Suri’s Sure Thing – Chapter 16

My hip is warm next to Erik’s as we sip coffee at our favorite café, and the dogs sleep at our feet. I sigh and rest my head on his shoulder. He takes my hand in his, and this brings a smile to my face.

“You look happy but tired,” Erik says, running his thumb along my fingers.

“Gee, I wonder why.” I laugh, but my face flushes with heat. He leans over and presses his lips to my right cheek.

“I love it when you’re all flushed. It probably has something to do with the endless sex we’ve had for the last three days.” He brings his cup of coffee up in a toast, and I tap my cup on his.

“I never want it to end,” I say, and I mean it. This is a happiness I’ve never felt before. Happiness with Leo was always fleeting and based on our latest party or our last fight. With Erik, things are even-keeled. He’s full of good humor and quiet moments, and that’s exactly what I need. It’s what’s been missing from my life, even though he’s been right there the whole time.

“Me neither.” He finishes off his coffee. “So, shall we get going? We don’t want to be late.”

I glance at the clock on the wall. Yes, if we want to make it to my parents’ house in time for dinner, we should get going now. The concept of dinner makes me laugh. Erik and I spent the entire day in bed together. Did we even eat a meal before we left? I don’t remember one, though my thoughts are a little hazy on the matter. We rarely have days off together, but we were both granted an entire week off after the debacle in space. And it’s a good thing too. Space-related nightmares have plagued me every single night. They are terrifying, and I wonder how I’m ever going to get back to work after this. I’ve been using sex as a convenient excuse to wear myself out every day, hoping to sleep through the night. No such luck, but I’m not changing anything about our arrangement.

Downing the last of my coffee, I leave the cup and saucer at the front register and come back for Erik and the dogs. Finn is immediately at my side.

“Suri, I’m not so sure about going home, going home. They weren’t nice to you last time you were there.”

“I know, buddy. But I believe in second chances.”

We arrive at my parents’ house about twenty minutes later. I’m still tempted to call it ‘home’ even though it isn’t anymore. But maybe it’ll always be home to me, and there won’t be any way of getting around that in my head.

The front gate squeaks as we push it open, and my mom appears at the door a breath after.

“There’s my Suri!” She opens her arms wide, and I step into them for a hug. I know my situation is not her fault, but I still hold her somewhat responsible for how Dad has treated his kids throughout the years. She pulls back and gives me a kiss on the cheek.

“Erik, it’s good to see you again,” she says, leaning in to kiss him on the cheek too.

“Thanks for having us over for dinner,” he says, bowing. My mom’s eyes twinkle at his polite manners.

“Of course.”

She shoos us into the house, and the dogs follow at our feet. They both trot off to the mudroom to eat their dinners with the other animals in the house. I’m sure we’ll find them both lazing around on the front porch when it’s time to leave.

Dad and Ean are having a drink together in the living room when we walk in. Glasses of bubbly wine sit on the coffee table, awaiting our arrival.

“Suri! We heard about your promotion, and we thought we’d turn the dinner into a celebration.” Dad waves to the glasses. “Erik, it’s good to see you.” He holds out his hand to shake Erik’s, and Erik complies without hesitation. He and Ean are closer, so they shake hands and go in for the manly one-arm hug.

I try to smile through Dad’s effusive behavior, but I know this will change as the evening goes on. Still, bubbly wine is a great way to ease my nerves, so I take a glass and sip as Erik and I sit in chairs opposite Dad and Ean. Mom and my younger sisters are all in the kitchen.

“I can’t say I was surprised to hear the news of your promotion, of course. You work so hard. You deserve it.”

“Thanks, Dad. It was a bit of a shock to me.” I glance at Erik, and he returns the look. We both know to keep our mouths shut about what got me to that promotion. “But I’m happy with the position and compensation. It’ll be good to have more income in the next few months.”

Dad looks at Ean, and Ean nods his head once. I have a sudden chill and a premonition that this is about to get complicated.

“Ean spoke to me about the extra income he was going to send your way to help you pay for an apartment.”

Ean’s eyes are down, looking at his knees.

“Was?” I ask, hoping the past tense of the verb was a mistake.

“We don’t feel this is needed anymore.” Dad’s smile is wide. “I apologize for what happened with Leo and then telling you to leave this house.”

I nearly gasp. My father does not apologize. He makes decisions and lives with the consequences, right or wrong. This must be my mother’s doing.

“You are welcome to come back. Your mother misses you, and she hopes to have you back at home.”

I stare at him, my eyes hardened and strong. He sips again. Ean clears his throat.

“We all miss you,” he concedes, “and I don’t want you to have to spend your hard-earned money on rent. You’ll want to marry someone someday, and you’ll need that money for your future.”

I sigh and set my glass down. The kitchen behind me has grown quiet, and when I turn to see what’s going on there, everyone is crowded into the entryway. Mom, Myra, Tilli, Winta, Rosa, and Demi, plus Tilli’s pair, Ivan the cat, are all holding their breath and waiting for my response.

“Well, thank you, I guess, for the invitation to move back, but I decline.”

Ean smiles and then twists his lips to push it away before Dad can spot it. Dad’s face falls into a frown.

“Erik and I are dating now, and I’ve moved in with him.” I sip the bubbly, and I smile as the bubbles tickle my nose.

Dad’s eyes fall on Erik. Erik does not give two shits what my father thinks of him, so he smiles back.

“You are… sharing an apartment?” Dad asks. His neck reddens with anger, and I should tread lightly, but no. Not anymore.

“Sharing an apartment, a bed, a life together. I don’t know why it took us so long, but it’s the best thing that’s ever happened to me.”

And I mean it.

Erik looks over at me. I hold out my hand to him, and he takes it. Two little-girl squeals emanate from the kitchen door — no doubt from Rosa and Demi, who are still young enough to believe in romance and living happily ever after. I didn’t believe in these things, but that’s changed.

Ean springs from his seat. “I’m so happy for you both. What splendid news.” He pulls me into a quick hug, doing his best to deflect from Dad’s oncoming anger. “Erik,” he says, hugging Erik too, “I’ve always told Suri what a catch you were. I’m glad you two finally got together.”

“Thanks, Ean,” Erik says, a little stunned. Ean has always been a bit distant with Erik, but that’s Ean’s way. He’s a lot like Dad. Business first.

Dad is still simmering on the couch, but I know better than to talk to him or approach him. He needs time to process this news and calm down.

Mom and my sisters flow from the kitchen like water being let loose from a dam. They all smile and have nothing but congratulations to say. I think I shook up their dinner plans for sure.

Mom hugs me again and glances at Erik talking with Ean across the room.

“You went straight from friends to lovers and living together?” she asks, her eyebrows climbing.

I shrug. “I guess so. Honestly, though, it wasn’t that big of a leap.”

“No,” she says, shaking her head. “No, it wasn’t. It was meant to be. Leo wasn’t the right man for you. Erik is.”

“That is something I agree with one-hundred percent. Erik is a sure thing.”

Mom kisses me on the cheek again. “I’m so happy for you. It’s nice to see you making decisions that bring you happiness.” She turns and raises her voice. “Let’s sit down for dinner together.”

Yes, I think my streak of bad decisions is finally, irrevocably broken.

I smile at Erik over the heads of my little sisters, and he returns the smile. My belly fills with butterflies as I imagine our possible life ahead, years of living together, maybe even marriage and kids.

I can see us happy together for a long time to come.