“Okay.” I don’t give him time to think about it. “I can’t wait.”
Flocke is the first to see me, closely followed by Luca, who plays with her and follows her barking. Luca is the one I’m most afraid of. He protects Jannis with everything he has, and he’s made it very clear he doesn’t like me. As we get closer Luca’s gaze is stern and unyielding. Various scenarios play over and over in my head about what I might have done wrong again. But a big grin spreads across his face when he sees our joined hands, and he’s running toward us with quick steps.
Luca pulls Jannis in close and I want to let go of his hand, but he won't let me. He grips it even tighter so my fingers don’t slip out of his. Jannis’s eyes are moist when Luca lets go of him and turns towards me.
“Finally! I’m happy for you, but if you hurt my brother...”
“No intention of doing that.”
I gently use my thumb to wipe the tears from Jannis’s cheeks, feel his body trembling under my touch, and kiss him. Without words, we don’t need to speak to understand each other. This here between us is special, and we’re holding on to it. No matter what happens.
“Hello, you two.” A warm voice pulls us out of our little bubble. “Jannis, honey, don’t you want to introduce us to your guest?”
When Jannis breaks the kiss but doesn’t respond immediately, I look at him in confusion.
“Too many people, too close,” he whispers in my ear.
Sometimes I don’t understand his logic. There were just as many people around us on the beach, but I don’t have to understand or question it. I just have to be there when he needs me, without compromise.
“I’m Philipp, this is my husband Adrien.” A tall, athletic man in his early forties holds out his hand to me. “We are Jannis’s fathers.”
Fascinated, I return the handshake. I’ve never seen such green eyes. “I’m Dayyan...”
“Oh, I’m so happy to finally meet you. I've heard so much about you.”
“You have?” Philipp looks confused at his husband, who is no less interesting. Both arms are completely tattooed in geometric patterns and shapes that interlock perfectly, forming a work of art in shades of black and gray.
“Bien sur. You’re not the only one our children confide in.” Adrien’s German is very good, but he’ll probably never lose his typical French accent.
Philipp rolls his eyes and shakes his head, but he laughs.
“Sit down, boys, dinner will be ready soon.”
I’ve never seen Jannis like this before. He communicates exclusively with his phone, but he is loud and a full member of the conversation. Seeing him like this is wonderful. Another side of him I didn’t know before.
“Valérie, you planning genius, where did you imagine Dayyan sleeping?”
Val grins smugly. “Ah, sweetie, you underestimate me. Everything is taken care of.”
“Then spill, Dayyan is almost falling asleep at the table.” True, but I didn’t want to be difficult. It’s nice here, everyone is open and warm, with no weird questions. It feels like I’ve always been a part of this big family.
“You’re rooming with us. We packed our luggage on the sofa in the living room, but we don’t really need it anyway with the lounge outside on the terrace. The two single beds pushed together will be a nice playground for you two. Catch.” Louis throws a key across the table, which Jannis grabs out of the air just in time before it hits Chrissi next to him.
“Are you serious? Wow, that’s awesome. Thank you so much.”
“It’s yours, we got a second one at the reception. Now get lost.”
The room in the mobile home is tiny, but it has a bed and Jannis, and that’s all I need right now.
I strip down to my boxers and collapse onto the mattress. Fuck, I’m beat. No matter how hard I try, my eyes keep closing.
“Where are you?” When I turn around, Jannis is still standing in the small passageway to our bed. “What’s wrong?”
“You’re sleeping in only underwear.”
“Yeah, why? Oh, does that bother you?” Shit, I didn’t think of that.
“No, I... I sleep like that too.”
