Page 74 of Me Three

“We’ve been thinking,” I say.

“You have? Oh I’m so glad you finally are,” they mock me, and Carter laughs.

“Why are you laughing? They’re talking about you, too,” I tell him, and he stops straight away.

“What have you been thinking, my boys?” they ask.

A firework bursts so loud it makes us all jump and look up toward the sky at the red, white, and blue sparks of light raining on us.

“Our relationship is going well,” I say when we’ve all gotten over the shock. “We seem to have gotten into a routine with each other—”

“And the semester is over,” Carter adds.

“Okay...” Tru says.

“Would you like to move in with us?” I ask.

“What?” they say, looking from one to the other. “Really? You want me to live with you?”

“Wouldn’t ask if we didn’t,” Carter says.

They look from me to Carter, back and forth several times, and for a few painfully slow moments, I worry about the answer.

“If you’re not ready yet,” I say, to give them an out if they’re looking for one.

“Are you kidding? I’d love to move in with you guys,” they say, finally breaking into a wide smile and grabbing us both by the necks to hug us.

They give a kiss to each of us individually. The fireworks rage on. My heart is racing for what’s next in our lives. For how I can help them and Carter achieve the same greatness they’ve helped me achieve.

“Ew. They’re doing what mommy and daddy do in the middle of the night,” a pitchy voice says, and we turn to look down at Carter’s cousin, Jack.

“Trust me, lil’ man. We do a hell of a lot more,” Carter tells him, breaking into laughter and making the poor kid’s eyes pop wide open and let his popsicle fall to the ground.

“You’re the worst,” I tell him.

“But you still love me, anyway,” he replies, batting his lashes the same way Tru does when they need something.

“We do,” I say, and Tru nods in agreement.

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