Customer Satisfaction (9 page)

An hour later, the brothers wandered in.

“What did you do?” Luke asked.

“I organized. You guys need a keeper.” She smiled.

“You’re amazing!” Damon kissed her.

“We have to go help an exterminator. They got in over their head. Bees took over a massive old tree, and they need another mobile bee hive.”

“Sure. Go save the bees. The honey business is good.” She kissed them each on the cheek.

“Actually, selling bees alone is a good business. With all the pesticides killing them off, we make more sending out live pollinators than honey. We should hire you,” Damon said.

“We’ll talk about it later. If we get all these bees, that’s a huge bump in our profits for this month.” Luke winked at Lizzie. “We’ll steal you away from that boring customer service job when we get back. You should invite Zoe and the baby over for lunch or something. Don’t stay here bored.”

“Just go and wear those bee suits!” She smiled and waved as they headed out.

She sat down and wondered if they were serious. Moving in here was a definite on her to do list, she had some clothes and personal items, but otherwise they weren’t in a rush. The idea of leaving Crystal alone was the only thing that made Lizzie drag her feet a little. Once Byron moved in, she’d be in for good. Of course, she’d really miss Fisher because there was no doubting it’d be over then. Luke wasn’t one to play games and Byron was stronger now, too. She liked him more when he was with the Stinger brothers.

A distraction was the perfect answer. She called Zoe up and headed over, picking up lunch on the way.

The guys were busy outside on some project and gratefully took the café-made sandwiches before Lizzie went inside. Zoe got to eat hers while Lizzie cuddled the bundle of cuteness.

“You’re a lifesaver,” Zoe said.

“You have four men out there ready to help, too.” Lizzie chuckled.

“I know, and we all take turns at night. I just can’t stand to let her out of my sight.” Zoe grinned. “Thanks for not strangling me over moving the baby shower.”

“You’re going to have everything you need by the time we have it.” Lizzie felt bad, but Zoe had a control freak side you didn’t argue with.

“I want to know little Poppy is healthy before I pass her around to all those people. All those germs. She’ll catch the plague.”

“First-time moms are so nervous,” Lizzie said, then baby-talked to the little one. “The next one you’ll be glad to pass off as a football.”

“Next one? I don’t know about that. One is enough. Since when do people have a dozen kids?” Zoe took a long drink of lemonade and then dished out more pasta salad.

“I have a bunch of siblings, not to mention little cousins. The first one is padded in bubble wrap, and the mom always has an eye on them. The second one, you’ll be glad to have your hands free and sit back for a minute.” Lizzie smiled. “I babysat plenty. Trust me. And you have to have one more, or she’ll be spoiled rotten.”

“What do you mean? I was an only child and not spoiled.” Zoe finished her sandwich and eyed the cookies.

Lizzie felt bad. Zoe’s childhood wasn’t the most stable or happy, but she’d put it past her. “Your dad wasn’t in the picture. Poppy here has four plus you. If she doesn’t have a little sister or brother to share with, she’ll be a little brat in no time.”

The grin on Zoe’s face wasn’t the reaction Lizzie had expected. “Yeah, she will.”

“One more won’t kill you.” Lizzie touched the baby’s button nose.

“No, but I think I’ll take a little rest before I try to get pregnant. Poppy was a surprise.” Zoe took a drink and stretched out on the couch. “What about you? Two guys then none and now four? Is it settled yet?”

Lizzie sighed and shook her head. “Sort of. I think I’m going to move in with the Stinger brothers, and Byron is coming, too.”

“No Fisher?” Zoe asked.

“You always thought he was immature,” Lizzie said.

“He is. That doesn’t mean he’s not hot.” Zoe laughed. “Baby hormones. I hate to think of him alone. I want you to be happy and have all the men you love.”

“Well, Byron is trying to sort out his past with Fisher so they can move on as well. They had a lot of time together. Fisher may never grow up. I want him to, but I can’t force him.” Lizzie rocked the baby and wanted one of her own. This visit was wonderful and helped her truly focus on
her
future, as opposed to Fisher’s.

Chapter Seven

Fisher helped Byron pack up the last closet. Sorting through their years of stuff made him sad. It’d only been a week alone with Byron and already things were settled, except for signing the sublease.

