Woes of the Wingmen

№ 19:

Sunday, January 21st

"So, you're Vance's lover boy, huh?" Jacob teased Bruce, who wore a dark green plaid shirt. The father looked him up and down. As if he was analyzing him.

He opened the door for him, "I'm just messin' with ya. Come on in, he's been really excited to see you all day." Vance got up from the couch in the living room.

He looked him up and down as well and started to laugh.

"Rue, you definitely overdressed. We're not fancy schmancy."

"I wanted to make a good impression on your dad."

"I already know half of your personality and achievements unwillingly from Vance."

"Shut up," Vance crossed his arms.

Jacob just laughed and led the two into the kitchen. Once they arrived there were cut-up strawberries and grapes in two bowls in the middle.

"I wasn't sure which appetizer to do so I just did the fruits we had. Sorry if you don't like them."

"No, I like fruits. What are we having for dinner?"

"Flammeküche, or Tarte flambée. It's French cuisine. And it's also like pizza but without pepperoni."

"Very nice, Nicole's recipes I assume?"

"Yes, it's from her mother's family: The Belroses."

"What a beautiful last name."

"I know right? Perfectly described Nicole's beauty in my opinion."

"And Vance's," Bruce looked at him and smiled. He blushed furiously.

"Right, and his. Usually I sometimes think when I'm complimenting her looks I compliment him by proxy. I mean he's basically her clone."

"I mean I agree, to an extent. But he's got your features as well. Curly hair, strong jawline, same face shape."

"You're not wrong but I'm bound to look at least a little like him if I'm you know, the same gender as him."

"Very true."

"I mean what about you, Bruce?"

"People say I look like my dad when he was my age, just with a different haircut. But he also wears glasses so..."

"His name's Thomas, right? Yeah you do resemble him quite a bit from what I remember. But you have Martha's smile."

"You know my mom?"

"Of course I do, kid! She was not only Nicole's best friend but she used to babysit Vance."

A memory of playing with a younger Vance unlocked. Something that he had completely forgotten about.

"That's right!"

"Yeah, you two would have play dates all the time when Nicole was still alive. I remember how Vance used to say he wished he had a little sister. So much so that me and her were thinking of trying to give him one."

Vance looked up from his food and stopped eating.

"You were? I remember wanting one but I don't remember you two ever asking me."

"That's because we never had the chance to before she passed."

His blue eyes teared up. Bruce's own heartstrings were tugged.

"I am incredibly sorry that she isn't here anymore, Mr. Hopper. Vance is still welcome in my home, and I'm sure my mom would love to see you again."

"You're very sweet, Bruce. A lot like your father when he first started dating your mother. In fact they were like that one couple you would never expect to get along but they somehow did."

"What do you mean?"

"Sorry to be blunt but your dad was a nerd. He was really studious, in fact he tried to get Martha to like seriously care about her college studies. He wanted her to get at least an Associate's Degree. And she did, with his help."