“I’m dating someone,” I blurt.
I’d hoped that maybe it would have come out a little more nuanced than that, butalas, it did not.
“Oh, really?” My mother says, sitting up with interest.
Whenever Eloise or I date someone new, it’s a big deal. We aren’t celebrities per se, but we’re wealthy enough that our clients, employees, and social circles deem usinterestingenoughto end up in the media from time to time…like when we acquire a new property…or when one of us has a new love interest.
“Do we know her?” my father asks.
“Is it someone you met out west?” Luke chimes in, his arched brow telling me he’s catching on quicker than our parents.
“Actually—” I clear my throat to buy a second of time.Here goes nothing. “—it’s ahim. No, you don’t know him. Yes, I did meet him out west.”
The room falls silent.
It’s hard not to fill it with explanations and declarations, or simply start from the beginning, but I manage to keep quiet. They need to be able to process this without me running my mouth.
Lukas is the first to speak.
“The guy from the hospital.” It’s not a question.
“What hospital?” my mom asks frantically.
“Whatguy?” my dad asks.
Maybe I should start at the beginning after all.
I spend the next ten minutes quickly telling them my and Zeke’s story. I even show them the picture we took at the Christmas party. I don’t know why I chose that one. We’ve taken several others since, ones where his smile is brighter andour happiness is evident, but that picture is still so striking to me. A stolen moment bathed in darkness, it just feels representative of where we were at that time and how far we’ve come.
“Well, I can’t say this was on the list of possible outcomes for this meeting, but it’s good to see you happy, Tal,” my dad says. “Is it serious?”
“Serious enough that he came home with me. El took him shopping.” I flash a smile at Luke. “That’s why she’s not here.”
“Oh, good! We get to meet him then?” my mom says excitedly. “Can you bring him to dinner tonight?”
“We have tickets for a show on Broadway, but how about tomorrow?” I ask.
“Perfect,” she gushes.
And just like that, I’m out to my family. My worlds have become one, and I couldn’t be happier.
Until Lukas opens his mouth again.
“Ouremployee, Talon? Really?” Looking at our parents, he holds his hands up. “As much as you guys preach about hard boundaries and not blurring the lines, you’re just going to let this slide?”
“Yes, I can’t say I’m very pleased about that,” my dad says, giving me a stern look. “We’ll have to speak to the attorney. If you end up breaking things off, it could get ugly, which is why we have a policy against this, son.” Just as I’m feeling appropriately chastised, he adds, “But itisnice to hear someone’s caught your attention.”
I cut my eyes to my brother as I answer our father.
“I know, Dad. I swear if it wasn’t real and important, I never would have pursued him.”
“And you don’t think that maybe this guy, who hasnothing, is trying to get close to one of the richest men in the country for something other than love?” Lukas continues from the corner.
“Wow,” I huff. “I never thought my own brother would say I’m not worthy of being loved beyond my money.”
“That’s not what I said,” Luke argues, standing up.
“It’s what you implied,” I fire back.
