Page 47 of Out on a Limb

Back in the bathroom they went. Cameron put the unused half-ball of toothpaste back on Hobie’s brush. Poor kid with his pea-sized, recommendation amount of toothpaste. No wonder brushing was a bore.

“Brush each side of your mouth for thirty seconds. Let’s see who can get foamier beast mouth. I’ll time us. And…go!”

They scrubbed feverishly at their mouths. Hobie watched Cameron through the mirror and copied his circular brushing style. Toothpaste foam bubbled up from their mouths and dribbled down their chins. Cameron used to do this with his mom, and it wasn’t lost on him that he was passing it down.

“Switch sides!”

Cameron made zombie moaning sounds. He bulged his eyes and stuck out his arms, going full-tilt monster. “Roooooaaaarrrrr.” The foam dripped from his mouth.

Hobie had a matching beard of foam and roared his kid heart out.

“Let’s see who can get more foam!” Cameron said. He and Hobie brushed harder. He spat a puddle of excess foam into the sink. Hobie made a noise like static on the TV. Cameron copied him but let Hobie be louder.

“Fooooooooammmmmm Monsteeeeeerrrrrr.”

Hobie tried to say something but the foam was too much. He laughed and drops of foam splashed onto the mirror.

Cameron bared his teeth, coated and dripping with you-guessed-it. Globs of foam piled up in the sink. He forgot how much fun could be had before eight a.m.

“And time!”

They spat their remaining toothpaste foam into the sink. He didn’t know how it happened, but most of Hobie’s face was foamed out. He obviously won. Cameron poured him a cup of water to rinse with. They flashed their clean teeth at each other.

“See, that wasn’t so bad.”

By the time Walker left his bedroom, Cameron and Hobie were seated at the breakfast bar. Walker was ready for work in a solid blue tie, a button-down shirt that displayed the curve of his pecs and khakis that showed the curve of his butt. Just something Cameron happened to notice.

He stared at them dumbfounded. “You’re dressed, Hobie.”

“Cameron helped me pick out an outfit!” Hobie showed off his long sleeve shirt with a sailboat smack in the middle. Unlike Cameron’s friends, he wore it unironically.

“It felt like a day for sailboats,” Cameron said, off Walker’s surprised look.

“You didn’t have…I could’ve gotten him dressed.”

“I know.”

“Thank you.” Walker’s eyes bore into him with such intensity that Cameron felt himself sweat like after a great workout.

Cameron spotted Hobie while he poured milk for both of their cereals. Walker flitted around the kitchen looking for something to do. He wiped off the clean counters and glanced down at Hobie’s feet, which had a pair of tied sneakers. Cameron grinned when the guy realized he could take a breath.

Walker opened the pantry and grabbed a breakfast bar.

“You have time for a real breakfast,” Cameron said. “I already took out a bowl for you.” He nudged said bowl over to Walker, who filled it with cereal.

“Hobie, can you pour some milk into my cereal?”

And then there they were. All eating breakfast together.

Like a happy family?

Cameron looked down at his breakfast, his appetite vanishing with each second. The sound of munching and crunching filled the vaulted ceilings.

Post-breakfast, Walker slipped Hobie into his yellow raincoat. A light drizzle misted over the gray sky.

“I’ll drive you back to your apartment.”

Cameron was already outside. “That’s okay. I’ll walk.”