Page 48

In the dining room, Tyler served as they sat, and everyone dug into the enchiladas with groans and exclamations of appreciation. Tyler’s nerves had mostly settled into a warm hum of contentment. Having Josh here, sharing this meal, felt so comfortable, so real.

“Well, this is the best dinner I’ve had in I don’t know how long. So thank you both.” Josh lifted his wine. “I’d like to raise a glass to your mom. I wish I’d known her sooner and better.”

Tyler gave Josh a grateful nod. Nadia raised her glass and carefully wiped her eyes, trying not to smudge. “Salud.”

Nadia sat back. “I am stuffed. Shall we?”

Tyler stood and followed Josh to the living room.

They sat on the couch, their legs knocking together companionably. Tonight, Josh had worn chinos and a deep blue knit shirt, just about the color of his eyes, that made his hair seem even more gold.

Tyler looked up and caught Nadia watching him watch Josh and blushed.

“Anyone need a top-up?” Nadia held up the wine.

“Please.” Tyler raised his glass. If nothing else, the alcohol was keeping his nerves at bay. He wasn’t letting Josh leave before he made things plain between them.

Nadia poured. “Josh?”

“I’m good. I have to drive.”

“So, uhh, Josh….” She tipped her head at him with a wicked expression. “Has America’s Tightest End shown you his time capsule?”

“Nadia.” Tyler pointed a warning finger. “Don’t you even.”

“I mean, we’re talking about boy archeology.” She squirmed away, laughing.

Tyler stiffened, pretending to be more defensive than he felt. “Oh no…. Don’t you dare. Again with the ganging up.”

“It’s like, old-school Smithsonian puberty in there, fascinating and mysterious but also a little scary.”

Tyler drained his glass and put it down. He needed his hands free. He stood and playfully grabbed his sister.

Josh chuckled. “I can imagine. After all, my room was probably worse. You don’t even know.”

“Impossible.” She dodged Tyler, trying to cover her mouth, both of them laughing. “Pennants and deflated balls. Scout badges and snapshots pinned to the corkboard. Weird costumes he wore for pep rallies. Pro-wrestling posters.”

“Hey! Don’t judge,” Tyler barked in wounded laughter. “You had posters.”

“Nice ones. You had boy bands, spandex wrestlers with mullets, and worse, I swear.”

Josh nodded, grinning.

“Don’t encourage her.” Tyler tried to cover her mouth, but she ducked and slipped away.

“Rows of these little dusty trophies for anything: under-five karate, hot-dog eating, butt-juggling. But freakiest of all—” She turned to Josh again, laughing and scurrying to keep away from Tyler. “A hidden jar of finger-scooped Vaseline that expired in 2006. I mean! And so help me, a pile of crusty magazines under that saggy, stained twin bed like an NC-17 medical experiment. That whole room is only held together by semen and pigskin.” Nadia was laughing so hard that now Josh was laughing too.

“You’re both horrible and I hate you.” Tyler rubbed his face and let his shoulders fall, mock defeated.

Nadia shrugged. “No big deal. Masturbation is normal and healthy.”

He turned to Josh. “She is lying to you now.”

Nadia shook her head. “As if.”

Tyler winked. “I threw out the magazines.”

Josh laughed, and Tyler laughed with him, but Nadia gave them a knowing smile and herded them toward the hall. “Take all the time you need.”