The guy was way too excited for the setting, and it was throwing Chase for a loop.
“Uhh.”
“Sorry, you have to forgive Josh for his energy,” Riley said while smiling sympathetically. “He’s like a puppy and can’t help being excited to see you. We can leave you alone if you want.”
“No!” Chase shouted, then winced. Apparently, Josh’s excitability was rubbing off on him. “I mean, um, no, it’s okay. I was just visiting my mom for Christmas.”
“Oh, is this her?” Josh asked, gesturing to Chase’s mom’s tombstone. He sat down on the ground cross-legged next to Chase. Riley shook his head and sat on the other side of Josh. “Hi, Chase’s mom. I’m Josh, and this is Riley. We’re friends of his from the gym.”
Chase couldn’t help releasing a wet laugh. His mom worked fast on that Christmas wish.
Josh threw an arm around Chase’s shoulders and pulled him against his side as he continued his conversation with Chase’s mom.
“Chase is our gym’s new yoga instructor and he’s awesome and everybody loves having him there. Well, maybe not Hunter, but that’s just because he’s the least flexible person ever. Too many muscles in the way,” Josh explained, like he was meeting Monica Townsend for real. “Riley and I come here sometimes to visit my parents. They’re not too far from you either if you wanted to meet them.”
Josh spent a few minutes giving Chase’s mom directions to his parents’ graves.
Chase leaned back so he could get Riley’s attention, and Riley’s gaze found him. Chase mouthed, “Is he for real?”
Riley beamed at Chase and nodded, then threw a fond look at Josh.
When Josh was finished with his directions, he turned to Chase.
“How did you lose your mom?”
“Uh, breast cancer.”
“Shit, that sucks. When I was five, my parents were killed in a car accident. I survived, but they didn’t,” Josh said matter-of-factly, like it wasn’t horrifying to thinkabout. “That’s how I got adopted by the Browns. They lived next door to Riley, so we grew up together.”
Chase nodded slowly. “Ah, so that’s why you guys are so close.”
“We’re pretty much brothers from other mothers,” Riley said, drawing a laugh from Chase.
Sure. Brothers. Keep telling yourselves that.
“What are you doing the rest of the day?” Josh asked.
Chase opened his mouth to answer, but snapped it shut again. He typically sat alone at home moping while watching whatever Christmas movies were on TV, but that was too depressing to share.
“Not much, I guess.”
Riley narrowed his eyes. “Do you have more family to visit?”
Chase shook his head. “Nah, it was just me and my mom before she died.”
“Oh man, I’m sorry,” Josh said, then brightened. “You should spend the rest of the day with us. We’re just visiting some more family, but they always make way too much food. You’d be more than welcome.”
“Uh, are you sure?”
“Definitely,” Riley agreed. “Plus, you being there will keep our nosy family members from asking us when we’re finally gonna get married and start having kids. Like it’sso easyto find the right woman to do that with.”
Chase sucked his lips between his teeth, thinking over his options. Getting to know Riley and Josh better would be a way more enjoyable time than sitting at home alone.
“Although, my family might try to set you up with my sister, Sophie. She is the complete opposite of calm.”
Josh laughed. “Riley calls her ‘Taz’ because she walks through rooms like the Tasmanian Devil.”
“Good nickname. I’m gay though, so it wouldn’t work,” Chase said.
