Page 27 of You, Again
Mary-Kate hugged me around the middle, accepting my playful noogies with grace before turning to Vinnie with her hand outstretched. “It was nice to meet you, Vinnie.”
Vinnie smiled and shook her hand, then held his up for a high five. “See you, MK.”
“Grab your book and say good-bye to Nana too,” Ronnie instructed. “Good night, guys.”
Vinnie punched his shoulder playfully. “Later, Moore.”
Ronnie chuckled and of course, retaliated, giving Vinnie an enthusiastic shove. I sidestepped the overly friendly gesture and toppled into the hammock.
I expected Vinnie to follow my brother inside, but after another round of bro fist bumps, Vinnie flopped onto the hammock with me instead, upending my water and sloshing it all over my shirt. I flailed like a fish on dry land as I struggled to sit up.
Vinnie stood abruptly, either to escape my flailing or because his prank meter was running and he sensed he could do a little more damage. The unexpected flurry of motion fucked with my precarious balancing act. In my quest to steady myself, I misjudged my position on the hammock, flipped backward, and landed flat on my ass…with water dripping from my nose and my eyelashes and soaking my shirt.
I sputtered and coughed as I sat up, glaring at the asshole hooting with laughter above me. “Damn it, Vinnie.”
“Looks like you took a bath. Need a hand?”
“No, I’m fine,” I grumbled.
“Take my hand, Nolan,” Vinnie insisted, crouching slightly.
I stifled a groan and let him help me to my feet. “You’re going to tell me that was an accident, huh?”
“Gotta be prepared for anything, man.”
I peeled my shirt from my chest, then squeezed out the excess moisture. “Good thing I’m close to home. Here. Hold this.”
I handed him my water bottle and unbuttoned my shirt. Vinnie was curiously quiet for a moment. If I didn’t know any better, I’d think he was sizing me up. I was vain enough to be glad I made good use of the weights and treadmill in my garage.
“Where do you live?” he rasped, taking a swig of beer.
“I bought the Mansers’ old house on Birch. I probably have a T-shirt in my old room, though.” I gave him a faux dirty look as I plucked my empty water bottle from his fingers.
“I’ll head inside with you and thank your mom before I go.”
We moved silently down the grassy slope to the house and found Mom and Margaret chattering away as they washed dishes. Vinnie was treated to motherly hugs and general fawning, but he was a good sport about it.
“I’ll leave you to catch up. I need to change.” I held up the wet shirt bunched in my fist for proof.
“What happened?” Mom asked.
“Vinnie happened,” I huffed without heat.
“Don’t be rude, Nolan. I’m sure it was an accident.” Mom reached for a dish towel and beamed at Vinnie. “I’ll walk you to the door, Vinnie.”
“No need. I know the way out,” he assured her.
The house I’d grown up in was a maze with well-worn rugs and white paneled walls lined with family photo collages. Mom bought a sectional sofa for the TV room, but otherwise, nothing had changed since my dad passed away.
I paused at the bottom of the stairs to open the front door for him. “Later. Tuesday at practice?”
“Yeah. Sure, but I gotta see what it looks like up there.” He gestured vaguely in the direction of the second-story landing.
I chuckled. “Prepare yourself for the ultimate time warp.”
He closed the door and followed me upstairs, stopping every so often to study a photograph. I left him to explore on his own and moved into my childhood room to riffle through my dresser. I shook out a wrinkly tee with an indecipherable faded design and sniffed it.
“Moldy?” he asked from the doorway.