I look up, catching the tightness of his jaw. It’s in this moment I realize he’s not sad about his dad’s disgusting actions.
He’s scared.
“I know they’re shit,” he continues, “but I’ve never needed for anything. Never wanted for anything.”
Except love,I think. I don’t dare say it out loud.
“I didn’t know you had a brother,” is what I say instead, hoping this is an easier topic, and I’m certain it’s not when he lets out an even deeper sigh.
“We’re not close. Keaton’s four years older and moved out of state for our dad’s company right after graduation. This is the first time he’s beenhome since, and nothing has changed. I was lucky to have Nan, Karla, and Cade when I was growing up. Billie and Violet too. I wouldn’t have made it without them.”
I wring my hands together. “I can’t imagine you going through that all alone. I’m glad you had them.”
“Me too.” Placing his palms on the dock, he finally looks at me. “Thank you for tonight, Eddie. For standing up for me and making tonight special.”
I rest my hand on top of his. “I’m sorry you had to deal with that. It was supposed to be your night.”
“With you there, it was perfect. You know, Ed, from the moment I saw you freshman year, I knew I wanted to be close to you. I meant it when I told you I’ve been following that feeling you gave me since day one. Things between us may have started off ugly, but it feels different now. It feels good.”
I look up at the starry sky. “Fortunate misfortune.”
“Huh?”
“It’s the phenomenon that bad things happen but somehow something good eventually comes out of the situation. Even though it once looked bleak and impossible.”
Like Kenneth fighting with me on my first day of college, and now we’re friends. Or my flat tire at the beginning of the semester, which lead to us becoming partners. I used to think he was the reason I was cursed, but I’m realizing he’s the best strike of luck I’ve ever had.
He presses his shoulder to mine. “I think that’s a great way to describe us.”
We stand, but before he can head for my car, I pull out the two wrapped gifts. The corners aren’t perfect, and the edges aren’t even close to being straight, but he still stares at them in awe.
“Congrats on your win, Kenneth. I know tonight wasn’t easy, but you deserve to be celebrated.”
“Those are… for me?”
I hand him the smaller gift. “Who else would I get gray wrapping paper for? Don’t mind the messy edges. I don’t usually wrap presents.”
“It’s perfect,” he says quickly. “Absolutely perfect.”
Kenneth’s face transforms from shock to confusion to horror as he peels the paper off the present. “A planner?” There’s no trace of that phony laugh from earlier as he flips through the pages. “Of course you would get me a planner.”
“I know you hate when they’re too complex, so I found the simplest one on the market. It’s less than fifty pages and only has the basics. No water trackers, mood trackers, or habit trackers.”
He drags his finger over the beige cover. “I’ll use it every day.”
He unwraps the second gift just as carefully, and a jolt of something that feels like pure pleasure zaps through my toes when his breath catches and looks at me.
“Is this…” Kenneth’s eyes glaze in the moonlight.
“Yup. Your favorite place in the world. You’ve got so many puzzles of cool places. I thought you needed one that reminds you of home.”
The photo I snapped during our first trip to Lake Anita made the perfect custom puzzle. Cedar trees cascade high into the sky, providing shade over the water. Kenneth’s red hair steals the show though, glowing on the edge of the dock with his back to the camera.
The silence is so long and heavy that I feel the urge to look away, but Kenneth is too fast, capturing my cheeks before I can, forcing me to meet his eye.
“You got me a puzzle. Of my home. And a planner. That doesn’t make me want to hate planners.” I watch as his throat bobs, searching my face. “Why, Eddie?
I smile. “Because I’m proud of you, Kenneth.”
