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 Posted: Thu Sep 10, 2026 12:27 pm
Backdated to May 10 The house in front of them was well-kept, with a clean yard and mindful landscaping. The house had a somewhat fresh coat of paint, and the mailbox was brand new. The driveway was a little worn, with some cracks along the edges, and small weeds trying to work into the concrete, but overall it seemed almost picture perfect.
Zac carried himself a little more relaxed than usual, in part to ease the nervous energy both Julian and Riker radiated. He wasn't as calm as he looked, despite this being home.
His parents understood his situation. Not immediately, and not for lack of trying. Emotionally, they were delighted. Mentally, it was a ******** answered the same questions a dozen times, and his face was still sore from how many times his mother had pinched and massaged, like if she found the right spot she could just peel off the mask and find her son underneath.
He'd been quizzed on every topic they could think of, just to prove he was himself.
They'd either been satisfied, or so desperate to have their son back in person, that they rapidly integrated him into their lives. Of course they were a little mad, of course they were a little disappointed. Mostly, they were just happy.
Especially when they found out they had grandchildren.
Naturally, they wanted to meet them. Especially with graduation coming up so soon. They asked about everything, so much so that Zac thought by the end of it that they were more interested in the kids than him.
So now they knew the boys went to Azure and were graduating at the end of May, and that both of them were going to DCU in the fall. They knew their birthdays, their hobbies, and a very general overview of how they came to be part of Zac's family.
Zac made no promises, and made sure his parents knew that both boys had valid reasons to be cautious around new people, especially adults. Especially family.
And yet, to his surprise, both Riker and Julian had agreed to meet them.
Zac played it cool. It wasn't an obligation, it was an invitation. They didn't have to do anything that made them uncomfortable.
...And here they were, dressed nicely, standing behind him on the doorstep.
There was no reason to ring the doorbell; Zac had the same key he'd always had. He could have let himself in. This was more for the kids' sake than his own.
Excited conversation whispered from the other side of the door, and Zac's parents answered the door together. Their eyes darted from their son's face--which they were still getting used to--and then to the faces behind him.
"Come in," the woman said, pale blonde hair tied up in a wavy ponytail. She gestured for them to come in and make themselves at home. Inside was as pleasant and welcoming as outside.
The home was well-lived in, and well loved. The man stepped aside to make room. "Dinner's in the oven, I hope you're hungry. If you don't like it, we can order pizza."
"No, I'm sure dinner will be fine," Zac said, stepping in after them. He briefly made eye contact with Riker, as if to assure him that he didn't have anything to worry about here. "Mom, dad. This is Riker," he introduced, gesturing, "And Julian. Julian, Riker: My parents. Joel and Haley. Mr. and Mrs. Everly if you're feeling formal."
"No," Haley insisted, "You boys don't need to be so formal. You call us whatever you're comfortable with."
"Even grandma?" Joel asked, lip twitching.
Haley's face turned a little pink, and with barely masked excitement, she nodded. "Yes, of course. That wouldn't even make me feel old. But you boys just make yourself comfortable here. We're very excited to meet you. The last few weeks have been such a whirlwind! Oh--Malcolm, your brother's here. And your nephews." She paused to look at Zac, and then the boys.
Malcolm raised his hand; he'd just come downstairs, and looked a little less put together than his parents. His hair was tied up in a sloppy bun and his clothes were a little wrinkled. He was dressed in an oversized sweater, wearing glasses with a slight blue tint and thick rims that didn't hide the dark circles under his eyes.
Julian half-hid behind Zac, but he offered a polite wave to Malcolm, and a too-soft, "It's nice to meet you," to Joel and Haley. He couldn't bring himself to stand up straight, or really to even make eye contact for more than a few seconds at a time, but thankfully there was enough to look at around the house that he hoped it didn't come across as too avoidant.
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Posted: Thu Sep 10, 2026 12:28 pm
Riker had spent the whole drive over trying to act like this was normal, even if it wasn't. The house itself was nice in a way that made him more nervous, not less. It was too neat. Too welcoming. Too easy to imagine belonging in, which somehow made it feel even more dangerous to want.
