But my past trauma isn’t the only part of my life that’s healing. The more time Ty and I spend together, hanging out, the more I can tell I’m starting to get my sonback.
Before Jesse, I didn’t have him. There was a great rift between us, but now, after all the years, all the pain, we’re working together to build a bridge to one another. Reminds me of the Judds’song.
When we finish our climbing session, we slip out of our harnesses in the lockerroom.
“So what are we doing for Jesse’s birthday?” Ty asks. “You realize we have to discuss these things, right? Now that we’ve got joint custody ofhim.”
“I’ve been running through some ideas, but what does he normally do? I know he’ll want to spend some of it with Charlotte andStan.”
“I got ya, Eric. They do a little dinner with him the day of, which you’ll need to go to. You’d be a pretty shitty boyfriend if youdidn’t.”
“Of course I’m going tothat.”
“And we usually get a group of the guys together for the weekend after. You’ll have to come out to thattoo.”
“Speaking of which, I know everyone’s acted fine whenever I’ve come out to watch you guys play…or meet up after, but are theyall…”
“They’re totally cool. It’s helped that you’ve come to games and hung with us abit.”
“I’m glad to hearthat.”
“You’re spending more time with the guys, Jesse came over and hung with Tricia again…everyone’s dealt with the worst of it,” Ty remindsme.
“It’s true. How about Tricia, by the way. How’s shedoing?”
“Keeping busy, but it’d be nice if you could swing by and see her now that things have calmeddown.”
“I’ll swing by for dinner, at the veryleast.”
“Yeah, that’d make the holidays a little more bearable, I’m sure.” His grin broadens as Igroan.
“Come on, Eric. Relax. When life gets like this, you gotta roll with the punches. Haven’t you learned that much already? I’m kind of getting a kick out of the fucked-upness of it all. But back to Jesse’s birthday, remember it’s gotta be pretty damn awesome after he got you that Kate Bush album. That was grade A gift-giving, if you askme.”
I groan again. “I need to start searching around for something justright.”
“You’ll think of something. And I’ll keep you posted about the gang and their plans for thatweekend.”
* * *
The weeks pass by,and we arrive at Jesse’s birthday, October8.
We sit at Stan and Charlotte’s dinner table, and they’re as generous and kind as ever. Since we told them about being together, they have never done anything to make me feel as though I’m unwelcome in their home, and I can tell that, as everything Jesse has ever told me about them has suggested, they want more than anything in the world for him to behappy.
After the birthday meal, we sit in the living room, each of us with our respective gifts, and I’m nervous as hell. I spent way too long stressing about getting the right present, impressing Jesse with something he wouldappreciate.
But is it toomuch?
No, I can’t believe that anything could be too much for him, especially not after how he wowed me for my own birthday. When his parents and Ty finish giving him their presents, he opensmine.
I’m fidgeting to the point where I grip my legs as I sit on the couch, watching him seated in the recliner, surrounded by wrapping paper he’s collected from the othergifts.
My box looks so small compared to everyone else’s. I wonder if anyone’s thinking I got him some sort of cheap-ass gift. Of course, knowing Stan and Charlotte even for such a short amount of time, I recognize they don’t think likethat.
Jesse unwraps the box, opens it, and retrieves a picture frame with a card taped to the back. He tilts his head before twisting the framearound.
It’s a picture of Puerto Vallarta, where we first experienced that spark…where the chemistry was so powerful that neither of us could maintain our distance. He pulls the card off the back of the frame and opens it, his jawdropping.
“This is too much,Eric.”
