Page 2 of Never Too Late

“D at a café? The guy’s got two left feet. I don’t think that’s on the menu,” Tyler replies in hysterics.

“Ha ha, very funny,” I deadpan. “Why are you home, anyway? Don’t you have a date to attend or have girls finally realised how annoying you are?”

“Boys! We’re all home for dinner. Let’s be nice to each other, please. This is a rare opportunity. Gods, you’re more alike than you think. No wonder you argue so much.”

“Yeah, whatever, Mum. He’s just jealous that I’m cooler than him.” He jabs me in the ribs playfully in response. “Anyway, what are you cooking? Need me to make something?”

“Dinner should be any moment now.”

The doorbell rings.

“Pizza time!” Mum shouts while wiping her hands with a kitchen towel, quickly making her way towards the front door.

“Yum!” me and Ty both shout in unison.

As Mum quickly closes the door and retreats towards the table, she raises a brow, laughing while she gives us an unfamiliar look as she places the boxes down.

Okay, maybe we do have more in common with one another than we thought.

It has been several weeks since we started our new tradition. Friday nights are no longer a night where I lock myself away in my room, but instead have become a night of laughter, movies, and good food. Tyler’s date nights can wait – much to his dismay.

And on the plus side, I’m learning to tolerate him more. And just like Mum said, we aren’t as different from one another after all.

I glance over towards Mum and Tyler as I see them sharing a bowl of popcorn, and I can’t help but have a smile on my face.

I can only wish we had started this tradition earlier. But better late than never. Right?

My smile is still in place when he turns his head in my direction. Looking confused, he throws a handful of popcorn towards me before he notices Mum has fallen asleep against his shoulder.

Slowly moving her head to the side, he carefully ensures she is laid comfortably with a blanket over top, while I turn off the tv and the larger light, praying not to disturb her from her peaceful slumber.

Tiptoeing towards her, I’m careful not to make a sound. I lightly press a kiss to her forehead and step back, watching Tyler do the same.

After checking the doors are locked and all lights are switched off downstairs, we quietly make our way upstairs to our bedrooms, side by side. Before departing in opposite directions, I hear Tyler mumble something.

“You know, you’re not bad company.” He smiles.

I return his smile with one of my own. “You know, you’re not either. Who’d have thought?”

“Punk,” he sniggers while opening his door before quickly turning to face me once more. “Goodnight, D.”

“Night, Ty.”

And within moments of crawling into bed, I fall asleep, feeling the happiest I have in the longest time.

Another Friday rolls around before I know it. Finding a job hasn’t been as easy as I thought it would be. No one has called me back or given me a chance. It hasn’t been the best for my self-esteem and has resulted in me feeling more hopeless than usual, so tonight is exactly what I need to take my mind off things.

Hopefully one of the scratch cards I’ve purchased as a weekly tradition allows us to win some money so I don’t have to keep applying and getting rejected much longer.

It reaches six o’clock, and even though Friday pizza nights are fairly new to us, we’ve gotten used to meeting at this time in the kitchen, waiting for the food to arrive. Both me and Ty have begged Mum to allow us to take over and arrange the night for her, but she’s turned the offer down each time, saying it’s her one night to plan something nice for us, so we have to allow her to do it.

Stubborn.

We both know where we got that from.

“Hey, where’s Mum at? Is pizza arriving soon? I’m starving,” Tyler asks as he walks into the kitchen.

“I’m not sure. I haven’t seen her.” He pauses as I notice the look of confusion take over his face. “I haven’t seen her since this morning.” My voice trembles as I reply, my stomach cramping with nerves.

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