Still, when the door opened, he didn't shrink back. He stayed where he was, shoulders a little tense, posture maybe too straight from trying not to look as nervous as he felt. His hair was neatly tied back, the red in his bangs freshly touched up even if he'd deny that it had anything to do with that night, and the button down shirt he wore was a little stiffer on him than he usually liked. The earrings stayed in. If they were a problem, then they were a problem. He'd decided that before they even left the house.
He glanced up at Zac at the mention of dinner, catching the reassurance in his glance for what it was. No coconut. Okay, good. One less thing to worry about.
"Hi," he said, quiet but polite, and feeling stupid that 'hi' was the only thing he could manage to start with. "It's nice to meet you. Thanks for having us."
That was enough. Probably more than enough.
The grandma comment caught him off guard. He didn't answer it, but could feel his ears turning red as he glanced down for just a moment as if needing somewhere to focus on so he could get his emotions to settle before he showed too much.
Then Malcolm appeared, and Riker gave him a small nod. He'd seen Malcolm before, had said hi before, but usually slipped away to hide in his and Julian's room whenever guests were over. It was easier that way.
He was aware of Julian half behind Zac without needing to look at him. A small part of his attention always stayed there, keeping track of where Julian was, whether he seemed like he wanted the focus pulled off him, and whether Riker needed to step in and carry a little more of any conversation.
So Riker looked back to Joel and Haley and gave a small, careful nod again. He didn't say anything else, because he figured it would be safer that way. But he stayed close enough to Julian so that if it felt too stressful, they would be able to lean on each other easier.
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Posted: Thu Sep 10, 2026 12:28 pm
“Oh, you have such nice manners,” Joel praised. The corner of his lip twitched. “I’m sure you didn’t learn that from Zac.”
Zac huffed under his breath but left it at that; his mother laughed pleasantly. “We’re so happy you wanted to come over. We’ve never done anything like this before. Well–no, that’s not quite true. We’ve babysat.”
“It’s not the same,” Joel chimed in. “Obviously. You boys are more grown than not.”
“They’re still kids,” Zac said, not quite firmly, and not at all disrespectfully.
“Oh, of course. I remember you at that age,” Haley said, “And Malcolm.”
Who seemed to shrink under the attention, and was trying to slip into the kitchen without being noticed, but he could only take a few steps at a time. He wasn’t doing a very good job hiding the three empty energy drink cans behind his back.
“You boys were so different,” Joel mused.
“Is it easier if we reminisce about Zac?” Haley asked, wringing her hands together as she tried to channel the energy there instead of her voice. “I suppose we didn’t really figure out how we were going to do an ice breaker.”
“You want to tell my baby stories to break the ice?” Zac asked, scratching his chin.
There was too much energy in the air, nervous or excited or anything in-between.
“...Yeah, what the hell,” he shrugged. “Go wild.”
Haley was beaming, and Joel–a bit more tempered, but quite equally pleased–said, “Let me get you boys something to drink, what’s your poison?”
“Can I get a Sprite?” Zac asked, and half turned to the boys, still a barrier if needed. Julian angled himself to hide, like he couldn’t help it. “What do you two want, water? Dr. Pepper, Diet Coke, lemonade, Sprite?” he glanced at Malcolm, still shuffling away. “Any flavor of Monster?”
“Yes, anything,” Haley said. “I want you two to feel right at home. We’ll give you a tour around the house. Make yourselves comfortable, please.”
“We will,” Zac assured. “You don’t have to try hard to make them comfortable. We’re all just happy to be here. I’ve told them a lot of stories about you guys. So you’d better live up to the hype.”
“Really? What have you said?” Haley asked, guiding them into the living room while Joel went to the kitchen for drinks.
The living room was well loved, a little outdated, and full of candid family photographs. Joel and Haley were easy enough to spot. Malcolm was the smaller of the two blond boys, and when younger he was bright eyed and excited and always clinging to his older brother. As he got older, he dressed in baggier clothes and lost his spark, and eventually hardly ever even stood next to him.
