“The same. They moved a few years ago. Arizona, to be closer to my dad’s sister. Guess she’s got some health problems and can’t live in a cold climate.”
“That was nice of them to uproot themselves to help her.”
“I think they secretly wanted to bail too. They got a lot of babysitting duties from my sister. They aren’t exactly the doting type.”
“I remember that.”
“Ironically, they hate Arizona.” I pick up a pillow to put the case on. “Too hot, too dry, too many people. They’ll probably move back when my aunt passes on.”
“I don’t think I could handle a desert. I’ve heard it’s well over a hundred degrees every day in the summer.”
“Well over. A hundred and fifteen or more is nothing.”
“Yeah, not for me. I need my seasons and cool weather.”
“Definitely get that here.”
“Chicago too.”
I nod, fluffing a pillow. “That lake effect ain’t no joke.”
We both laugh.
I watch him walk to the closet and grab a blue blanket, then help him spread it out over the bed.
“Do you think this is enough? I think I have another blanket in my room if you need more,” he says.
“Nah, this is enough. I get hot and sleep ass-naked most nights.”
Nantes laughs softly. “Me too. It’s weird we’ve been apart for so long but still have so much in common. We were like that as teens too.”
I nod, studying his face. “We were.” Sitting on the edge of the bed, I recall a funny memory. “Do you remember that time your parents were out of town and we had a party here?”
“Which time?”
“Thattime.”
I see the exact moment the memory I’m talking about washes over him. He actually blushes as he laughs and shakes his head, rubbing the back of his neck. “Oh god, yes. That time.”
“I was impressed we handled it so well, but now I’m even more impressed by you. I didn’t get a vibe at all from that. Maybe I was too stupid or young or drunk.”
“Drunk, maybe.”
“Obviously, you weren’t into me, or I might have known that night.”
Nantes shrugs. “It was the whole situation, you know? It was awkward. Even if I had been into you, that isn’t the way I would’ve told you.”
“To me, it just felt like we were close enough that we could cuddle while we were sleeping.”
“Naked?” Nantes grins.
“It wasn’t my fault I got confused after going to the bathroom. You usually slept on the top bunk.”
“Too drunk to climb the ladder that night.”
“That little twin bed was pretty tight for two teenage boys to share.”
“Just a little.”
