She grins. “Now you best respect your elders, young man.”
“I will,” I say, my heart warming.
Leaning forward, she presses a kiss to my forehead. It startles me a bit, since I’m not expecting it, and the maternal gesture makes fresh tears well in my eyes. “Call your momma, Theo.”
Nodding, I swallow down the lump in my throat. “I’ll… I’ll try.”
“Do you want another hug?”
I reach for her without a word, and she wraps me up in her arms. It’s really so fucking good to have community again. People to support and who support me. Ahome.
This town is home. It has been for weeks. Even before I understood that fully, I think. It’s been home since the night I woke up and went outside to find a screaming baby goat. Since I first felt the wind on my face while riding Molls. Since the first time I felt Hunter Lock’s lips on mine.
But more than that, I think thesepeopleare home. True home. And I think it’s time to invite my mom and dad back into my life. Into myhome.
I can only hope they want to come in.
Chapter 36
Hunter
Thehouseisquietwhen I get home. Mom’s car is gone, but Theo’s is still here. He’s not downstairs, so I make my way up the stairs to our room.
I didn’t want to leave him today. There were shadows dancing in his eyes, and he seemed… off. But he also didn’t want to go with me, and we needed feed. It was a tough choice, but I’m not sure I’ve ever made that feed run so quickly in my life.
When I push open the bedroom door, I’m not sure what I expected to fine, but it certainly isn’t Theo sitting criss-crossapplesauce on our bed, something open in front of him and his phone balanced on his knee.
He looks up at me, his eyes sad. “Hi.”
“Hey, sweetheart. You okay?”
He nods, dropping his gaze to the… book in front of him. Walking to the bed, I climb up beside him. “What’s this?”
He drags a finger over the page, and I glance down to see a photo of a woman holding a baby. It takes no time to realize it’s Theo’s mom. He looks just like her.
“My mom.” He turns the photo album, tilting it toward me so I can see easier.
Flipping through, he shows me his life in perfect photos, explaining the ones he can. The times he remembers.
“This one,” he says, pointing to one with him standing in front of a gate, a huge grin on his face, “is from when I was eight. I wanted to visit the zoo for my birthday. I was upset they wouldn’t let me touch the animals.”
I grin. “Always been an animal lover, huh?”
He lets out a sad laugh. “Yeah, I guess so.” He sighs. “I want to call my parents.”
I nod slowly. “Okay. I think that’s a great idea.”
“I’m afraid.” His throat bobs, and he turns his head as tears fill his eyes.
“Hey,” I whisper, reaching for him. As soon as I do, he reaches back, letting me pull him into my lap.
I wrap my arms around him tightly, squeezing him to me as I rock him gently. “Why are you afraid?”
“What if they don’t want to talk to me?” His voice is muffled against me, and I slip my fingers into his hair.
“You won’t know unless you try, and either way, I’ll be here for you. I think they’ll want to hear from you, though. Can’t imagine a world where they wouldn’t.”
Theo lets out a hoarse chuckle. “Your mom said basically the same thing.”
