“Unc-unc!” Luca runs to greet me. He hugs my legs tightly, then I lift him into my arms.
“Did you have a good time?” I ask.
He nods, his eyes bright.
My breath catches.
Axel’s hand finds mine.
Evan stifles a laugh. “You two hold hands a lot.”
“Hello!” Patricia greets us.
Evan’s parents chat with us about our wins.
Later, back at the apartment, Luca is playing on the floor while Axel and I collapse on the couch.
A ping sounds on Axel’s phone, and he sighs.
“What’s wrong?”
He gives me a sheepish look. “Someone already put an offer on the apartment downstairs. It was accepted. I’m sorry. I-I should have done it before we left for California.”
“It’s okay.”
“I know. It was just really perfect for her.”
I nudge his shoulder. “I bought the apartment downstairs. For Patricia.”
Axel blinks. “I was going to?—”
“I know. But I live here too. I want to contribute. I’m not—” I pause. “I’m not the scholarship kid anymore, Axel. Let me be your partner. Not just your... beneficiary.”
Axel stares at me in wonder. “But I have money.”
“And so do I. We’re a team.”
“I-I like that.” His voice is rough, and his eyes go dewy.
I squeeze his hand as Luca babbles happily on the floor beneath us, on a medieval play mat Axel has had custom made. He’s had five done, and Luca is testing them all. Apparently, he was serious about the play mat side-business.
Luca is building some sort of tower on it, the dinosaur on one end looking as threatening as a dragon. Axel has already mentioned creating a stuffy where if you press a button, a red cloth comes out of its mouth for fire, and in our free time he’s been researching suppliers and possible designers.
The blocks click together, and every few seconds one topples, and Luca says “uh-oh” and starts again.
“Family movie night!” Axel exclaims, and he hurries into the kitchen.
The blender screams. Something thuds.
“I’m fine!” he shouts.
He returns with three small bowls of something that looks like soft-serve chocolate ice cream.
“Ice cream,” Luca says, reaching.
“Avocado chocolate mousse,” Axel whispers to me. “It’s healthy. There’s cocoa powder and honey. Evan’s mom gave me the recipe.”
I take a cautious bite. It’s... good.
