Confounded: Part II - 44. Chapter 44

CHAPTER 44 --==Kit’s POV==--

I took a shirt out, deliberately going for another pink one, striped this time, and shrugged it on, keeping an eye on Tom. His eyes darkened when he noted the color but he didn’t say a word. Going over to where my previous shirt had ended up, I stopped and picked it up, meeting his gaze and cocking an eyebrow at him.
He seemed to deflate, sighing deeply, his eyes following it as I threw it in the bin.

“Sorry…”

“Sorry my ass. Talk to me; what was that all about? And don’t tell me it’s because of some stupid color…”
For a second, it seemed as if he was going to try and claim exactly that; then he averted his eyes, a blush creeping up his cheeks.

“It’s nothing, I-I just…needed to blow off some steam is all.”
I grinned at that one. If that was him blowing off steam, I sure enjoyed it!

“Mmm…and I don’t mind, believe me. You can blow off steam like that, anytime, but come on, Tom, I’m not that stupid; something happened, I want to know what.”
It took him a while to start talking.
“As in communicate? Me boyfriend, remember? So talk? Please?”

“Fine. Alright…well, Taylan pretty much kidnapped me. Forced me to parade around in restriction-clothes, for when I start on Monday? And…well, on the way back, he got the idea to visit Evergreen Cemetery. He told me to say goodbye…”
That had me inhale sharply. Whattawhat? I guess he noticed the alarm in my expression as he immediately began to go on the defensive.
“Wait…it’s okay! I’m fine, Kit. Don’t worry.”
I shook my head and went over, pulling him into a tight hug.

“Yeah, right! Don’t tell me to not worry; that’s automatic with being number one. You’re not fine. Not if it makes you do…that.”

What the heck had Tay been thinking, dragging Tom out there. He wasn’t ready to… Oh man, he shouldn’t have done that. Not when things were finally going the way they were.
Cradling the back of his head, I pressed my lips on his hair. In turn, his arms slid around my waist underneath my still unbuttoned shirt.
“I’m sorry, he shouldn’t have done that.”

“You don’t understand,” it sounded, muffled against my chest. “He was right. And I’m…I’m okay.”

“Shh…I’m here…”

“Kit, you’re not listening! I’m fine! I’m o-kay! Sheesh…”
Leaning back, I looked down and his head came up.

Narrowing my eyes, I gazed in his. He didn’t seem sad, or distraught.

“I’m fine. Taylan was right, it was time to say goodbye. And I did. And yeah, it sucked, but it was also a good thing.”
I hugged him tighter to me again.

“I should’ve been there…”
He went still.

“No. I had to do it alone,” he said, after a long few seconds. “Sure, Tay was there, but waiting by the car. Wanna know something real weird?”

“Yes.”
There was nothing he couldn’t tell me. Nothing.

“You were there.”
Huh?

Then he explained. He spoke about Tay’s shenanigans in the parking lot, which kinda had me grin. The hours they spent at the store, totally against his will. The flower shop and that he’d sat at the grave, later on, on his knees; he reminisced about imagining to be able to raise Miguel from the grave, the bones knitting together. And that instead, it was me forming from it, not Miguel.

“And you were wearing a friggin’ pink shirt…”
I shuddered at the thought of what his mind had been conjuring up. And the words he’d heard, clear as if they’d been spoken, saying a final goodbye. Creepy!

“Is that why you…”
I eyed the bin where I’d thrown the ruined shit, misty eyed now. God, I wish I’d been there with him.

“Yeah…I saw you stand there and something just….snapped, I guess.”
He began to withdraw; this time I let him. Then, when he looked up, he frowned.

“Oh, no you’re not. Man; are you going Mr. Sniffles on me now?”

“What?”

“Jesus, you are emo.”

I stared at him. Couldn’t he understand that I felt…
Uch!
God, he was infuriating at times.

“Dude, you are a jerk. Still!”

I wasn’t particularly gentle then, pretty much hauling him back against me, dropping my mouth to his. I wasn’t really angry with him there, just frustrated at his inability to see why I’d react the way I was, but it seemed like a fitting punishment. Parting his lips with my tongue, I delved deep, tasting myself in his mouth still; I liked that taste there. It made me delve deeper, roaming around to steal it all back.

Ignoring the angry, throaty growl he made, and the pushing against my chest, I kept on kissing until kissed me back. When he did, I lifted my head but not before I nipped at his tongue with my teeth.

“Ow!”

“Serves you right, you blind idiot. I love you, you jerk! Get that in your head!”

**********

Dinner was a lively affair, with Taylan going into great detail about their afternoon shopping spree, including the parking lot shenanigans he’d pulled on Tom. I could just imagine Tom’s horror. And that poor clerk, Antoine! I agreed with Dad, when he mentioned he was gonna tip the guy extra, next time he went to buy something there. No one deserved that. Antoine was actually a great guy; he’d helped me a lot, when choosing my clothes.

Having said that; I couldn’t very well say I hadn’t enjoyed the aftermath of all they’d been up to, although they didn’t talk about the Evergreen Cemetery bit. Steered deliberately clear from it, by the sound of it. Which was fine. I knew, and I still planned on giving Taylan a piece of my mind, as soon as I got the chance.

