“Lainey, are you still here?” I hear Tyler call out, as he must be setting the bags of groceries down and taking off his coat. “I decided the roll of holiday cookies for the oven were also needed. Snowman-shaped, so I can cover my holiday bases. Do I get my reward?”
I smile tightly to myself because that last sentence is open to many interpretations. One look at his parents and my face drops from embarrassment because I realize what route of thought they followed.
“Ah fuck. The coats,” he says, and then we hear his footsteps, and all of our heads swing, waiting for Tylerto grasp the current dynamic. “They’re here early,” he states as he rounds the corner.
“Clearly dampening your reward opportunities.” His mom jumps up and opens her arms for a hug as she walks straight to him.
“Layla,” Tyler’s dad warns her under his breath.
She ignores him and gives Tyler a bear hug. The type that I give Enzo on a daily basis.
“Lainey, this is my mom. She doesn’t have a filter,” Tyler mentions blandly.
She swats her son. “Be nice or no presents for you.”
Tyler walks to his dad who stands, and they side-hug.
His mom spots something near the wall and beelines straight to the table. “What’s this?”
I stand to assess what she means. “Enzo made that. Apparently, your son needs a menorah for tomorrow, and Tyler didn’t have many options.”
She brings her hand to her heart and coos. “Adorable. It’s perfect.”
Shrugging a shoulder, I do my best to maintain my mom pride. “I mean, I’m not sure how secure those foil holders are, so you may want to consider not burning down the building, but it works.”
“Trust me, you should be more concerned by my husband’s sister, Harper.”
Tyler’s lightly winces. “Here it goes.”
“Layla, you love her, so don’t,” Josh warns.
“What? I think she’s great, but sometimes it gets a little, well… out there. Remember when we had to drink moon water for your birthday party that she threw?”
Now I’m lost. “What is moon water?”
“Water you leave out at night by the window to accept thelight of the moon to help you not age… apparently,” Tyler flatly explains.
The dynamic of this family is hilarious, and as much as I would love to stay, I shouldn’t be here. I’m just the neighbor… right?
“Well, I’ll let you all catch up. I’ll just quickly get the presents out of here.”
“No need to rush on our account,” his father clarifies.
Tyler shakes his head because I’m well aware that this is all kind of awkward, and his parents don’t seem like people who will let it go.
“You and Enzo should join us tomorrow.” His mother sounds enthusiastic and insistent.
I whip my sight to Tyler whose eyes are wide. Luckily, I can answer without an excuse. “That is kind of you, but we are going to a friend’s in the morning.”
She claps her hands together. “Then the afternoon.”
“Mom,” Tyler mutters under his breath.
Of course he wouldn’t be happy. We’re only two people who hook up and can enjoy moments as friends. It’s not a meeting-family situation.
“What?” She looks at her son as though he is crazy. “Nothing wrong with having afriendover.”
Ah fuck, she just threw logic at us.
