Page 4 of Love Unlimited

It’s just… meeting family is a big deal. But I’m happy to.

Lena gave him a sweet smile. I hadn’t thought about it that way. But I’d like you to meet them. Maggie already thinks you’re awesome. We can meet your folks, too.

Dustin made a face.

He could see the questions starting to form, but that was when Ash and Zhong walked in the door. Zhong had his own key, so it wasn’t a surprise.

Neither of them blinked to find Lena straddling his lap, her bunched up dress showing far too much of her lean, muscular legs. More importantly, he knew that neither of them would be concerned by Lena’s lack of makeup and the coarse hairs starting to shadow her chin.

What really thrilled him, though, was that this was Lena showing her comfort around both of them.

A chorus of greetings flew around the room. As usual, a happy pulse went through Dustin when he saw his best friend. Especially when Zhong looked so happy and in love. He was holding a couple of bags—probably more food to contribute—and he set them down by the chair.

What were you guys up to? Ash asked, expression dripping with innuendo.

Lena laughed. Talking about my family coming to visit. I think I’ve horrified Dustin.

Zhong laughed. Dustin doesn’t really do family.

Really? Lena asked, turning back to him.

He shrugged. They’re just not part of my life. The last time I saw them was… maybe three years ago? I had to fly out for a conference and we had dinner together. And before that… I think at my cousin’s wedding. That had to be six or seven years ago, since I see her kids on Facebook, and I think they’re in kindergarten or something.

Ash shook their head. I can’t even imagine that. I talk with my mom almost every day.

Lena nodded. I see my sister every week. So what’s the story with your folks? I can’t believe I never asked.

Kind of a lack of a story. I didn’t mean to avoid talking about them, I just don’t have a relationship with them.

That part you’ve told me, Lena confirmed. But you said they weren’t abusive or anything. What are they like?

Dustin shrugged. They’re maybe the most boring people on earth. My dad’s a lawyer in private practice and my mom’s his secretary. Together, they work really long hours at a job that neither of them enjoy. When they get home, my mother makes a dinner that my dad doesn’t usually eat, and then they both watch TV in separate rooms until they fall asleep.

That must have been hard when you were a kid, Ash sympathized.

Maybe, Dustin told them. I think as a kid, whatever your family is like seems normal. I had everything I needed, pretty much. It was only as an adult that I realized how odd it was. He’d been pretty self-contained as a child, and that was most of the truth.

Lena gave him a quizzical glance. How did you get so cuddly, then? That was how they’d first started dating, or something like it—when he insisted that they cuddle on the couch instead of moving straight to sex.

Dustin smiled as he answered, his first two fingers sweeping the letter Z through the air to form the name. Zhong. His best and longest friend. Maybe his boyfriend at times, though it wasn’t that clear-cut.

Ah… I see. Ash and Lena both signed knowingly, their hands nodding with thumb and pinky extended. Zhong beamed, taking full credit.

What about your family? Zhong asked Lena, shifting the focus of the conversation. Zhong knew that Dustin didn’t think a lot about his family, but sometimes if he dwelled on them for too long, he started thinking about what he’d missed out on. He would much rather focus on the here and now.

Lena turned around on his lap and launched into a colorful description of her childhood. Zhong settled into his customary chair and Ash plopped down on the floor by his feet.

Lena came from a much larger family, and there were endless silly stories of their exploits as children. He also knew that she was often overlooked because her parents were busy with an autistic son, a daughter with some mental health challenges, and Lena’s two other siblings. Lena always spoke of them with love, but he suspected sometimes that she hadn’t gotten any more affection than he had. Or maybe she had affection, but not attention.

Dustin knew he hadn’t felt the lack of either as a child. It was only when he’d met Zhong that he’d realized how empty his life had been. He got the sense that Lena was making up for lost time. Or maybe that was just from her string of crappy boyfriends before him.

Dustin massaged Lena’s shoulders, vowing to be a better partner to her than his parents were to each other, and more committed than her exes had been. He hoped he was doing alright.

Maybe both of them were a little bit broken, but looking around the room, he felt like he’d done pretty well for himself. He got to share more love and affection with Lena every day than his parents ever had in the time he could remember.

Suddenly, Ash gave Zhong a little poke. We forgot the thing! It was an intentionally vague sign, one flat hand moving across space that could have indicated anything.

The thing?