Total pages in book: 120
Estimated words: 114211 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 571(@200wpm)___ 457(@250wpm)___ 381(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 114211 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 571(@200wpm)___ 457(@250wpm)___ 381(@300wpm)
It’s no question, as all four of us are starved after the handful of hours spent cramped up in a car hungover from last night—for more reasons than just the alcohol. Anthony and I must’ve slept hard, because apparently Juniper and Pete went at it for countless more hours after we’d already conked out, and despite how bright and cheery they are this morning, I know the kinky pair of them are running on fumes. An offer of brunch at the house is the warm welcome back we weren’t expecting.
Walking into Trey and Cody’s house after the weekend away feels exactly like returning home, even if this isn’t our home at all. The house is full of appetizing aromas. Cody and Trey’s dad are in the kitchen laughing and chatting away, with Cody’s mom nursing a coffee at the island. Upon us coming in, all the focus is shifted our way, particularly on Juniper, whom the parents haven’t yet had the pleasure of getting to know. “Oh, I dunno,” says Juniper when asked what she’d like to drink, “probably a screwdriver, if you got any good vodka. It helps with the hangover,” she then explains to Trey’s bewildered father, who looks like he swallowed a bug, the way the former reverend squints at Juniper with worry. “Bethie,” states Cody’s mom when Pete tries to call her Ms. Davis. “You’re guests of my son and his husband, I won’t have any of that dang Ms. or Mrs. formality. You’re part of the Spruce family now, and you two are gonna call me Bethie.”
Trey’s dad, who might have preferred the formality, gives in and says, “Call me Mitch.”
The brunch itself goes by like an episode of a sitcom I never watched before. The parents sit next to each other, causing Trey to speak stiffer than he usually does. Cody laughs too hard at any attempted joke, especially Pete’s bad ones. Juniper, who sounds like she’s navigating her way out of a strange dream she’s trapped in whenever she talks, keeps interjecting with the oddest remarks. Bethie, just like her son, giggles manically at everything like she’s high—and for a reason I’m fairly sure is the same source of Trey’s deepening anxiety. The parents allegedly had a weekend of their own, though no one’s offering any details about it just yet, and Trey, like his father Mitch, has proven himself to be the type who won’t dig, but rather just stews and worries until someone puts him out of his misery. No one even mentions the eclectic and plentiful spread of food, except for a tiny, “Wow, I hope my stomach is bigger than my eyes,” from a dazed Juniper, much to Bethie’s tearful entertainment, who can’t stop giggling between sips of her fourth mimosa.
It isn’t until after the last chocolate croissant is taken that Bethie asks, “How much longer are you boys planning on staying in Spruce with us?”
Juniper was going for another sip of her juice and stops.
Anthony, the one who took the last croissant, now stares at it without taking a bite, as if forgetting he took it at all.
“Just another week or so, I think was the plan,” answers Pete, oblivious to their reactions. Then he glances at Cody across the table. “Don’t wanna overstay our welcome.”
“Overstay—?” comes Cody. “Stay the whole rest of the dang month if you want. We love havin’ you here. Right, Trey?”
His mouth was full. He swallows quickly to agree. “Of course, yes, you both add so much energy around here. You’re welcome to stay as long as you like.”
“Hell, move in if you want,” Cody goes on with a laugh. Trey glances at him sideways.
It’s Bethie who, despite her giggles and silliness earlier, keeps it real. “You boys probably have families and loved ones at home you need to get back to, huh?”
“Oh, my mom and pops do just fine without me there in the way,” says Pete with an offbeat chuckle. Then he nods at me. “This guy’s really close with his mom and younger brother. Ached him to leave them right after reuniting with them. Barely a week after getting discharged, we made the drive out here.”
Anthony looks at me after that.
“Really?” sings Bethie, her voice turning sad. “Oh, that’s not much time to spend with them at all. You could’ve delayed your trip here a bit longer, couldn’t you have?”
“Already delayed visiting Cody six years too long,” answers Pete for me. “I missed out seeing him marry the love of his life. Wasn’t gonna miss another day.”
“Oh,” murmurs Bethie, nodding slowly, then glancing back at me and lifting her eyebrows. “And you came along for support?”
I clear my throat and clarify. “My family’s doing fine. It’s just my mom’s been on her own for a long while, so I’m always worried about her wellbeing. My younger brother’s doing well. He teaches at the elementary school by our old neighborhood.”