As it Was

 

"I dunno," Gage really wanted to say NO to Alfie about going to the lake, but his cousin Henry said Alec could stay with his family. They wanted Alec to sleep under the stars with them in the backyard. Something about having a telescope from the library that Henry wanted to try out.

"Why not?" Alfie told him, they were going. "I need you there."

"But why?" Of course, Alfie didn't have an answer for him.

Truly, it was a lovely place. and there were campers with refrigeration. Were they spending the night? Gage started to ask and then he realized why Alfie wanted him there. His dad was now with Boone's mom. 

Gage couldn't help but smile about it. Naturally, Alfie hesitated.

"Now see, I'm seeing where it comes from," Gage said ever so quietly to Alfie as they were walking toward them.

"See what?" Alfie couldn't understand.

"You are exactly like him." Gage looked at Alfie.

"No, I'm not," Alfie said ever so quickly as he sighed and put his best smile on.

Gage did his best to hold in a smile. Truly, the man must have fallen in love as easily as Alfie did. Of course, Gage had to wonder if Gage's dad could go the distance and he knew this must have been going through Alfie's mind too. 

Alfie gave his dad Ross a hug as well as to Boone's mom, Janine. Ross and Janine. They had names. They weren't just connected to Alfie and Boone. There was the camper that was left by Ross' friend and Janine and Ross had brought their own too.

Oh, it was news to Alfie. Gage could tell. He kept grinning. Alfie kept grinning. His dad got out the beer the girls went for the canned wine and Janine talked about how it was already getting dark earlier.

"Just where do the days go?" She asked. Zoey and Nora both smiled and gave her a nod. Naturally, there were chips and dips, even a cheese and sausage board. 

"We'll make S'more later," Janine told them they should have brought the kids. "I can't wait to be a grammy, you know." She looked to Zoey who instantly looked bewildered. 

It wasn't long until they went inter tubing. Of course, Janine mentioned the bacteria in the water and how it could kill a child, even dogs. "But I haven't heard anything about it lately."

Gage blew a breath. Of course, she didn't tell any of them any of this until they came back for supper. All was calm and they ate the grilled chicken breast and eggplant. Later Alfie wanted to know how this all happened.

"Oh, you mean about the camper?" His dad smiled.

"No Dad," Alfie looked a bit perturbed. "You and Janine?" 

His dad put his arm around Janine. "We've been talking for quite a while now. We just can't stop calling each other. First, it was all about Boone, then we talked about you. Even talked about Oakley from time to time. Then we decided to talk about ourselves and you know, we like talking in person too. I don't know when it happened, but I'm glad it did."

"Sometimes, I just think I'm in the way, you know," Boone shrugged. Lily shook her head, she'd never seen him this way. So bummed after their evening with her Dad's new family. He was so gloomy.

Sure, he'd been Mr. Right when he was chowing down on hotdogs at her dad's and laughing with the little ones. He was totally adorable. Evidently, he had no time now to be extra charming back at his place. 

He didn't want to go back to her place. Her grandmother was on her cruise so they could have the place to themselves. Oh, that was definitely a no-no. Besides, there was Phil and Lexie. "We'll do fireworks with them." He'd practically smirked. 

But Phil was at Lexie's and evidently, they might have been doing something other than fireworks. She could tell it made him a bit peeved.

"What happened?" Lily pulled him back to the couch, practically on top of her. She hadn't meant to. 

"Alf found out that our dad and my mom are together," he looked like he might cry so she gave him a hug.

"I thought that's what you wanted," she practically whispered in his ear.

"I might have said that, but when..when people get together..then..you know, they break up." He pulled away and looked at her blankly. He might as well have said, "And then you're done" or even worse the D word that she didn't even want to breathe.

She wrapped her arms around his neck.

"I wish you'd stop thinking that way. You can't be that miserable," Lily told him.

He sighed. "I guess it's just all catching up to me." He nodded and said he was just overthinking. Before she knew it his head was in her lap. "I just don't want to see my mom get hurt again." 

Lily nodded as if she did understand. He rested as if he might go to sleep. Lily nursed her bottom lip. Were they moving forward or was this a big emotional meltdown? Or maybe he was just going to sleep.

She moved. Her leg was falling asleep and yet she wanted to go the distance, but she wasn't a pillow.

Boone wrapped both arms around her and sighed. "Are you going somewhere?"

She cleared her throat and said she needed to go to the bathroom. Of course, she didn't know where it was. He pointed down the hall and set up scratching the back of his head. 

Of course, Lily had to snoop through the bathroom cabinet. Finally, she found the mouthwash and washed her mouth out, and then breathed on the palm of her hand wondering if she was minty-fresh.

Oh, they'd kissed. Usually, it was only when he was about to leave that it would happen. Not that she was nervous about it, but how could it be prolonged? They never kissed in the car, but they held hands the majority of the time. She never remembered it that way with Rafe. No, it was a race with him. Boone was much slower. Still, half the time she was wondering if she was supposed to be doing something. She knew she should ask, but who. 

Finally, she came back to the living room. "Did you want to sleep over?" Boone winced.

Lily thought she lost her hearing so he had to say it again.

"I don't think Phil's coming back," Boone said. "It's just us."

She thought he might have smiled. Lily inhaled a cough. He took her hand then and lead the way.