I walk him to the front door. We had a long discussion about whether we should be trying to sneak him in and out. But Lie’s come and gone from my house his entire life. It would cause gossip if we started trying to sneak him in and out. It’s far less suspicious if he just walks out my front door.
And he regularly walks out his own front door too, so it doesn’t look like he’s spending more time with me than he is at home. It’s a strange fine line we’re toeing. Trying to maintain the status quo when we never gave it much thought before.
What constitutes the normal number of visits? Is there a strange or unusual time that he shouldn’t be seen coming or going? I mean, at one in the morning, obviously.
I watch Lie jog down the road toward the ferry until he’s out of sight. Then I head into the spare room. It always had a bed in it but when I painted the walls soft blue gray from bread-crust brown, I haven’t put anything back into the room except the desk and chair.
I’m not sure I know what I want the room to be. I’m not sure if I want it to be a spare bedroom anymore. It’s not like I’veeverhad someone spend the night. Except Lie. Over the years, he’s loved having sleepovers. I’ve had him and Cash too and listened to them laugh and listen to music all night.
But it’s been several years since the last time Lie spent the night. I regret not making sure we kept that tradition up. We could probably pull off a legitimate sleepover if we had.
As I stare at the desk, I decide that it no longer fits. I take a picture of it and then the bed that I have stacked against the wall in the closet and submit them to the residential website listings for used furniture.
The dresser I got rid of years ago. There’d been only a bed and a small desk for a while now. I’m ready for something new, though. I’m just not sure what.
After a few more minutes of finding no inspiration at all, I head into my bedroom to grab my laptop and notebook. I’m totally old school and still like to hand write notes. Especially when I’m plotting. I need to get the last dozen episodes ofKing Arthur’s Camelotfinished, so I don’t have to think about it for the year.
Then maybe I’ll work on my current work in progress, a novella that I’m currently callingBreedable.Did I perhaps fashion Iri after Lie? Yes. Considering I began this project right after Lie got home from college last winter, the resemblance between Iri and Lie is… obvious.
Then there’s the fact that I named the breeder Luken… Could I make it any more obvious that I was finding a name close to mine without it being obviously mine?
Clearly, this obsession with Lie was also a bit subconscious since I didn’t name them with any thought behind them, nor did I truly write this story with any intent. They were words that flowed for no reason at all. A passion project. Something to entertain my muse.
When I realized what I’d done, I adjusted a lot of the storyline to give the couple a pack in the end. Just to erase any parallels between Iri and Luken with me and Lie. Besides, itmade sense with the storyline. Iri and Luken were always meant to have their pack.
I stare at the screen with my cursor blinking after the previous chapter I wrote. My mind is completely blank. My muse is not talking. After minutes pass and nothing new comes to me, I swap projects and go to King Arthur only to find the same issue.
Okay. Maybe I need to find something else to occupy my time. Like finding inspiration for my spare room. Perhaps it’s time for an actual office instead of sitting at my kitchen counter or on the couch. On the other hand, I also like that I can be anywhere and write.
I spend some time searching for ideas. Making notes on the back of my notebook cover. Bookshelves. A real desk. Maybe a comfortable chair.
I’m distracted from concentrating on my spare room when an ad for an adult novelty store pops up. When I click the link, it’s not only adult toys but also random shit. A penis lamp. A comforter with abstract penis designs within the tropical design. Tons of erotic art and all kinds of little penis figures.
I bookmark the site for Lie, knowing he’ll love it. Then I continue browsing the site. Lie’s birthday is coming at the end of the month. Maybe I can find something that he’ll love.
Which means I need to get him two things because Miranda won’t appreciate the penis gift and will feel it’s inappropriate. Never mind that it’s something Lie will love. I have a feeling the extent of his collection far exceeds what I know about.
I think he’ll love it if I add to his erection collection. It’ll mean a lot to him to know I support whatever he finds interesting.
I’m not sure if Nason would question a dick gift. He’ll either find it hilarious, knowing that Lie has a collection of cock things hidden in his room, or he’ll find it out of line because Lie is his son. I’m inclined to believe that Nason won’t care. He’ll find itfunny. He finds all of Lie’s little dick creatures and collection amusing.
You know what? I don’t want to risk it. I’m not upset in the least about purchasing Lie two gifts for his birthday. One that his parents won’t question, and one that’s between us. Hmm. Maybe I can do something more than that.
This is the first birthday we’re together for. His first as my boyfriend.
Okay. I need something memorable. Adventurous. Something semi-private. Surrounded by anonymous people who don’t know us from Joe No-Name is fine, but we need to limit the number of people who could recognize us. Preferably, that number should be zero.
We also need to be somewhere without security cameras, which is actually a difficult task on the guest islands. Kala is all about security and safety.
There are a billion excursions. I just need to find the right one. One that’s romantic, private, and maybe sexy.
I become absorbed in ping-ponging between researching ideas for my spare room, writing when inspiration strikes, and shopping/planning for Lie’s birthday. Time passes quickly, and I’m startled when Nason walks in the kitchen door.
He laughs at the way I look at him. “Watching porn?” he asks.
I roll my eyes. He’s the sole person who knows I’m LIHW, so I don’t bother to close the King Arthur tabs open on my screen. “No. Wanting to crank out the last few episodes of KAC for the year, so I don’t have to worry about it again for a few months.”
“I’m still surprised no one has figured you out,” he says, standing over me.
