“You know what time it is, Gumball?” Colin taps his brother’s nose, to which Reece swats Colin’s hand away. Colin laughs.
“I’m older now,Gigante. Mamá says I can stay up until ten.”
“She also said you’re not allowed to eat any more sugar after six, and did I listen? No. I still gave you a piece of cake. Besides, it’s already ten-thirty.”
It’s not. In fact, it’s not even nine yet.
“I don’t believe you,” Reece retorts and narrows his eyes at his brother. “Besides,” he mocks, “you’re not my dad.”
Colin pulls Reece onto his lap, hugging him tightly. “Be glad I’m not, otherwise your bedtime would be five PM, even on the weekend.”
Suddenly a hand lays down onto my thigh, causing me to flinch. My head whips around, only to find my boyfriend frown at me.
“Are you okay?”
“Yeah, just in my head.” Or rather focused on a sibling-relationship I never got to experience.
As an only child, I sure was happy growing up, especially because I got everything I’ve asked for, but it was lonely. Itislonely.
Seeing all those people with siblings fascinates me. Sometimes they’re all up in each other’s faces, screaming, shouting, hating each other, and the next second they act as though nothing ever happened. It’s a kind of bond to someone I will never understand, which I envy a lot, because Iwantto understand it.
Also, siblings will never have to grieve alone because they’ll always have someone else to experience the same pain. I, on the other hand, only have me, myself, and I. And Doro, I guess, but she’s not technically my sister.
I smile at Grey then bring both of my hands to his face only to push the corners of his mouth up. His frown deepens which makes me smile even more.
“Ever tried smiling more?” I ask.
“Did you ever try frowning more?”
I haven’t, actually. So I do now. I draw my eyebrows together and turn my smile upside down. I can’t hold the frown very long because I can feel Grey start to smile. Quickly, I pull my hands away from his face and watch his eyes light up, his lips turning upward though I know he’s trying to fight it.
“Is that a genuine smile on Grey’s face?” Lily whispers, probably to her husband.
Just like that, Grey’s smile falters.
“You know, you are allowed to show your friends that you aren’t allthatbad.” I wink at my boyfriend. Turning to his friends, I say, “Did you know that he canlaugh?”
All of them gasp, but of course they already knew it. It’s just that Grey’s smile and laughter is so rare that even though we’ve all witnessed it before, it’s still a surprise seeing or hearing it.
“Nah, must be the other Grey, because our Grey doesn’t know how to experiencejoy,” Miles says to which Grey flips him off. Miles blows him a kiss in response.
“You guys think you’re so funny, don’t you?” my boyfriend asks, not wanting an answer.
I answer anyway. “Actually, I know I am, Grey Davis. I am the funniest guy you have ever met.”
“I beg to differ.”
“And I beg to get—”
He covers my mouth with his hand. “I don’t trust you and your mouth. God knows what leaves it.”
“Anyway,” Aaron chuckles. “Now that the kids are sleeping…”
I guess Reece went to bed after all. I didn’t even notice.
“We’re heading home?” Colin finishes, to which Aaron’s face falls.
“Of course not.” He turns away from Colin, now looking at Grey like he’s the only person who’ll potentially disagree with whatever he is about to suggest. Knowing my boyfriend, he will. “How about we play Mario Party?”