Total pages in book: 95
Estimated words: 91864 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 459(@200wpm)___ 367(@250wpm)___ 306(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 91864 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 459(@200wpm)___ 367(@250wpm)___ 306(@300wpm)
Dad headed out the door before Ethan turned around. “I guess I better get out there before I get in trouble.”
I finished collecting the beans into the bowl when I heard the doorbell.
Oh, shit.
I’d forgotten to put up a sign to let guests know to go around to the back.
I abandoned my work and answered the door.
Martha stood outside, holding a boxed pie in her hands. The corners of her lips twisted into a smile. “Hello, Sean,” she said. “Thank you all for having me.”
“Not a problem. Ethan was the one who suggested I invite you. I just sent the text.”
I told her on purpose as a way of giving her some hope. Ethan still hadn’t pushed too much with her. Hadn’t tried to bridge the gap between them. He was still warming up to the idea, but even his suggestion that she come to the Fourth of July cookout assured me he really wanted to see if he could find a way to mend the issues that had kept them apart for so many years.
And it was nice to see she was trying, too.
I made small talk with her as I guided her through the house.
“I brought a red velvet cake,” she said. “It was always Lilianna’s favorite. I, of course, had to buy it. I don’t have Ethan’s talents in the kitchen.”
She sounded a little ashamed of herself—as if she thought she should have made something for the party.
“That’s fine,” I said, taking the box from her. “You really didn’t have to bring anything, but we appreciate it. Mom doesn’t make enough desserts anyway, so this is perfect.”
She smiled, but I could tell she was nervous as we stepped out the back door, her eyes scanning the yard like she was searching for Ethan.
He turned from the grill, where he stood with Dad, and as he saw us, his gaze shifted away quickly.
Martha tensed up, her expression falling, her lips twisting into a frown.
Ethan looked up at her and raised his hand, “Hey, Martha!”
“Hi, Ethan,” she said, her expression not changing much, but the tension I’d felt seemed to have dissipated.
“Martha?” Mom said from the picnic table. “You must be Ethan’s grandmother.”
She hurried around the table and approached, greeting Martha.
We finished getting everything ready for the party, and in another thirty minutes, the yard was packed with friends of the family. Lee, Owen, and Sadie came, too. We all mixed and mingled, everyone making sure to give Ethan and me serious shit about how fast we’d moved in together. Ethan even took some time to chat with his grandmother. It wasn’t long, but it was enough to give me hope for both of them.
After some time, when I needed to step away from the craziness of the party, I headed upstairs, back to the picture of Brady and me wrestling together.
Since the accident, I hadn’t had too many opportunities to visit his grave. Even once I recovered from my injuries, I had so much work I had to catch up on that it sort of got away from me. But I had visited a few times; I couldn’t have completely gone without seeing him…at least, what was left of his memory. And fortunately, I hadn’t been haunted by any nightmares since the one I’d called Ethan about, and I couldn’t help but wonder if it was because of how the dream I’d had while I was in the hospital had soothed me, assured me I wasn’t wrong to go on living without him, being happy without him. That he would want that for me. “How’s it going, buddy?” I asked the image of him in the picture. “I’m still seeing that guy, by the way. Not-so-straight Straighty. I think you guys really would have gotten along. It’s kind of good you aren’t around because I think you both would have ganged up on me. And then I’d have another Rams fan giving me shit.” As I spoke the words, I found myself tearing up as I imagined a barbecue where he and Ethan teased me about how awful the Raiders were. “God, you would give me hell for how in love I am right now, I know you would. But I know you’d be happy for me, too. I honestly don’t know if I’m ever going to go a day without missing you…or wishing I could talk to you some more…wishing that you could tell me about some amazing guy you met and were in love with. But all I can do is thank you for all the incredible memories you did give me, and the support and encouragement that I always feel…still feel to this day. Thank you for that.”
I heard something from behind me and as I turned, Ethan reached the top of the stairs.
I didn’t have a choice but to smile. He just had that effect on me when I saw him.