Page 97 of Love Unlimited

Zhong swallowed a large lump in his throat. That’s how you feel to me, too. But does… Is there even enough left for Lena? Does she even want that? I feel like she’s so defiant around you, and so silly around Ash. She isn’t really either of those things with me.

Maybe she needs a lot of different things. And she’s lucky enough to have them with all of us. I think of what I have with her as this raging fire, burning so beautifully but out of control. I try to tame it a little bit, but I love her wild. With you, the fire’s still there, but it’s more like a campfire or a hearth. It’s cozy, and you can roast marshmallows.

Zhong shut his eyes for a moment, the happy feelings racing through him too many to process. He shuffled around until he could pull his journal out of his back pocket. He was the hearth. He needed to write that down.

Dustin kept massaging his foot while he recorded his thoughts. He was Dustin’s home. That’s why Ash had said earlier that the two of them together were the foundation. Maybe his contribution was just making this a home.

If that was what they needed, he could definitely do it.

When he looked up, Dustin was watching him fondly. Do you want to talk more about your relationship with Lena now?

No. I still need to think. He patted his journal. And I’m not sure if I’m ready to mention it to her yet anyway. I’m still not quite sure how to sort out romance, friendship, and kink. And I don’t want to start anything for the wrong reasons.

Dustin ran a soothing hand down his calf. We’re not going anywhere. Take your time.

Just then, Ash turned and waved their hand to get his attention. Daddy! Look what I made! They scooted backward across the floor to reveal their work, then crawled around to the other side of the coffee table. They had a whole array of rocks spread out, some with geometric designs and others as snuggly, sleeping puppies with their noses and tails curled up. They’d started with the natural color and shape of the rocks and then added quick brushstrokes to outline the curve of a paw or fluttery edge of a tail. This one’s for you and this one’s for Lena’s Daddy. They each got one of the puppies.

It was one of those glowy moments, where he felt like he was falling in love all over again. Ash was giving him a gift, and it could symbolize only their own puppy self. Lena had a third puppy in front of her workspace. Puppy Ash loved everyone.

He and Dustin both expressed their thanks and praised the tiny, perfect images.

Lena, who had slowly inched to the side, made a face at her own painted rocks. They didn’t quite look like they’d been painted by a child, but compared to Ash’s work they were more crude and basic. There was a recognizable ladybug with a red base, black spots, and two white eyes, though the colors mixed together a bit. Another had what he suspected was supposed to be a penguin, and a third had a blobby rainbow. A fourth one was… maybe a strawberry? It looked like she’d been copying ideas from the box. I was making them for you guys, but they’re not very good.

Can I have the ladybug? Zhong asked immediately.

Her smile brightened a little bit.

Ash wrinkled their nose. I wanted the ladybug. Can we share it?

You can have the ladybug. I want the strawberry. Like the berries in our garden.

OK. Lena perked up.

And can I have the penguin please? Dustin asked. It’s cute.

Sure, Daddy.

Maybe you can put the rainbow on the front porch or something, Zhong suggested. For all of us.

Good idea. Lena looked supremely pleased.

Are you all out of rocks? Zhong asked. It was a rhetorical question because they had clearly run out. Ash was painting on the newspaper now. I can get you some more.

I’m done with rocks, Lena replied. I’ll stay here though.

Ash looked up for a moment. I’m done, too. Then they went right back to painting.

Everyone laughed.

What are you making? Dustin asked.

My family.

Zhong leaned in a little closer and there they all were, each in a solid color. He could recognize himself as a tall blue human with spiky hair. Even with a few fluid lines, Ash had captured his compact body and the solid way he held himself. Dustin’s lanky form and tight posture was presented in orange. And Lena, in a skirt that flew back from her long legs as she leapt, was in green. Ash was the small red Pomeranian running up to their people with a ball in their mouth.

Ash was never subtle about asking for what they wanted.

Do you need some puppy time? Zhong asked them.