PERCY.
I woke up before my 7 AM alarm went off as usual, a habit that had been impossible to break since I was young. My bedroom was still dim, quiet except for the soft, even sound of Gemini's breathing beside me. I rose silently, careful not to disturb him, and went through my morning routine. By the time I was dressed and making coffee, the sun was just beginning to hit the kitchen windows.
I was finishing up a quick message to Uncle Phillip—confirming Gemini's start time at the Greens—when the back door swung open. Penelope strode in, radiating her usual pre-caffeinated energy even at this early hour, tossing her keys onto the counter.
"Well, well, well. Look who's up early as usual," she said, grabbing a mug. Her eyes immediately found the second cup I'd set out. "And who's the mystery guest that requires two mugs on a Wednesday morning? Is Gemini here?"
"Good morning, sis. Yes, Gemini is here," I replied, pouring her a strong black coffee.
Penelope raised a perfectly sculpted eyebrow. "Really? I thought he usually has morning shifts at the store on Wednesdays?"
"He quit," I replied simply, gesturing toward the toast I was preparing. "He's starting at the Crestwood Greens today. Uncle Phillip hired him last night."
Penelope paused with her mug halfway to her lips. She stared at me for a moment, then burst into a delighted laugh.
"Of course, he did. You couldn't just let the poor boy work a normal job, could you? You had to bring him where a family member would keep an eye on him."
"It's a better opportunity," I stated, ignoring her usual dig. "And yes, I want him where he has less exposure to horny basketball players."
Just then, a soft footfall announced Gemini's arrival. He walked into the kitchen, wearing one of my t-shirts and looking completely comfortable, though slightly rumpled from sleep.
"Morning, guys." he murmured, his voice still thick with sleep. His eyes, that mesmerizing shade of blue, were instantly drawn to the aroma of hot chocolate.
"Morning, sweetie!" Penelope said, turning to him with a smile. "I'm sure my grumpy big brother here didn't let you sleep in."
Gemini smiled easily, already sipping his hot chocolate. "He did. I slept just fine. Thank you, Penelope."
"The pleasure's mine. Now, tell me everything. I only get the redacted version of events from Percy," Penelope quipped, pulling a slice of bread for the toaster.
I stood back, leaning against the counter, and watched them. It was a comfortable scene—my sister, effortlessly engaging with Gemini as usual. His quiet, genuine nature always seemed to disarm people. They settled down at the kitchen island. I ate quietly, but I listened intently as Gemini recounted the previous night's events.
"So, guess what?" Gemini started, as he meticulously buttered a slice of toast, his movements slow and deliberate. "I have a new job. And I start this afternoon."
Penelope froze, a piece of toast hovering halfway to her mouth. Her eyes narrowed playfully. "Oh? Where at?" she asked, before learning forward, resting her chin on her hand, a conspiratorial glint in her eyes. "Don't tell me Percy finally got you a gig at his architecture firm? Because, honey, those hours are brutal. You'd never see the light of day again!"
She played the role of someone hearing the news about his new job for the first time so well, even though she already knew the answer. Gemini's big blue eyes, already wide with his own news, now expanded to near-perfect circles as he whipped his head around to face me.
"Hold on a second...this is how I find out you own an architecture firm?" His voice was a blend of shock and utter bewilderment, the toast momentarily forgotten in his hand.
I gave a casual, one-shouldered shrug, taking a sip of my coffee to give myself a moment. "I'm just an investor, Gemini. It's really not a big deal." I tilted my head, offering a slight smirk. "I'm still in school, too, remember? How much time do you think I really have to run the place?" I posed the question, letting it hang in the air.
He was clearly still reeling, processing the sudden, unexpected reveal, when Penelope's voice cut through his daze, reeling him back to the original topic.
"So," she pressed, her tone softer this time, "before my brother drops any more bombshells, where did you get a job, sweetie?"
"Right," Gemini muttered, shaking his head as if to clear the internal fog. He caught my eyes across the kitchen Island, his expression sharpening into an adorable pointed look that clearly said, "we are absolutely not done talking about your secret company" before turning to my sister. "The Crestwood Greens."
Penelope nearly spat out her toast. "Wait—Uncle Phillip's place? You're kidding me!"
Okay, now she's just overdoing it.
"Nope. Percy drove me over there last night, introduced me to him—who is Mark's father, by the way, but I guess you already knew that but I found out about five minutes before I got hired—and just like that, I have a job in the pro shop," Gemini explained, shaking his head at the sheer absurdity of the situation.
Penelope looked at me, her expression a perfect blend of amusement and resignation. "You are truly incorrigible, Percy. I know you're looking out for him but don't you think this is a bit too much?"
"No, it isn't. It's a better opportunity," I repeated, calmly taking a bite of my toast.
"Well, I'm thrilled for you, sweetie!" Penelope told Gemini, her attention immediately refocusing on him. "It's a fantastic place to work, honestly. And the tips are crazy good. Just be prepared to meet some strange, old millionaires..."
As they continued to talk—Penelope offering tips on how to handle the demanding members, Gemini listening with genuine interest—I simply watched.
I noticed the way his shoulders seemed less tense than they used to, the genuine lightness in his laughter, the way he effortlessly holds conversations with my sister. He is settling in. He would be safer with my uncle, he's eating well, and he has a better job now. Everything's in order. He's exactly where I want him to be. I can rest easy now.