Page 15 of A Miracle for the Reserved Flyboy

“You look nice,” she murmured, taking a sip of the coffee. “Thank you for this.”

“You bet,” he replied simply and hesitated. “You look stressed out – and I don’t mean that badly. It’s just a friend talking to another friend, you know? If something is bothering you or you need help, all you have to do is say the word, and I’m there.”

“Friends…”

“It’s just a word.”

“I am stressed,” she admitted, taking another sip. “I’ve got the play, got a few things on my mind, and my parents are driving me up a wall.”

“Oh? You too, huh?”

“Maybe it's a thing parents do?”

“What happened with yours?”

“It’s embarrassing, and I’d rather not say.”

“Same.”

They shared a silent look and smiled.

“Personal life?”

“Yup.”

“Prying?”

“Very much so.”

Gary sighed and rested his forearms on his thighs, letting his hands holding the coffee hang between his knees as he leaned forward in his seat. After a moment, he hung his head and shook it before looking up at her once more.

“My parents are all over me because I haven't married yet or had children. They want grandkids so badly. When Cajun offered for me to come visit, I jumped at the chance,” he admitted softly, giving her a sheepish smile. “And I feel so guilty for not going home to visit, but I also feel relieved.”

“At least you don’t have round two waiting for you when you get home tonight,” Krista muttered quietly, slumping down in her chair like her body was deflating physically.

“You live with your parents?”

“Yep.”

“What’s round two? I take it ‘round one’ was pretty awful this morning?”

“Round one was my parents telling me that it was okay if I was gay.”

“Oh – um, are you?”

“No.”

“Then don’t worry about that,” Gary chuckled and tipped his cup of coffee against hers. “You’re just a bit behind. That’s all.”

“What do you mean?”

“My parents did the same three years ago.”

Krista met his eyes, and the two shared another smile before laughing together. They sat there easily sharing something like that so easily between the two of them, that it surprised her at how effortless it felt to talk to him about anything.

“Why do they do that?”

“They mean well, I suppose.”

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