Be The Father Of This Child! - 33. Everybody Gets The Feels Sometimes

Chapter Thirty-Three – Everybody Gets The Feels Sometimes

“April!” His dad stood there, baffled for a moment, as the music continued playing. “What are you doing home?”

“Really, dad?” April shouted, not knowing, at the moment, how to react.

Mr. Huntsman hurried to turn off the music. That seemed to have the effect of a cold shower on Sid, who began moving right away, removing his apron and hurrying out the door, most probably to put a t-shirt on.

April followed him, and Mr. Huntsman was right behind him, as they all made a beeline for walking out of the kitchen. Although it was funny how each of them jumped over the dropped cake, April didn’t feel like laughing.

He was right. His dad grabbed a t-shirt and pulled it over his head fast. April was in so much shock that he didn’t know what to say. He turned to see what Jett’s dad was doing, but apparently, Mr. Huntsman had disappeared.

Sid ran one hand through his hair, then rubbed his forehead. He looked at April with guilt written all over his face. “Would you sit down?”

April sat on one of the armchairs in the room automatically.

Sid sat on the sofa and linked his fingers together. Then, for a couple of seconds, he stared at his hands, probably searching for the right words.

“What the hell, dad?” April murmured.

“Language, young man,” Sid said right away, but he didn’t look up.

“Language? You, Mr. Huntsman, I mean, Jett’s dad, I mean --” April sputtered.

The other dad in the house walked in and stood by Sid’s side, on the sofa, with the same guilty expression on his face, and, thankfully, fully dressed.

April felt like a schoolmaster who needed to straighten up two rambunctious kids. “Does that mean that now Jett and I are brothers?” he said the first thing that came to his mind.

“Are you sure he’s the bright one?” Mr. Huntsman reacted, turning toward April’s dad.

Sid sighed and chuckled. “He’s just joking. I suppose it’s a coping mechanism since he, well, walked in on us like this.”

Mr. Huntsman just grunted instead of a reply.

Sid finally looked up. “April, ah, damn, how do I start?”

April sank into the armchair, feeling too weak in all his bones to sit straight. “I’m not mad or anything, dad. Just frigging surprised is all.”

Sid laughed. “All right. I suppose I’m glad that you’re not mad. And this,” he gestured between himself and Mr. Huntsman, “doesn’t make Jett and you brothers. Just so that you don’t worry.”

“Thanks,” April murmured.

He could look at his dad, but it wasn’t the same if he tried to look at Jett’s dad. It was as if he did that, he would turn to stone or something like that.

“Hmm,” Sid started again, “you see, son, we didn’t mean any of this to happen. It just did.”

April wasn’t sure he wanted to find out what his dad meant by ‘it’. No, he wouldn’t allow his mind to go there. It was just not something he could do. “Okay,” he said in a faint voice.

“It’s true,” Mr. Huntsman said.

April’s head snapped into his direction. “How can you be against Jett and me when you --” He choked on his own words. No, he couldn’t let his mind go there.

“He’s not,” Sid intervened. “I’ve been working Tom up to gather the courage to talk to Jett for the last few days.”

“The last few days? But Jett’s dad has been away from home for two weeks! What did you two do all this time ...” April lost his voice and ended up coughing loudly.

The two men across from him shifted in their places, most probably not wanting to go there with the conversation, either.

April buried his face into his hands. “I can’t believe it,” he moaned. “Dad, did you even ever --”

“Son, don’t question your father like this,” Mr. Huntsman intervened, his voice as harsh as ever.

April bristled. “Don’t call me ‘son’. You’re not my dad. Oh, wait, but if you marry my dad, oh, no --”

“April, April,” his dad called for him gently, “just let us explain, okay? Tom, let me handle this.”

“All right,” Mr. Huntsman replied, but April could tell from his voice that he wasn’t happy with the role of a simple witness.

“I’ve been alone for many years,” Sid started. “Not alone-alone, since I had you and Melinda, but I haven’t had a partner in so long.”

