Page 105 of Freshmeet
A muffled “really” was all I could make out in between the gasping and hiccups.
“Really. Obviously, I would’ve loved to have had a ‘normal’ childhood, but I figure I wouldn’t be where I am, who I am without my past. Our past. And I like who I am. I like who you are.”
That set off a fresh wave of crying, and I hugged Jamie fiercely because we both needed it. I was his friend, his brother, but it couldn’t be ignored that I was also a father figure for him, as fucked up as that was.
As he settled down, I loosened my grip. He wiped his eyes roughly, still sniffling a little, and we kind of just stood there, staring in opposite directions.
“Looks like Mom’s been slacking in here.”
Jamie‘s eyes followed me as I walked over to his trophy shelf.
“Your crown’s a little dusty.” I picked it up, brushing off the imaginary dirt. Glancing over my shoulder, I held it up. “You think it still fits?”
Tossing it at him, he smiled and caught it.
“Hot hands, Mr. Twenty-Three.”
“Shut up.” He laughed, not a full Jamie laugh, but it was better than tears. Placing the purple velvet crown on his head, he posed. “Do I still got it?”
“Real question is, did you ever have it?”
His smile didn’t reach his eyes, but he looked infinitely better than when I walked into the room.
“We should get back out there before Mom starts planning your wedding. You know she’s probably half in love with her already.” Jamie left the room, and I followed him down the hall.
Jamie suddenly stopped in the archway to the dining room, throwing his arm out to stop me. “Uh oh.”
Sitting next to each other, pouring over a photo album with two very full glasses of wine were Mom and Sarah. Sarah was laughing so hard she was crying as Mom enthusiastically flipped the pages. The sight of them bonding made my chest ache in the best possible way.
I fucking love this girl.
Thinking for a second about what could be so funny, I looked at Jamie, and both our eyes widened.
“Braces,” we said in unison.
Mom glanced up at us, taking a smug sip of wine.
“That is some serious headgear.” Sarah wiped her eyes and finally looked away from the pictures, her laughter kicking up a notch. “Why are you wearing a crown?”
“I’m a king, baby. You want to be my queen?”
“Jamie McCormick. That’s your brother’s girlfriend. Watch yourself.” Mom’s tone was biting, but her grin gave her away. “Now come over here and look at how cute you were in middle school.”
Mom brought out three different photo albums, and we looked at every picture, telling Sarah all about our childhood misadventures. I closely watched Jamie as his spirits improved with every new story of us being dipshit kids, and Mom relaxed as we laughed and carried on. By the end of the night, in true McCormick fashion, all the wine was gone, and our bellies were sore from laughing.
“Your butt better be in that seat next Sunday.” Mom demanded as she hugged Sarah.
“Ug, I wish, but I can’t do Sundays. Until the end of summer, I have meetings with the university about rush. And then when the semester starts, I have exec board and chapter meetings. I would love to come another time.” Sarah sounded legitimately disappointed, and I couldn’t help but smile.
“I’ll get your number from Connor, and we’ll figure it out.”
“Perfect.”
Mom hugged Jamie, whispering something to him, and he nodded with a small, sad smile. Then it was my turn.
“That girl is special.” She whispered in my ear as we hugged.
“I know.”
