They’d done it, he and Heidi, journeyed with the boys all the way to this moment when they were on the cusp of launching into their own adventures. It felt like a triumph, one he hadn’t been so sure was possible when he’d been a teen dad all those years before.
“Do I have to go to the safe-and-sober thing?” Walker joined them. Unlike Wade, his tie was still in place and his hair nearly styled, the recent super-short cut suiting him. “I’m not sure I’m up for it.”
“Dude. We got tickets weeks ago.” Wade clapped him on the back. “There’s going to be paintball and your last chance to see people.”
“That would be the part I’m not crazy about,” Walker grumbled, staring at the ground.
“The best way to show her that you’re over it is to go,” Wade argued, but Walker wasn’t over it, might not be over it for a long time. Tucker knew from experience how deep the pain of young heartbreak could cut, and he’d do anything to shoulder Walker’s pain a little.
“Want to stay in and watch movies with Luis and me?” he offered. He’d watched hours of mindless movies with Walker in January when the breakup happened. It had been the perfect storm of attractive foreign exchange student catching Mary Anne’s eye, Walker deciding to apply broadly to colleges, and some minor arguments blowing up into a big breakup.
“You guys are going to get sick of me,” Walker protested.
“Never. We’ve got your room all ready for you. I’ve got pictures.” He dug out his phone, eager to show his and Luis’s handiwork. “It’s going to be a great summer.”
“Yeah. It is.” Walker gave a little smile as he studied the pictures on Tucker’s phone. His mood had lifted as they’d firmed up the plans for the summer. While both twins were coming for the Disney trip, along with Heidi, Isaac, and Angelica, Walker was staying in California for the rest of summer, working at a nearby waterpark where he’d found a lifeguarding job.
Tucker had a feeling that the abundance of attractive young people at the waterpark had helped Walker start the healing process, start seeing a new future for himself. In the fall, he’d be moving south to the dorms at Long Beach, where he had a marine biology scholarship, but Tucker was looking forward to having him for the summer as well as the occasional weekend.
“My summer’s going to be fabulous too. And that’s my point, bro, we need to make the most of the time we’ve got left.” Wade had a summer job at one of the Bend resorts, one last chance to hang with his friends, but Tucker figured the fact that Mitch’s older sister was also working there had been a deciding factor in his decision.
“All right. I’ll go.” Walker rolled his neck and shoulders, sounding more enthusiastic. “But prepare to be obliterated by my superior paintball skills.”
“You can call and I’ll come get you,” Tucker promised. “Any time. Even the middle of the night.”
“Thanks, Dad.”
“What about me?” Wade mock pouted. “Will you come get me?”
“Something tells me any call to come get you is going to involve trouble, but yes, you too.” Tucker laughed. “Let me go find Luis for the rental car keys, and we’ll get you guys back to the school.”
“Awesome.” Wade hefted himself out of his chair. Somehow he’d managed to pack away all his food while they’d been talking.
Tucker found Luis talking with Garrick and Rain. Heidi’s expansive guest list had included several of his former work friends, and Tucker had a feeling it was to distract him from the absence of his folks, but it was a nice gesture nonetheless.