**********

That chance came sooner than I thought, when Tom made himself scarce as soon as dinner was over, muttering and mumbling to himself. Something about being forced to do things he didn’t want to do and enough was enough. Well, he had been the butt of many jokes, all through dinner. And he had no defense.

“Did you have to force him to do that?” I demanded, cornering Tay in the kitchen right after dinner.

“Huh? What…taking him shopping? That was arranged with his parents, Kit. He needed it for work?”

“Not that,” I replied, waving my hand dismissively. “Evergreen Cemetery?”
Tay’s jaws audibly closed.

“Oh. That.”

“Yes. That.”
My tone caused him to frown and narrow his eyes at me.

“Wait…you’re gonna read me the riot act now?”

“Thinking about it.”

“Sweet. Aren’t you all protective and cute, coming to the BF’s defense. So he told you?”
Nice deflection. I wasn’t going for it, though. And the sarcasm really was wasted.

“Yeah, he told me. So…what was that? Why did you force him to do that?”
He shrugged.

“It was time.”
Just then, the music started playing, obviously coming from Tom’s room.

Crap! I knew it!

“Oh yeah? And who made you the judge of that? Hear that? Does that sound like it was time?”

“Stow the attitude, Kit,” Dad’s voice came from behind me. “You’re not talking to Tay in that way, understood?”
I glanced over my shoulder, seeing him come into the kitchen, then turned my attention back on Taylan.

“Sorry.”
I didn’t mean it. Because I wasn’t sorry. And Tay…he obviously saw that.

“No, it’s fine, Mitch. He has a right, I guess. Being his boyfriend and all.”

“Thank you so much.”
He trained his eyes on me again, raising an eyebrow.

“Hmm, yeah; okay, let’s make something clear here; you have that right, but your dad also has a point. Stow the attitude. Now. I’ll talk, but I won’t fight. But…if you’re looking for a fight, continue along this avenue. Please…go for it.”

Hmm…this time it was for me to deflate somewhat, I guess.

“Consider it stowed,” I reluctantly replied.

“Good. And as we’re on the subject of rights; I have that of being an Uncle. And Godfather. Does that agree with you, Sir Gilmore?”

Uch, I hated it when he went for the obvious kill, in that way. I had no defense against that. And he knew that.

“Yes.”

“Good boy.”

“Tay,” it sounded warningly from Dad.
He raised his hands.

“Withdrawn.”
He sighed.
“Listen, Kit…I get it. You see your boyfriend off his rocker. It’s natural to come to his defense. But did he tell you that he actually agreed that it was time to say goodbye to Miguel? Once it was over and done?”

“Yes.”

“Then why are you coming to me all hot and bothered?”

“Because… do you hear that? He can say whatever he wants, and you know he’ll say a lot of things, but does that sound like someone who’s fine?”
That caused another eyebrow raising.

“Ehr…yeah?”
I frowned at that.

“Huh? What planet are you on?”

“Which one are you on? Listen, Kit. Just listen.”
I stared. There didn’t seem any worry in Tay’s eyes.
“Nothing bad happened. Listen! It was just…time. Time to say goodbye. So he did. We bought some flowers, went there, and he put them on his grave. And said goodbye. That’s all there was to it. Really.”

“You sure?”

“Yeah, I’m sure. Listen.”

I did. Hmm, it wasn’t a sad song he was playing. It was familiar, but nice. A bit melancholic, like he was remembering. He began again, this time having added another instrument. Better. It sounded better. Not sad at all.

“Oh…”
Tay grinned.

“Ahuh. Oh.”
I felt like an ass, now.

“Sorry.”
He reached up and ruffled my hair.

“You’re an oaf. But you get points for being an awesome boyfriend, coming to his defense like that. I wish I had one just like you.”

“Hey!” Dad’s voice sounded, miffed.

“Shut up you, I’m having a moment with my son here. And I said boyfriend, not husband.”

“Does that mean you want to see other people now?”
Taylan rolled his eyes.

“We better cut this short, before I offer him another divorce.”
I grinned, giving him a quick hug.

“Yeah, you really shouldn’t do that, remembering the last time you did that. So…you think I could go in there? And not get my head bitten off?”

“Yeah, I think you’ll be fine. He’s not mad. Well...maybe a bit, because we made fun of him, but you should be alright.”

“Well, I am!” Dad’s voice sounded again.

“I’ll be right with you, my King.”
He rolled his eyes again and pushed me towards Tom’s room.
“Tom’s just…coping with what happened, Kit. You know how he is. It’s his thing, playing music. He’s fine. Now go…I have a fire to put out, here, before you get me in more trouble with this protective hoo-hah. Go, go!”

I did as requested, but couldn’t help overhearing the last, before I went into the hallway leading to Toms’ room.

“Here I am, my liege. Your genie is here, at your command.”

“Oh really…and where do I rub thrice?”

“I’ll let you be the jud…”

I closed the door before I could hear any more of that.

Brrr…