The other boy must have been Zac–or, Zack–who carried a passing resemblance but would not be identifiable even if they were standing together. When he was young, he and Malcolm seemed to be close. As they grew, they grew apart. Zack had grown into a handsome, albeit bored–or worse, exasperated–looking teenager. He had a good relationship with his parents, and they always seemed happy with both of their boys.
Even Evan was in a few of the pictures on the wall, usually pale and dressed in dark colors and oversized sweaters that swallowed him up. In the nearest one, he was curled up on the couch in the back of one of the pictures, looking like he was trying not to fall asleep while Zack and his father were assembling together a set of wooden dining room chairs–the same set, not yet stained, still surrounding the dining room table.
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Posted: Thu Sep 10, 2026 12:29 pm
Riker caught the way Zac said they were still kids, and something pulled strangely in his chest at that. He knew what Zac meant, or at least he thought he did. It wasn't really about age, but being given something they'd missed the first time around. Family dinners. Grandparents. Stories on the wall. Being brought into a house and told to sit down like there was already a place for them.
It still felt too easy to lose.
So when Joel asked what they wanted to drink, Riker didn't try to act comfortable and ask for whatever. He just followed Zac's lead.
"Sprite's good," he said quietly. It was safe and normal and easy. He stayed close enough to Julian that their shoulders could have brushed if either of them shifted, and let his eyes move around the room while Haley talked. He looked at the photographs carefully, trying not to stare too obviously. Younger Zac. Malcolm. Their parents. A house that looked lived in for years. Not perfect, just… something that lasted.
And then Evan, too.
It made him pause for a moment. Something in him softened at the sight, though he kept it off his face as best he could. Evan tucked into the background of a family picture and still clearly there. Still included. Somehow, it meant more than he knew how to even understand.
Riker dragged his attention back before he could get weird about it, glancing at Haley when she asked what Zac had said about them.
He cleared his throat softly. "All good things," he said, because that felt safe. Then, after a small pause, a little more quietly, "He did say you were a good cook." And then to Joel he continued, "And that everything he's teaching me about tools and things he learned from you."
That was probably as close to sweet-talking as he was going to get without getting too weird or awkward. So he let himself go quiet again, staying polite, watchful, and staying by Julian's side, ready to pick up any slack if Julian needed to be out of any spotlight.
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Posted: Thu Sep 10, 2026 12:29 pm
Joel lingered, waiting for Julian’s drink, but like Riker he only said, “Sprite, please.” He didn’t care what he was drinking, and wasn’t even sure that he was thirsty. He just didn’t want to say the wrong thing, or be too much trouble.
So, Sprite was fine. And maybe it would give him something to do with his hands, which were curled into tight fists at his side.
“Great choice,” Joel said, like he was primed to say that no matter what they picked, but he laughed at Riker’s sweet-talking. “Well, I made him learn, you know. He’s always been so rowdy, I can’t tell you how many times something got broken in this house. Got so bad I couldn’t keep up with it myself.”
Zack sighed heavily, in a familiar exasperation, and guided the boys to the couch. He let Julian and Riker each have an arm rest and settled between them. He leaned forward, resting his elbows on his knees, and leaving space behind him so the boys didn’t feel so separated.
“Yeah, well after I learned how to fix something, I stopped telling you when I broke it.”
Joel just laughed. “Well, if I didn’t know you broke it, I can’t be mad. Good job.”
Malcolm, mouselike, had slipped into the kitchen during the conversation, and Joel followed him with a skip in his step.
Haley sat on the couch across from the other three, separated by only the coffee table. She did her best not to stare, but her son wore a face she was still getting used to, and she didn’t want the boys to be strangers for long.
“Did he really say I’m a good cook? That’s so sweet. He said only good things about you two. Joel and I were nosey, I’m sorry. We asked a lot of questions–but it’s not every day you’re blessed enough to find out your family’s doubled in size! It’s very exciting. I’m trying not to overplan. Zac told me not to be overwhelming–Zac, honey, I love you, it’s so nice to see that you still roll your eyes at me–but I feel like a kid at Christmas. I don’t know what to do, I want to just hug you both.”
