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Andres lost his concentration and crashed. Since he was eliminated, he got off the couch and went to search for Leo’s shoes. He handed them over and patted my shoulder, giving me a toothy grin. “You seem different.”
“How?”
“Lighter.”
I rolled my eyes. “I’m the same as I was a few hours ago.”
“Nah, your face has changed.” He leaned close and took a big whiff of my shirt. “And that’s not your soap. You used her shower, didn’t you?
“Would you keep your voice down?”
He beamed. “Admit it. You two are getting married.”
“I don’t think hooking up means marriage.”
“She loves Leo. I can tell.”
I looked at my son. “Yeah, I think he loves her too.”
“You seem less lost.”
I focused on my half-brother like I was meeting him for the first time. Our mothers had done that way back. They had put us all in a room and said, “This is your brother,” and we had just accepted that.
Right now felt kind of like that. “How so?”
“I don’t know. You usually have this weird look in your eyes.” He stared so hard that I flinched. “But you don’t anymore. It’s gone.”
“Huh.”
He nodded. “I hope I can find that with Sad—I mean,someone. One day, with someone. Definitely probably nobody here.”
“Andres, nobody is fooled.”
“I don’t know what you’re talking about, buddy.”
He patted my arm firmly. “If we distract Leo now, Spencer can finally win.”
“He hasn’t won yet?”
“Nope. You know your kid is too smart for his own good.”
I chuckled on my way back to the couch. Spencer was clearly fixated on winning, his hardened expression showing his commitment. Leo didn’t look worried at all. I tapped his shoulder.
He shrugged. “Nice try, but Uncle Spencer has to learn how to be a good sport.”
Andres and I howled with laughter as Spencer lost the bout. Leo pointedly stood up and raised his hands in the air, cheering repeatedly that he was number one. Spencer played it off, put the controllers on the charging station, and hooked Leo into a loving hug.
“I’ll get you next time,” Spencer promised. “I’ll be practicing.”
Leo giggled. “Yes, next time, I’ll let you win.”
“Oh, that’s not fair.”
More laugher. More wonderful feelings circulating me as I lifted my son into my arms. He nestled into the crook of my arm with his head on my shoulder. The only thing missing was a woman’s touch. But I wouldn’t say that.
Not yet.
Another round of farewells sent me out the door. Silence assumed the default as I carried Leo down the path to the road. We passed many houses with lights on, with shifters making supper or watching television. Some people were already asleep, and some were getting ready for the night as nocturnal animals.
