THE GUY NEXT DOOR
“Yeah. You planned a fake attack so you could steal it, and today you tried to play it. ”
“What? A fake what?” Dad jumps in and Steve and I both laugh. Dad looks upset at first, but then he joins in, too. It’s crazy because he has no idea why we’re laughing, but he’s right along with us. I think it might be the first time I’ve laughed with him since before Mom died. It makes me light, almost like I’m floating.
When the laughing dies down, Dad sighs. I see the war waging inside him, but finally he says, “Yeah. Of course you guys can hang out. You don’t mind if I get your cell number from you, Steve?”