She placed her hands on her knees in an insufficient effort to ground herself. “I don’t want to be a stranger for long. I’m sure we have plenty in common. Riker–you play sports? Joel plays golf. I know it’s not baseball, but it’s still hitting a ball with a stick, isn’t it?” She laughed, unable to help herself. Zac grunted, exasperated, and massaged his eyes.
Haley wasn’t the least bit deterred. “I play a little golf, myself. I’m not very good at it. Most of my balls wind up in the lake. But it’s fun to go out there, especially when you have an excuse to stop by the club for lunch. If you boys are ever interested, you and Zac should come with us. Have you been playing baseball for long, Riker? Zac says you’re good.”
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Posted: Thu Sep 10, 2026 12:29 pm
Riker's ears turned red immediately at Zac says you're good, and he very deliberately kept his face turned toward Haley instead of looking at Zac as if that would somehow make it less obvious how flustered he was.
"Uh…" He cleared his throat softly. "I've been playing for about five years. Since middle school, I guess. And all through high school."
He kept his voice even and polite, but his fingers curled a little tighter around the edge of the couch cushion. Baseball had always been one of those things that felt dangerously close to his heart. Something he'd wanted badly enough that it still hurt to think about how easily it could have been ruined.
For a while, it almost had been.
But that wasn't what he was going to drag into the conversation.
"I'm not, like… scholarship good or anything," he added, quieter, because it felt safer to temper the compliment before they got the wrong idea about him. "But I like it. A lot more now than I used to, probably."
Ah… that part slipped out before he could stop it, but he didn't elaborate. He didn't want to talk about why the last year had been different. Just that it had. Easier… better… like maybe he was finally able to enjoy something without waiting for it to be turned against him.
He managed a small shrug, then forced the corner of his mouth up in a placating half smile.
"I've never played golf, though," he admitted. "So I can't promise I won't embarrass everybody." He knew he was a little self-conscious, but he was trying to meet Haley where she was trying so hard to meet them.
And then, because some part of his attention always stayed fixed on Julian no matter what, Riker glanced briefly over at him just to make sure he was okay before looking back at Haley.
"But… yeah. I'd try it," he said. "If you really wouldn't mind teaching someone who has no idea what he's doing."
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Posted: Thu Sep 10, 2026 12:29 pm
“Oh, please.” Haley waved her hand dismissively. “We bring extra balls. I’ve probably got two hundred I’ve lost in the last few years. Joel gives me a handicap, if we can’t find my ball, I get to drop mine wherever his landed after he’s hit it. I go for the company, the sun, and the lunch.”
Zac didn’t really expect Julian to be particularly chatty, so he wasn’t surprised that he just sat quietly, minding his posture while trying to sink into the couch.
“We’d love to teach you. Joel has some secret technique–you know, different drivers, or–well, I don’t know. I like mini-golf more, myself. But I’m only a little better at that.”
“We’ve done mini-golf before,” Zac said. “Riker’s got a strong swing. He could probably do pretty good long-range. And Jules–”
Julian stiffened, sitting up a little straighter.
“–Is really good with those gentle hits. He’s got better aim than he gives himself credit for. Trying to teach him not to throw a game just because he’s in the lead.”
Immediately, Julian looked a little embarrassed; he looked up at Zac, and then down quickly, but Zac absently rubbed Julian’s back, just for a second, and continued, “But he says he’s happy to be there, so I believe it.”
Joel entered, at a good time, because Julian sat up straight again despite his slightly worried expression.
“Did I hear you say golf?” Joel asked, passing out cans of Sprite to everyone on the couch while Haley split the stack of coasters to put one in front of each of them. Joel took a sip from a glass of lemonade before passing it to her, and she sipped at it before setting it on the last coaster. He sat down next to her, obviously excited. “Did you tell them about the club?”
“I did,” Haley said, “So we might all have to head out there sometime. Or do mini-golf. We haven’t decided, but I think they both sound lovely. And Riker’s played baseball for five years.”
“Oh,” Joel nodded approvingly. “I like it, good. Are you boys sports fans? You know, go to games, collect cards, watch the shows? Or do you just like to play?”
