Page 62 of Family Bonds- Gabriela & Luca

“Singular or plural friends?”

“I hear the humor in your voice.” And felt the smile widen on his face.

“That’s why you called me. You needed it. So, did you confess?”

“I told her I’m fine and there is no reason to worry. Your name came up. I said we were friends,” he said. “She didn’t sound like she was buying it.”

“Parents have that gift,” she said. “They can sense vulnerability from miles away.”

“And then poke it with a hot stick right in a raw wound,” he added.

“That’s the spirit. Glad you’re finding humor in it. I had the same thing happen. Everyone ganged up on me. I said you were nice. That was my downfall.”

“How is that possible?”

“Because I don’t normally talk about nice men, so you know, there are expectations and doubts across the board.”

“Doubts that I’m nice or that we are just friends? I mean, that’s what we are. It’s not like we’ve shared a kiss or anything.”

When silence greeted him, he wondered if he fumbled that too badly.

If he rushed too fast.

If he turned humor into the uncomfortable.

“No, we haven’t. And the fact you brought that up when I’m working isn’t fair. You know, I can’t hide under the covers like I did when my mother walked in on me texting you Saturday night.”

“You didn’t tell me that part,” he said, leaning against the railing. His parents were in the living room and couldn’t hear him.

“I was just getting warmed up too. I’m lucky that when I tossed my phone under the pillow it didn’t send you a bunch of jumbled letters.”

“Then I might really wonder what you were doing with your... hands.”

“Okay,” she said, her voice loud. Then she lowered it. “I’m at work. No fair. If you’re going to play dirty, I’ll have to think of some payback.”

He exhaled, the knot in his chest loosening. The tightness in his belly going with it. “I needed a friendly voice.”

“You’ll always get one with me,” she said. Her voice was still cheerful.

“One that wouldn’t ask me if I’m afraid of being alone. Otherwise I might not have sent up the flare tonight.”

“A text is a flare,” she said. “Good to know.”

“It can be one.”

“I wouldneverask that. If you were lonely or afraid of being alone. I’d ask if you were afraid of being boring. That’s much worse in my eyes.”

He laughed. “I’m sure it is.”

“You okay now?” she asked.

“Yeah,” he said. “I’m better. Thanks.”

“Good,” she replied. “Because I needed this too. I was about five minutes away from stress-cleaning the fridge in the break room looking for chocolate.”

“That’s scary territory.”

“Very. Who knows what strange things could be hiding in there for months.”