“I’ve never thought of that,” April admitted, now starting to feel guilty. “I had no idea you were lonely.”

“I wasn’t lonely, even if I was alone,” his dad explained. “But you left for college, and I guess that sentiment eventually began to get to me.”

“I’m sorry, dad.”

Of course, the nagging question was why his dad had decided to end his loneliness by hooking up with Jett’s dad. Wait, was that what they were doing? Hooking up? April couldn’t believe he had even thought those words.

“Are you serious about my dad?” April found himself talking and addressing Mr. Huntsman this time.

“This kid has some nerve,” Mr. Huntsman said under his breath.

“He has a right to know.” Sid justified April’s question right away. “No, it’s not something --”

“Yeah, it’s serious,” Mr. Huntsman interrupted April’s dad.

“It is?” Both Sid and April addressed the question at the same time.

Mr. Huntsman didn’t seem that comfortable, shifting his weight on the sofa, and trying hard to appear casual as he spoke. “Yeah, it is.”

April eyed his dad carefully. Sid appeared a bit surprised. Well, at least, he was no longer the only one. “All right, all right, this is a bit too much for me. Mr. Huntsman, why haven’t you called to talk to Jett all this time?”

“Call me Tom.” That sounded like an order, not an invitation, but April didn’t want to dwell too much on such things at the moment. “Your dad’s been bugging me for days to do that. I was going to.”

“Jett is ...” April had no idea how to say it to be as accurate as possible. “He’s upset, big time.”

Tom snorted. “For what? Not having his way?”

“Losing you, I guess,” April replied in all honesty.

Sid put one hand on Tom’s arm. “I told you as much. It wasn’t possible for Jett not to feel a thing for you, his father.”

“You did tell me,” Tom admitted, but not without setting his jaw hard.

Yeah, it was right in front of his eyes. Tom was just like Jett. Well, the other way around, but nonetheless, that was the simple truth. “Jett would talk to you if you made the first step,” April said. “And now, since you don’t have anything against us ... I mean, do you still have something against us?”

“No,” Tom said sharply. “And I just wanted Jett to have a simple and happy life, nothing else.”

April shook his head. It was clear as day that he didn’t understand everything. “But he was happy with me,” he said in a meek voice as he looked down.

Sid intervened again. “Things are more complicated than they look, pumpkin. Grownups have their hung-ups, too. It’s not easy --”

“I didn’t want Jett to feel as caught as me between two worlds,” Tom said.

April couldn’t recall ever hearing Jett’s dad saying such a lengthy phrase without yelling or berating someone. The meaning of that statement caught up with him, and he felt a rush of something – he wouldn’t call it sympathy just yet – toward Jett’s dad. But was he right to believe that was what Tom was saying? He didn’t exactly have the guts to ask for more details.

“Was the same thing happening to you, dad? Being caught between two worlds?” April asked carefully, just to make sure he didn’t commit some blunder by asking such a question.

“No,” his dad said simply. “It was, um,” he ran one hand through his salt and pepper hair again, “rather a surprise. Let’s just leave it at that,” he added quickly. “I believe there’s a bit of a mess in the kitchen that needs tending to. Also, I should finish preparing dinner.”

“Sorry about dropping the cake,” April said softly. “It was supposed to be a surprise.”

Sid sighed, but when he shook his head, he was smiling. “I suppose it was a surprise, no matter how you look at it. But don’t worry about the cake. I’ll whip out some dessert, too.”

“No need to,” April said quickly. “I shouldn’t stay.”

“Nonsense. You’re home now, and you’ll stay here. Did you want to visit over the weekend?”

“Yeah, something like that. Jett took off somewhere with Zane --”

“Did he leave his child alone?” Tom intervened with a question of his own.

“Jay is with Carina,” April pointed out.

“You both left a woman and her child all by themselves?”

April did feel a little guilty now.