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Posted: Thu Sep 10, 2026 12:30 pm
Riker accepted the Sprite carefully, his fingers curling around the cold can more because it gave his hands something to do rather than him being especially thirsty.
"Thank you," he said quietly, making sure to set it on the coaster because that felt expected.
The attention on baseball made his ears go red again.
"I mostly just like playing," he said. "I don't really know a lot about leagues or stats or anything like that. Just enough to follow along if people are talking about it. I kind of just… learned as I went," he added, and then, before he could stop himself, "I didn't really have anybody around to teach me much growing up."
That was already more than he meant to say.
His shoulders tensed a little, and he took a quick sip of Sprite to cover it, eyes dropping to the can in his hands.
"But I stuck with it," he said after a second, trying to smooth over what slipped out. "And Zac's been really supportive about it. And with… a lot of stuff…"
He didn't elaborate on that either. Lawn care. Fixing things. Just being there. None of that felt easy to explain out loud without sounding weirdly emotional.
So he glanced over at Julian for a moment, just to check on him, then looked back at Joel and Haley.
"So… yeah," he said, a little more confident now. "Mostly I just like playing. But I wouldn't mind learning new things."
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Posted: Thu Sep 10, 2026 12:30 pm
Julian seemed aware of Riker’s eyes on him, so a little smile jumped onto his face, but his eyes stayed forward, locked into the empty space between them and Zac’s parents. He wasn’t quite sure how to look at them, so he was doing his best. He didn’t open his soda, but he held it with both hands.
“You and me both,” Joel laughed. “Being retired means I need to get into new hobbies. I’ve been doing car shows. But you know, you go to those things, and it’s such an old crowd. Makes me feel old. I’ve gotta get into something that’s going to keep me young.”
He scratched his chin thoughtfully, pondering as he sat there.
Haley just nodded approvingly. “We play Scrabble, but he cheats.”
“I don’t cheat,” he hummed. “Not unless Malcolm’s playing. But there’s no point in playing a word game with a writer.”
“Well, we still lose, even when we cheat,” Haley sighed, but she spoke with obvious pride. “He lets us get away with it.”
“Well, it’s the only way he’ll get a challenge out of us.”
Zac rolled his eyes but let them chatter. Malcolm, who had taken a step out of the kitchen and had been trying to inch back into his room, now slipped back into the kitchen, away and out of sight.
“Anyway,” Haley said, turning back to the boys, “I’m so glad to hear you stuck with it. I really admire people who have that sort of persistence. You’ll go far in life.”
“I’m glad to hear Zac’s been supportive,” Joel said, leaning back just slightly in his chair. There was a pride in his voice, and he looked at Zac fondly, and yet also like he was still trying to adjust to this new version of his son.
“They’re good kids, they’re easy to support,” Zac shrugged, cracking open his can of soda. He paused, and then tapped Julian’s hand. Instinctively, although with great confusion, Julian accepted the soda pushed into his hands. Zac swapped their cans, and then cracked open the second can and took a sip.
Julian watched him for a second and then mimicked him, sipping the soda a little before leaning a little against the side of the couch.
Haley smiled. “I can tell. And Julian, you don’t play sports?” She asked kindly, but Julian still looked nervous while shaking his head. She just nodded understandingly and asked, “What hobbies have you gotten into?”
“Um–” his voice almost cracked and he hunched over just a little more. He cleared his throat and shrugged. “I’m still figuring that out.”
“That’s okay. Me, too. You’ll have to know if there’s anything you’re interested in trying.” She spread her fingers out before her and began counting them off on one hand. “I’m working on crochet, gardening, pickling, scrapbooking, and stained glass. I tried doing a book club too, but do you know? Malcolm was the only one who showed up. So I’m trying to recruit people to keep me company. I guess Joel and I are having the same problems–Zac, you have to come over more often, I want company. And boys–you’re more than welcome, I’d love company if any of that sounds fun to you. And I’ve already got all the supplies, now I just need someone to keep me on task.”
