Reno felt the familiar pang in his chest whenever his father was brought up. He’d been gone for so long, but the loss never went away. He asked, “What did it feel like when you met him?”
“Like magic, he was so handsome. He looked like a movie star.” His mother paused and Reno could picture her smiling. “Rich too.”
Reno laughed. “Yes, yes but what did youfeel?”
“Excited!” she said, “Then, the excitement went away and I was left feeling warm and content. He took good care of me, never yelled at me, made time to nurture our love. You have to do that, you know? If you stop making time to make your love happen it will go away. He always made time to help me remember that he loved me. When you were born he never expected me to take care of you alone. The warm, content feelingnever left because we both picked to keep those feelings alive all the time.”
“That sounds nice.” He remembered how much more his father was around compared to his friends when he was a kid. Some of his favorite memories were the ones where his father had told his mother to stay home and relax, then took Reno out to play. Just them, the boys exploring the city together. “I am happy you had that. And that I got to see it.”
“Tell that to your sisters. They keep trying to get me to make an online dating profile! Horrible children, wanting to pawn their loving mother off on another man.”
“Maybe you should listen to them?” Reno picked up the empty can and got up from the bench; his knees were starting to ache from the chilly night. “What if you found someone who loved you that much again?”
“No, no,” she protested. “No one wants this old lady. The girls come home to me every night. I am okay.”
Reno dropped the can in a nearby trash bin and started the walk back to the motel. “We want you. Me, and Hana, and Himari. Don’t say you are unwanted.”
“My good son, calling me from the United States every night to tell me about a boy while he tours the world.”
“You sound proud of me,” he teased, and his mom blustered, denying it.
“Foolish career. Strutting around on stage in makeup and so little clothes like a peacock playing nonsense music. You’re an embarrassment. You should be playing violin.”
“So I’ve been told.” He could hear in her voice how much she didn’t mean it. “I will have Sage record me playing for you when I am home.”
“Play the Tchaikovsky I like.” She sounded pleased. “How is Sage?”
“She’s good, still working at the coffee shop. If you want to complain about tattoos, you should see she has a whole sleeve now. It’s very bright.”
“Such a bad influence. These British people are unreasonable.”
“Historically so, yes,” Reno agreed. “I am almost back from my walk and need to sleep. We drive to Pittsburgh tomorrow.”
“Good luck with your show," she said. She did every single night they talked.
“Thank you, I love you.”
“Bye-bye.” She hung up and Reno rounded the corner, seeing the motel come back into view.
Christoph was no longer outside, as he most likely had gone back to his shared room with Angel to sleep. Reno climbed the stairs and when he got inside his room, he found Arnaud already asleep in bed. He crept around, trying to make as little noise as possible as he got into the shower to warm up after being outside so long.
Luka
Writing a new song sounds like fun :) Angel is the bassist for HnH right? I'm trying to keep track of everyone's names the best I can lol
I've just been working on a comic. I only have a few pages left to sketch before I start on the ink but I don't think i'll finish them tonight
Hope u are ok, I am dozing off <3 gn
sry handsome I was on the phone with my mom :) I'd love to see this comic when ur ready to show it off. Angel is the bassist for them, yeah! They are very talented at composing. I am leaning some new things from them.
Sleep well <3
He left Sage’s message for another time and made quick work of the shower and brushing his teeth before drying off and leaving the towel on the door hook. He threw on shorts and a large t-shirt and slid into bed with Arnaud, pushing him to the side to make room. Arnaud barely stirred, only turning over and wrapping his long arms around Reno.
Reno relaxed into it, the warmth welcoming and familiar, and he tucked his head against Arnaud’s chest as he slipped into a deep, dreamless sleep.
When the sun hit him in the face in the morning, Reno felt like he’d barely slept at all. Arnaud was waking, pulling himself away from Reno to sit and stretch slowly. Reno peeked at his phone and saw it was still early, so he closed his eyes again, turning away from the sunbeam.
