I pretend to think about it for a moment. “Nah, I’m good. Besides, it’s lasagna… There’s tomatoes in the sauce.”
As I grab the garlic bread from the oven, Lukas finishes setting the table. In all the time I’ve lived here, I can count on one hand the number of times I’ve eaten a meal at this table. I’m shamelessly a sit-in-front-of-the-TV-in-the-living-room type of guy, but now that Lukas is here, I’m trying to be better about utilizing the dining room more. When you’re sitting on the couch and eating, it’s easy to get lost in whatever show is on. Doesn’t really leave much time for conversation.
And I’ve noticed, dinnertime is when Lukas and I do the most conversing, which I’ve grown to enjoy in the short time he’s been here.
After we dish up, I pour us each a glass of sweet tea before joining him at the table. The old phone his dad gave him last year sits on the chair beside him, along with his headphones. The phone isn’t hooked up to any plan, and he can’t use it to call anybody, but it’s what he uses to listen to music. And the kid’s got good taste, I’ll give him that.
“How was school?” I ask before biting into hot, garlicky, cheesy goodness.So fucking good.
He shrugs. “I don’t know. Fine, I guess.”
“Did you eat lunch with anybody…special?”
I bite back a grin when Lukas glowers at me from across the table, a deep pink staining his cheeks. “Yeah, but her friends sat with us too, and they’re so annoyin’.”
A few days ago, when I was picking Lukas up from school, I found out—through no help from him—that he’s crushing on a girl in his class. She was giving him heart-shaped eyes as he climbed into my truck, and he nervously waved at her before quickly averting his gaze.
Taylor Preston.
That’s her name. Something hefinallytold me after much persistence on my part. She’s in a couple of his classes, and since they’re both really into Pokémon cards and the periodic table, I told him he should ask if she wants to have lunch with him.
I’m kind of surprised he actually did it, but I’m proud of him.
“Why are they annoyin’?”
“They’re just…” Lukas gestures in front of him. “Giggly.”
I chuckle. “Yeah, that’s girls for ya.”
“Yeah, well, it would’ve been better if they weren’t there.”
“Maybe Taylor was nervous, and bringin’ them along made her feel more comfortable.”
He shrugs again before mumbling, “Maybe.”
“Is this your first time likin’ somebody?”
“I guess, yeah.” Lukas stabs his fork into a bite of lasagna before shoveling it into his mouth. “I mean, I’ve thought girls were pretty before, but it’s never felt like this. I don’t know.”
My chest warms, and a smile curves my lips, but I hide it before he can see. I like that he’s starting to open up a little to me, but I have a feeling—from experience as a teenager myself—that if I make it a big deal, he’ll shut down. Can’t have that.
“Well, one piece of advice I’ll give ya is that you’re not just dealin’ with her; you’re dealin’ with her whole world. A girl’s friends are her safety net. They’re always goin’ to be there, and the quicker you accept that, the better. If they trust you, that matters. You don’t need to impress them, but be polite, listen, and don’t act like they’re in the way. Doin’ those things will get you further than brushin’ ’em off and actin’ annoyed whenever they’re around.”
His face screws up. “But what if I don’t like them? What if they suck?”
Laughter bubbles out of me. “They might, but they’re important to her for a reason. Do Taylor’s friends suck?”
Breathing out a small chuckle, he stares down at his plate, moving the food around. “I don’t know. Today was the first time I hung out with them.”
“Well, maybe find out if they’re into the same things you and Taylor are the next time y’all have lunch together.”
“If there is a next time,” he murmurs.
“Aww, I’m sure there will be, kid.” A thought pops into my head. “Why don’t you invite your friends next time too? It might feel less awkward if you have your people around.”
Lukas has two boys he’s close to. He’ll sometimes stay after school to hang out with them. I’ve only met them one time, realquickly when I was picking him up, but they seem like solid, genuine friends.
Once we finish eating, Lukas helps me clear the table before I do the dishes. As I’m rinsing them and loading the dishwasher, the thought of therapy pops into my head again. I talked to a few guys at work and did a little internet research, and I found a couple of therapists in the area that specialize in trauma and grief, but before I decide on one and make an appointment, I need to make sure Lukas is open to the idea.
