ephemeral [ Conrad Fisher ]

24

DINNER at the cousins house was always a warm and lively affair. The scent of home-cooked food filled the air as Susannah, with her graceful and motherly presence, put the finishing touches on our meal. The golden light of the setting sun streamed through the windows, casting a warm glow over the dining room.

"Lennox, honey, will you grab the pitcher of tea from the fridge?" Susannah's voice was soft and affectionate as she made the request, and I couldn't help but smile as I nodded and headed to the fridge.

I poured the tea into glasses, the condensation dripping down the sides in the summer heat. When I returned to the table, everyone had gathered, and the conversation flowed naturally, a mix of laughter, anecdotes, and plans for the coming weeks.

"Lennox," Susannah began, her eyes crinkling at the corners as she smiled warmly, "how has debutante practice been going?"

I couldn't help but gush about Nicole and Shayla, my newfound friends from the debutante group. "It's been amazing, Susannah. Nicole and Shayla are such great company, and we're learning so much. It doesn't feel like practice at all; it's more like spending time with friends."

Susannah's eyes sparkled with delight as she listened, and even though she wasn't my mother, I felt a sense of pride in her approval. She had a way of making me feel like I belonged here, like I was part of this family.

"And what about escorts?" Susannah asked, her gaze shifting to Belly and I.

I glanced briefly at Conrad, my heart skipping a beat. He had mentioned earlier this summer that he didn't want to be an escort, and I didn't want to make things awkward by bringing it up. Instead, I shook my head and answered, "Not yet. I'm still figuring it out."

Belly's response was a bit more certain as she smiled and said, "I might ask Cameron."

Jeremiah, who had been quiet until now, couldn't help but roll his eyes at the mention of Cameron. "Seriously, Cam, Cameron?" he muttered under his breath, but it was loud enough for us to hear, and a small bout of silence filled the table for a few moments.

Steven, broke the awkward silence with a bright grin. "Hey, how about we play a game? It's been ages since we had a proper game night."

Laurel and Susannah shared a knowing look and then nodded in agreement. "Sounds like a great idea. We'll clean up the kitchen," Laurel offered.

We were quick to clear the dining table and migrate to the living room, where an assortment of board games lay stacked on a nearby shelf. Belly and I settled on the couch, leaving some space in between us. Our newfound truce was fragile, and I didn't want to risk shattering it.

As we set up the game, Conrad took a seat beside me, our legs brushing lightly as he leaned back relaxing against the plush couch.

Jeremiah and Steven, immediately began to tease Conrad and I. God did I love them but god, I wanted to bury them.

Jeremiah raised an eyebrow suggestively, winking in our direction. "Lennox, you and Conrad make a killer team, don't you?"

Steven chimed in, grinning wickedly. "Yeah, it's like you two have some secret telepathic connection."

I could feel my cheeks flush, and I exchanged a knowing look with Conrad. He couldn't resist rolling his eyes dramatically, which only fueled the laughter from Jeremiah and Steven. In response, Conrad playfully flipped them off, eliciting more laughter.

Belly, though still a bit reserved, seemed to tolerate our interactions. Her annoyance was evident, but she was making an effort to hide it. The fact that we were all sitting together, playing a game, felt like a small victory.