I poured hot water into a mug. Theo would be home soon.
Warmth spread through me.
Why does it feel as if we made a little progress tonight?
I wasn’t thinking about the singing.
My phone rang, and when Gary’s name lit up the screen, I almost didn’t answer.
“Hey, little man.” Gary sounded as cheerful as ever. “I haven’t heard from you since the move. Are you still crashing at Theo’s?”
“Mm-hmm.”But not for much longer.Two weeks, Theo had said.
Two weeks would fly by.
“Lucky you.” Gary chuckled. “The place is nice, isn’t it?”
“It’s fine. A little small, but we’re making it work.”
Another chuckle. “Theo must have the patience of a saint. You keeping the noise at an acceptable level?”
“I’m trying to.” I smiled despite myself. “He’s not as scary as he used to be.”
“Ha. That’s because he hasn’t caught you leaving dishes in the sink yet. Just don’t burn the place down, okay?”
“I’ll do my best.”
Gary’s voice softened. “I’m glad you’ve got someone looking out for you. Theo’s solid. A bit wound-up, sure, but he’s dependable. You always looked up to him when you were a kid.”
I froze with the mug half-dry in my hand.
Looked up to him. Hero worship. The tidy label Gary had always given it.
“Yeah,” I said carefully. “He was kind.”
“He still is. Theo’s a good bloke. Don’t give him any grief.”
“I wouldn’t do that,” I protested.
Gary laughed. “Of course you wouldn’t. You had the world’s biggest crush on him back then, remember? You used to follow him around like a duckling.”
The words landed in the middle of my chest, the ache spreading like ripples on a pond. I forced a laugh. “That was years ago.”
“Exactly. I’m glad you grew out of it.” Gary’s tone was teasing. “Anyway, don’t stay underfoot too long. Get yourself a place, meet some girls, live a little.”
My throat closed.You don’t know me at all.The words lined up in my throat like notes waiting to be sung.
Gary kept talking, his tone light and easy. “You still sketching? Send Mum something decent for once. No weird abstract stuff, yeah?”
“Sure.” My voice sounded thin, far away. “I’ll send her something.”
“Good man. All right, I’ve got to run. Love you, kid.”
“Love you too.”
When the call ended, the kitchen felt heavier. The hum of the refrigerator filled the space. I stared at the phone for a long moment.
“Yeah, Gary. I grew out of it.”