Jason and Mauve took everyone’s skates and promised to return with hot chocolates.
Roan and Reese sat together on the bleachers, knees touching. The boys on either side of them. Marcus’s cheeks were flushed with cold and he couldn’t stop smiling. Even Cody looked lighter somehow, like some of the weight had lifted.
“That was fun,” Reese said.
“It was. Thanks for hanging with us,” Cody said.
“Anytime,” Roan said. “You guys need a ride home?”
“Yeah, sure,” Cody said.
Marcus gazed down at his feet and didn’t answer.
“What’s up, Marcus?” Roan asked. “What’s going on?”
“I don’t have any place to go tonight.”
“What do you mean?” Reese asked sharply. “I thought you were staying at a friend’s house?”
The boys exchanged a glance, evasive.
“I was staying with a friend, but his mom told me I had to go,” Marcus said. “They have company coming. Or something.”
“What were you planning on doing tonight?” Roan asked. “It’s not safe for you to be out here all night.”
Tears welled in Marcus’s eyes. “I know. But I don’t know what to do.” Roan’s chest hurt, thinking about this sweet kid wandering around Sugarville Grove in the middle of a December night.
“Come home with me,” Roan said impulsively. “We have an extra room.”
Marcus opened his mouth, clearly about to decline the invitation, but Roan stopped him. “You’re coming with me. Period.”
“Yeah, okay,” Marcus mumbled.
“Could I come too?” Cody blurted out. “I won’t cause any trouble or anything.”
“What about your foster parents?” Roan asked. “Will they expect you home?”
“I can tell them I’m staying with a friend,” Cody said. The quiver in his voice broke Roan’s heart all over again. “They won’t care, trust me. They might not even notice I’m gone.”
“Sure, you’re both welcome,” Roan said.
What if he just took both boys home and kept them there?
He put that thought aside. For now.
Jason and Mauve arrived with hot chocolates for everyone. The six of them sat together, sipping their hot drinks while the boys asked Jason a bunch of questions about his show. Before long, Jason had them all enthralled, sharing details about what it was like on set and stories about the other actors.
It was getting late by the time Roan suggested they all head for home. Jason and Mauve said they were going to head over to The Moose instead. Roan tried to catch his brother’s eye, but he was too enthralled with Mauve to notice.
So they were a merry group of only four, laughing and joking as they made their way down the busy sidewalks toward their cars. Almost like a family.
They said goodnight to Reese in the parking lot. Roan kissed her, quick and sweet, and promised to call her tomorrow.
“Text me when you get the boys settled,” she said. “Let me know they’re okay.”
“I will.”
Roan climbed in the driver’s seat with Marcus in the passenger seat and Cody in the back. The drive to the house took less than ten minutes.
