G is for Gerry (Men of ALPHAbet Mountain)

The fact that they met each other and hit it off so well was so nice, and then they fell in love. Now, Finn had the kind of relationship both of us would have seen as odd, and I knew that with Wendy, it was genuine. The two of them complimented each other so well.

I wondered when or if that would ever happen to me. Considering the only girl that had turned my eye was a twenty-year-old who was probably five or six years away from being interested in someone my age didn’t bode well.

At least I had friends, and close ones. Finn and Wendy were an extended family and seeing them so deeply in love gave me hope that maybe it could happen for me someday too. For now, I would just focus on being a good friend and taking joy in the closeness of those relationships.

I thanked Finn and headed back out to the car. He had refused to take money for the meal, but I had a way around it. I simply sent money to Wendy on an app and told her it was for Finn’s help. She promised to buy him something he wanted that he wouldn’t buy for himself so he wouldn’t kick up a fuss about it, and I grinned.

I got home with enough time to set the table and get everything ready before Hank and Lana knocked on the door. When I opened it, Lana threw her arms around me, and I laughed as tears welled up in the corner of my eyes. It had been almost a year since I had seen them in person. Just the smell of Lana’s perfume was enough to make me feel nostalgic and warm.

“It’s so good to see you, son,” Hank said as he came in, lugging a couple of suitcases with him.

“Good to see you too, Dad,” I said. “Is there anything I can help you get out of the car?”

“No, I packed light this time,” Mom said, sweeping into the living room.

“Light,” Hank repeated sarcastically. I laughed. “The rest we can get later. Something smells delicious.”

“Did you learn to cook?” Mom asked.

“God, no,” I said. “My best friend, Finn—I’ve told you about him. He’s a chef.”

“Well, I would have loved anything you would have made me, darling,” Mom said.

I grinned. “No, you wouldn’t have.”

“No, we wouldn’t have,” Hank said, laughing. “But we would have tried.”

“I know,” I said. “Come on, let me show you to your room.”

“This place is incredible,” Lana said as she followed me.

“Thank you,” I said. “Here we are. It’s got its own bathroom and is right next to the kitchen.”

“So, I can make you cookies?” Lana asked.

“I didn’t say that.” I grinned again. “I do happen to have all the ingredients for cookies, though. Just saying.”

She pulled me in for another hug, and I noticed how her blonde hair was starting to go white at the temples. She used to dye it. I guessed she was done doing that anymore.

“First thing tomorrow,” she said. “After I make breakfast.”

“I’m on a low carb diet,” Dad said. “She is insisting on making my breakfasts carb-free, but during dinner I get to cheat, though.”

“Good,” I said. “Because dinner is ready. And it is full of carbs.”

We made our way into the dining room and had our dinner, Captain Clovis coming around for rubs and love as soon as he realized who it was. It had been ages since they had seen him, and he hopped up on Mom’s lap as she ate, just like he always had.

The night was wonderful, and while I didn’t get a chance to make it out to the bonfire, it was nice just being around my parents and enjoying the love of the two people who’d rescued me and taught me how to be a man.

11

MALIA

“Morning, sunshine,” Dee said as I made my way into the living room.

I was starting to get the hang of the crutches, and while the bruises were there under my arms, I was beginning to get used to them in the way guitarists got used to blisters on their fingertips. As I made my way into the living room, I saw Dee sitting on the couch, a book in her hands. The TV was on, but it was almost muted with some clip show playing.

“Morning,” I said. “What’s this?”

“This?” she said, looking back at the screen. “Oh, it’s called World’s Stupidest. Bunch of comedians making fun of clips they get sent of people doing dumb things.”

“Fun.” I sat down on the other end of the couch. “What are you reading?”

“Some dumb romance,” she said. “I grab them at the dollar store every time I go in. I never finish them, though. Skip through to the good parts.”

“Sounds right.”

She kicked me lightly, and I laughed.