Page 80 of Ours
Nic sighed. That was fair. “Okay, Dad. I’ll at least see what they have to offer first.”
“That’s all I’m asking.” Raph smiled. “So, what else has been going on, with school, with your friends?”
Nic groaned mentally. He didn’t feel like talking aboutanyof the stuff with Cory or Derek, but he couldn’t exactly lecture his dad on not opening up to his kids and not open up himself. He’d just need to leave a lot of the more intimate details out.
“School’s been fine. It’s my last semester so there’s not much left to do except get ready for finals.” Nic paused for a moment, taking care with his words for the conversation that was to follow. “Cory, Derek, and I aren’t really talking anymore. We kind of had a falling out. Doesn’t really matter now since school’s almost over anyway.”
“Oh, that’s too bad.” Raph looked a little disappointed. “You’ve been friends with those boys for a long, long time. What happened?”
“A lot of little problems that ended up leading to a big problem.” Nic glossed over the whole “I’ve been fucking Cory” bit. “Some of it is my fault. Girls, football, a few assholes at school… They all just came to a head one day, and now none of us are really talking to each other.”
“Well, I think we’ve seen all the good that not talking does.” Raph half-chuckled. “I know it may seem trivial, but those two have been your friends longer than anyone else. A lot of your friends from the last few years will fade away, but those two have been with you through a lot.”
“I know, Dad, but it’s just…” Nic had to think about his words carefully. “It’s like football. We’ve all changed a lot since we were little… Maybe we’re just outgrowing each other.”
“Maybe. Or maybe there’s something you are avoiding dealing with because this seems easier. Youdidsay some of it was your fault.”Ouch. Critical hit, Dad.
“Some of it, yeah. I was kind of a jerk. I said and did some stuff that hurt some people.” Understatement, but there wasn’t really an easy way to explain just what he had done to Cory. “But… I dunno. School’s over in a couple of months. We’re all splitting up for college. It just seems easier to let it go and move on. Make new friends. Who stays friends with the people they knew in high school anyway?”
“You don’t remember yourtios, Javier and Carlos?” The two weren’t actually related to them, just two of his dad’s old friends. “I met them both in high school, played football with them, and we’ve stayed friends all these years. I just talked to Carlos yesterday. His daughter just got engaged.” Nic remembered Carlos’ daughter Ana. She used to babysit him. She was his first crush. “That’s why football is such a big deal for me. It led to so many great things in my life, and I wanted you to have the same experience. I just forgot to think if that’s whatyouwanted too.
“I told you. Most of your friends from high schoolwillfall away,” Raph continued. “Maybe you’ll talk to them online or see them at a reunion, maybe you won’t. But some friends are in it for life. And I think that’s what you have with those two boys.”
“But what am I supposed to do, Dad?” Nic knew the answer but didn’t like it and was hoping for a parental reprieve.
“Talk to them. Hear them out.” Raph stood from his seat. “Just like with football and college, don’t let everything you’ve gone through the last few years be for nothing just because it seems easier. You owe it to yourself—and them.”
“I’ll think on it, Dad. Thanks.” His dad was right, of course, but he also didn’t know a lot of the unique circumstances surrounding the boys’ relationship. Nic still wasn’t sure what he should do.
His dad held his arms open for a hug, and Nic stood to give him one. It wasn’t even one of those awkward “no homo” style hugs he was used to.
“I love you, son. I know I don’t say that enough.”
“I love you too, Dad.”Cue the audience going “aww.”
“Dinner should be ready in about an hour, as long as your mother is satisfied.” Raph turned toward the door but didn’t move just yet. “Now I’m going to try to talk to your sisters.”
“Oof. Good luck.” Nic would love to sit in onthatawkward chat. “Just talk to them like you did me. You’ll be fine.”
“Thanks, mijo.” Raph nodded to himself and then exited the room, leaving Nic to resume sitting on his bed.
So, the football/college/dad issue had largely been taken care, but Nic still had a lot to think about. He flopped back onto his bed and sighed. Being a mature adult sucked.
A few weeks later, it was Friday night, and Derek found himself driving through Lakefield. It wasn’t just a random visit. He had called Carl the night before, asking if they could talk. It was the first time they had spoken in months; Derek having felt too ashamed to talk sooner. But he needed the advice, and given the seriousness of some of the issues at hand, Derek thought it would be best to talk in person.
Derek eyed the GPS on his phone as he turned into a neighborhood, making sure he didn’t miss his street. Once he found the right address, he parked on the street in front of the house and got out. It was a small, nice looking, one-story house,not a giant empty monstrosity like his own. He locked his car, walked toward the door, knocked, and waited for Carl to answer.
“Derek, good to see you. Come in!” Carl smiled as he held the door open, closing it behind Derek as he entered.
“You want anything to drink? Water?” Carl asked as he led Derek to the living room.
“No, thank you. I’m okay right now.” Derek was eager and anxious to get started and took a seat on the couch.
“Now, what was so important that you wanted to drive all the way out here to talk to me about?” Carl asked as he took a seat on the opposite end of the couch.
“It’s a lot. It’s about my friends and the sensitive stuff I was asking you about a while back.” Derek was ready to just lay everything on the table.
“I thought they might be related.” Carl nodded. “What’s going on?”
