Page 77 of The Sweet Spot

“I know that, too.” Setting the grocery bags down, I wrestle my keys from my pocket and open the front door.

“Just don’t take too long.”

I laugh. “Mãe!”

“I’m just saying, baby.”

“I hear you, but listen, I just got home. I’ll talk to you soon, yeah?”

“Yeah, okay,” she says. “Danny says hi, by the way.”

“Tell him I said hi. Love you.”

“Not as much as I love you.”

Inside, Matty’s eating a bowl of cereal at the counter. “Thank God you went shopping. I’m dying, over here.”

“You could just buy your own food, ya schmuck,” I tease, sidestepping his grabby hands.

He points his spoon at me. “Please tell me you got real milk.”

“As opposed to imaginary?” Propping open the fridge, I begin unloading the food. “I did.”

“Thank God. I can’t handle that nasty almond shit Kellan buys.”

“Well, seeing that Kellan buys it for Kellan because Kellan is lactoseintolerant…”

“Kellan what?” Kellan says, scratching his belly as he emerges from his room. “I know you two love me, but damn.” He narrows his eyes at Matty, who’s returned to his cereal. “You better not have finished off the almond milk.”

“Wouldn’t dream of it,” belches Matty, slurping as he tips his bowl back.

“I got you more, anyway,” I say, shaking the carton of almond milk before sliding it into the fridge.

Kellan yawns. “Anybody up for a hike? I just finished my paper and I feel like celebrating.”

“I’ll go,” I say. “I’m not smoking, though. Unlike you, I still have a shitload of stuff to get done.”

Kellan nods thoughtfully. “We can pass this time.”

“Fine, fine. We’ll leave Maryjane at home, just this once.” Matty drops his bowl and spoon into the sink with a clatter. “I swear, I don’t know what the world is coming to.”

An hour later, we’re standing in the lush greenery surrounding Berry Creek Falls. Late afternoon sunlight blazes hazily through the redwoods, creating misty rainbows where the water splashes. The temperature’s dropped since we started hiking, but it feels good.

Wren and I have taken a few hikes, but we have yet to come up this way. I snap a couple of pictures and send them to her with a text.

Luca: Berry Creek Falls with Kellan and Matty.

Her reply comes a couple minutes later.

Wren: I haven’t been since I was a kid. It’s beautiful up there.

Luca: It’s a good hike, we should do it.

Wren: I was just thinking about you, btw.

Luca: Good things I hope

Wren: you could say that… ;)

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