Page 17 of Wants and Needs
I go over the names Mom and Dad listed on the plane, about who will be at this thing, and I remind myself I’ve known Hawk and Wolf since they were born thanks to how close our parents were. I might not be super close friends with them, and I can’t remember the last time I had a conversation with Hawk, but I’m sure I’ll feel comfortable with him.
Then there’s also Cindy, their manager, who I love because she was the intern of my parents’ manager for a few years.
Sterling will also be there, and his husband Jules who I can pester with hockey questions and he won’t mind—he hasn’t in the past.
And then there’s Carter . . .
During dinner the day before yesterday I relaxed in hispresence, and though I didn’t talk to him much, I can always tell him how much I still admire his mother. That’s a good way to start a conversation, right?
I still don’t have a clear answer on why exactly I said I’d come, except that I know I couldn’t pass up the opportunity to see him again. Why that is, is a mystery. I’m hoping seeing him again will clarify some things for me.
“How are you feeling?” Mom asks me quietly. This time she’s sitting next to me and Dad’s in the back. I take the question seriously, like I have ever since she explained to me how other people only ask to be polite but she asks because she’s my mother and being constantly worried about me is her job and her pleasure.
“I’m good,” I tell her honestly. “Just a little nervous. I hope Wolf doesn’t mind that I came after all.”
“Of course he won’t, son,” Dad says. “I know he’s not easy to read but he’s a good man.”
“I know, Dad.” I look back and smile at him. If Wolf wasn’t a good man, Dad wouldn’t be his friend.
“Well you just tell us if you need anything during the party, okay?”
“I will.”
“And if you want to leave early,” Eric, my parents’ bodyguard says from the driver’s seat. “You just tell me, okay?”
“Thank you,” I whisper. He’s always been very kind to me, while not treating me like a child like so many do when they realize how much help I need to interact with other people. He’s straightforward with me, but still gentler than he is with my brothers.
“We’re here,” Mom says with a little cheer, and I see two big gates open and a sign on the side that says Storm Ranch.
“Do they have cattle?” I wonder out loud.
“I have no idea, but that would be hilarious,” Dad says, and chuckles.
“Why would it be hilarious?”
“Picture Wolf chasing cows in a field,” he explains, and when I do, I can’t help but smile too. That would be amusing.
“Behave,” Mom tells us sternly, but she’s looking out the window, so she’s not actually mad.
Soon enough, we’re greeted by a man dressed casually, and he tells us which path to take, and Eric where to park. They seem to know each other, and though I’m sure I could spend a good amount of time hypothesizing about where they know each other from, I prefer looking out at the endless view of the Pacific while we walk down a hill.
I can see a huge party below, the biggest bouncy house I’ve ever seen, a lot of smoke from grills, and people.
Soooo many people.
I take a deep breath as I walk behind my parents who are swinging their interlocked hands.
“Sam!” I hear a shout, and then Hawk is running up to meet us. He embraces Mom like he hasn’t seen her in ages, then Dad too. I tense when he steps up to me with the same wide smile, but relax when he offers me his hand.
“Nice to see you again, Hawk. Thank you for the invite.” I make sure to say all the things Mom taught me, and I even smile. It comes easy, so I’m hopeful it looks natural.
“Wolf,” I hear Dad say then, and see Wolf walking overholding another man’s hand. That has to be CJ, the guy whose party this is and Carter’s best friend. At least my understanding from everything London told us is that he’s one of his best friends.
I feel a sudden tension in my arms, and I know that means nervousness. Why am I nervous?
I do have to say Wolf and CJ make a striking couple. Wolf has let his blond hair grow again after he cut it all off while he was living in Manhattan last year—I remember that change was rattling for me—and CJ’s light brown hair is only slightly long, but styled in a way that looks effortless and put together at the same time. I have no clue how he can manage that.
“Liam,” Dad says and it brings me back to the present.
