The island is also one of the most beautiful, with white beaches, and, because of its location within the island chain, the waters are calm. It’s unlikely that we’re going to run into anyone we know on the beaches of Ceto. It’s one of the least-visited places that residents of the islands travel to since it’s party central.
I lead him, hand-in-hand, to a quiet place on the beach with no one else around. He follows me to sit and then joins me when I lie back. Our hands remain locked. I scoot close, so our arms are pressed together.
We stare at the stars. A clear sky. I can see the line of the milky way through the sky.
“When I was in Texas, all I could see was light pollution,” I say. “It rarely got dark enough to see the sky clearly. I’m told there are brighter cities, too. I can’t imagine living every day and not being able to see the stars.”
“You’ve always loved the sky,” Laiken says. “I remember the first time you actually noticed the stars and the moon. It was probably around this time of year, and we were in the yard around the fire. You’d been running around, and I’m not sure what made you look up, but you were completely mesmerized. Over the years, we’ve caught you staring at the stars so many times since then.”
“It hasn’t stopped,” I say, smiling. “I used to wonder what kinds of worlds were out there and thought that when I got older, I’d travel to one of them. I was mortified when I realized that not only didn’t the human race travel to other worlds in the galaxies, but also that there were supposedly no other worlds with living beings out there. I’m still a little miffed about it.”
“I think it’s rather naïve to think we’re the only living beings in the entire universe,” Laiken says. “There arebillionsof stars and planets, but scientists really want us to believe that only one has life on it? I think that’s truly putting the human race on a pedestal we simply don’t belong on.”
“I also think that they’re being stupid, thinking that all living things need exactly what we need to form life. I appreciate that they at least tag on ‘life as we know it’ but even on Earth, there are creatures that don’t need the same things humans do tothrive, so it’s really kind of stupid to believe that a planet needs exactly the same conditions as on Earth to support life.”
“Maybe your calling is space,” Laiken suggests.
“That would require me to leave Kala for a career, and I’ve left Kala already. I’m not doing that again. I’m not cut out for a world that puts so much attention on who I’m sleeping with instead of minding their own fucking business and living their own lives.”
Laiken snorts. “Did you know your father is the one who found Kala and suggested we move here?”
I turn my head to look at his profile. “Really?”
“Mm,” he agrees. “He was the one and only person I told that I’m pansexual. We lived in the South of the U.S.—so I had a lot of the same experiences you had with homophobia. We went to college in the northwest, which gave us a taste of life without hatred. It allowed me to explore myself. Nason found a job on Kala and suggested we go there, somewhere I’d be allowed to be whoever I am without outside input making me feel like I need to hide.”
“That’s… really nice.”
“It was. He brought us here for me. So I could live with the same peace and acceptance he and Miranda did, regardless of the partner I chose to be with.”
“I didn’t know that.” I turn my attention to the sky again. “It’s really great having a best friend like that.”
“It is. It took me a few months to truly understand what he did for me. I looked around to see every kind of couple, throuple, relationship, lifestyle, and just thought,wow. This is what utopia looks like.”
“I thought the exact opposite in college,” I say, laughing.“Wow. This is what a shithole world looks like.”
Laiken laughs. “It’s funny. I didn’t realize how awful some places were until moving here. There’s the general adage that‘you don’t know how good you have it until you lose it,’ but the opposite can be said too. You don’t know how truly shitty a place is until you experience an actualgoodplace.”
“I don’t ever want to go back,” I say quietly. “I don’t want to leave Kala, but I know I can’t live in my childhood bedroom for the rest of my life. I know my parents wouldn’t kick me out, but they deserve to live just for themselves now, you know? Their baby is grown. They should be able to think in terms of ‘me and my spouse,’ not ‘me and my spouse and my adult son.’”
“I think Nason would love for you to stay home forever.”
I snort. “Actually, he probably would.”
Laiken chuckles. “You’ll find your calling, Lie. Give it time. This is going to become annoying to hear, but you’re still young. You have plenty of time to explore what’s out there until you find what makes you happy.”
“You’re right. That’s annoying,” I deadpan. I can see his smile in my peripheral vision.
“I have a degree and a minor that I don’t use,” Laiken says. “Even if youknowwhat you want to do right now, that might change under any number of circumstances.”
“That’s fair.” I sigh. “I guess I feel like I just need to findsomething, you know? I don’t hate bartending, but the only reason I look forward to going to work is because I get to spend the shift with you. What happens when you’re done training me and my shifts no longer need to coincide with yours?”
“Fortunately, I make the schedule,” Laiken says, a smile in his voice. “You don’t have to worry about that. I have no intention of letting you work without me.”
“You’re just afraid I’m going to receive an offer from some stranger that I can’t resist, aren’t you?” I tease.
His hand tightens around mine. “Yes. I am.”
“Your honesty is cute.”