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Posted: Thu Sep 10, 2026 12:30 pm
Riker listened quietly, Sprite can cold in his hands, and tried not to look too obviously between Malcolm disappearing back into the kitchen and Julian trying to disappear into the couch. It struck him, suddenly, that maybe Zac was just… used to quiet people. Used to people who slipped to the edges of rooms and let others take up more space. Used to people who let things go a little too easily just to keep everyone else happy.
That thought sat somewhere strange in his chest.
He looked back to Haley when she started listing hobbies, and crochet caught him off guard enough that his brow furrowed for just a moment before he could ease his expression again. He was pretty sure he should know what that was. It sounded familiar, but it felt too late to ask without sounding stupid, so he just nodded along like he understood and hoped his face wasn't giving him away.
The offer made his stomach flip in that same uncomfortable, hopeful way the whole house was. Company. The offer to come over often. It was so easy to say. So easy that it made him nervous to want it too much.
"I, uh…" He cleared his throat softly, then tried again. "I wouldn't mind visiting. Or helping out, I guess. If you ever need it."
That sounded awkward. Too formal. Too much like he was trying to earn his way in. He could feel the embarrassment rising, but pushed through it anyway because Haley was trying so hard, and because some part of him did want to say yes before the chance disappeared.
"I don't know how good I'd be at… most of that," he admitted, a little quieter now. "But I can usually be useful if someone tells me what to do."
He glanced briefly at Julian again, then back to Haley. "And company's good too," he added, because he wanted to make sure she knew he appreciated her offer, even if saying it made him feel too exposed. "I mean… I can do that."
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Posted: Thu Sep 10, 2026 12:31 pm
“Oh, you don’t have to be good at anything to give it a try,” Haley said pleasantly. “As long as you’re having fun. I don’t really think useful is a factor. I go into all my hobbies with a strong air of ‘useless’, anyway.”
Joel snorted, and they shared a look before laughing.
Haley turned back to the boys before explaining, “While I was prepping the garden, I accidentally poisoned part of our back yard. It’s taken care of now, but I did do a bit of damage. Joel had to come rescue me. You can still see, I’ll show you during the tour. I won’t even have to point it out, you can tell exactly where I destroyed the back yard because the grass is a different shade than the rest of the yard.”
“We’re going to put a little fence or something around it so it looks intentional. I haven’t figured out exactly what we’ll do.” Joel hummed with a fair share of amusement.
“Well, the good news is that I’ve managed to grow quite a few vegetables, sort of. I’m still learning. They’re a bit ugly. And small. But you know? They taste just fine, especially when you pickle them!” Haley laughed. “If you really want to be useful, you can come over and cut them up. But I don’t expect to make you work!”
Joel leaned forward. “No, come over and watch TV if you want. Obviously we’ve got books for days, too. Malcolm ran out of room in his room so he’s been filling up our library.”
“It’s very comfortable, great for naps,” Haley added. “And enough room on the couch for both of you to fall asleep and still have space. I mean, well, I just assumed you’d come together. Zac says you’re very close. Which I think is great. Our boys had a few years between them so they didn’t–”
Haley paused, reconsidered, and then said, “Well, I guess they were a lot closer than I realized. Which I’m very glad for. I mean, we always wanted that for them, but I know we were a few years too late for them to grow up together.”
“Well, they’re older now, so it’s evened out some,” Joel suggested, to which Haley nodded.
Zac huffed from the couch. “Don’t make a big deal out of it,” he grumbled, despite it very much being a big deal to his mother. She hummed from across the room, which must have been her attempt to promise that she’d try, but since she lacked faith in her capability to do so, she couldn’t bring herself to do as much.
Julian, though quiet, hung onto every word and listened attentively. Mostly, he kept his eyes on Haley and Joel, but he’d started to glance around the room a little more, taking in all of its charm.
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Posted: Thu Sep 10, 2026 12:31 pm
Riker listened while Haley and Joel talked, doing his best not to look as overwhelmed as he felt. Every new offer felt warm and genuine and maybe a little too easy to believe. Come over. Watch TV. Read in the library. Fall asleep on the couch. Help in the garden if he wanted. No pressure to be useful. Just be there.
