He snickers. “Yeah, okay.” He bites his lip, then nods. “Only on one condition.”
“What’s that?”
“You invite Mr. Dillinger and the rest of MM Institute?”
I study my nephew’s face for a long moment. “You know, to entertain you with grown-up talk. While we kids play our games,” he says.
With a grin, I shove him lightly on the bed. “Way to make me feel old,” I say.
We both laugh, and I take in the happy moment. It might be my last fond memory with Aisen for a long time. But a proper parent always does what’s best for their kid. And I’m going to do right by Aisen, even if it means saying goodbye.
CHAPTER 11- SKYLER
GOING TO Agoodbye party for a fourteen-year-old wasn’t on my upcoming bucket list. But doing random stuff for the guy I like who won’t admit he wants to date me sounds on brand. Reed Sung really has me wrapped around his tentacle, huh?
To be fair, I do value Aisen. My jaw dropped five days ago when I found out he’s moving into a boat with his parents. In less than three months, he’s grown into a valued member of the MM Institute family, providing insight into what life was like as a baby kraken. I’m gonna miss him, and so will the other teens in the program. But more than all that, Reed will probably be hurt by him leaving. He’s doing the whole “silent-but-strong” act, but I can tell when a man is repressing his emotions.
Like right now. We’re at Reed’s house for the mini goodbye party for the kid. I’m in Reed’s massive living area with him, Ardsley, and Tyson, since Karlo and RJ couldn’t make it. We’re eating pizza and chatting about Tyson’s latest job-related shenanigans, all the while, Reed keeps flitting his attention to his left. A few yards away, the three teenagers from the Institute play video games on Reed’s massive TV equipped with surround sound.
Yes, the living room is so big that the kids can hang out while we adults small-talk. Reed’s place is huge?I’m starting to feel financially inadequate. Even if he wanted to date me, our lives seem so different.
But none of that matters right now as Reed keeps glancing at Aisen. He hasn’t told me as much, but I know it’s breaking hisheart to say goodbye to the kid he’s been raising. Aisen’s a-hole parents are picking him up in two hours. So we’re trying to keep him happy right before he has to say goodbye. Who’s keeping Reed happy?
Aisen stands up, and Reed perks up. “You kids need anything?” he asks.
The teenagers look around at the plethora of pizza and snacks on plates on the carpeted floor. They all shrug at the same time. “No,” Aisen replies. “We’re playing something new.”
“Oh, okay,” Reed slumps ever so slightly, and his nephew proceeds to change the video game cartridge. In a minute, the kids go back to being loud. Tyson and Ardsley are canoodling on their side of the table, so I take this as my cue.
“Hey,” I whisper to Reed. He looks at me, and no one seems to be listening to us. “You alright?”
Reed nods aggressively and taps his beer bottle. “I’m great. You need anything?”
“Nope. I’m having a good time.” I glance at the teenagers engrossed in a game. “And so are they.”
“Glad,” he replies, wistfully.
“You’re giving him an awesome goodbye party.”
He nods slowly as he absent-mindedly gazes at the empty plate in front of him. My heart hurts; at this point, I know Reed’s M.O. is to bottle up his feelings. Just because he won’t date me, doesn’t mean I don’t want him to be happy. He’s my friend after all.
The somber moment is broken when Ardsley and Tyson ask Reed a question about his interior design choices. This distracts my crush enough to get him talking again, and peace is restored. The adults are chatting, and the teens are laughing, having a grand time before Aisen has to leave.
Hours later, I park on the street across from Reed’s house. Did I drive around for thirty minutes in the dark, biding mytime? Sure. He deserves a private goodbye with his family. I’m back to help clean up, as promised, but I think Reed knows it’s a flimsy excuse.
I just want to be there for him. Even if we’re not dating, Reed’s well-being is important to me.
Peering through the dark, I spot an unfamiliar car in front of Reed’s door. Two well-dressed figures who look a lot like Aisen appear to be taking his luggage. The boy himself stands awkwardly facing his uncle. I can barely make out Reed’s face in the houselights. He’s pointing at his phone, going on and on, probably about something pragmatic.
I don’t want to interrupt the moment, so I sit there and watch. After a minute, Aisen awkwardly gives Reed a wave. The man taps Aisen on the head; both of the Sung boys want to hug each other but won’t, and it’s so frustrating to watch.
A slender woman, presumably Aisen’s mom, rushes him off into the car. On some instinct, I already don’t like her, but I need to focus. With the car driving off, I need to emotionally support Reed.
I waste no time rushing up to him. In the lamplight, his handsome face seems dazed and distracted as he stares out into the dark street. “Hey,” I say with my hands in my pockets.
“Oh, hey, Skyler,” he replies in a lifeless tone.
I look back out into the dark street, then back at him. “Look, man, if you need to talk…”
