Page 44 of Family Bonds: Coy & Angel

“Problem?” he asked.

“Nope,” she said, shifting her eyes away. “Now I know why you told me to just come in. The food is ready. I got sesame chicken, lo mien and sweet and sour chicken, plus two egg rolls.”

“Sounds good to me,” he said. “Mix and match.”

“That was my thought,” she said.

He spooned some rice onto his plate and then added some food from each container with it. She did the same.

“I got thinking if you don’t want to watch a movie, we could play some pool or throw darts.”

“We can,” she said. “I did look up movies while I was waiting for the food and nothing caught my eye. Not that I wouldn’t be game for anything.”

“I thought a few games would be less time than a movie and then we could go on the beach. Or go down now and just relax.”

“I like the idea of a game of pool. I’m not very good, but one of the guys I dated in college taught me.”

“Let’s see if he taught you well or not,” he said.

“Not,” she said. “I suck. But it’s fun. I’m a little better at darts. Or I think I am. Doesn’t mean I’m good, just better than sucking.”

“I’ve had a lot of time to practice. Between us,” he said, “I’ve spent more time than I should have alone doing those things at home. My brothers never wanted to let me hang out with them and I figured if I could beat them at things they liked they’d let me tag along.”

“Did it work?” she asked.

“Nope. When I started to beat them at pool and darts they got annoyed.”

“That’s sad,” she said.

“I think it’s normal at that age. Now, we are close, but we had years where they tortured me.”

She laughed at his mock horror. “I’m not sure I believe your parents would allow you to be tortured.”

He finished chewing. “My brothers convinced me to put a dress on when I was around four or five. I’m not sure I remember the age and it doesn’t matter. They never let me live it down.”

She started to cough on her food. “What?”

“See,” he said, pointing at her. “I managed to surprise you.”

“You did. I want to hear this story.”

“I’d rather not say it.”

“You started it,” she said, shoving his arm with her hand. “You have to tell me more.”

“Fine,” he said, giving an exaggerated sigh. “We were at some party and everyone was swimming. One of our cousins had the sundress on over her bathing suit and took it off. Bode made a bet that I was smaller than the girls.”

“And you wanted to argue that wasn’t the case?” she asked.

“Yep. They were always picking on me for being younger and smaller. I wanted to go out and stand next to them and prove that wasn’t the case. Instead, Drew said if I couldn’t get the dress on, then I’d be bigger.”

“That’s a horrible way to get a dress on a boy.”

“I got it on,” he said, “barely. But I couldn’t get it off. Bode and Drew were laughing and I had to get my mother to help me.”

She started to wipe her eyes. “Then everyone saw you had the dress on?” she asked.

“No,” he said. “Drew at least felt bad enough that he wanted to get my mother to help without anyone else knowing. I don’t think I’d ever live that down. Bode got grounded for two weeks for that stunt. Drew only got a week because he felt bad.”

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