“Pre-Trade.”
“That was like forever ago!”
“’In Blue Jeans’,” cheekily adds the man that undoubtedly holds my heart in his glove.
“Not my favorite Neil Diamond song, but I’ll give you the point on the board for the word connection.”
Jukes lightly chuckles before kicking his chin to the screen. “Everything good?”
“Mmm,” is hummed in more contemplation than definiteness, “I see a bit more tooth wear on his back molars than I’m comfortable with; however, it’s not enough that requires additional examining at this time.” Carefully sliding out the device precedes me concluding, “I will say let’s check back in in three months instead of six. Your wisdom teeth are also beginning to come in, so I want us to keep an eye on that as well to avoid other issues or complications.”
“Hear that, bro?” Bronny cockily boasts. “I’m gettin’wise.”
“Yet not wise enough to keep your underage dick off the internet.”
“It was gonna be on Snap not the internet!”
The exhale of exasperation that escapes Jukes leads to my intervening again. “We will discuss rules and boundaries and expectations – for both when Thayne is home and when he’s not –over dinner.”
There’s no denying the relief or excitement that Bronny is anxiously trying to hide. “Can we get ‘za? I been cravin’ that ish since I’ve been here and we ain’t had it one time.”
“Really?” grunts his big brother in amusement as much as annoyance. “Is saying the wordpizzajust too much mouth movement?”
“From the guy they calltendybecause goaltender and net minder are too long?” I tease at the same time I power down my equipment.
“Gooaaaallllllfor Gilly!” obnoxiously squawks the teenager.
“Don’t make me take back those boots Ijus’bought you,” threatens Thayne on a playful glare that’s followed by him smiling in my direction, “or the ones I just boughtyou.”
“You bought me boots?!”
“Dalvegan green,” is bashfully spoken. “Thought you might wear ‘em on game days.”
Buying me boots without asking?
Thoughtful.
Signing me up to help raise a teen without talking it out first?
Less thoughtful.
Even if we both know Iwantto help.
Planon helping.
“I gotta take a leak before we leave,” Bronny announces upon my body moving backwards to create space for him to exit the chair.
“Down the hall to the right. Door is on the left,” I inform post removing my mask. “And don’t forget to wash your hands.”
“I always wash my hands.”
Thayne and I present sarcastic expressions in tandem.
“Whatever…” murmurs the young guy on his way out of the room.
Thayne waits until I’ve finished putting away my equipment to timidly ask, “Am I hearin’ the tuneskie right, Gillybean?” Him slyly creeping closer is attached to another sheepish investigation. “You’re gonna help me take care of Bronny fulltime?”
“Yes.” Winding my arms around his midsection, the second he’s within reach is mindlessly done. “Of course.” His smile lighting up leads to mine doing the same. “But I meant what I said, Thayne.Wewill make decisions and rules and plays,together,going forth,especiallywhen it comes to how we co-guardian Bronny. I’m working really hard to let my voice be heard. I don’t want it drowned out again. Got it?”
