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“Too early to get up. Wanna watch a movie?” Sam asked and Aero nodded, reaching for the remote. Sam curled up beside him, her back to his chest, as he found the Western movie channel and turned the volume up so they could hear it.
Aero sighed, wrapping an arm around her middle and holding her close as they watched the movie and waited for the sun to come up.
Chapter 19
“Hey!” Sam shouted, whipping the front door open and hugging her brother tight.
“Hey, Squirt. How’ve you been?”
“Great. Come in.” Sam released him and escorted him inside. “Are you sure you wanna sleep on the couch?”
Anthony nodded, setting his bag on the end of the couch, his chest feeling warm as he saw she’d set it up for him, a floral-patterned sheet covering the upholstery, several pillows, and a comforter stacked at one end. “Thanks, Sam. Mom used to do this when Uncle Ted visited, remember?”
“I know. I’m so glad you’re here.”
“Me too.” He kissed the top of her head. “So, where’s your boyfriend?”
“That didn’t take long.” Sam rolled her eyes.
“I just wanna meet him,” Anthony said innocently.
“You’re gonna be nice, right?”
“Depends.” Anthony shrugged.
“Aero’s working. He said he’d come over in the morning so we can hang out tonight just the two of us,” Sam said. She’d been slightly disappointed when Aero suggested it, eager to get their initial meeting over with, but understood and appreciated that he was giving her and Anthony space.
“Huh.” Anthony nodded approvingly. “Good. What’s for dinner?”
“Pizza,” Sam said, nodding toward the takeout menu on the counter.
“Sounds good.” Anthony took a seat at the breakfast bar and perused the yellow, oil-blotted menu for the local pizza joint.
An hour later, Sam and Anthony were settled on opposite ends of the couch, sharing a large pizza and a six-pack of beer, giggling and reminiscing like old friends.
“Seriously, the guy was in for petty theft, then promptly tried to rob the commissary with a sharpened toothbrush. I wish I was kidding,” Anthony said, and Sam cackled.
“That’s awful. Are any of the inmates nice?” Sam asked, sipping her second beer.
“Oh, yeah, definitely. Some of them just made a bad choice and got locked up. They’ll serve their sentence and move on with life. Others are repeat offenders who almost don’t know what the outside world is like because they’ve spent most of their lives in the system. It’s sad.” Anthony sighed.
“I don’t know how you do it,” Sam said, her chest filled with pride for her brother.
“Hell, I don’t know how you can spend forty-plus hours a week with a bunch of six-year-olds.” Anthony shuddered dramatically, and she laughed.
“They’re much different than inmates,” Sam said. “Well, sort of.”
Anthony snorted a laugh, and they finished their pizza, settling into the couch and watching a movie.
Sam checked the time on her phone and saw she had a text.
Aero:Did your brother make it? Have fun. I’ll bring breakfast in the morning. Love you. x
Sam grinned and texted him back.
Sammy:Yup. We’re having drinks and dinner. See you tomorrow. Love you, too. x
“Ew,” Anthony said, and Sam looked up.
