“Sorry, Mr. and Mrs. Finch. Just… sorry.”
I covered my eyes and made plans to flee the country. After another beat of silence, though, a loud, deep laugh interrupted my self-flagellation. I looked up. Mr. Finch’s eyes were amused half-moons, and his laugh continued to build. Mrs. Finch smacked her husband’s arm, then let out a giggle like tinkling glass.
Sawyer’s dad stuck out his hand again. “Horatio, but my friends call me Ray. Nice to meet you for real, son.”
“Hendrix Cavanaugh,” I said, grateful that this handshake was warmer than the first.
“Cordelia,” Mrs. Finch said, sending me a wave.
I shook my head. “I really don’t mean to be a menace. It just occurs naturally.”
Still chuckling, Ray said, “I can see why my son likes you so much. He gets too far into his head, and I’m guessing you help with that.”
Agnes likes me? That’s news.
I spread my hands. “I was just telling him the other day when we were making tortellini that he needed me as much as I needed him.”
“Bet he hated that,” Ray said, his eyes sparkling with humor.
“Did you like the sauce? It was my husband’s recipe.” Cordelia’s cheeks were rosy.
“Wait,” I said, pointing at Ray. “You’re the one helping me get back up to fighting weight?”
He lifted his shoulder in a self-effacing way that looked far too familiar. “My son’s been asking me for my best recipes. I’m glad they’ve come in handy.”
“He’s annoyingly bossy, your son, but it’s all worth it for the home cooking. You’d think a guy with a body like that would be all unseasoned chicken and broccoli, but he’s got skills.” I grimaced as I played back my words. “Fuck. I did it again, didn’t I?”
“Hendrix?” Cordelia said.
“Yeah?”
“You’re fine.”
“Okay, thanks. If I had to go back to that cabin and tell Agnes that I’d offended his parents, he’d have me doing burpees till the end of time.”
She reached across the table and gripped my hand. “My son has only ever said that you are a good, supportive friend.”
“Eh. A half-truth, but I’ll accept it.”
“See that you do,” she said, patting my hand. Ray then slid out of the booth and she followed him. “We won’t take up any more of your time, just wanted to stop by and say hello.”
I rose with them, accepting another big hug from Cordelia. “Mind if we take a selfie?”
“Not at all, honey.”
Ray was game as we gathered for a quick picture, then he surprised me with a hug of his own. “Take care, Hen. I hope your recovery goes well.”
“Thanks, Ray.”
I sat down and watched them head out to the street, then laughed as I sent the pic to Sawyer. That went better than I thought it would.
CHAPTER 8
sawyer
Major stepped aside and let me into his house. A lot had changed since the last time I’d been here. Leo had only moved in a little over a month ago, the same day Hendrix had shown up on Ozzie’s doorstep, but his presence was already felt. A backpack sat slumped on the couch, and a huge jacket, too big even for Major, hung from the hall tree. Massive, smelly tennis shoes sat by the front door.
“Eau de teenager,” I said, walking into one of Major’s big hugs.
