“Can I mix chives in?” I turned around with the rubber spatula in hand.
“No,” Callum responded on behalf of them all.
“You guys have no taste,” I whispered, placing the plate of scrambled eggs in the middle of the table.Maybe I’ll listen to music and go for a walk,I thought after hearing the jingle of Frankie’s tags as he entered the sitting room. “Riley, can you watch the boys while I take Frankie for a walk?” I asked.
She refused and said she was walking to meet up with Nate.
“Oh. So now you can walk?” I joked. “All right guys. Go brush your teeth and get dressed. We’re going to take Frankie for a long walk,” I announced.
“Can we get ice cream on the way back?” Niall requested.
“If you want ice cream then make your beds and tidy your room before we go.”
I know. I acted like a fussy parent sometimes. But imagine how little boys would look and smell if someone didn’t tell them what to do from time to time.
Callum and Niall insisted on holding the leash during our walk, which was annoying since the walk had taken much longer than anticipated. I find it interesting the way animals behave differently when around different types of people. With the boys holding on to the leash and horsing around, Frankie too decided to wander back and forth smelling everything that emerged a few inches from the ground. But when I would take him out by myself, he walked in a straight line and only stopped when he needed to relieve himself. Like he would mimic my way of walking—forward and with a purpose.
It was almost lunchtime when we finally turned around. I mentioned that we should go straight home to eat lunch, then get ice cream later, but they weren’t having it. They had their minds set on ice cream.
“Fine then. If you get hungry before dinner don’t come crying to me. Make yourself a sandwich. Or eat a carrot,” I said.
They didn’t care. They both wanted their hot fudge brownie sundaes with whipped cream and nuts. We couldn’t get Frankie a doggie sundae since I didn’t have enough money on me, so I ordered a small vanilla for myself and let him eat the soggy end of the cone once I’d finished the top part. The soggy bottom was my favorite part of an ice cream cone, but I knew he’d enjoy it as much as I would have. Besides, he had been drooling on my leg for far too long.
The twins ran into two of their classmates on the patio of the ice cream shop, who were also twins. They decided to sit with them and their parents, leaving Frankie and me alone on the only bench pushed up to the line of shrubs that separated the patio from the parking lot. I didn’t mind. It gave me a moment to think to myself and look at the clear blue sky.Perfect day for a birthday party.
Thad not inviting me to his party didn’t bother me, but it was still lingering in the back of my mind. I knew the party would have only included the family members and closest friends that his parents invited, but I felt like we had gotten to know one another enough that I would have been considered part of that group. At least in my mind. We had been getting closer day by day. I only hoped I hadn’t been pushing him past his limit. I didn’t want to scare him off.
I texted him as my brothers and I were guided home by our waddling wiener dog.Have fun at your party tonight.
Wish you could come,the reply read.
So do I.
15
YOUR CLOTHES AREN’T THAT TIGHT!
Ineed to get out of here, Thad texted.
I was on the sofa with Callum. Niall was on the floor flipping through the channels trying to find something to watch. My mom and Riley sat on the back porch with my mom’s friend Laura.
You need to get out of there? It’s 9:30 at night. Where would you go? Is the party that boring?I laughed, then sent a smiley face.
No. It sucks. My dad is being an ass. And my friends brought some random people with them who are being dumbfucks in the backyard.
A bit inconsiderate, isn’t it?I replied before jokingly adding,I’ll come pick you up if you want.
Could you? I can sneak out of here without them noticing.
What? Why would he want to leave his own birthday party? What had his dad done to make him want to leave so badly?
I ran and asked my mom if I could borrow her car to hang out with some friends. Obviously, I was going to hang out with him, and notfriends.
“Okay. Hey.” She extended her arm. “Text me if you’re going to be late, all right?”
“Alrighty.”
I ran to my room and changed into something a little nicer. I didn’t know what would happen, but I wanted to look nice if I was going to see him on his birthday. I texted him that I was on my way then grabbed the keys from the kitchen counter.