AllFreeNovel
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Me: I’m going to be useless today. I know it
Me:My brain is officially offline
Jocelin: Sorry. Not sorry
Me:laughing emojiI hated leaving you this morning
Jocelin: But you were very quietheart emojiTY
Me: You’re welcome. You were looking very cute
Jocelin: I’m just a cute guy. Hurry home. I’ll be waiting
31
Jocelin
“We’djustlearnedhowto write our names. Of course we wanted to write them on everything, but Mom was very clear about what we could and couldn’t write on.”
Gunnar chuckles wryly. “Write on paper, not on each other.”
Astrid winks at him, then turns back to my parents. “So, we’re outside playing, and Bjorn issupposed tobe watching us.” She makes air quotes with her fingers.
I’m grinning so hard my face hurts. Astrid has been amazing with my parents, charming them like she charms everyone. And Gary has been just as delightful. “How old were you?”
She turns to me, her eyes sparkling in the candlelight. “We were four, I think. And Bjorn was around ten. So, we knew what we could write on and what we couldn’t.”
Gunnar interrupts. “To be fair, it was summer, and we were just told we could draw on the sidewalk, which is definitely not paper.”
Her face lights up with mirth, and she gives him a little shove. “With chalk!” She turns to my parents. “So, we’re all out in the yard, and my mom is in and out of the house, keeping an eye on us but relying on Bjorn to help. And suddenly, Bjorn groans and asks where Gunnar is. We all look around, but no Gunnar. It took about five minutes, but eventually we heard Bjorn shout, ‘Gunnar! No!’”
I glance his way, and his cheeks are a little pink, but he doesn’t look uncomfortable.
“We all run out to the street, where we are most definitely not supposed to be. Gunnar is crouched down next to my dad’s car, with a rock in his hand, writing his name in the fender.”
“Oh, shit!” I slap my hand to my mouth, but I can’t help my laugh. “You didn’t!”
Gunnar nods, grin firmly in place. “Yup. In big letters. Dad drove around with my name on his car for a good six months before he got it repaired.” His smile falters, and his eyes get wistful. “He said it was like having me with him all day.”
Astrid squeezes his arm, and they share a sweet smile. “Mom was furious, but Dad could never be mad at us. Especially at you. You were his little buddy.”
Gunnar chuckles. “She sent me to our room without supper.”
“Or coloring books.”
Gunnar nods. “I remember I was bored and so hungry.” He grins impishly. “And then Dad snuck dinner to me later.”
I lean forward, eager to hear the rest of the story. “What did your mom say about that?”
Astrid laughs. “Mom was furious when she found out.”
Gunnar shrugs. “Dad said I was a growing boy and needed to eat.”
My parents are just as enthralled with Astrid’s story as they’ve been with all the others. Their body language is relaxed, and their smiles are open and genuine. We’ve had a lovely meal, even though it started out a bit tense. Thankfully, Gary is a master at putting people at ease, and he had my parents smiling within minutes of being seated. By the time we reached after-dinner drinks, they were laughing, and I could stop holding my breath. Now, I’m ready to call the evening a success. “Well, I think it’s time that Gunnar and I head out. He has work tomorrow, and his bosses aren’t likely to accept the excuse of hanging out with his boyfriend’s family until all hours of the morning.”
Astrid laughs. “I don’t know. His bosses seem like pretty cool guys.”
Gary gently removes the wineglass from Astrid’s hand and guides her to her feet. “I think it’s time we head out, too.” He turns and winks at Gunnar. “I might turn into a pumpkin.”
