“It’s good, right?” Chase demanded.
“It’s amazing,” I said, my spoon scraping the plate as I chased the last traces of filling. No wonder Wilder had said there wouldn’t be leftovers. I wondered if there was a way to get myself invited back next week without being obvious about it.
I shouldn’t have worried.
“We do spaghetti night every Sunday,” Avery said. “You’re welcome to come along whenever you can.”
I looked to Cash, and he gave me a smile. It felt like I’d passed some sort of test. Not even a test that Cash had set me, but maybe one I’d subconsciously set for myself: Can Mason Ross still make friends? Doubtful, but let’s find out!
“I’d like that,” I said. “Want me to bring something apart from beer next time?”
“Beer is always welcome,” Danny said, making a face at his wine cup.
There was a crowd in the kitchen after dinner, with Cash rinsing dishes before stacking them in the dishwasher. Chasescrubbed a saucepan in the sink, and Miller and Danny wiped down the counters. I grabbed a cloth and went and did the same to the dining room table. Avery oversaw things while Wilder took Gracie off to help her get ready for bed, and it didn’t take long until everything was neat and tidy.
Cash and I were still in the kitchen when Avery came over and pressed a dinosaur sticker to Cash’s shirt. Cash’s face lit up, and a moment later Avery stuck one to mine as well. I shot him a look and he shrugged, and I decided not to question it further. I was a fan of anything that made Cash smile like that.
We didn’t stay long after that because we needed to feed the kittens, but by the time we left, I had six new numbers in my phone and a promise from Avery that he’d bring Gracie by to see the orange kitten next week. I was feeling pretty damn good—better than I had in a long while.
“I almost want to walk home,” I said as we stepped off Avery’s porch. “I haven’t had so many carbs in a long time. No regrets, though.”
Cash tucked his hand into mine and we headed toward where I’d parked.
“Oh,” he said, stopping. “I just want to grab a book.”
We changed course and went next door.
The house was dark, with only the living room light on, and at first I thought we were the only ones there. Then I heard soft voices coming from the kitchen and, a moment later, a rattle of bottles as though someone had wrenched the refrigerator door open hard. Cash and I had just reached his bedroom doorway when Chase came barreling out of the kitchen.
“What anasshole,” he said when he saw us and rubbed frantically at his face.
Cash stepped forward and then froze in his tracks when Chase held something up. It took me a second to see what it was,and it still didn’t make sense. It was a plastic Transformer. The red and blue one.
“Optimus Prime,” Cash whispered.
“Right? What a dick!” Chase blinked rapidly.
Behind him, the kitchen light came on and Lee leaned out into the hallway. “Did you want another beer or not, Chase?”
Cash darted forward and gave Chase a hug.
Chase hugged him back and sniffed and said, “I guess.”
He padded back to the kitchen and into Lee’s arms. A moment later they both moved out of our sight.
“What was that about?” I asked softly.
Cash’s chin shook and he cleared his throat. “Tell you later?”
“Okay,” I said.
Cash pushed open the door to his room, turned the light on, and was brought up short by the sight of a second Transformer. This one was yellow and was lying on top of his pillow. Cash’s breath escaped him in a huff, as though someone had punched him in the stomach. Then he darted forward and picked the toy up, cradling it as gently as if it was one of the kittens.
“I,” he began, and then shook his head as words failed him.
“Is it a good thing or a bad thing?” I asked him. “I have no idea what the deal is here, but are you okay?”
He managed a nod and then squeezed his eyes shut. “It’s good.”