Sid was the one to come to the rescue. “I believe Carina is old enough to be on her own for a couple of days, Tom. Stop being so overprotective.”

“I shouldn’t have left,” Tom said under his breath.

“They’re all good kids,” Sid said calmly. “April, Jett, Carina, and even little Jay.”

“They need someone to watch over them,” Tom replied.

April stood there, not quite believing his ears. So Jett’s dad was a tyrant because he was overprotective? But it was clear that he hadn’t been around much. There were so many things April couldn’t get entirely.

“And? Where did Jett go with his friend?” Tom asked April directly.

“I’m not sure. He was so upset that he just wanted, I don’t know, some time alone.”

Sid snorted. “Like someone else we know. All right, guys. I have a dinner to prepare. April, I don’t even want to hear about your going back. You’re spending the weekend with us.”

“But won’t I be in your way?” April asked.

“You could never be.” Sid ruffled his hair. “It’s so seldom that I have you home, with me, lately. Let me spoil you a little.”

“But you’re not alone, dad,” April pointed out, and this time, he remembered to blush.

“It’s all fine by me,” Tom said, understanding the source of April’s discomfort. “And it’s a good occasion to get to know you better, April.”

Was he dreaming? Did he need to pinch himself? Mr. Huntsman, no, Tom, actually behaved like a human being.

“Should I call Jett and tell him --” April lost his words. That wasn’t exactly the kind of news to deliver over the phone.

“It’s better if I talked to him in person,” Tom said right away. “And let him have his time out with Zane.”

“Do you know Zane, Mr. Huntsman?”

“Tom. Yes, I do. I know more about my son’s life than he might think.”

April was completely confused now. He searched with his eyes for his dad, but Sid had already disappeared into the kitchen.

Great. Now, he was alone with Mr. Huntsman. Tom.

“So, what did you say you study?” The question came gruffly, the same as before, but April knew better than to be fooled again.

“Computers,” he replied in a faint voice.

Tom smiled at him, and April felt his heart melting. Jett had the same smile. Maybe everyone around was a little bit misunderstood, after all.

***

“Man, I want so much to be pissed at you,” Zane complained as they walked up the hill.

“Feel free to be as pissed as you want. I’m counting on it,” Jett said through his teeth.

“Yeah, right. First, I want to know why.”

“Why? Don’t you know it, why you should be pissed at me? How’s that boyfriend of yours?”

“Hmm,” Zane replied with a noncommittal grunt instead of words.

“What? Did you fuck or not?”

“We did,” Zane said but didn’t volunteer any more information.

“Whatever. I don’t really care where you stick it, Zane.”

“That’s my BFF.” Zane chuckled under his breath. “The problem is what you got stuck in your ass. Don’t tell me April’s bigger than you.”

“It’s none of your fucking business how long my boyfriend’s shlong is.”

“Hey, it’s just basic curiosity. For the record, on skinny dudes like April, it may be an illusion. A nice illusion, but still.”

“Stop talking about April, already.”

“Why, did he kick you out of the house for being a dick? I don’t see him doing that.”

“It’s got nothing to do with April.”

“Ah, right. It’s your dad, then.”

Jett remained glued in place while Zane continued to walk past him. Everybody knew him better than himself these days. It was frigging annoying.

“Are you coming already? This was your idea, by the way.” Zane turned but didn’t stop walking.

“Coming,” Jett replied and started moving.

Usually, people went to the woods to bird watch, camp, or hunt. They weren’t going to do any of that. Instead, Jett was ready to blow some real steam, and train like a madman until his muscles were so sore and his mind so blank that he wanted to die a little. It had worked in the past, and it would work again.

***

“I don’t remember seeing anyone setting up a tent so fast,” Zane commented, as soon as they were ready to start.

“Shut up and get ready.” Jett punched his gloved hands together, just to give his friend a bit of warning.

Zane jumped half a foot aside as Jett lunged. “Oh, man, this is bad.”

“I told you to shut up.”

