Now it wouldn’t just be Ramin’s; it would be Ramin and Todd’s. The vibe would be different. They wouldn’t just be a trio anymore; they’d be a trio plus Todd. Though perhaps cohabitation would help smooth off some of Todd’s edges.
And who knew? Maybe they’d get married. Maybe they’d adopt a dog, or kids. Ramin would make a great dad—Farzan had no doubt about that—but fuck, that would be a change. Farzan had never much wanted kids, though he was looking forward to being a guncle if and when the time came. If Navid or Maheen had kids, he’d spoil them rotten.
Well, as best he could when he made a fraction of his siblings’ salaries.
“Anyway.” Ramin shook his head and poured more tea. “Enough about me. What about you? When do you see David again?”
“Who’s David?”
Sweet mother of crap. Farzan needed to remember to lock the back door. If one more person snuck up on him…
Not that it would’ve thwarted Navid, since everyone in the Alavi family had a key.
“Hey, Navid.” Farzan pulled his little brother into a hug. Navid was in a slick black rain jacket, damp and dripping onto the kitchen floor. Farzan hadn’t heard it start raining. “What’re you doing here?”
“You first.” Navid sidled up to Ramin, leaning against the same counter and crossing his arms. “Who is this mysterious David?”
Ramin pressed his lips together, fighting a smile. Farzan sighed.
“Just a guy I’m seeing,” Farzan said. “It’s not a big deal.”
But Navid’s face lit up. “You’ve got a boyfriend?”
“Er…”
Emphatically not. Farzan loved Navid, but he was straight, and all his ideas about relationships were formed through that lens. While Farzan had been in the closet, Navid had been having his first kisses at middle school dances. While Farzan had borne the brunt of his parents’ askingWhen are you getting married?, Navid had been, by all accounts, a bit of a player in college. He’d sown his wild oats, then met Gina and settled down, and now they were getting married.
It was all so beautiful and romantic and heteronormative, and that was nothing like Farzan’s dating life: hookups and boyfriends and, now, a fuck buddy.
“We haven’t really labeled it yet,” he finally said.
Navid’s smile only widened. “That’s so great. Oh my god, have you told Mom and Dad?”
“No, and neither will you, or you can start paying for your own kabobs.”
Navid held up his hands. “Okay, okay. But still. I’m happy for you. Hey, this means you’ll have a date for the wedding!”
Farzan suppressed a scoff. David would be long gone by then. And even if the wedding was next week, filling in at a kickball game was one thing. Being a wedding date? That was definitely pushing the limits of his and David’s arrangement.
“Have you picked a date yet?” Ramin asked, passing Navid a cup of tea. Farzan tried to telepathically thank Ramin for the redirect, and it must’ve worked, because Ramin gave him a subtle nod.
Navid took a long sip of his tea and winced. He usually let his tea cool before he drank, while Ramin and Farzan both liked theirs piping hot. Maybe that came with being the baby of the family.
Navid blew on his tea before taking another sip. “Yeah. Next summer.”
In which case David woulddefinitelybe out of the picture.
“That’s actually what I wanted to talk to you about.”
“If it’s about catering—”
“What? Fuck no. You can’t cater my wedding.”
Farzan was at once relieved and offended. Did Navid not think he could handle it? That was just typical. Farzan opened his mouth to argue, but Navid kept going.
“I was going to ask you…” Navid’s voice petered out. He swallowed, dropped his eyes to his teacup. “I was going to ask you to be my best man.”
“You… oh.”
