Nikolaj chuckled. “You definitely are not.” He looked adoringly at his son, who had just turned twelve today. “Anyway, don’t stay up too late, okay?”
“Yeah, yeah.” He waved his hand dismissively.
“If you need me, you know where to find me.”
“In your bed, sleeping like a mummy.”
Nikolaj’s bearded face stretched when he smiled. “G'night, boys.”
“Night, Dad.”
“Good night, Mr. Larsen,” the other three said in unison.
Silence fell for a few seconds among them as the door to the backyard closed.
They had spent most of the afternoon running their handmade RC cars in the park, and now they were here, sitting around the bonfire Nikolaj had lit for them. There were still a few days before they could call it summer, but everything in the air, from the ocean breeze to chocolate ice cream, made Noah think of it. The cicadas buzzing only added to the cozy atmosphere as the sky turned completely dark, allowing the stars to shine.
“Are you going to play it?” Val pointed at theAngel Of Retributionalbum by Judas Priest they’d bought Kaj.
“I like my music loud, and it’s late. Doubt my neighbors would appreciate it. But we’ll do it in the morning after breakfast, once Dad’s gone.”
“Since when do you respect anyone?” Theo taunted.
“I always do, just not you because you’re a tool.”
“You’re a tool,” Theo retorted, brown eyes sparkling with joy.
“Is your dad going to make us pancakes again?” Val asked, ignoring their banter as he poked a stick into the fire.
“Most likely,” he said as he looked at Noah above the crackling flames. “It’s already a tradition, you know? We come home, do this campfire thingy, and eat like pigs the entire weekend.”
“Sounds good to me,” Noah chuckled. “I never say no to pancakes. Does he put caramel or chocolate on them?”
“Both.” Kaj grinned. “Like I said, pigs.”
Noah returned his smile. “And you do this every year?”
“Yup.” Theo nodded.
“I could get used to it.”
“Who wouldn’t?” Kaj let out a full-chested laugh.
Like always, being with these guys made Noah’s heart swell.
No one knew what the future held for them, and a lot of things could change. But one thing Noah was sure of was that these moments would live forever in their minds.
“Your dad’s the coolest, by the way,” Val commented, checking out for the gazillionth time the vinyls Nikolaj had gifted Kaj—Deep Purple, Led Zeppelin, and Black Sabbath. “He’s working tomorrow but is still letting us stay here without supervision. I wish my parents were like that.”
“Those are awesome, but he’s a dad, so that’s not a word I’d use to describe him,” Kaj retorted. “Old man suits him better. Besides, he gave Trine the key to the house so she can check on us.”
Nikolaj and Trine, Noah’s mom, had hit it off almost from the start. They had met at school several times before he had his first sleepover at the Larsen’s, but that day, she stayed longer than necessary, talking to Kaj’s dad. Their laughter was so loud the kids heard them from Kaj’s bedroom upstairs.
It was only normal, considering they understood how hard it was to raise a child on their own while juggling the rest of their adult responsibilities. Getting to know each other meant finding support, both tangible and emotional. Nikolaj, for example, stopped hiring babysitters when he had to work longer shifts or nights, since she welcomed his son every time. He trusted Val and Theo’s families, but the first was busy enough raising four kids of their own, and the second was going through a rough divorce, so it wasn’t the time to ask for favors. Meanwhile, Trine, who hadn’t had the chance to go out and meet new people, found in him a friend she could vent to after a bad day.
Theo waggled his brows, smirking.
“What?” Kaj glared at him with narrowed eyes, probably knowing what was coming next.