They were both missing Lizzie and the brothers. While it was nice to have Byron to himself, Fisher knew Byron would no longer be happy with only one boyfriend. Things had changed forever, starting with Byron sleeping on the couch.

Being without the others for the past week had crystallized a lot of things in Fisher’s mind. Even having Byron there wasn’t as if it were old times. Byron had changed and was clear about his choice to move in with the Stingers. They’d sorted their belongings, a tour of their ten years together.

As much as Fisher loved Byron, he missed Lizzie and the Stingers so much it hurt. Deep down, Fisher knew his mother, father and siblings loved him, and in the end, it’d be okay. He had to face his family and tell them the truth. It wasn’t too late to fix things with Byron and patch up his own family. The one where he wasn’t a child but a full partner whose voice was heard.

“I’m sorry I used you, clung to you,” Fisher said.

Byron’s eyebrow lifted. “If you don’t want the apartment, it’s fine.”

“You’re right, I don’t want the apartment. All alone after living with you and then spending so much time with the group. I can’t face it. I know you think I went to my sister’s because I’m immature or lazy, but I knew we’d just fight, and I didn’t want to be alone.”

“Maybe you should be alone for a while?” Byron suggested.

Fisher shook his head. “You don’t get it. It was me and a bunch of sisters and Mom. Dad was always distant. I think he knew I was gay. I wasn’t the kid he wanted. So I worked harder to be close to my mom and sisters. I don’t want my family to walk away from me.”

“I got that feeling from your dad. You can’t live for their approval.” Byron sat at the old kitchen table.

“I know. Maybe it’s because we were together since high school, and they knew you back then. They knew us both as kids, so we were okay. I couldn’t face my family when Lizzie came in.” Fisher had to be strong and get clear before he had the dreaded talk with his parents.

“She isn’t worth it?” Byron asked.

“That’s not what I meant. I love her. I actually thought my dad might be proud or whatever if I was into girls. I didn’t want him to say I should give you up or go straight or something.” Fisher shook his head.

Byron hugged him. “You worry about it all too much. Do what makes you happy and be honest. Stop trying to please people. Me, Lizzie, your parents, anyone.”

“You and Lizzie probably hate me,” Fisher said.

“No. If we hated you, we’d never have gotten involved in any way with Damon and you. We all love you and wanted this to work. You can’t keep us all a secret.” Byron put distance between them and went through the kitchen once more.

“I need to tell Lizzie why I cheated then.” Fisher had a place to live alone if no one wanted him. There was no reason not to put all his crap out there and see who rejected him.

“Tell her? You cheated. Why go into it again?”

“She needs to know it was because I couldn’t face my family about being bi. I didn’t want to hurt either of you. I didn’t want to cheat. I acted out because Damon was letting me talk about stuff without pressure or expectation. It was just a friendship at first.” Fisher now understood he had been using Damon, who was new to the drama, to let him delay reality.

“You cheated. I knew why. I think she does, too.” Byron didn’t seem that impressed.

“There’s a little more to it than you know. First, I need to go deal with the parents.” Fisher grabbed his keys. Before he’d have asked Byron to go with him, but not this time. Fisher had to handle this all alone and hope people accepted him and forgave him for all the fear and drama he’d created. No way could he start off a new life with a group having any lies.

* * * *

The next day during the lazy Saturday afternoon, Lizzie curled up on the couch with Damon and Luke. She had missed Byron and Fisher, they all did. But it was great to not have the tension of what ifs.

The sound of a car pulling up made them all look up. Byron was supposed to move in today but insisted he didn’t need any help.

Damon glanced out the front window. “Fisher is with him. No moving truck.”

Lizzie sighed and headed out onto the porch. She’d tried her best but was done with the back and forth drama.

Fisher walked up, he looked taller somehow. There was confidence in his posture. “What’s going on?” she asked.

“I need to talk to you. All of you. I made this a lot harder than it had to be.” Fisher stood at the bottom of the steps.

“You’re trying to come back now?” Luke asked.

“It only took a week for me to realize what I’d lost. I missed all of you, and I want to come clean and start fresh.” Fisher looked at Byron.

“How can we trust you? We tried to make it work and let the cheating go at the beginning, but you still couldn’t handle reality.” Lizzie folded her arms.

