Page 78 of This I Promise You
“But what if—”
“Child, you cannot control the actions of others.” She smiles thoughtfully. “Our actions are our own and we will each be held accountable for them, including your parents.”
My lip trembles slightly and I’m fighting back tears. She’s right.
“I’m scared,” I admit.
“I know. Take that fear and turn it into action. Good relationships, regardless of the type, take work. You left, but you can still show your siblings that you are not gone. Do not wait to tell the ones you love how you feel. If you feel it, speak it. Simple as that.”
My eyes immediately dart to Easton, who’s in a heavy discussion with Skylar. His arms are flailing and Skylar is doubled over laughing. That makes me smile.
Mrs. Davenport follows my eyes. “That’s a good boy you have. His eyes hardly ever leave you.”
“He’s the best person I’ve ever known. He’s intelligent and cares so intensely and deeply about the world…and animals. He loves his dad and sister so much, even though his mom left him at a young age, but it hasn’t deterred him from his ideals, from his family. He wears basically the same things day after day, but I love it. It’s…it’s justhim.” A deep chuckle rumbles in my chest. “He’s kinda messy and hates cleaning, but he would do anything for his friends. He’s sensitive and wears his heart on his sleeve. He even does this thing when he’s nervous or when he’s thinking where he rubs his top teeth back and forth along his bottom lip, but I don’t think he realizes that he does it. It’s cute…” I pause. “He’s honest even when words fail him,” I tell her, my eyes never leaving him. “He’s beautiful.”
“You love him.” A statement, not a question.
I hum, “I do.”
“Waste not.” Her voice is smooth and kind but filled with urgency. “Tomorrow is a new day, but do not delay because tomorrow is not guaranteed.If you feel it—”
My eyes finally leave Easton and look back to Mrs. Davenport. “Speak it.”
“Ah, there’s a good boy.” She pats my cheek. “That’s enough emotion for tonight. Tomorrow morning we’ll make some pancakes and waffles for us all. For now, I think it’s time for some s’mores and camaraderie. Don’t you?”
Easton
I Feel Weird
Aren’t vacations supposed to be relaxing? Well, I’m not relaxed. I swear I’m not complaining. This week has been epic. We’ve been all over the place: an amusement park on the beach, the zip line—which Tyler refused to get on—some big hedge maze that took us like two hours to get out of. We’ve had little mini us-only house parties every night—I’ve woken up with a hangover most the week—and we’ve been on the beach every day.
It’s really been great, but I’m exhausted.
The temperature hasn’t topped sixty once, but I still made Aidan get in the ocean. Tyler and Paul even helped. It was great. I took his legs while Paul and Ty hoisted him up by his waist with him trying to kick free. People probably thought we were kidnapping him at first, but we did let him go once we were in the water.
I wish I could take a day to recoup. Like, I swear I need a long-ass nap, but I can’t do that to them. They’re having so much fun, and Paul’s been amazing. We haven’t had sex, and I’m not pushing it, but the number of blow jobs that have happened…yeah. It’s a lot. That sort of makes up for how drained I feel.
Plus, it’s loud as shit in here.
The crowd cheers as two men on horses, dressed straight out of the dark ages with massive lances, rush from either end of the dirt-filled arena. I can’t remember their names, but one is the blue knight and the other is the green knight. There’s a yellow and red one too, but they already jousted. Yellow ended up tumbling awkwardly to the ground, giving Red the victory.
“Go Blue!” Paul yells, a chicken leg gripped in his hand. He’s really getting into this.
We’re at a dinner show, Medieval Times to be exact. It’s this massive arena that looks like a bona fide castle inside and out. Every seat is set behind a small table and served a multi-course meal that includes roast chicken and garlic bread with a cup of mead, aka a water for me—they IDed me. Oh, and there’s no silverware either, none. You have to use your hands for everything.
The knights rush forward. The rumble of the crowd screaming shakes the arena. They lower their long slender lances, each aiming for the other, and lean forward, bracing. The noise intensifies, louder and louder as the crowd grows more excited.
My fingers twitch and my hand closes into a fist, but I didn’t do it. I look down and try to unclench, but I can’t for a moment. Finally my fingers let loose.
Weird.
There’s a clash, and the blue lance bangs into the green knight’s chest plate and he goes flying off his horse. It looks like it hurts, even though it’s an act. It looked really real. I flinch. The crowd on our side erupts into cheers while the rest of the arena boos. The blue knight is ours.
“Yes! He did it!” Paul is out of his seat again, jumping. I didn’t think he’d get this excited. He hates sports.
“Hell yeah!” Tyler joins in a chair over. Aidan’s between us, and Paul’s on my left.
“This is so cool, Easton.” Paul finally takes his seat again.
