Page 126 of Unexpected Prejudice

“I love you, too. I’ll forever love you.”

Squeezing me tighter, I swear I heard a sob coming from him.

“Good. Cause I’ll never let you leave me again.”

After taking another shower, we went down to join everyone else. I thought it would be awkward, as I knew Jessie and I hadn’t exactly been quiet, but nobody said a word. I expected Diesel to at least joke about it like he always did, but he wasn’t downstairs.

“Hey, where’s Diesel?” I said.

“He’s been out since the morning but said he’d make it for lunch,” Andrei answered, putting the roasted beef in the middle of the set table and then looking around. “It’s almost dinner now, but still.”

“I’m starving,” Paris whined from the couch, where he was sitting upside down with his legs on the wall and his blond curls brushing against the floor. He’d grown up so much since the last time they’d visited.

Sitting beside his son, Kai took Paris by surprise and started to tickle his stomach, forcing his kid to roll over and wriggle in his lap.

“Dad! Stop! Stop!” He half cried, half laughed.

The sound of their laughter was addictive, and Jessie couldn’t help but start giggling with them.

“Enough, Kai. You’ll end up hurting him,” Zoe scolded Kai before she turned to look at Chief. “Why don’t we start eating? We’re all starving, and Paris needs to eat.”

“Mom!” Paris grumped.

Looking half-hearted, Chief glanced at Andrei. “When was the last you talked to Diesel?”

“Dunno, maybe at noon? He said he’ll make it, but you know him.”

Chief sighed and moved a hand over his short hair before checking out the room. “I guess we can start eating.” Just as he spoke, our three dogs, who’d been sleeping, woke up and ran to the door right before it opened.

A moment later, Diesel appeared, dressed in a black hoodie and matching sweats. I never understood how he wasn’t hot, always wearing those long-ass clothes.

“We were just about to start eating.” Chief smiled at him, but Diesel didn’t return it.

“I’ll go wash up first. Don’t wait for me.” His voice was deeper than usual. Maybe he caught a cold?

“Nonsense. You can shower later. Let’s eat,” Chief said, tapping Diesel’s shoulder, who winced at the touch.

“Is everything okay?” Chief asked as we all started to walk to the table.

“Yeah, just ate something bad.”

“Make sure to leave the window open tonight,” Andrei joked as he sat beside Diesel.

Ignoring Andrei, Diesel turned to look at me. “Hombrecito, you’re back.”

He didn’t say it in a mean way like he often did, but with a slight smile that seemed strained.

“I am.”

“Good.” He was about to say something else but closed his mouth. Whatever he ate that made him feel bad sure had done a number on him.

The meal went smoothly and was enjoyable. Zoe told us about her recent marine biology research, while Paris told us about the epic wave he caught last week. He was also a surfer, the same as his dad, and our Chief.

It was weird how quickly things could change. Just this morning I felt like I had no place to go, and now? Now, I was home. It may have taken for me to be away from them for a week to realize that they were my family, but I was sure of it now. When I came back home with Jessie, they’d been waiting for me. Andrei had given me a tight hug before Chief did the same. Kai ruffled my hair and Paris wanted to show me his new book. They were all genuinely happy to see me and the way I was welcomed back made me realize that I’d forever have a place around this table.

“Oh, Diesel, I forgot to tell you that Margot asked for your number,” Andrei said while taking another bite from his roasted beef. After Diesel continued to sit in silence, he clarified, “You know Margot, Miles’s friend?”

Shaking his head as if trying to stay focused, Diesel turned to him, and I noticed how pale and sweaty he was.