“Celebrating with Silas,” I said, “as long as the two of you don’t need me.”
“I don’t need you,” Finn said, stepping behind me to slide his arm around Smith’s shoulder. “Do you, Smith?”
He looked like he wanted to, but he was more like me than he’d ever admit.
“I’m good,” Smith said.
“We can go get a nightcap since we’re not invited to Silas’s celebration.” Finn pretended to pout, pulling Smith toward their cars on the far edge of the parking lot.
“You don’t even know him, and Smith has only met him once.”
“I went to school with him.”
“That was a lifetime ago,” I said.
“For you maybe,” Finn taunted.
“He’s coming with me next Friday, so any celebration that happens after that, I’ll make sure you get an invitation.”
Finn linked his arm through Smith’s and turned them both backward, throwing me a wink and saying, “Love is cute on you.”
“Good night, boys.” I waved them off, reaching for my keys. “Be safe.”
“Yes, Dad!” Finn called.
Smith shook his head, and then I watched the two of them get into Finn’s car and disappear in the same direction Hunter and Andrew had gone. Letting out a long breath that threatened to deflate me like a balloon, I gave myself a good five minutes of peace and quiet in the parking lot before pulling my phone out of my pocket.
It was later than dinner usually ran, quite close to ten, and I had one missed text message from Silas. It was a picture of him sprawled out on his couch, head resting on Lincoln’s shoulder, both of them grinning at the camera.
Silas
Ready when you are.
It appeared, at least on the surface, he’d recovered from the misery of his earlier success.
I texted him back.
Do you want a ride?
I’ll get one with Lincoln so he can fuck off at the end of the night, but you’ll have to bring me back on Sunday to get my car.
What I’m hearing is it's a good opportunity to talk about your living situation.
Maybe.
That feels fast.
But not.
Stop thinking so hard.
I’m leaving dinner. Going to run home and change. It’s late but I should be there a little before 11:30.
Can’t wait. We’re going to leave now. Is that okay?
You don’t have to ask me that.
I want to.
