Paper Hearts

𝔹𝕒𝕕 𝔼𝕟𝕠𝕦𝕘𝕙 𝔽𝕠𝕣 𝕐𝕠𝕦

Chapter 17: Bad Enough For You

With his leather jacket and pierced brow, tight jeans sitting well around his thighs, and not to mention the tattoo on his right ring finger, Mateo looked like the typical high school bad boy your parents wanted you to avoid, except he was much older, calmer and mature.

Fern on the other hand looked like a sweet nerd with his red flannel shirt and beige pants that matched his glasses, some Converses on his feet. His smile was one that portrayed charm, his freckles alluring and welcoming. He looked like the soft type of boy you'd introduce to your parents, and Lex was both happy and nervous to bring them both to meet his family for the first time since they met.

Almost a year.

He'd gone through a lot with them. The ups and downs that brought them to this moment. He'd been lucky enough that his sister and brother-in-law never pestered him about who he was calling at 1am, or who's mother's funeral he was attending (Fern's mother died). And during that time since his boyfriend cheated on him, his life changed for the better, two amazing boyfriends by his side to help him forget the pain and get through life's mountains and valleys.

He walked them through the small halls, not as long and maze like as Fern's or Mateo's houses, but the nervousness in his body had his brain functioning weirdly. His family stared wide eyed at his partners, the anticipation wearing them thin.

Fern squeezed his hand, worried they might've not liked Lex's choice on lovers. On the contrary, though. "Lex, you rat! How did you get such pretty boys!" Lexis. She truly did act like an old woman. Lex wasn't even sure whether to be offended or proud.

Mateo coughed awkwardly, the blush on his cheeks prominent while his eyes wandered the place.

Fern's body moved backwards, almost falling and hitting a vase behind him as Anastasia ran into his legs and hugged them. "This one's so cuuuuute." She giggled, looking up at him with wide, sparkling eyes.

Dropping to his knees in front of the girl, Fern smiled wide and ruffled her hair, speaking in the softest tone he could muster with his deep voice. "Hello, big girl. You're adorable too." He looked up at Lex, and the boy in question tried to keep his thoughts at bay, but it proved to be useless as Mateo squeezed his shoulder while Fern smiled extra sweetly on purpose.

"Is this your sister, Lex?" He used the same soft voice he used on Anastasia, though for Lex, he made it sound as flirty and seductive as possible. Lex gulped, shaking his head.

"N-no. It's, uhm, my uh-"

Lexis laughed, walking up to them and picking Anastasia up, "No. I'm his sister, she's my daughter." Thankfully, she was completely oblivious to the state Fern left Lex in, carrying Anastasia on her hip. Anastasia made grabby hands for his glasses, receiving them and putting them on her nose, and her parents chuckled, the glasses too big for her face.

Immediately, her eyes widened, looking around with excitement, but everyone brushed it off as childish excitement. The little four-year-old, pulling at her own dress, asked her mother what colour it was. "Yellow," she scrunched her brows. "No, yellow is not so..." she made gestures with her hands, indicating how sparkly and bright she thought it wasn't supposed to be. "It's so... bleh."

She pointed to Lex's shoes. "And that?"

"Blue," Lex answered, pulling the glasses off the girl's face. "What colour does it look like now?"

"I dunno," she stared hard at them. "It looks like the sky when it rains, but uglier."

Fern took the glasses from Lex, setting them on Anastasia's face. "Grey?" He tousled her hair, moving back to grab Lex's hand, running his thumb across his knuckles. It had become his habit whenever Lex or Mateo were around to witness him thinking hard about something. "I can do without the glasses for now. Maybe explore the world in a new light, yeah?" He smiled wide at Anastasia, and she couldn't help but smile back.

"Mom, I love him."

Mateo was helping Lexis with the dishes, laughing with her but carefully staying as polite as possible. Fern was playing with Anastasia, who still had his glasses on her face, marvelling at how everything looked a little bit brighter with the glasses. They were in the living room's small play area, a little cage like fence around them for Anastasia's safety.

Lex watched from the couch a small, soft smile on his face. A fan was blowing at his face, the summer heat too much for him to bear. He couldn't help but admire Fern for how he handled kids, much less those he had only met that day. And Mateo, the way he stayed respectful with Lexis and helped around where he could, it was equally as admirable.

Nathan took a seat beside him. "They're nice boys. You really like them, don't you?" Lex only nodded, smiling wider when Anastasia tousled Fern's hair and kissed his cheek. Fern only laughed and blushed in response, starting to tickle her lightly. "Do you think you might love them?" Lex looked away from Fern to stare at Nathan, who now stared at Lexis and Mateo having a conversation.

Did he love them? I mean sure he was infatuated with them, he thought about them all the time. He wanted to share everything and every moment with them, but did that really mean he loved them? It could mean that he really liked them. Or that he thought they were the best of friends? Now he was being ridiculous. Of course not. They weren't friends. That much he knew, and he didn't even like the concept of them being 'the best of friends.'

Friends didn't kiss whenever they got the chance, friends didn't stare longingly at each other the way they did. Maybe he did love them, but he didn't want that mindset to deter his thoughts and make everything he did about him possibly being in love with them. "I don't know. Maybe?"

"It's okay if you're not sure, but don't let them go. They're good for you." Nathan smiled at him, tousling Lex's hair while he stood. He turned on the T.V, settling on the sports channel and sat himself on an armchair. Lexis and Mateo came back with jugs of pink and normal lemonade, Mateo carrying the jugs while Lexis handed everyone glasses.

Once everyone was seated and sipping, "Oh!" Fern exclaimed, pointing towards Anastasia. "I suggest you get her eyes checked. It looks like she's colourblind, like me. The glasses help me see different colours for what they are, and I think that's what she needs too." Nathan glanced at his daughter worriedly. "It's nothing to worry about, though." Fern reassured. Anastasia looked adorable in his glasses, and he hoped that her parents would take him up on his advice.

Mateo cleared his throat. "Uh, thank you for having us. It was nice to finally meet Lex's family." Fern nodded along, almost as if they memorized everything they were to say and do. "Yeah..." Mateo continued. "We were planning on going on a road trip soon." He took a sip of his lemonade, manspreading as he leaned back in his seat, more relaxed.

"And we wanted to ask your permission in hopes that Lex could come with us." Fern continued and Lex was sure they prepared their little speech behind his back. Lexis smiled at their politeness and Lex rolled his eyes. They were going to let him go whether Fern and Mateo were the ones to ask or not.

"Sure. When do you guys plan to leave?" Lexis asked, helping Anastasia drink from her small green sippy cup.

Fern and Mateo glanced at each other. "Tomorrow? If that's okay with you."

Nathan clapped Lex's shoulder lightly. "In that case, go pack."