“And Mom and Dad.”
“Yes, and them.”
“And Morgan.”
“Sure. Lots.”
“And the King.”
“Yes, can’t forget him.”
“And Pete.”
“Pete! My castle guardian.”
“And Kevin.”
“Stretching, just a bit.”
“And Randall.”
“That’s not really true.”
“You love Ryan,” Tiggy said seriously.
“Motherfucker,” I sighed.
“Dicks and sticks,” Tiggy said.
“My whole life is dicks and sticks,” I said.
Ryan looked at us again.
We waved.
Tiggy called out, “Knight Delicious Face. Find your balls yet?”
I choked.
The florists looked slightly scandalized.
Ryan made fumbling excuses and fled.
“Not yet,” Tiggy said.
And then we made up many, many verses of “Cheesy Dicks and Candlesticks.”
“SO, CHAMP,” Kevin said, tossing the heavy twine ball back at me. “You have any crushes on anybody at school?”
“I haven’t been in school for years,” I said. “Since long before I met you.”
He shrugged, the sun starting to set behind him. “I know it’s hard, buddy. Having a new dad.”
“What the fuck.”
“I just want what’s best for you and Gary. Your mom works hard, you know.”
“First, Gary doesn’t work hard. At anything. Second, he is not my mom.”