“I’m here,” I replied. When I’d been spinning around and holding them, I felt something. Maybe not a forever something, but I definitely wanted a moment with Kai.
I joined Kai carefully. Some branches wouldn’t bear my weight like they would theirs. Finding a good one, I sat down. Kai scrambled to me, leaning against me, balancing precariously on thebranch.
Grabbing one of the branches to brace us, I put my other arm around Kai.
“I can appreciate an alpha who’s not afraid to climb trees,” Kai said.
“I like to climb trees,” I replied.
“My ex would get irritated because I’d climb trees and fences and walk on walls like a balance beam. I’mfine.I’m not going to hurt myself. I think it was more propriety than anything. But why even have a wall if you’re not supposed to walk on top of it?” Kai asked quizzically.
“Other than safety, I don’t see a reason,” I replied, pretty comfortable. It was a very nice climbing tree, and I could completely understand why Kai wanted to scale it.
“Have you ever seen a banyan tree? They’re these amazing giant trees that have so many twists and layers that make them perfect for climbing. They're all over campus. They’re not only fun to climb, but they’re beautiful,” Kai added.
“No, I haven’t, but that sounds wonderful. I think my favorite trees are redwoods,” I replied. “There’s something quietly majestic about them.”
“There is. Back when my parents were still alive, we would go on road trips to see them.” A bit of wistfulness filled Kai’s voice.
“Do you miss them?” I asked, curious. If Steven’s parents died, I’m not sure he would. Feel a little sad? Maybe? Miss? I wasn’t so sure. But then those assholes didn't even congratulate him on us making the playoffs.
I’d miss my parents if they passed.
“Yeah. The aunties and uncles try really hard to be a family for me and they are, but they don’t replace my parents. They were good parents. Supportive parents. Sometimes Auntie needed to talk to them a little, but they learned pretty quick.” Kai chuckled.
“Like when you chose your name, you said your auntie took you,” I recalled.
“For that it was more like I just needed to learn to effectively communicate that I wasn’t rejecting the names they carefully chose when I was born. I just wanted to add a new one to it. After that, my mom understood and went out to buy a little nameplate for my door that had my new name on it. It wasn’t pink and girly like the others. It was blue with sharks and ocean waves.”
“I like the ocean, too. Here let me show you some pictures.” Making sure that I wasn’t going to tumble out of the tree, I got my phone. I showed Kai pictures of my cabin, of the home I grew up at, the ocean, and the forest where I spend the off-season.
“You live there? It looks amazing,” Kai breathed in awe.
“Nashville is a great city. It’s been very good to us, but I appreciate having that time in the off-season to be in nature,” I replied.
“Oh, I get it. I love Los Angeles, but moving to Hawai'i has been incredible. I mean, my college has a farm.” Kai got out their phone and started showing me pictures of the campus farm, the greenhouses, and the gardens.
“Your garden from last year is amazing, I would’ve loved something like that,” I said.
“We had to submit our landscaping plans for that. It was a really great experience.” Kai snuggled into me.
I heard anoofas Steven hoisted himself into the tree, not as graceful as Kai.
“You look like you’re having too much fun up here,” Steven teased.
“Just looking at pictures of your house that you spend your summers in–it’s beautiful,” she said.
“It's all him. The lumberjack made a proper cabin for us.” Steven laughed as he got higher.
“You meanlumbersnack,” Kai laughed.
Lumbersnack?My eyebrows rose, followed by my heart fluttering. Did Kai just say I was cute?
“Oh, Ash is a total lumbersnack, also you two with your matching hair buns are cute.” Steven hung upside down from a branch. “I can also see your other buns and they’re cute, too.”
I held in a breath, not knowing if Kai would be offended by Steven complementing their ass.
Kai looked over at him. “It’s been a long time since anyone’s given me a compliment. Thank you, Steven.”
