Memphis opted for a steakhouse, saying that it was a place where most people could find something they liked. It was one of the oldest in the city and family owned. My brother would appreciate that.
We met Joe there on a Saturday evening, with reservations for one of their small private rooms already in place. Memphis wasn’t messing around when it came to impressing my brother. It was highly unnecessary and very appreciated.
“Hey, I like you,” he said, grabbing Memphis’ shoulder. I hadn’t even introduced them yet and, if we hadn’t been holding hands, I’d have teased him and asked him who he was talking to, giving Joe a split second of wondering if he’d just grabbed a stranger.
“There’s no need to touch my boyfriend,” I teased, brushing his hand away.
It was fine that he had; I wasn’t upset. My brother wasn’t the kind of guy who would try to steal my man, and if he were, he was smart enough to know not to do it in front of me. But it earned me a nice chuckle from Memphis, and I loved that.
“So, all I had to do was show up, and suddenly you love me?” Memphis said. “I shouldn’t have tried so hard.”
“You convinced my brother to eat at a real restaurant. That gets you super-double-bonus points in my book. You should see the places he has us go.”
“They were all delicious, and don’t pretend they weren’t.”
Memphis and I had talked about my family more than I had with anyone else, but I wasn’t sure he quite understood the depth of the dynamic between us. I especially thought this true now, so filled with questioning at my brother’s comment.
Dinner was great. I could see why this place had stood the test of time. The service was magnificent, the food worthy of all their Michelin stars, and the privacy of the small room allowed us to be ourselves without worrying about disturbing others.
Memphis was rewarded for his excellent selection of restaurant with a personal viewing of 1005 pictures of my brother’s kids and wife. After they had exhausted every last one he had on his phone, the conversation morphed into one about Memphis’ career, which my brother was very interested in. Not so much because it was lucrative or that it was connected to me, but more that he was just genuinely interested in what my boyfriend did for a living.
And when it was time to go, Joe didn’t question Memphis for paying the bill like he would have done with me. I called the evening a success. I could see us getting together like this every few months, although I was picking the place next time. As great as this one was, I left wishing I’d had a diner burger instead.
The car ride home was quieter than normal. At first, I thought it was because Memphis had a lot on his mind with work. It wasn’t until we were back at his place that I realized he had a lot on his mind, things that needn’t be there, if only I’d have been more open with him about my family. While I shared more with him than anyone else in my life, I’d never given him the full picture. I trusted him; it wasn’t that. It was about me not feeling comfortable doing so.
We sat down on the couch, and he took both of my hands in his. “Can you tell me what that was? What’s going on between you and your family? I feel like I’m missing pieces. Your brother seemed shocked you let me pay for dinner.”
“Yeah. That’s because I hardly ever let him.” And didn’t see that changing.
“Why is that?”
“Because if I give even a little bit, my dad and my grandparents see it as an opening to make their move in Operation Bring Ridge Back Into the Fold. In their minds, it would be a little break that they could poke at and potentially crack wide open, allowing them to pull me into their world. It’snot worth it. I don’t have the energy to keep fighting them, but I’m also not willing to fall to the pressure.”
He pulled me onto his lap, holding me close. “Thank you. For not arguing when I paid today. That tells me that you don’t see strings attached to the things that I give you.”
I hadn’t thought of it that way, but he was right. And that had come with time, because at first, I wasn’t comfortable with being spoiled with anything that cost money. Now, I just accepted it because I saw how happy it made Memphis to do those things for me.
“That’s because you like spoiling me,” I said, kissing his cheek.
“I do, my sweet boy,” he said. “I really do and plan to spoil you a whole lot more today.”
“How so?
“Let me carry you into the bedroom and show you.”
Chapter Sixteen
Memphis
Chained was the best. Not one doubt about that. And Chained with friends? Maximum awesomeness. One midweek night, Ridge and I arrived to meet Jovan, August, Bridger, and their littles in the conversation area.
Although it was not a special occasion, I’d booked a private changing room anyway, and we had a nice half hour in there before emerging to meet our friends. The room this time was one that featured animals from all over the world with a full-wall mural that made it seem as if we were outside in some kind of a jungle where all the animals got along. “Hurry and get changed so we can find our friends.”
Ridge bounced on the balls of his feet. “I want to go now.”
“Well, you can, but you’ll be in your jeans and sweatshirt instead of your new onesie. Didn’t you want to show your friends?”
He bobbed his head and lifted his arms so I could pull his hoodie over his head. Sometimes, we lingered in the changing room, but tonight with everyone waiting and a very special night in the little room ahead, Ridge was all about changing quickly and meeting everyone. “Hudson has a new onesie, too,” he said. “But it doesn’t have kitties.”
