Now it’s my turn to frown. Addie andEmmettare the best pair of friends I’ve ever seen. They’ve been inseparable since they met in Kindergarten. And he was really there for Addie last year when Jess left. But I would be lying if I said I hadn’t noticed a strain between them lately.
“He told his mom,” she speaks up when I don’t ask.
“About—”
“Yeah. He came out to her.”
“How’d she take it?”
Addie picks at a loose thread on the couch cushion. “Really well, apparently. She’s taking him to get his hair cut tomorrow.”
“That’s great!” Emmett has been out to us for two years, but only now has started to work up the courage to tell his own family.
“Yeah. I guess.”
Her words and her tone don’t match, and I get the feeling I might be missing something here. Addie’s always supported her friend through his transition. I don’t know why she wouldn’t be happy about this news.
“How are you feeling about that?”
She looks up, narrowing her eyes. “I’m fine, Dad.”
“Good. I’m glad. I just can’t help but notice thatsomethingis bugging you. Is it the haircut he chose?” I offer, trying to lighten the mood, but I’ve never been someone people consider funny.
That seems to be the wrong thing to say anyway, because the frown is back. “No. I’m sure it’ll look great. But it’s different. And I’m tired of things changing. I know that’s a messed-up thing to say, okay?”
I’m starting to realize this isn’t about Emmett at all. Her mom left, and her entire life changed, and now, she’s attaching that to her best friend’s hair of all things, and I don’t have a damn thing to say to help.
I don’t get the chance to anyway.
“But it’s fine. I know I’m being silly. It’s only hair,” she says with a wave, and the next time she looks up, her smile is back. “Do you want to watch something?”
“Actually.” I move around to the couch, sitting beside her, taking the brush off for what it is. It is only hair after all. “I have something to tell you.”
“Okay,” she says slowly, already reading the room, something I’ve never been particularly good at.
I lean forward, elbows on my knees. I’ve been turning it over all day, thinking abouthowto say it. But there’s no good way to, so I just do it. “Uncle Will is coming home tomorrow.”
The room is silent as Addie stares at me, processing the words I said. The name that has lived in the closet of this family history for years. That we dance around, finally spoken out into the open.
“Like, tomorrow tomorrow?”
I nod. “Frank’s picking him up in the morning. I’m going over when they get back to help get him settled in.”
I guess I shouldn’t have worried, because the smile that takes over her face is the realest thing I’ve seen in a while.“Oh my God!” She picks up her phone, typing quicker than my eyes can process before setting it down. “This is so exciting! Wait. Does he even know about Ollie? Does he know what I look like now?”
“I don’t know. We haven’t had contact with him—”
“I was literally a kid the last time he saw me.” She cuts me off, standing up. “Can we have him over for dinner tomorrow?” She turns with an excited bounce and a clap while I watch her, completely lost. “You definitely can’t cook, but I can make pasta! I’m sure Uncle Will likes pasta.”
I open my mouth.
Close it.
“We’ll see how tomorrow goes first,” I say slowly.
She frowns, glaring at me likeshe’sthe parent. “You’re not excited.”
“I didn’t say that.”