Hanging his head, Fisher had no tension or defensiveness about him. “I know, and I’m sorry. For the record, I told my parents I am part of a group relationship that includes a woman. My dad likes that I’m into women as well. My sisters were very interested in what it’s like to have three hot men.”

“We’re just supposed to take your word for it?” Luke asked.

Byron nodded, speaking for the first time. “Believe it. I got phone calls from his mom and two of his sisters right afterward. I didn’t go with him or force him.”

“So it wasn’t as bad as you thought? Just like we told you,” Lizzie said.

“Yes. My mother is still pretty shocked. She was halfway through a bottle of wine when I left. But I was totally honest, which is what I need to be with all of you. I didn’t really cheat on either you or Byron.” Fisher smiled.

“What?” Lizzie charged down the stairs. “You’re the one who said you did.”

“I kissed Damon. That was all. I was spending time with him, friendly and talking. I know I was still out of line, and I wanted more. He never let it go beyond that one kiss I started.” Fisher looked at Damon.

“That’s true?” she asked Damon.

“It’s true. Sorry but Fisher had to come clean on his own.” Damon shrugged.

“Why didn’t you tell me?” Byron asked.

“I’m sorry. I needed to get out before you both, plus my family hated me. It makes no sense now, but I thought if I was to blame, at least my family would stay in the dark. I could keep things status quo for a while. The secret bothered you and that bothered me.” Fisher shrugged.

The frustration built up in her. She puffed out her cheeks and blew the air out as she bounced on the balls of her feet. Lizzie paced around the front lawn area flailing her arms in Fisher’s direction. “You have a lot of nerve upsetting us with a lie. I thought you needed more men or less me. You just lied and kept it up here because it was easier? Ouch!” A sharp sting got her attention. She brushed something off her arm.

“Damn.” Damon scooped her up and carried her in the house right behind Luke.

“She’s stung?” Fisher ran after them.

Byron followed. She saw four men surrounding her. “I’m fine. Bee sting?” she asked.

“Yep. Hazard of the business. Hang on.” Luke slid something across her skin, and it pinched.

“He got to the stinger out.” Damon winked at her.

“A little baking soda paste will help the swelling and pain.” Luke applied some. “We know how to handle this. You’ll learn on the job.”

“Job?” Fisher asked.

“They want me to work here. Keeping their office in line. I’ve been thinking it over.” She sat up slowly. “I’m fine, really.”

“You’re sure you aren’t allergic to bee stings?” Byron asked.

“I’m fine.” She nodded.

“Maybe an antihistamine, just to be sure?” Fisher suggested.

“If I’m going to work here, it’s a good think I’m not allergic. You guys are fussing too much. We need to deal with Fisher first.” She stared at him.

“So you’re taking the job?” Luke asked.

She rolled her eyes at him. “Fisher. In or out?” she asked.

Damon smiled. “In. I’m sorry if I tempted him to cause trouble. But it was just a quick kiss, and I set him straight. I should’ve made it clear, but Fisher had to own his actions. I told him that.”

Fisher blushed. “Thanks.”

Luke moved into Fisher’s personal space. “Screw up this family and I’ll shove you in a box full of very angry bees.”

“I hope so.” Fisher leaned in and kissed Luke.

Lizzie felt the spark and sweetness returning to the group. “Byron?” she asked.

“I can more easily forgive a kiss than full-on sexual cheating. The main thing is there are no more secrets.” Byron hugged Lizzie.

“Me, too. It brought Luke and Damon into the group. But if I’m working here full time, I can’t handle drama.” She wagged a finger at Fisher.

“I promise, no drama. Just hot sex, bee keeping and honey production.” Fisher kissed her softly. “Maybe there’s a job for me around here?”

“Customer service isn’t working for you?” Lizzie frowned.

“I like being outside and the fresh air more. If I’m qualified to do anything here I’d like to try. Then you can keep an eye on me.” Fisher shrugged.

“We can train you. Try it for a few weekends and see if you really want this over a nice quiet office job,” Damon said.

Lizzie laughed. “Spoken like someone who never worked in a dull cubicle all day long.”

“I enjoy a nice, neat office job without stinging insects flying around all the time.” Byron headed back to the car.

“Where are you going?” Luke asked.

“Just moving the car. The movers will be here any minute with the truck of our stuff.” Byron smiled.