At least, Alexei comprehended it was fun, extremely so, for everyone else. And so, while Alexei still felt off-kilter from the overstimulation of the day, everyone else’s enthusiasm for each other couldn’t help but seep into his bones just a little.
The party was held at a nondescript fire hall, linoleum floors and gray walls. But the Caravalhos had strung white lights everywhere, each plastic table adorned with blue-and-white-checkered tablecloths and vases of bright flowers. The back door of the fire hall was open to a lushly green lawn, dotted with party games. The lawn sloped gently toward a creek, the sweet-smelling air filled with the croaks of toads and the chatter of insects. Music filled the air inside and out, a constant beneath the never-ending buzz of conversation.
Ben did his best at introductions in the first hour, dragging Alexei around to meet everyone, letting go of his hand every few minutes to engage in hearty, back-slapping hugs. Alexei’s face felt sore from having to smile at so many people, although his decision to simply give up on remembering any of their names reduced his mental workload significantly.
Eventually, as Alexei knew would happen, Ben was torn away into deeper conversations too many times for Alexei to catch up. When Alexei assessed that Ben’s constant explanations to keep Alexei clued in were more burdensome than enjoyable for anyone, he slipped away to the buffet table, where he loaded up on potato salad, baked beans, and fried chicken.
Finding a lawn chair outside, he sat and watched various children and adults alike throw Frisbees and play cornhole as he enjoyed his food. It was loud pretty much everywhere, but at a more manageable level outside. Still, no matter where he was, every few minutes, he could hear the infectious peal of Iris’s laughter.
It felt rather like bird-watching: sitting in the twilight, observing. He was learning the calls of the Caravalhos, their songs.
“Lex.” Ben ran over, breathless. He wore a large, floppy hat that appeared to be shaped like a huge fabric cheeseburger. Alexei paused midchew to stare at it.
“Oh yeah.” Ben tracked Alexei’s stare. “Burger hat. It’s a thing. Anyway, we reallymustplay ladderball at some point.”
“You must know I have no earthly idea what you’re talking about.”
“Obviously,” Ben said easily. “But ladderball’s the best. You’ll love it.”
An old man walked over and threw his arm around Ben’s neck.
“I hope you don’t think you get the burger hat all night simply because you’ve been off in the wilderness for months, Benny boy,” the man said. Ben grinned, and five minutes later, he was gone again.
Later, there were speeches roasting Uncle Jaco, during which Ben found Alexei again, slipping in next to him at the table, his hand twisting down to thread into Alexei’s. Alexei was adjusting to it, the way Ben had so casually held his hand in front of his family from the moment they stepped off the plane. No one batted an eye, so Alexei went along with it.
Because it was wonderful, holding Ben’s hand. Always grounded Alexei, whenever he started to get a bit overwhelmed in this humid, noisy place.
There was pretty much nonstop laughter during the speeches, bouncing off the walls of the fire hall, and Alexei found himself smiling more naturally each time Ben burst out into a laugh next to him. Alexei learned way more about Uncle Jaco’s dietary habits than he thought he even knew about his own, along with the fact that Uncle Jaco was a proficient rollerblader. Which he learned firsthand after the speeches, when Jaco rollerbladed in big circles around the fire hall to “Once in a Lifetime” by the Talking Heads—Jaco’s favorite song—in celebration of his broken leg being healed, before coming to a quick stop in front of his birthday cake, where he blew out his candles with a flourish.
Only a little different from a Lebedev family party.
Ben disappeared again shortly thereafter. But other than a slightly painful encounter with Tiago, wherein Tiago asked Alexei where he was from and then attempted to make conversation about the Portland Trail Blazers, about whom Alexei knew close to nothing, Alexei really was okay sipping lemonade in the corner alone. Watching. Absorbing. Not so secretly staring at Ben being happy.
And then the sun settled behind the trees, and the dancing started.
Alexei had been keeping track of the songs he recognized—two out of six, so far—and quizzing himself on people’s names when Carolina glided into the seat next to his, her cheeks flushed from the dance floor.
“All right, Mr.Alexei.” She drew his name out, her fist wrapped around a bottle of IPA. “Wait, sorry.” She shook her head, frowning. “Do you identify as Mr.? Damn, I need to get better at assuming gender stuff.”
Alexei blushed, although he wasn’t quite sure why. Maybe it was Carolina’s casual acceptance of the idea that Alexei could be different than he appeared.
Alexei hadn’t met many trans people before, at least not as far as he knew. But he knew Ben was friends with Reina, Khalil’s girlfriend, who used she/her, and London, who used they/them. Alexei would be meeting them both tomorrow at a brunch with Ben’s friends. Ben had told Alexei more about them on the plane ride yesterday, so Alexei would know their pronouns.
Alexei felt hesitantly excited to meet Ben’s friends at brunch. Which was surprising, after how overwhelmed he felt by all the new people he had already met today. But even though he knew not all of Ben’s friends were queer, it seemed like a lot of them were. More than Alexei had likely ever hung out with at once before in person anyway. And the idea of being part of that kind of a community felt like…everything Alexei 2.0 had quietly been hoping for.
“Mr. is fine,” he said.
“All right then, Mr. Alexei. Tell me your deal.” She took a swig of beer, staring straight at him.
“My deal?” Alexei’s pulse started to race, understanding he was about to be interrogated by the person Ben loved most in this world.
“Yeah. Give me your vitals. Background, Enneagram type, party affiliation, devotion level to my brother, stuff like that.”
Alexei had no idea what an Enneagram was, and he figured the fact that he had known Ben for less than two months and then flown across the country to meet all of his family and friends was probably answer enough for that last one.
“My family’s Russian-American mostly,” he said.
“All right.” Another swig of IPA. “Next.”