“Why would I do that?” Zane danced around him, light on his feet, teasing him with small jabs. “It’s your fight, not mine.”

Zane had a point. But Jett wasn’t at all in the mood to agree with anything. Again and again, he chased Zane, trying to hit him, but his punches met nothing but air. Not many people could guess Zane’s real strength by just looking at him. He looked like Jett, someone who could throw and take a punch, but Zane was also a little vain.

He couldn’t stand anyone trying to mess with his face. That’s why he had first learned evasion tactics, meant to keep him away from getting hit, as he had explained to Jett the first time they had met. Zane didn’t always succeed in saving his pretty face, but, for what was worth, he did fine overall. If he had swung at least both ways, he would have been a lady killer.

Jett stopped and circled his opponent, trying to focus and find an opening. If he were to spend the entire day chasing Zane, he would still land a punch. There was no way he wouldn’t do that.

***

“So, do you feel like you got enough or what?” Zane wiped his forehead with his t-shirt and fell next to Jett on the log they used as a bench.

Jett just grunted as he stared into the fire.

“Man, I’ve never thought that I would say this, but do you need to talk?”

Jett snorted. “I’m doing this because I don’t want to talk. Everybody around me wants to talk.”

“That’s not what I asked.”

“Huh? What did you ask?”

“I asked you if you needed to talk, not if you wanted to talk. There’s a difference.”

“Since when did you turn into a fucking shrink?”

Zane opened the bottle, took a sip, and then handed it to Jett. “Since I’m starting to have feels.”

Oh, no. Not Zane, too.

“What? You don’t get the feels. Nothing ever gives you the feels.”

“Yeah, usually.”

“So?”

“So what?”

“Aren’t you going to say anything?”

“Say what?”

“Zane, I’m warning you. I’m already pissed. Don’t push your luck.”

“You’re not talking either,” Zane pointed out. “What? What’s the matter? Your dad did what? You know what, Jett? You’re weak, man. You’re my best friend, but you’re so weak. What, can’t you take your dad or something? You’re letting him walk all over you? Big news, my dude. He’ll never like you. He’ll never tell you anything like he loves you and stupid shit like that.”

No matter what Zane’s game was, Jett had enough of it. “Zip it, Zane. I’m going to kick your ass so bad if you don’t stop,” he warned.

“Are you getting pissed? Like, for real? By the way, all you did today, prancing around me like that, that was weak, too. Oh, you’re getting mad, aren’t you? Whatcha gonna do, huh? Beat me? Catch me if you can.”

Jett jumped to his feet at the same time as Zane. “Dude, you’re pissing me off.”

“Ha, and what’s new?”

Zane was getting on his nerves, and he knew it. Jett felt broken in parts of his body that he never knew that they existed, but he still had some rage left in him. With a growl, he rammed into Zane’s chest, taking him down.

Zane pushed against him, and now they were both rolling down a hill, small bushes and old twigs beating their faces and scratching them everywhere there was a bit of exposed skin.

At the foot of the small hill, they were both breathing hard. Jett pushed himself up. “Come on, tough guy. Let’s try again.”

Zane stood up with a growl.

Jett rambled on. “Don’t hate me if I mess up your pretty face this time. What? Won’t your boyfriend like you no more? Don’t worry; he doesn’t need to stare at your face when he fucks you doggy style.”

The force of the punch made him see stars. He lost his balance and took a few steps backward. But soon, he rebounded, and this time, he came after Zane with a vengeance. They locked themselves in an awkward embrace and ended up again on the ground.

It was weird how Zane seemed to have more energy left in him. He gained the upper hand again, and this time, he pressed Jett down with a knee against his chest. “Do you give up already, asshole?”

Jett growled and tried to move, but Zane was keeping him down and was also holding both his wrists into a tight grip. He freed his hands, but just when he tried to hit Zane, another punch took him by surprise, making his head snap to one side.

“Oh, fuck,” he moaned.

Zane released him right away and stood up.