It made something in his chest ache in a way he didn't really know what to do with.
He wanted it too much, and that was the problem. Or at least it felt like a problem. Kind of like if he reached for it too fast, or answered too eagerly, he'd make it obvious how badly he wanted everything and somehow ruin it before it even had the chance to be real.
So he kept his expression careful and polite, even if his ears were probably still a little red from all the attention.
"That sounds really nice," he said quietly, and he meant it. "Thank you."
He glanced briefly over at Julian at the mention of them going together. Not enough to make it obvious, but just enough to check on him, and whether he looked like he wanted the conversation pulled a little farther away from him.
He wasn't sure, but he kept going.
"I wouldn't mind helping either," he added after a moment. "With the garden, or cutting things up, or whatever. But just visiting sounds good too."
He didn't say anything about being close to Julian. Not because it wasn't true, but because hearing it said so easily by someone else made it feel… oddly fragile. Like he needed to protect it by not touching it too much. So instead he just sat there, his posture probably still too straight, trying very hard not to seem like someone who wanted everything too badly while also hoping — desperately… quietly… — that he wasn't already failing at whatever this was supposed to be.
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Posted: Thu Sep 10, 2026 12:31 pm
Zac was quiet, but he seemed keenly aware of the state both boys were in. He didn’t have to look at either of them to have an accurate reading–they were both radiating anxiety in their own, predictable ways.
The attention on Julian was minimal, but he had attuned to every word, every movement, every glance. It was hard to think of something to say when every facet of your being was focused on absorbing what was going on, so he had little of his own to contribute except for a few strategic nods and well-timed smiles.
“We’ll bring Evan next time, too. You’d love his dog. I still think you should get one.”
“Oh, I don’t know. We’ve been traveling so much,” Haley said, but Joel seemed a little interested, and scratched his chin thoughtfully.
“I’m sure Malcolm could hook you up,” Zac shrugged.
A second later, Malcolm’s head poked out of the kitchen; from there, he could lock eyes with Zac and gave him an incredulous look, but Haley and Joel, who had their backs to him, were oblivious. The corner of Zac’s lip twitched into a smirk, but Malcolm shuffled back into the kitchen.
“He probably could. It wouldn’t be the first time he’s tried. But he’s more of a cat person.”
“But a dog might get him out of the house,” Haley pondered. Though Malcolm was again hidden in the kitchen, his shadow was visible–he tilted his head back in exasperation, stood there for a minute, and then sulked deeper into the kitchen.
Zac’s eyes found the shadow, but he dragged his gaze back to his parents. “So will nephews. I guess he can come over and hang out if he wants. The house is a little crowded, but,” Zac shrugged, “They’re not all strangers.”
“We’d like that,” Haley said. Joel nodded. “I want to see all these renovations you’ve been doing.”
“Why, are you worried I missed something?” Zac propped himself up on an elbow, resting it against his knee. “I take good care of my house. Riker and Julian have been helping, too. I don’t think either of them are going to want to follow in my footsteps, but at least they’ll know how to fix the place up if they need to.” He clicked his tongue against the roof of his mouth.
“Not that either of them are breaking any of the furniture, but.” He shrugged. “They’re good problem solvers. Julian’s going to help me with some of my contracting over the summer.”
Julian nodded, but he knew he didn’t look very convincing, but before attention could linger on him too much, Zac continued, “Trying to steal Riker from Evan, too. But I think Evan might need him more. His food truck’s getting busier. Have you tried it yet?”
Haley shook her head. “No, but maybe we’ll have to. I’m surprised to hear he went into his own business.”
“Good for him,” Joel chimed in. “I didn’t know he had it in him. But he knew his way around the kitchen. I’m more surprised that he’s still in your life than I am him starting a business.”
Zac shrugged, but Haley asked, “Isn’t his father a businessman? That’s not so strange.”
“Oh, I suppose. Yes, that makes a little more sense. I just don’t remember him having the spine his father did. No offense, of course.”
“No, no offense,” Haley added. “I only met his father once. How are they doing?”
