I’m gonna need about a hundred more of these.
“Oh my god. Aunt Rose, you’ve created an addict,” I mumble, reaching for two more.
She looks over at Marco. “I’ll send you the recipe, hon.”
When the night winds down a couple hours later, we say our goodbyes to Cora’s wonderful family. As soon as the doors close, I wrap my arms around my gorgeous girl, and Marco binds us all together. “Thank you, baby.”
“There’s no need to thank me. I didn’t make her Korean.”
I chuckle, “No. But you knew we’d be a good fit. I feel so… inspired.”
Marco lets go of us but glides his hand through my hair. “We’ll do whatever it takes to support you, baby.”
How did I get this lucky? How did I go from feeling out of place but pretending I wasn’t to having partners and their family lifting me up? Making me feel like I was a part of something vital. How did they fill this void I’ve struggled with for years?
And to think I almost lost it. I almost threw it away. I almost gave up.
Chapter 31
Househusband
Marco
One And A Half Years Ago
Ican’tsleep.It’slate and I’ve already ended my almost-daily chat with Jay a few hours ago. Most of the time when we message, it’s during the day for him, but he should be getting out of work now… I wonder if he’s going home or meeting up with a friend.
My last deployment is coming to an end, and in a week, I’ll be back on US soil for good. I’ll have another week after we land to go through all the reintegration process before I’m free. But tonight, we’ve been given some free time, so I went drinking with some of the guys in my unit.
And I'm a little bit drunk.
Everyone must still be out drinking because no one is in the quarters with me. Giving up on my attempt at sleep, I haul my laptop to my bed and start messaging him with one eye open.
Marco: Can’t sleep. What are you doing?
Jay: I’m on a happy hour date
Oh shit. He hasn’t been out on a date in a long time. I don’t remember him being with anyone since he met that girl Cora a while back—like a year ago. And now I feel like a terrible friend for not asking about this part of his life in a while.
Terrible.
I feel sick.
God, why is my stomach all bunched up in knots suddenly?
Marco: Someone I know?
Jay: No. It’s a dating app date…
Marco: What’s their name?
Jay: Mark.
It’s a guy? With basically my name? What the hell?
Marco: Mark, huh? Don’t get us confused now.
I wait for his reply, but nothing comes. Not even the dancing dots that indicate he’s typing. I stare at the screen, waiting.