All right, so he had thought he had some anger issues, but Zane didn’t seem to be his usual cheerful self either. Jett groaned as he moved to one side. Zane hurried and offered his hand. Jett took it and then winced as he worked his jaw. “That was one mean fucking punch.”

“You deserved it, asshole,” Zane said in a low voice.

“I guess so,” Jett said with mirth. “This is going to bruise.”

“Well, I guess April won’t mind while you’re on all fours, taking it up the ass.”

“I guess not.” Jett laughed. “I need to make it up to him anyway, so I guess I should prepare my ass.”

Zane remained silent for a couple of beats. “Is April fucking you?” He offered his shoulder, and Jett leaned against him, as they began climbing up the hill, back to their fire.

“Yeah. Wait, does it surprise you or something?”

“Yeah. Aren’t you all macho and stuff?”

“What’s that got to do with anything? Wait. Did you get this mad because I said that Dan would have to fuck you from behind?”

Zane remained silent.

Jett started laughing. “Are you fucking kidding me, man? I thought you were versatile! Didn’t you say so? I mean, that dude, oh, fuck, I can’t remember his name now, wasn’t he fucking you? And that other one? Wait, ah, it’s because you hit me like a fucking truck that I can’t remember.”

“Yeah, I’m versatile,” Zane replied, and Jett could tell from his voice that the guy was really pissed still. “But only with guys who have, you know, small feminine dicks.”

“Feminine dicks?” Jett began laughing, but then he reconsidered as his entire body ached. Between trying to hit Zane for the entire day, rolling down a hill, and getting punched in the face twice, something had to give. “Are you even a gay dude? What’s that, a feminine dick?”

“The kind your boyfriend has,” Zane shot back, obviously rattled by Jett’s teasing.

“April doesn’t have a feminine dick,” Jett said. “Far from it. Actually, he’s pretty big.”

“Really? How many inches?”

“Shut up, man. I’m not disclosing that kind of info to you. Well, April’s dick is not small or feminine, whatever the fuck that means. I feel it when he puts it inside my ass.”

“I never thought I’d hear you say that you got fucked,” Zane said, and he sounded surprised. “And how does that feel?”

“How does that feel? Why the fuck are we having this conversation? Well, if you need to know so badly, it feels fucking awesome. I can’t sit the next day, but seeing how much dick April gets from me, I can’t really complain, or I’d be a total douchebag.”

Zane fell silent again. At last, they had reached their fire, but the bottle of booze was on one side, its content spilled almost entirely. Nonetheless, Jett grabbed it and drank from it until the last drop.

“You could’ve left something,” Zane protested.

Jett shrugged. “I’m the one who got beaten. Don’t complain, asshole. Wait, is your asshole getting shy about that dude’s cock?”

“His name is Dan. I hope you didn’t forget his name, too, like you did with the names of all the other guys I’ve been with.”

“Shut up, dude. You don’t recall their names, either.”

“That’s true,” Zane admitted.

Jett touched his face gingerly. “So, man, are you scared or something?”

“I’m not scared,” Zane protested right away. “Who says anything about that? It’s just my pride as a man. How can I let a guy with a bigger tool than mine fuck me?”

“Bigger than yours? Like how many fucking inches?”

“I’m not telling!”

“All right. But, man, is that what you’re upset about? You’re really something.”

Zane sighed. “You know me, bro. I fuck ‘em and forget ‘em. But this guy, he’s like, I don’t know, I like him.”

“So? Did he try to sneak on you and fuck your ass?”

“Nah, nothing like that.”

“Did he ask you to put your ass up then?”

“Not even.”

“Then what’s the fucking problem?”

Zane took the empty bottle from Jett’s hand and stared at it mournfully. “Did you really have to drink everything?”

Jett took the bottle back and threw it away. “You asked me that already. Yeah, I did. Now let’s get to it. What’s eating you?”

