Fall by Winter

I felt for her. Unrequited crushes were painful.

“Not that it would matter,” she went on dismissively. “Jess is such a boy. All he wants to do is play video games.”

I chuckled into my mug.

Personally, I was glad she had Jess. They were part of a group of friends, including Jess’s sister, Jaylin, and another boy, who stuck together and ignored whatever drama high school threw their way.

My heart jumped when I heard a car pull over, and I spun around to see if Mas—ah. It was just my son. He parked in front of the house and stepped out, looking downright miserable. He was on the phone with someone.

He needed to wash his car. William and Kelly had bought the car for Brady and Matt to share so they’d always have a way to get home from Seattle. I pitched in with gas money and parking fees sometimes, mostly because I wanted them to come home often. I also didn’t want them working too much. They had part-time gigs here and there, but their focus should be on school.

I was taking the scones out of the oven when he yanked the door open with a grated, “Are you done? I won’t ask her. I told you.” He huffed and appeared in the doorway, kicking off his sneakers, and he gave me a look. “Dad wants me to solemnly swear that I won’t have you do my work this weekend just because I’ve got—in his words—the sniffles.”

I let out a laugh and set the scones on the counter. “Put him on speaker.”

Brady sighed and pushed a button on the screen. “You’re on speaker, Dad.”

“Good morning, William,” I said, amused.

“Morning, Dad!” Aurora hollered.

“Good morning, ladies. Lissa, as I was telling Brady, don’t do his bidding,” William told me. “If he were so sick, he wouldn’t have gone out partying last night.”

“I’m setting my Instagram to private,” Brady griped. “I feel like you’re violating my human rights here or something.”

William snorted. “Human rights.”

I grinned and shook my head at them. “Okay, fine. I’ll be super stern.”

“So, he’s not sick,” Aurora mused. “He looks like shit because he’s hungover.”

Brady jerked his chin at her. “Yeah, what’s your excuse?”

Oh, here we go. Both my babies were home.

“That’s my cue to leave,” William decided. “See you tomorrow, Aurora. Love you all, bye.”I wouldn’t call this doing Brady’s bidding, but when he started talking about painting the walls black and installing a mirror on the ceiling, I had no choice but to intervene.

Three stores and four hours later, I’d dragged him with me to pick out a nice color for the walls—a soft, muted khaki green—a small pullout sofa in navy blue, a coffee table, and some shelves. He declined the flat screen I was willing to buy and asked if he could pitch in the difference so he could get a larger one when he got paid.

I was fine with that.

He could watch movies on his laptop for now.

His bed was already in place. He and Matt had wrestled it up there when we moved in, so there wasn’t room for much else. But we did stop by Target so I could get him some drapes, a rug, and similar things he gave zero fucks about.

“Is Dad gonna yell at you or me?” Brady asked as we got back in my car.

“He’s welcome to have a go at me, but he won’t be the last man standing in that case.” I backed out of the parking spot and drove out of the lot. “Mirrored ceiling,” I muttered to myself. “Over my dead body.”

Brady snickered.

At the red light, our phones dinged at the same time, and I grabbed mine off the holder on the dash.

It was a message from Mason, who had evidently started a group chat for us. It included Brady, Aurora, William, Tristan, and me.

I only need to share this once. I’m Lissa’s new neighbor. Willie, feel free to add your stepson and man to the chat, as I don’t have their numbers. There’s money to earn for any kid who helps me move furniture next weekend.

I did my absolute best not to react to the news by telling the butterflies in my stomach to take a fucking hike.

“You will help him, hon,” I told Brady. “And decline payment at least once.”

“Sure, but…” Brady cleared his throat. “Uh, Willie?”

I chuckled, only to let out a laugh when William’s response popped up.

Happy to hear it, Masey.

Mason replied with a kiss emoji.

They were too funny. I’d never experienced this before, and I was dying to watch William and Mason in the same room now. Gone were the traditions of the past where we’d played nice and pretended to enjoy their mother’s cooking. I wanted barbecues and game nights and a little bit of excitement in our family. We’d fucking earned it.