56.

Xander

 

This isn’t a dream. This isn’t a dream. He really is dead.




“What happened?”




“He got stabbed in jail by another inmate and he died from his wounds,” Nikki says slowly.




“Oh god,” Charles sighs, “If it’s any consolation, good riddance.”




“Charles!”




“What? Let’s be honest, we won't miss him and a part of us agrees that he deserved it.”




Chantel nods, “I concur, God, put us out of our misery, including Aiden.”




Nikki shakes her head and starts laughing. Every time she gets stressed, anxious, or just angry, she laughs, and it freaks me out.




“Babe?”




She shakes her head, laughing, “I’m sorry. I just didn’t think it would end like this.”




Damien chuckles, “Nobody did.”




“And to think, he had gotten his punishment but god had other plans. Nobody deserves to die but wow.”




I sigh, “You know what? Fuck him, even in death, he still finds a way to ruin things.”




“You’re damn right,” Charles says, “Let’s forget about him and enjoy the rest of our evening.”




Charles and Damien go back to the kitchen and I ask Chantel to excuse us and she follows them to the kitchen. I sit beside my wife and kiss the side of her head.




“Are you sure, you’re okay?”




“I will be. I just need to time process it and maybe then, I’ll make peace with it.”




I nod, “I understand.”




A part of me doesn’t believe that he is dead. I still had a few words to say to him, but I guess now there will be no need. I was worried about Nikki. She had a past with him and many memories are shared between the two of them both good and bad. Those don’t just disappear overnight.




“Xander, with everything that’s happened. I’m relieved that he is gone,” she says softly, “I couldn’t imagine the thought of him being able to escape or be released so he can come back and terrorize us.”




She was right.




“I’m so glad I met you. You’re way more of a man than he ever was or ever could me,”




I kiss her, “I am a better man because of you, and I will continue to grow as become the man you need me to be.”




She smiles, “You already are.”




I smile, “Let’s go eat.”




We get up from the couch and go to the dining room. The table is set, and everyone is seated, waiting for us.




“Sorry to keep you guys waiting,” Nikki says, as I push her chair in.




I take the seat beside hers and I tell everyone to dish up.




“So why did you gather us here Charles?” Nikki asks.




Charles glances over at Damien.




“We just wanted to tell you guys that we worked things out,”




Nikki looks at me and shakes her head, “You could have called and just told us that.”




Charles shrugs, “Yeah but I thought that it would be more appropriate to just do it in person and also so we can have Nikki’s lasagna.”




I laugh, “I made the lasagna, and she made the dessert.”




Charles looks at me worriedly, “Then we better say grace.”




I chuckle, “Fuck you.”




Everyone laughs and we begin to eat.




“I have a feeling there is more to the story,” I say.




“Well, we’ve decided to have a polyamorous relationship,” Damien says.




Nikki and I look at each other and her eyes are telling me, that she knows it.

“Okay, but why? How? Does that mean you’ll get married to all three of you or what?”




“I like this new, I-want-to-make-sense-of-things Xander,” Charles says with a smile.




I roll my eyes. I just wanted to understand so I can support them better.




“Well, Damien will obviously be the husband and Chantel and I are the wives and yes, we’ve decided to marry each other.”




Does this mean that now Charles is –




“And yes you big dummy, I am bisexual,”




Shit.




“Wait a minute, have you always been bisexual?”




“No but I am now, she is amazing. No wonder Damien couldn’t stop going back,” Charles says giving Chantel a wink.




Chantel giggles.




“And also thinking of having a surrogate and this made more sense than paying millions of dollars. She’s carrying Damien’s child and the next one she’s going to carry is mine.”




“And I couldn’t be any more excited. We just want you guys to understand our relationship and maybe even be happy for us,” Chantel says.




“Of course, we understand your relationship and we are happy for you. I just have one question,” Nikki says.




And I already know what she’s going to ask because I am thinking about it too.




“Have you guys had a threesome?”




Charles hums, “Yes, we had one before we came here.”




And I choke. I start coughing and Nikki pours me a glass of water and hands it to me. I drink the water and the food goes down and I put the glass down and breathe in and out.




Charles laughs, “I love torturing you.”




“You are such an asshole,” I mumble, and I start to laugh.




“I love you too Andy,” Charles says and winks.




Dinner carries on and I am satisfied and happy with how everything went. I was happy for all three of them and they seemed to be getting along very well. Of course, as their friend, I am worried that maybe they are way in over their heads. I do trust that they know what they are doing and that they will make an awesome family.




Suddenly Nikki gasps, “We have to find your wedding dress.”




Chantel gasps too, “Oh my gosh, yes.”




The two women squeal and leave the dining room.




“How come we didn’t think about getting her a wedding dress?” Charles says looking at Damien.




Damien shrugs, “I thought you guys had already spoken about that.”




“Now we have to change the wedding plans,” Charles says, “Let me schedule an appointment with Julie for tomorrow. Get Chantel to tell us what she wants and then work from there.”




Damien nods, “Yeah, do that babe.”




Charles pulls his phone out and steps out of the kitchen.




“You must be excited,” I say, putting the last dish in the dishwasher.




“And nervous. Now I have to speak to Charles and I’s parents and explain the situation,” Damien replies as he packs away the unused cutlery.




“Have you spoken to Chantel’s family though?”




He nods, “They are the loveliest human beings. At first, they were confused but after a while they understood, and now they are excited. They even offered to help pay for the wedding, but we refused and told them they we would come and pay for damages and lobola.”




“Man, I am happy for you Dae,” I say and give him a hug



"Thank you, bro,"