Zane looked away like he was suddenly taken with the surroundings. Aside from the fire and the faint light of the moon, the rest was pretty much pitch black. “I’m not sure I can keep this guy. I want to, but it’s not like I can say it.”

Jett felt surprisingly good after the two punches he got from Zane. And listening to someone else complaining was also a new feeling, and that wasn’t bad at all. “Sure you can,” he said matter-of-factly.

“Sure I can’t,” Zane shot back. “What would that make me? Begging for a dude to be my boyfriend or something?”

“Hey, we already joke around how buzzcut boy is your boyfriend. Joke until it’s real. It shouldn’t be so hard.”

Zane tsked in annoyance. “He runs his mouth about how good it must feel to fuck a tight twink’s ass.”

“Really? That’s what you two talk about when you fuck?”

“Not when we fuck. After. You know Dan’s not my usual type.”

“Yeah, you usually go for tight twink asses. Not that you’re too selective if I remember.”

At this, Zane snorted. “I like getting laid,” he said with a deep sigh. “I like getting laid when I’m with this guy. More than usual.”

Jett grunted as he adjusted his position. “Just go the fuck ahead and tell him you wouldn’t mind if he put his dick in you. Who knows? Maybe you’ll both like it.”

“Yeah, sure. You haven’t seen this dude’s tool. Dan is frigging monstrous.”

“Now you’re making me curious. What kind of gun is Dan packing?”

“I’m not saying anything more. You think all this is some kind of joke.”

“Far from me. I just think you’re chicken for no reason. C’mon, Zane, how do you prep those cute twink asses for your gun? Do the same for your ass. If all those guys took it from you without complaining --”

“They didn’t complain; they fucking loved it.”

“See? You’ll love it, too.”

“But I’m the top dog,” Zane complained.

“So? What’s that got to do with anything?”

“You’re frigging annoying, just for the record.”

“Come on, man, don’t be such a coward. Maybe Dan will love your ass, and he won’t dream of twink asses anymore.”

“Yeah, right. Who doesn’t dream of twink asses?”

“Apparently, you.” Jett patted Zane’s shoulder. “Dude, are we getting old or something? Since when do we talk about this stuff?”

Zane snickered. “Yeah, that must be it. Once you’re over that twenty mark, your brain goes to shits. Hey, man, what’s with your old man?”

Jett wasn’t expecting the question. It felt good to talk about another dude’s problems for a change. “What can I say? He’s a fucking tyrant, that’s what he is. He just keeps on telling me I should let April go and marry Carina, and stuff.”

Zane became serious. “He can’t do that,” he said solemnly. “Did you make it clear to him that you’re not going to let April go?”

“Yeah. And I told him some other stuff. And he left.” Jett picked a small branch from the ground and began to trace lines through the dirt.

“Just like that?”

“Not exactly.” Jett grimaced. Since they were talking about feels anyway, maybe it wasn’t the wrong time to get some things off his chest, either. “I told him to leave. I told him it was my house and if he didn’t like what I was doing, he had to leave. So he did.”

A few moments of silence followed. “I hate to ask this,” Zane started, “but how do you feel about it?”

Jett laughed humorlessly and shook his head. “Like crap, that’s how I feel.”

Zane sighed. “Maybe you should tell him you’re sorry.”

“So that he can laugh in my face? No way. And then he’ll just get back to telling me how I should live my life. No frigging way.”

“No, man. What I’m saying is that you need to be a man about it. You say, ‘sorry, dad, I want you home with me, but stop being a fucking asshole about me and April’, and that’s all.”

“He’ll only start again from the top.”

“Don’t let him. Be firm or something. He’ll give up.”

“He thinks I’m making a mistake. That I should be with Carina and raise Jay together.”

“What does Carina say about it?”

“She also told my dad she wouldn’t marry me.”

“Your dad thinks that both of you should sacrifice yourselves for the baby’s sake.”

It was Jett’s turn to fall silent. “You really think that?”

“Let’s say that’s my educated guess, as a shrink in training.”

