* * * *
Mark walked across the road with his goodies in a tray and a paper bag. It was a lot to carry, and he didn’t have time to get too anxious before he had to push through the door and into the clinic.
“Mark,” Erin said, looking at him with confusion.
“Uh, I went to eat at the Tripod, and Leah sent over some shakes for you guys,” he said quickly, unable to make eye contact with anyone as he stood there awkwardly. “I brought coffees to those who Leah said would prefer it, and the muffins are on me. As a… you know, sorry. For the LGBTQ community in town.”
The room was silent, and there was tension in the air. Mark flushed, feeling more awkward than he ever had.
Kaos cleared his throat. “Okay, I’m the second newest part of this community, but this is mostly my business, my space, so it’s up to me to say this.” He hopped off a chair, and Mark felt himself shrink a bit as soon as Kaos stepped closer. “It’s a start, okay? From what I hear, you’ve been a fucking asshole to everyone here since the summer.”
From the corner of his eye, Mark could see Makai glower at him until his partner Emil put a hand on his arm to calm him down again.
“That’s more than I can really ask for,” Mark said quietly. He took in a deep breath and made a decision. He lifted his gaze and found Francis in the small crowd. “I don’t expect you all to accept me into the community, let alone your circle, but I’m gay.”
“So treat us with kindness, and we’ll do the same to you,” Kaos said, then grabbed one of the bags and the tray of coffee from Mark to free one of his arms. His other hand was still clutching a tray of the shakes.
“Okay,” Mark replied, then ducked his head.
Mark began to figure out the shakes and which one was for each of the people who Leah said would want one. Mark glanced at Francis who hadn’t said anything and looked… off. Off in a way that made Mark worry, but this wasn’t the place or the time to ask why.
Evy smiled at him and she and her sister began to chat with Mark, obviously intending to include him.
“You okay?” Kaos asked Francis, who nodded, drawing Mark’s gaze from across the main room of the souvenir shop.
“Francis, when you’re done, can you come play nurse with some baby bunnies?” Padraig asked.
His vet tech, a Black woman named Athena smiled. “Yeah, there are many little fluffy bottoms to check through and vaccinate. I could use extra help,” she said cheerfully, but Mark could tell she’d jumped into the conversation without planning to.
“Sure. I’ll finish this and come with you guys.” Francis seemed relieved, and Mark hated that his friends had to bail him out from a situation because Mark had upset him somehow.
Once everyone had had their late lunches and treats, Mark decided to do the thing he’d wanted to for a while. He caught Makai’s gaze and nodded subtly toward the door.
Emil looked worried, but Makai flashed him a quick smile before following Mark outside.
Makai Stone had come to Acker as after being exonerated for a murder he hadn’t committed. The man had faced prejudice, and then saved a life of a woman he didn’t have any ties to, when her drunk husband had attacked her.
Makai had gotten shot for his trouble and now he was hailed as a town hero. Mark agreed with the town. Which was part of why he needed to do this.
“What’s up?” Makai asked, peering down at Mark.
Mark wasn’t a small man, but Makai had at least four inches on him in height and a lot more muscle—although he was less ripped than he had been when he landed in town last summer.
“I wanted to apologize to you in person,” Mark started.
Makai frowned. “You just did, in there,” he gestured with his thumb over his shoulder.
“Yeah, I know, but I want to say how sorry I am and how inexcusable what I said was. It happened on your property on a day that was about helping you out and….” Mark sighed. “Look, I know how toxic behavior changes shit. How it worms into your brain and twists you. I grew up with that and I’m trying to teach myself to be better. So I wanted to say that I’m trying, and that I didn’t actually mean any of those horrible things I said.”
Makai watched him, his face stony as he mulled over Mark’s words.
“I’m going to apologize to Lotte and Joie when I next see them, too.”
“Good. That’s important. Joie is a good kid.”
“Yes, they are. I don’t…” Mark huffed with frustration. “Look, those words, they were my parents’. Evy has been unofficially working with me to get through this all. I guess I’m at that making-amends stage.” Mark smiled weakly, trying to make light of it.
Makai grinned. “Assholeism? Is there an Assholes Anonymous somewhere?”
