I smile so wide my cheeks start to ache. “Chocolate’s good. Chocolate’s great. Chocolate is insanely classic.” I nod to myself, staring off into the distance, my mind sorting through all the different possibilities and ways to make a chocolate cake unique and special and all the things Parker deserves. Abruptly, I turn back to him, snapping my fingers. “Youwon’tregret this.”
“I think he already might,” mutters Landon, earning a snicker from Parker. I shoot him a look, though I’m not really bothered. I’ll be sure to bake a cake no one would ever regret.
“So, what have you been doing with your time since you can’t skateboard?” I ask.
“Besides eating us out of house and home,” says Theresa, “he’s been working nonstop building his computer.”
My gaze snaps to Parker. “Wait a second. You’rebuildinga computer?”
“It’s a gaming PC,” he mutters, hunching his shoulders a little self-consciously. “Landon’s been giving me tips.”
“Speaking of,” Landon chimes in, “did you get the chance to rebuild it?”
“Why would he have to rebuild it?” I ask, frowning. “That seems a little counterproductive.”
“The motherboard wasn’t grounded properly,” Parker tells me, like I have any idea what that means.
“Oh. Right. The motherboard.”
Parker grins at my confusion. “It means that I didn’t put the first section together right, so once I finished, there was no power. I had to take the whole thing apart again to fix it.”
“How’s the new graphics card working out, then?” asks Landon. “Rendering any better?”
“It’s great.”
The two go back and forth, noting parts and pieces, using words and terms I’ve never heard before. I feel my eyebrows creep up at Landon’s in-depth knowledge of gaming systems and exchange awhat is happening right now?sort of look with Theresa.
“I can show you…if you want,” Parker says a little timidly.
“May I?” Landon asks Theresa, who nods with enthusiasm.
“Of course!” She steps aside so he has room to slip past her. “Go right ahead.”
The two nerds disappear into the house, and Theresa motions for me to follow after her. We head down a short hallway to the kitchen, where she gestures for me to take a seat at the round wooden table. Warm light fills the room, and I can’t help but grin as my eyes wander over the many baby pictures of Parker hanging on the walls. The house is small compared to Landon’s, but the family photos, rustic decorations, and floral wallpaper make the space much cozier.
“I had no idea Landon was so…enthusiastic about computers,” I say, as Theresa grabs a glass from one of the cabinets above the stove.
“He’s enthusiastic about helping Parker,” she says, filling the cup with water. “Which I greatly appreciate.”
“Can I…is it okay if I ask…” I hesitate, trying to rein in my curiosity.
“What happened to Parker’s parents?” she fills in. I nod. She sets the glass of water down in front of me before sliding into the seat to my right. “Of course. It’s not a long story. Parker’s dad was never in the picture. His mom, my daughter, disappeared when he was around five or six. I never heard from her again.”
My hand claps to my mouth. “Oh my god, that’s awful. I am so sorry.”
She nods. “Thank you, Violet. It wasn’t that surprising, honestly. His mom wasn’t committed to Parker. I spent more time with him than she did if that tells you anything.”
“Wow, I had no idea. And with his arm…”
“The arm was a challenge. That’s why we’re so grateful for Landon. He’s an angel. Truly.”
A few weeks ago, I would have laughed at the idea of Landon beingangelicin anyone’s eyes, but now it’s not so funny to me. So many people appreciate what Landon’s trying to do. Clearly, he’s making a huge difference…I just wish he didn’t treatmelike the devil.
It’s not long before Landon and Parker emerge from the bedroom. We chat for a while after that, everyone hovering around the kitchen, and it’s nearly dusk by the time Landon and I head out to the car.
“I had no idea you were agamer,” I say once we’re driving down the residential street. I should probably stop talking, but I just can’t help myself. “Do you stream? How many subscribers do you have? Do you talk into one of those headsets?”
“No,” he says flatly, shooting me a glare. “To all of the above.”
