“Yeah, I’m feeling a little restless, so I thought I’d see if you were up.”
Ian shot Marissa an apologetic look and stepped out of the car. He leaned against the door and pulled up the collar of his jacket. “Does Darren have a shift tonight?”
“Yeah, and Teddy is fast asleep. He’s snoring, actually.”
“It’s a one-of-a-kind symphony, sis. You should enjoy it.”
“Let’s see howyouenjoy it if it’s snoring and hot garbage breath next to your nose in the morning.”
Ian choked back a laugh. “No, thanks. This is why I prefer cats.”
“Is that why you snuck Teddy those treats the other day?”
“I don’t know what you’re talking about.” Ian shoved his free hand into his pocket. “How’s Zoe settling in with the habitat program?”
“She looks uncomfortable. Even having Zac there isn’t helping. Is it terrible that I’m relieved?”
Ian chuckled. “Not at all.”
“How are things with Lucy? Things seemed tense the last time I saw you guys. Is there still no improvement?” Sophia sighed. “I sent you the number of a couple’s therapist. Please don’t waste time like Darren and I did, okay?”
“Has anyone ever told you that you’re nosy?”
“Has anyone ever told you that you’re stubborn? Listen, I’ve got to go. I hear my takeout at the door. Call the therapist.”
With that, she hung up, and the line went dead.
As soon as he got back into the car, he got a call from his grandparents. In silence, Marissa drove him over there, where he found both his grandparents locked out. After exchanging a few quick words and some laughter, he managed to break the lock open and let them in. Then, his grandma insisted on bringing out a tray of tea and cookies while his grandfather regaled them with stories of his youth.
By the end of their visit, Marissa was grinning, and Ian felt much better than he had in weeks.
Until it was time for their shift to end, and he saw the time.
Ian raced home, dreading the thought of an angry Lucy in the doorway. Once he stepped in through the front door and was greeted with an empty house and silence, he relaxed. Then his phone vibrated, indicating an incoming text from Lucy, who was staying out late with her friends.
With a sigh, Ian heated up the lasagna and ate it over the sink.
He washed it down with a bottle of beer and made his way into the living room. After propping his feet up on the coffee table and finding the remote, Dean came upstairs, droplets of water sliding down his face and the smell of detergent wafting after him.
“Hey, Pop. Everything okay?”
“Yeah, my shift ran a little late because I had to stop by Grandma and Grandpa’s. They locked themselves out.”
Dean sat down opposite Ian and crossed one ankle over the other. “Again? We should start making spare keys for them.”
Ian took another sip of his beer and wrenched his gaze away from the TV. “I’m pretty sure they would lose those too. How was your day?”
Dean shrugged. “I like the peace and quiet here. It means I get a lot of schoolwork done.”
Ian removed his legs and sat up straighter. “You miss the dorms, huh?”
“I think I got a little too used to the noise,” Dean admitted, pausing to flick his blond hair out of his face. “Didn’t you live at home when you were in college?”
“Only the first couple of years. I spent junior and senior year on campus to get the full experience.”
“How did you handle it?”
Ian took a long sip of his drink and paused. “It’s kind of a blur, to be honest. I remember studying a lot, but I also went to a lot of parties.”