“Zane, my dude, you need a license for that, and school, and stuff.”

“I will just practice on my friends.”

“Good idea.” Jett chuckled. “So you’re saying that he’s doing it out of care for Jay?”

“Something like that.”

“But he never held Jay once. Not once. What kind of a granddad is he?”

“A shitty one, I guess, but he still cares. You should just talk to your old man. And if he doesn’t agree with your choices, that’s fine. We’re grownups, too, now, you know? We should be able to live without our parents agreeing to what we do.”

“It’s easy for you to say. Yours are fine with your choices.”

“And you think they’ve always been? Did I ever tell you how I came out to my folks?”

“No.”

“I was in tenth grade, and some guy from the soccer team was giving me head on the sofa in the living room while we were watching some stupid match on TV. My folks walked in on us. It was a huge scandal.” Zane said that with satisfaction.

“Why the fuck you’re grinning? That must have been crazy.”

“Yeah,” Zane admitted. “My mom cried. My dad yelled at me for hours.”

“Really? And I thought you had the coolest folks in the universe.”

“Well, it was a shock for them. Also, I had burnt the carpet with cigarettes. All by mistake, but my mom loved that carpet. They bought it on their honeymoon or something like that.”

“Wait, did your mom cry for that carpet, not you being gay?”

“Maybe both. The thing is they vented and then they both sat down with me and asked me about me. I told them the truth. My mom cried a little more. My dad just remained silent for a while. But eventually, they told me that I should be careful who I bring home and to stop with the filthy habit of smoking cigarettes.”

“You didn’t stop smoking.”

“Yeah. But I haven’t burnt a carpet since, and I never brought home another dude for suck and fuck.”

“So is that all? They don’t see you doing it, so they don’t care?”

“Not really. My mom now worries that I’m too much of a flirt. Her words, not mine. She keeps asking when I’m going to bring home a date.”

“A date?” Jett laughed and then grabbed his jaw again in sudden pain. “And your dad?”

“He just keeps on giving me lectures about how boys should be treated with the same consideration as girls. It’s his way of telling me not to be a jerk.”

“And you did nothing of what they asked you.”

“That’s true. But they’re okay with me, and I know they care. I suspect my mom has secret fantasies about organizing a gay wedding. I saw some magazines on her nightstand.”

“You’re only twenty.” Jett shook his head. “Boy, do they want to marry you off young.”

“They married when they were nineteen. I guess that’s how they see me, you know, being happy and stuff.”

“So, whatcha gonna do? Will you bring home a date to mom and dad?”

“I might.”

“Dude, I was kidding. Wait, are you going to introduce Dan to them?”

“I might,” Zane repeated the words.

“Dude, you really are getting old.”

“Shut up. You have a baby and a boyfriend. Don’t tell me you’ll ever let go of April. And having a kid? Raising him? I guess that’s grownup stuff.”

“Yeah, I guess. But I think I’ll let April finish school before I propose and stuff.”

“What?” Zane expressed his surprise. “Are you really thinking of tying the knot? For real? Since when did you get gayer than me?”

“I don’t know, man. Maybe I’m a grownup, and you’re the kid,” Jett teased.

“Shut up, asshole. You can’t even talk to your dad like you’re ten. Give me a call when he sends you to your room.”

“Zane, do you still have anything left in you to fight? Because you can sit there, talking smack, all night long, and I won’t move to kick your ass.”

“Huh? I just did that. So stop asking for it.”

“You’re asking for it.”

They both started laughing at the same time.

“Dude, how could you pack just a bottle of that good shit?” Jett complained as he felt his bruised body.

“Who says I did that?”

“Are you fucking kidding me? Just bring it on already.”

Zane jumped to his feet, but he limped a little as he dragged his ass over to the tent. Jett had to admit. Carina was right, in a way. Talking to Zane was better than seeing a shrink. Not that he knew squat about that since all the info he had was from stupid TV shows.

TBC