Page 54 of Indescribable

As soon as Boone’s on the phone, I ask, “You okay with your hellion coming over?”

“As long as everyone has their clothes on and he’s not going to be scarred for life.”

“Boone, man,” I chastise, quickly standing up and praying that Naomi didn’t overhear him say that.

He chuckles. “Just saying. It’d be about time.”

“Did your son hear you say that?”

“Of course not. He’s already getting his shoes on.” There’s a short pause. “And I just heard the front door close. And there he goes, dashing down the sidewalk.”

Every time Cody goes between our houses we watch him like a hawk, making sure we see every step he makes and that he gets to the other house safely. He might be twelve and we live in an incredibly small and safe town, but that doesn’t mean we’ll let our guards down for a second.

I step out onto the front porch so I can keep an eye on him, too, and seconds later he’s running up my porch steps.

“Got him. We’ll walk him back since it’ll be dark soon.”

“I can come grab him, too. Just cleaning up after dinner. I told him he couldn’t stay long.”

“Hi!” Cody shouts as he jumps up to give me a high-five, running inside then I hear him shout, “Auntie Naomi!”

“How’s my favorite little dude?” I hear her reply.

“He’s already taking over in there.”

“I’m sure he is. He was excited to see her. We’ll just walk him back in a bit.”

“Sounds good. Hey,” he adds before hanging up. “How’s it going with her? Have you had a chance to talk much yet?”

“Yeah, it’s going good. Talked a lot before we ate. We had dinner and I just filled her in about the fight.”

“She mad?”

“Not at me. At least, I don’t think. She called him a terd bucket.”

“Ha! Classic Naomi. Listen, I know we give you a slew of shit about it being about time for y’all to be together and all that but just know we aren’t pushing for it to happen before it’s time. Just want to see you happy.”

“Well, aren’t you mushy tonight?” I tease.

“I’m a dad who realized his son has more game than his uncles and me put together and figured it’s time one of us had a life outside of work.”

“We have lives,” I argue.

“Work and family is our life.”

“And it’s a good one.”

“I agree, but it can be more. We can add to the family part of it and make it better yet.”

“Right,” I mutter. “I can’t screw it up, though.”

“You won’t.”

If only I had as much faith in myself as he has in me.

“Talk soon.”

“Later.”