“Don’t know,” Zac said, curt, close to a warning. “Don’t care. But Evan’s good. And he’s not half bad at this whole parenting thing. Which is probably more impressive than him starting a business. He’s always been pretty resilient. I’m glad things are paying off for him.”
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Posted: Thu Sep 10, 2026 12:31 pm
Riker had been doing okay, all things considered. Nervous, yes. Overwhelmed, definitely. But okay enough to sit there and listen and answer when spoken to.
Then Evan came up.
At first it was manageable. The food truck, the business. That was easy enough to listen to and maybe even to feel a small flare of pride over. Evan had worked hard for that and he deserved to have people recognize him for his accomplishments.
Then Joel kept talking.
Riker's shoulders had stiffened before he fully realized it. His fingers tightened around the Sprite can until the metal gave with a faint, ugly crunch. The sound made him stop immediately, like he'd been caught doing something wrong, and forced himself to loosen his grip.
He knew they didn't mean anything by it. He knew that. They didn't know Evan like he did. Or like Zac did. They didn't know how much of Evan was made of patience and softness and a certain kind of strength that had him always there no matter how many times life gave him reasons not to. They didn't know what it meant that Evan had accepted him. That he worried. That he cooked. That he loved so openly it still caught Riker off guard sometimes.
Riker could feel the heat climbing up his neck anyway. He didn't rust himself to say anything without sounding too sharp, and he didn't want to do that there. Not now. Not over people who were trying, even if they didn't understand what line they were toeing.
So instead, he set the can down carefully on the coaster, a little too carefully, and stood.
"Sorry," he said, quiet and polite, even if his voice felt tighter than he wanted. "Can I use your bathroom?"
He didn't really wait for an answer beyond the first gesture or direction given, because if he stayed there much longer he was pretty sure his face was going to give him away. He glanced over at Zac — not asking to be rescued, just making sure he knew Riker wasn't about to do something stupid — and then started for the hall with his hands shoved into his pockets so nobody could see them shake.
He just needed a minute. A minute to unclench his jaw. A minute to stop feeling like he had to defend someone who wasn't physically there. A minute to remind himself that Zac had it handled, that Joel and Haley weren't his mother, that not every wrong thing said out loud was said with the intention of starting a fight or causing harm.
Still, the hurt sat hot in his chest. Because whatever they thought Evan used to be, Riker knew better. And he wasn't sure if he'd ever stop being grateful for having Evan in his life.
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Posted: Thu Sep 10, 2026 12:32 pm
Zac noticed how off Riker was, immediately. It was hard not to, and he’d have been surprised if his parents didn’t pick up on it, too. They’d gone a little quiet after Riker left, not in a way that was unfriendly or unapproachable, just in a thoughtful way.
They were still trying to figure things out.
Riker was the easier of the two to talk to, and now that he was gone, Julian found himself shrinking in the building discomfort.
Zac didn’t let it settle. With Riker gone, he struck up conversation with his parents. Julian listened, but he kept glancing after where Riker had disappeared.
It was obvious that Julian wanted to go check on him, but he kept himself rooted in place. Haley asked him a question, but he hadn’t heard what it was, and just smiled through it.
Zac didn’t let him suffer; after a few seconds, he answered for Julian, and helped keep the conversation moving. It took a moment for Julian to realize they were talking about the aquarium–and then, an old family vacation. It was easier then, listening to the three of them talk instead of feeling like he had to be thinking about what to say next.
Masterfully, Zac redirected the conversation, letting it drift around Julian rather than to him.
Julian hung on every word, but he kept glancing between the hallway where Riker had disappeared, the old clock on the wall, and Zac’s parents.
He briefly thought about making an excuse that he needed to use the restroom and would just go wait until Riker was done, but at some point Zac had leaned over a bit, just enough that their shoulders were touching. Julian leaned into him, not too heavy, but enough to meet him–at least a little bit.
The rest of the house was as cozy as the living room, and the bathroom had a similar style. Rather than clean and modern, everything felt just a little outdated. It was a well-loved home, and things were slow-changing. While it could have used a facelift to update it, everything was clean and in good condition.
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