Chapter 60

“One of my graduation gifts. My dad said it was time I smell like a man.”

They shared a little laugh.

“What did you smell like before?” Tucker asked.

“Dr. Pepper,” they both said at once.

They laughed some more and cuddled.

“I don’t think I can come.” Tucker stopped laughing first. “Not right away,” he said sadly. “There’s a lot more to do, dig, than we could get done in one night. But thank you.”

“Oh. Well, maybe you can come later?”

“Or we can both go later,” Tucker said excitedly. “Not all summer, maybe, but I can get Uncle Walter to stay with dad a couple of weeks, after July. How about that?”

“Oh.”

“Never mind.” The two words packed a bit of attitude, because Chad’s one packed a lot of doubt.

“You’re mad. Don’t be mad.”

“I’m not,” Tucker claimed.

“You are.” Chad took his hand. “It’s just…Wayne is here. And my dad is, like, down with it all, but my mom, ya know…And things are going to be so freaked up at home if I stay.”