Archie interjected from across the room. “I’m just glad you made it. Renn was stressing out a bit in the early part, wondering why you weren’t responding to his messages. Hope everything was okay?”
I recalled the flurry of texts that had come through once I’d turned my phone on. “Oh…yeah. My cell was dead when I got up that morning. I did text him as soon as I could, and I caught up with him after my race.”
“Stop busting her chops, Archie.” Pete frowned at him. “Renn’s a big boy and he can deal with waiting for his texts.”
Archie glared back. “I wasn’t busting her chops. I’m just saying Renn was happy to see her.” He motioned to me. “Little dude Gage was excited too. Something about the tooth fairy.”
“Yeah. He’s a cool kid.” This was a point we could all agree on. “And I was glad I made it. It’s been great getting more into running since I’ve been back in Los Angeles.”
Pete looked like he was about to ask me to elaborate, but we were saved from making more small talk by the groan of the door as Renn walked in.
“Sadie—hey! You’re early.” He came over and leaned down, giving me an eager hug, and I smiled with the realization that I welcomed it. But from Pete and Archie’s faces, I deduced he did not greet most clients with an embrace.
Renn pulled back and his adoring look melted me, despite the expressions of the other men. Any lingering unease I’d had about not responding more fully to his assertion of my above-the-surface appeal after the 5K evaporated. I should have known everything was okay since he’d been sending me sometimes-banal-sometimes-hilarious-sometimes-both texts and memes most days since then.
He looked down. “Is that a concert t-shirt for The Doors? 1970?”
“Oh, yeah. This one my grandma could tell me about. My parents went to their concert in San Diego, just before Christmas that year.”
“Wow. That’s cool.” He reached out to finger the thin tan material. “I feel like you should have all these shirts framed.”
“Nah. They sat in a box the whole time I was in Boston. They deserve to be seen, right? Besides, they complement my new kickass tattoo.”
Renn grinned at me but then noticed Pete. He looked annoyed as he spoke to his uncle.
“I thought you were picking the boys up after school.” He stuffed his thumbs in his pockets. “Weren’t you going to take them bowling?”
“Sorry. I got caught up with some things. Lydia asked if Robbie could come stay at their house tonight to keep Ryder from climbing the walls, and she volunteered to pick up Gage too, since he sometimes hangs with Ryder’s younger brother.”
I remembered Lydia had been the friendly one of the PTSA gaggle at the 5K. But Renn did not seem pleased.
“Wait…you told Lydia the boys could stay overnight?”
“Yeah. Why wouldn’t I? I’m sure Robbie will be thrilled. They can stay up and playSuper Smash Bros.until their eyes bleed.” Pete seemed perplexed by Renn’s reaction.
“You could have said no, Pete. Gage has swimming super early in the morning, and I need to be at the shop. The reason I agreed you could pick them up in the first place was because I figured you wanted to spend time with your nephews. You can’t just make plans like that and not run it by me.”
“Jesus, kid. I’m sorry, but you can’t have it both ways. You can’t get mad at me for not being around more in one breath and then remind me you’re the boss in another. I get it—I’m just a visitor in my nephews’ lives. Message received.” I rolled my eyes when Pete said this as I recalled our conversation at the race. Did he think this counted as making an effort?
Renn’s body stiffened and he breathed through his nose like a bull. I watched his face go red as he pressed his fingers against his forehead before gritting out to Pete, “That’s not fair, and you know it—” He stopped and exhaled loudly, looking from me to Archie before turning back to his uncle. “I’d rather not fight with you. But you just can’t make decisions that affect our family schedule without asking me. Being a visitor in their lives—that wasn’t something I asked you to do. That was a choice you made.”
I couldn’t help but think about how few twenty-three-year-olds had to worry about swim lessons and sleepovers. It was like Renn had gone to bed one day and woken up a middle-aged soccer mom. The morning that Renn had been late to our appointment, it was because of confusion picking up the boys. Before meeting Renn, I’d not known how much parenthood was just making sure your kids were in whatever place they needed to be in and supervised at least well enough to prevent most fires, injuries, and other disasters. Renn was not only a good parent—he was a goodsingleparent. At twenty-three. Jesus.
My grandma had been fine letting reruns ofGood Timesbe my babysitter. We’d had fast food for dinner two or three times per week. The idea that she would have planned an event for the PTSA or signed me up for sports lessons was laughable. Come to think of it, Grandma and Pete would have gotten along, laden as they both were with good intentions. The difference was that my grandma’s deficiency lay in believing doing the bare minimum was enough. His was in not knowing what to do at all.
Pete looked like he wanted to protest his nephew’s summation at first, but then he dropped his chin.
“Sorry, Renn,” he said sincerely. “I should have asked you. I honestly didn’t think it was a big deal. You know how much I appreciate…everything you do. I really have been trying…I wish…fuck…I wish I could do better. Do more.”
“Well, maybe someday you’ll explain it to me why you can’t.” Renn sounded resigned, as though this was a discussion they’d had before. Pete being unable or unwilling to be a parental figure to the boys was something everyone had long since accepted. Even Archie seemed unsurprised by this turn of the conversation. Renn looked at Pete as though his uncle was going to give him an answer, but the man remained stubbornly silent.
Renn sighed. “You know what, Pete, don’t even worry about it. Being with the boys—I wouldn’t have it any other way. Whatever your fucked up reasons are for sticking with the fun uncle routine.”
“I’m your uncle too, Renn, and I love you.”
Archie gave Pete a death glare. Renn just shook his head. “It’s cool, Pete. I’ll call Lydia and make sure the boys are good for the night. Thanks.”
“Sure. And, um, maybe next week I’ll take them bowling?” Pete headed toward the exit.