me if I ag-g-greed to meet with him?"

I place my hand over his in his lap. "Santos, I got your back. I'm here to support you, and if you feel you want to forgive your dad, I'll be here for you."

"Not so much forgive him." He strokes his thumb over my fingers. "But more like…start over? All the formative years where I yearned for his presence are over; we don't need his support anymore. We're adults. Santana has Wayne." He clears his throat and looks away. "And I'd like to c-c-consider that I have you."

He turns back to me with a nervous grin, almost questioning my place in his life. I smile and peck his cheek. This renders his face all rosy as he smiles. "You do. No matter what your dad says or does, I won't let him diminish the man you've become." I lace my fingers through his. "You've got a beautiful heart, Santos Hand. You forgave me. And if you're willing to start fresh with your dad too, then so be it."

His eyes shine like he wants to say more. Instead, he leans in and kisses me slowly. His lips are soft, and I want to say more. I love you, Santos . The words don't come out, but the feeling is there.

When we pull apart, he takes in a deep breath. "I was powerless to resist you, babe. Thanks for having my back, Natie."

I lay my head on his shoulder, and he rubs my back. "It's you and me, Santos." And I intend on keeping it that way.