Page 189 of Halo

Then he says, “My turn.”

Nick and I both look at him.

“What?”

“My turn.”

“Buddy, you don’t need a haircut.”

Grady frowns like we’re being unusually slow.

Then he looks at Nick.

“You said sometimes we do things with people when they’re scared so they don’t have to do it alone.”

Nick goes completely still.

So do I.

Grady climbs onto the closed toilet lid.

“I’m ready.”

My hand flies over my mouth as the tears start again.

Nick’s eyes fill too.

“Partner…”

“I did it before.” Grady pats his head. “It grows back.”

That breaks whatever composure either of us had left.

Nick laughs through his tears and reaches for the clippers.

“All right, buddy.”

Grady grins.

Nick shaves his head.

And when he’s finished, Grady rubs both hands over his scalp, delighted with himself.

Then Nick looks at me.

Without saying a word, he turns the clippers around and runs them straight through his own hair.

“Nick.”

He keeps going.

Grady starts laughing.

By the time it’s over, the bathroom floor is covered in three different shades of hair, Grady is rubbing Nick’s bald head for comparison, and I’m crying so hard my ribs hurt.

Not because I’m scared anymore.

Because somehow, in a life that keeps taking pieces of me away, these two keep finding ways to make sure I never lose them.