I frowned. “Friendship, I guess. It’s just…”
“You’re a caring guy, Rey. You want to help people and be of service to them.” He started to slice cucumbers into sticks. “You’ve been around adults for a while now and you’ve seen us try to guide you and each other by giving advice where we can. But the thing is, when you’re a teenager, you don’t have the kind of life experiences where you gather a lot of those snippets you can redistribute to others. Unless it’s a very specific kind of thing you’ve gone through.”
Thinking about it for a while, I nodded slowly. “I mean sure. I could probably give a lot of tips on how to stay closeted at home and how to not make waves in an ultra-masculine environment, but that’s it.”
“Right, and Madden could tell you how to survive on the streets.”
“Yeah.” I grinned. “I understand what you’re saying. Also, I could give him some tips on how to fool a professional chef into teaching him how to cook.”
Jack snorted. Then he got more serious. “I’m glad you have someone your own age around now.”
I couldn’t read his tone. “Yeah, it’s fun. It’s weird too, given with how different our lives have been, but I think we’re going to be close.”
Jack turned to get something from the fridge, and I had a distinct feeling he wanted to say something, but he ended up staying quiet instead.
“Are you ready for cooking the Friendsgiving stuff?” he asked after a while.
“Oh yeah. You’re doing the turkey and the pies, right?” I wanted to triple-check this.
“Yeah, that’s the plan. Everyone is bringing sides they like the best, too. Did you have anything in mind you’d want to make?”
I frowned. “I don’t think there’s much space in the kitchen while you do your thing, but there’s something…” I gnawed on my lower lip. “Madden said that he’s never had s’mores.”
Jack turned to me. “Ever?”
“Well, I guess there was never an opportunity? Their mom was an addict.” It explained a lot.
“True.” Jack thought for a moment. He put the knife down and wiped his hands on the towel on his shoulder. “You know, come with me.”
I followed him to Lake’s office door and waited as he knocked.
“Come in!” Lake looked surprised but pleased to see us. “Hey guys, what’s up?”
“So, here’s the deal,” Jack said as he sat on the visitor’s chair and gestured for me to take the other one. “Apparently Madden and Mona have never had s’mores.”
Lake’s gasp was hilarious. “What?”
“Addict mom, shitty childhood, all that,” I said, gesturing vaguely.
“When I asked if Rey wanted to cook anything for Saturday, he told me about the s’mores and I got this idea,” Jacks tone was thoughtful. “What if we buy one of those fire pits you can get from Walmart or the like? Then get bunch of stuff for s’mores and do that for an extra thing on Saturday behind the house?”
Lake looked thoughtful, then did something on his computer. “It’s supposed to snow on Friday evening, though?”
“It shouldn’t be that much, and we can brush it off the concrete if it does snow enough for it to be a bother.”
“Well, okay then!” Lake said brightly. “You have the rescue’s credit card, so you go and use it. Let’s give these kids a Thanksgiving to remember, eh?”
Jack chuckled. “Awesome.” He pushed himself off the chair and we left the office.
“That’s such a good idea,” I told him.
“Good. Because I was going to ask if you’d come with me to get it?” he said nonchalantly over his shoulder.
I grabbed the kitchen doorway. “W-what?”
“Just in the car. We can even ask Toby if he’d loan us the SUV.”
My legs felt a little bit weak, and I barely got myself to the island and on a stool before they gave out completely.
