Page 149 of The Story of You

Asher and Oliver have an easy kinship. Oliver even rests his head on Asher’s chest. “You two are good friends,” I say.

Oliver nods. “Yeah. I’ve known him since I was like four or five. He was the fun brother—he let me stay up and watch The Exorcist.”

“How did that go over with Silas?”

They both laugh. “Exactly as you’re imagining, especially when this one was terrified of everything for seven nights after.”

“That didn’t stop you from letting him watch Beetlejuice,” Darius says as he hands me a plate of cake with an extra-large slice. There’s only one plate. “You’re gonna feed me, Daddy.” He removes the mewling kitten from my lap and hands it off to Oliver before plopping down.

Asher laughs, fixing Oliver’s fallen strands of hair back into place. “Someone needed to toughen the kid up,” he says his Kiwi accent a touch thicker.

“It didn’t work. He won’t even watch Amityville Horror with me. I’m talking the new one with Ryan Reynolds. Ryan Reynolds! How do you turn down Ryan Reynolds in anything?”

Oliver bites his lip. “I want to try it. Will you watch it with me, Ash?”

“Is your boyfriend gonna kill me, little lady?”

“You’re fine,” he says. “I’m twenty-five now, I make my own decisions.”

“Yeesh,” Darius says. “Major, let’s bet on it—who’s most likely to decapitate Asher for this? I’m putting five on Lakshan for this one.”

I shove more cake into his mouth.

Simon saunters over and puts his arms around Asher from behind with a hand to Oliver’s blond head. “What we betting on now?”

“Oliver thinks he’s watching Amityville Horror with Asher. I think Lakshan’s gonna be the one to end that fiasco.”

“Really? Why not Julius or Silas? Know what, I’m going with Silas. I’m in.”

“Hey. I’m right here,” Oliver complains.

On this one, I think I’m with Asher. I’m for the kid getting more exposure to scary things. I do think someone will try to stop him. “What about Shane? I’m betting five on Shane,” I say. He’s quiet so people forget about him, but when he speaks his words carry weight.

“C’mon Oliver. You know you want to vote. You don’t even want to put five on your honey just to support him?” Darius says.

“No, he’s never been through that with me. He’ll want to believe in me and all that. It’ll be Lakshan if it’s anyone. Five for Other Dad.”

“How about you, Asher?”

“No one. Everyone will try, but Oliver will convince them otherwise,” Asher says without having to think about it. “I’ve seen it happen enough times. Besides, how do you think I’m not dead? This guy.”

Oliver smiles up at him.

“Sye!” Darius calls. “Get over here and settle something for us.”

“Jesus, Darry,” Oliver says. “Major, give him more cake.”

I do, but only because I’m trying to keep weight on him. He’s been better, but not where I’d like him to be. I don’t trust him not to slip. And so long as he’s eating cake, he’s not drinking scotch.

The rest of the family make their way over from the other side of the room. “What’s going on over here?” Silas says.

“Go on, Oliver. Tell them what you and Asher are doing,” Darius says.

“Ash and I are going to take on some horror movies starting with Amityville Horror.”

Oliver looks like he wants to hide. Silas looks like he’s chewing glass, but he doesn’t respond.

“Are you sure that’s a good idea, baby bird? You don’t need to prove anything,” Shane says, and I silently cheer my guy. He raises a good point.