"They have veggies inside them," Riley noticed disapprovingly.
"Yes. Grilled veggies. They're good. Want to try?" Sam asked.
Riley turned to Wyatt, to ask permission. "Can I?"
"Sure," Wyatt said. He was going to share his ribs with everyone, but first he wanted to have the boys try Sam's food.
Sam sliced off a piece of his fajita for Riley. At first Riley wasn't sure, but then he ate it and he grinned. "It's good."
"Want more?" Sam asked him.
"Don't do it, Ry. That's Sam's dinner. He'll be hungry," DJ scolded him.
"I'll be OK," Sam assured him. "I eat plenty at the cafe."
Riley wouldn't take any more though, but Sam sneaked a piece over to DJ. "You should try it too," Sam told him. DJ did and gave it a thumbs up.
Sam was so good with them, and Wyatt could tell it was special for the boys when a grownup shared their food with them. Wyatt tried to share his grilled polenta and sausage and mushroom gravy, but his food was soundly rejected. It tasted good to him though. Everyone did get a few of his ribs, even Sam.
He tried to refuse, so Wyatt told him, "You really do want to carry me home." That made him take some.
It was nice eating out in the open air, under the lights that came on along the paths leading to the river. The way they all shared food made Wyatt nostalgic for the days when no food on Lloyd's plate was safe from his own grabby little hands.
To Wyatt, sharing food was a small part of the closeness he and his brother shared and the kind of bond people take for granted until it's lost. He wanted the boys to know that feeling even though their parents were gone. He wanted to give them back what he had missed for all these years and only now found again with the two of them and with Sam.
On the way back into town, Wyatt walked next to Sam with the boys only one step ahead of them. DJ and Riley were telling the dogs not to try and eat the moths that flitted around them.
For a while, they walked on the lighted paths along the river. In its depths they could see the starry sky. Ripples moved over the reflected night sky making it flow.
"Thanks for coming with us," Wyatt said to Sam as they turned away from the river and started to walk toward town.
"Thanks for inviting me," Sam said with a sweet smile while his eyes shone with moonlight.
"You're always invited to every meal and anything else. And I mean that. Any time you want to hang out with us, we're up for it." Wyatt paused then asked. "How about tonight? Want to come home with us. We can watch a movie."
Sam looked hesitant, and Wyatt got ready to have his heart broken, tonight at least.
"You OK?" Sam asked him as he took in his pained expression.
Wyatt drew in a deep breath and let it out. "I'm just preparing for the worst. That you'll say no to sitting on our couch and watching a movie with me," Wyatt admitted.
"That's the worst thing you can think of?" Sam said with a raised eyebrow.
"I would be crushed. So what do you say?" Wyatt asked but tried not to get his hopes up.
Sam looked down at the ground and became serious, like he was considering some grave decision. Finally he lifted his beautiful face to Wyatt and said, "OK. I'll come home with you."
Chapter 14
Honestly, Sam was so weak, but he couldn't really blame himself. How was he supposed to abandon this happy feeling he had as he spent time with Wyatt, the kids and the dogs? All while Wyatt's gorgeous baby blues were imploring him, seducing him. No one could resist that. No one was that strong.
So there was Sam, getting pulled into Wyatt's irresistible orbit again and going home with him. Maybe he should stop fighting it and just go wherever this happy feeling was leading him.
As the kids celebrated his decision, Sam offered to get his car and give them a ride home. "I'll run and come back here and pick you up."
"No need." Wyatt pointed to the right, where they could see the road on the other side of the clearing. "If we cut across that way and walk, we'll save some time. Who's up for a nighttime adventure?" he asked the boys.
The boys were up for it, of course, and the dogs loved sniffing at things along the way. The moon was shining and they could see well enough not to trip.
