“I used to take Aisen to playgrounds like this.”
“Really?”
I nod. “But that was when I was still the fun uncle. Before I came to take care of him full- time.”
Skyler’s face looks so serious, like he’s begging me to continue. “You…don’t have to tell me, but does Aisen have parents?”
Clearing my throat, I focus on one ball in my hand. “He does. They’re merfolk, performing artists with a monster circus troop. But they’re always on tour.”
“Which is why Aisen lives with you,” Skyler remarks.
I nod feebly. My cheeks warm at feeling so exposed as I talk about my family. But with Skyler, opening up isn’t so bad. No, in fact, it feels kind of nice.
“I’m just trying to do right by the kid. He’s growing up so fast. But I’m so swamped with work that last night I forgot to pick him up from school.”
“Really?”
“He took a cab with the emergency credit card, but it’s like…I really shouldn’t be in charge of another human being.”
“That’s not true at all!”
The vigor of his words startles me. He leans forward and continues, “Reed, you’re doing a good job as a single parent.”
“Um, thanks.” His words warm up the coldest part of me. My inner kraken roars, demanding I claim Skyler as my mate.Down boy.
After a few moments, I grin and toss a ball in the air, then catch it. “Well, you bested me. What do you win, Dillinger?”
“Your digits.” He laughs and idly touches one of the plastic orbs. “I was gonna say we should chill, like friends do. Exchange numbers, maybe go get beers with the others.” He pushes up his glasses. “But only if you’re not too busy.”
The idea of Skyler on my cell phone sounds titillating. After mulling it over for a moment, I reply, “Chilling with you guys and being friends sounds like it could be fun.”
And so we exchange numbers. I officially have intent to hang out outside of the Institute soon with my newest buddy, Skyler. It’s nerve-wracking, but the thought of meeting up for drinks with someone as great as him makes my heart feel light. Maybe I’m not too old to make new friends.
CHAPTER 8- REED
IT’S BEEN SIXdays since Skyler and I exchanged numbers. Each day, I feel the magnetic pull of his contact on my phone to text him, but I have no idea how to be social with my crush. I’m so damn awkward that it immobilizes me, so I bury my head in work. Today, however, I’m going in late, so I can indulge in being a dad and taking Aisen to school. Yeah, that’s totally why I’m not texting Skyler now.
After getting dressed, I notice that Aisen isn’t in the kitchen. He’s usually eating Blob Tarts and fiddling on his phone at this hour before I dash away and urge him to get moving to the bus stop. He’s not one to lie in bed and be late.
I knock on his bedroom door, knowing I could walk in. But teenagers want privacy, and this is a veneer of independence for him. “Aisen? You up,joka?”
After a beat, I hear his little voice. “Um, no?”
“You have to go to school.”
“I…don’t wanna.”
I know distress when I hear it. “Is something wrong?”
“I’m, uh, sick.”
“Okay, I’ll come in and see?”
“No!” he yelps.
I frown. “Aisen, you want to go on your Halloween field trip, right?”
After a pause, he says, “Yes.”
