Chapter 32

ASHER

Atty wasn’t fibbing about our folks setting up a date night. Still, it doesn’t mean I’m not ticked off that he promised something he couldn’t deliver. Atty isn’t the type to double-book himself.

So, yes, I did tag along home with him to babysit our little sisters. Our parents are all dolled up and ready, hanging out in the kitchen, chuckling over some joke Zach cracked.

Mom looks like royalty in her elegant green dress that hugs her every curve. My dads are looking sharp too, in their dress shirts and suit pants—coordinated but not identical.

Tal’s out for the night, and the girls are already in bed, all tucked in after their bedtime stories. So, we don’t have much to do except keep an eye on the monitor to make sure they stay asleep.

“It’s so good to see you again, baby boy.” Mom plants a kiss on my cheek, patting the other one with her hand. She’s buzzing with excitement about her night out with my dads.

They’ll probably go somewhere secluded, where they can touch her without restraint. Not that they don’t do that here often enough, but they seem to have an insatiable desire to touch her constantly.

It’s something I’ve never quite grasped, but I wouldn’t want Mom to be alone without them.

“No smoking in the house,” Zach reminds me as the others head out, making their way down the hall to Tyler’s car.

“I haven’t forgotten the rules, Dad,” I retort, a bit too sharply, recalling the restrictions that felt suffocating for more years than I care to remember.

“Good. Have a good night,” he replies with a nod, following the others out, leaving Atty and me alone in the kitchen.

For a moment, it’s quiet as we wait for the sound of the front door closing, signaling our parents’ actual departure. And sure enough, the door shuts just moments later, giving us the green light to exhale and sigh in relief.

We exchange smirks, Atty’s boyish grin that I’ve missed making an appearance. This would have been the moment we raided the liquor cabinet and the fridge, sneaking upstairs with our forbidden loot.

But neither of us makes a move to seize the things we now have unrestricted access to as adults. Instead, Atty adjusts the baby monitor, and I head to the cupboard to grab the popcorn.

I mix a bag of sweet and salty popcorn in a bowl for us to share. The girls are sleeping in the room adjacent to my parents’, so Atty and I decide to play cards on our parents’ bed, close enough to respond quickly if they wake up.

It’s better than sitting on the floor, I guess, though lounging on the bed where my parents get it on does give me the heebie-jeebies. ~Just a tad.~

“Well, I didn’t expect them to be asleep already,” Atty says, grinning.

“Me neither, but it’s past seven,” I reply.

“What do you want to play?”

“Go fish?” I suggest.

He rolls his eyes at my suggestion but starts dealing the cards. I munch on the popcorn, flipping through the channels to find something we both might enjoy.

There’s not much on, or maybe I’m just bored with TV. I rarely watch it at home, preferring to gaze out the windows at the world below.

But I finally settle on a car makeover show that features mechanics revamping the car’s exterior and interior. Not that we pay much attention to it.

Instead, we’re engrossed in our game, snickering each time one of us scores a point. It’s been a while since I’ve spent a night like this with Atty, and I’ve missed it.

I’ve missed him and his eccentric ways. His pretend anger and surprise—emotions he never genuinely feels with anyone he meets.

Atty has the patience of a saint, the demeanor of a wise old man who’s seen it all, and the humor of a little kid.

“So, have you figured out your life plan yet? Where do you see yourself in five years?” he asks me the same old question he always does.

He’s like Ella in that way—always planning his life around the next big milestone. I don’t understand that; I can’t fathom how they live with self-imposed deadlines.

Why would you do that to yourself? Why put unnecessary pressure on yourself to meet goals that aren’t even required?

Life is meant to be enjoyed. Success isn’t always about hitting big targets. Sometimes, it’s about the small victories that come our way—as frequent or infrequent as they may be.

“You shouldn’t force yourself to meet certain goals; they should come naturally, and if they don’t, maybe they’re not meant to be. Honestly, I don’t get it,” I said.

“I think it’s a societal pressure, pushing us to chase the next big thing before we’ve even had a chance to enjoy our current success,” she replied.

The girls don’t stir, not even once. I think that’s why we both drift off, sleeping side by side in our parents’ bed, just like we used to when we were kids.

I only know this because I wake up next to Atty. The skylight is flooded with sunlight, heralding the start of a new day.

I hadn’t planned on falling asleep here last night, but I guess it was meant to be. I figure it must be early since Atty is still beside me, thumb in his mouth, a pillow wedged between his legs.

A blanket that wasn’t there last night now covers us. The baby monitor is missing, and the girls are gone. Their bedroom door is ajar, and from what I can see, their beds are empty.

My eyes are still heavy with sleep, so I sink back into the pillows, turning to my side to watch my brother sleep. He looks so young and serene in his sleep, a stark contrast to the worried and prematurely aged twenty-one-year-old who wanders the hotel during the day.

I wish he hadn’t had to grow up so fast, but I guess finding his place gives him some sort of peace. I just wish I could find something that brings me the same kind of tranquility.