AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“So, we’ll be brothers…,” he trails off, and it seems like he’s finally accepting it.
“See, the thing is, I thought we already were.”
He gives me a tight-lipped smile, and I think he feels worse than he already does. “Look man…” His hand finds the back of his neck, his face contrite. “I’m sorry. I was…such an asshole.”
“You were.”
“Can we just…call it even?”
“Even? Really?” I ask, wondering how in the world we could possibly be even for anything after this.
“You wrecked my brand-new bike when we were twelve, asshole.”
I scratch my beard as the thoughts of crashing his bike while I was attempting a trick I’d seen on television fill my mind. “Okay, fair.” I shake my head. “Shit, you’ve been waiting a long time to use that.”
“I had to wait for it to be something really good.”
“Touché, my friend.” I put my hand out. He grabs it, and before I know it, we’re in a manly embrace. Our hug is interrupted by a loud “awwwwww” coming from the other side of the room.
“It’s so sweet, I think I just got a cavity,” she adds.
“Aren’t you supposed to be writing a paper?” Tucker asks her as she crosses the room and moves into my arms.
She scoffs and puts her hand up. “You’re not the boss of me.”
“I’m just saying what he said!” He points at me.
“Well, that’s different. Heisthe boss of me.” She smirks, and I see the blood drain from Tucker’s face, turning ghostly white as his eyes snap shut and his hands fly to his ears.
“I DON’T WANT TO KNOW! God, no, Ava. NO!” he roars as he backs away from us, slowly muttering something aboutmy baby sister.
“You had to go there, didn’t you?” I ask her, and she shoots me the most devilish look.
“Oh, this is going to besomuch fun.”
Epilogue
Seven Months Later
Ava and I are in Philadelphia, walking around our childhood neighborhood revisiting all of our hangout spots. We stop at our favorite playground growing up, and Ava squeals with delight as we both hop on the swings. After a few minutes of reminiscing about our time as kids, she gets up and begins running her fingers along the wood of the jungle gym.
“What are you doing?”
“Looking for something. I wonder if it’s still here.”
“What is it?”
“Shhh, I’m trying to concentrate. It’s around here somewhere I think.”
“What are--” My words stop when she laughs and points.
“Found it. Come here, look!”
I move off the swing across the playground and kneel next to her, following her perfectly manicured finger. In handwriting that unmistakably belonged to a child, the following letters are carved into the wood:
AR + JW 4EVR
My eyes widen seeing the workings of a much younger Ava on display. “When was this?”
