Finding Home at Randy’s (Diner Days)

Chapter 24

I don’t have many regrets in life, but having Luka spend time with both my kid and my ex, on the same day, is probably at the top of the list. He thankfully is holding his own, but still, it was not the smartest move on my part, mostly because now I have them ganging up on me.

“I have a question,” Callum says.

“Please don’t ask,” I beg.

Cal smiles. “Relax, it’s fine. I just want to know if they want kids, because I am not big brother material. I like being the spoiled only child.”

“ Callum ,” I try to scold while also holding back a laugh. Rory is no help, the fucker isn’t hiding his mirth.

“What?” He shrugs. “It’s a perfectly legitimate question! I thought I’d just throw it out there that I am content being the center of your world.”

Groaning, I turn to Denver and Luka. “I am so sorry. I’d like to say he’s normally better behaved, but well…that’d be a lie.”

“It’s fine,” Luka says around a smile. “I don’t mind. I’ve never really thought about children before. I know I never want to carry my own child, but I haven't given it any thought beyond that.”

“Good enough answer.” Callum tilts his head. “You’re younger than Dad.”

I choke. “Callum Elliot, you can’t just say things like that!”

Luka laughs. “It’s fine. I’m twenty-five, so yeah, I’m a bit younger than your parents. Is that okay?”

“Sure. Age is just a number and all that; as long as you treat each other well, I don’t see why it matters.”

I give Rory a look that says ‘Are you going to do something about your son?’, but he just smiles and shrugs—the fucker.

Cal seems to be done with that line of questioning because he turns to Denver next. “What about you, Den? Kids?”

Denver shakes his head. “No, thank you. I specifically make sure to have safe sex because I don’t want children; I mean, to prevent STIs as well, but a lot of it has to do with children.”

“Good answer.” Callum nods. “So long as everyone takes their hormones on time and practices safe sex, we don’t have to worry about any oops babies.”

Luka’s face is bright red but he nods. “A hysterectomy is the second surgery on my list. After top surgery. And I’m very careful with my calendar to make sure I don’t miss a dose. Trust me, there will be no accidental pregnancies here.”

Callum looks at me and I groan. “Jesus fuck. You forget to take your T once, maybe twice, when you’re twenty years old and just starting on hormones, and no one ever lets you live it down.”

“I mean, it’s hard to when ‘oops, I’ve missed two doses’ turns into that .” Rory gestures to our son.

I thunk my head on the table while everyone laughs at my expense. I can admit it’s a bit funny now, but when you’re twenty and supposed to be on hormones that eventually stop ovulation and all that, getting pregnant is not on your bingo card.

It was a very ‘oh shit’ moment for Rory and I, as we talked about children but never made any concrete decisions. With my transition, and trying to break away from my family’s negativity, plus with how young we were, we both figured it would be a later conversation. Later just came about much sooner than expected.

At least I got a kid who’s pretty cool, despite being weird, and a new habit of inputting my hormone schedule into my calendar out of it? Silver linings? Maybe?

“It’s okay, Cher,” Rory says. “I still love you.”

I groan and sit up again. “I hate you.”

He smiles. “No you don’t, not when I give you beautiful babies.”

I flip him off as the laughter starts up again. The sound of Denver and Luka having fun and taking joy—even at my expense—with Callum and Rory warms my heart. It’s everything I always wanted with a partner. Though for a long time I thought I had and lost it with Rory, I’m glad to have been proven wrong. Because there’s nowhere I’d rather be than here in this moment, with the four people who mean the world to me.