“I’m still cleaning.”
“We got this, go take care of Justin.”
I paused and looked over at Seth.He wore a dark blue T-shirt stretched over his chest with a simple ‘Fueled by happy thoughts’ scrawled across the front.One of his tamer shirts.Now that the party was over and I had more space in my head to notice, I was able to appreciate how his shirt fit over his fit frame.Working in construction had done wonders for his body.
“Where is he?”I asked, dragging my thoughts out of the gutter.
“In the living room.”
“Okay.”I handed over the glass bowl I was cleaning to Seth and made my way to the living room.
Everyone really had cleared out.Only Justin was in the room, over by the altar.The tabletop was now completely covered with tea candles, casting a soft glow in the corner.One of the others would blow them out once we left so that my house wouldn’t burn down.
“Ready to go over to Seth’s?”I asked.
He didn’t say anything, so I moved next to him and grabbed his hand, holding it.He squeezed it in acknowledgment but that was all he did as he continued to stare at his family.He reached over to trace the photo of his mom, and I noted the bracelet already on his wrist.Justin wasn’t one to wear jewelry, especially because he spent so much time swimming, but that wasn’t going to be the case anymore.Bryan had chosen a really good gift for Justin.
“Mom hated cleaning,” Justin said.“She really hated it.So she turned it into a game.We’d race each other to do tasks.Whoever did the most got the treat.It could be ice cream, candy, favorite foods, a fun activity or a movie.Whatever.She made what we both hated to do and turned it into fun.And usually beat me.”He chuckled.“She wasn’t a fan of going easy.She was actually pretty competitive.”
“So you got it from her then,” I said.
He snorted.“Maybe.Both my parents were always stubborn.”He turned to face the room, his gaze scanning the walls again.“Bryan said he already made a copy of the slideshow for me.And Paxon said they’re going to put all the photos in an album for me.”
“Did you want any of the framed ones?”I asked.“We can just pop them off the wall.”
“Maybe.”Still holding onto my hand, we walked around the room.By the time we’d completed a full loop, he had taken down about ten photos.Mostly of his mom and little sister, but there were a couple that had his dad in them too, representing a time when the entire family was completely happy.
“Okay, let’s head over.I’m exhausted.”
He sounded like it.
“All right.”
We silently walked to Seth’s house across the street, and I used my key to go inside.Bebe was already there, practically jumping on me.I laughed and gave him doggy head scratches.“I’m going to let Bebe out,” I said.
Justin made a small sound as he beelined it to the couch and collapsed on it.
Bebe stayed on my heels as I went to the backyard and opened the door.He zoomed out into the cold.Seth had a bell hanging outside, so when he was ready to come back in, he’d ring it.
When I returned to the living room, Justin was sitting on the couch with his head back and an arm covering his face.The picture frames he’d brought with him were spread out on the coffee table.I quietly joined him.He didn’t move or react even a little.
I grabbed his arm and gave it a slight tug.
“What?”he asked.
“Come here,” I said.
He gave me a confused look, but I only kept tugging on his arm until he moved closer.I wasn’t happy until his head was in my lap and I could play with his hair.He practically melted into my touch as I ran my hand through the strands.It was a lot thicker than I’d thought, soft.
“I guess asking how you’re doing is a stupid question?”
“It isn’t stupid.”But he left it at that.
“Okay...well, how are you doing?How are you feeling?”
“Numb.Really numb.”
“I’m sorry.Maybe this was a really bad idea.Too much.Too far.”
