Again

Chapter 8

Crisis averted, the food was doing great, Steve had checked the safety of the hoop by hanging off it, probably more times than he needed to, but he just wanted to make sure. Steve dribbles the ball around the perimeter of the practice area. Lengthwise, it was just shy of half a court. Jenny had deemed a full court too excessive for their needs at the point they got it installed, and though they had the space out here, she'd been right. The kids only used it for shooting practice and a little one-on-one, never a full game. On his second go-round, he picks up speed and, once complete, turns onto the 3-point line and takes a few shots. A few suck and a few make it. He wasn't at his best anymore, but he could remember enough drills from practice to help Morgan. If he needed any help, that is. The kid could be a natural.

Beans barks, pauses and barks again, letting Steve know there are what she deems strangers approaching the house. He secretly smiles happily before reaching to open the door. About to take the first step into something he thought would never happen again. He wasn't alone in inviting someone else to see his sanctum. Eddie had parked his right outside. Though this would be the first time Eddie would see a genuinely Steve home, not a showroom, not a reflection of his parents, not someone he thinks he should be. That was exciting and worrying at the same time. What if he didn't like who Steve was? What if he was too much compared to before, when he was barely anything? He switches his focus inward to outward and marvels at the motorhome through the now-open door. Beans sits eagerly at his heel, looking up at him, waiting for permission to sniff the very essence from these non-Harringtons. It looked like a reasonably new model, a Hurricane, it said on the side, which someone and Steve could likely guess who had written "Rock you like a" above it. Steve can't repress the smile that breaks when he reads it. Eddie liked to do that where he could, use something else to break the ice for him.

Something louder than himself always hits you before Eddie does, and if you're lucky and patient, he will peel back all the other layers for you. It wasn't a facade for Eddie, though. It was just a crutch. Blast you with his loudness before he'd ever show you his quieter, softer side. He's prodding and testing you to deem you worthy and safe. Steve wonders if he'll get there again this time or if that version of Eddie is long gone. Steve sighs and decides to focus on something much easier to stumble through the analysis of. The RV looked roomy, and the glimpse of the seat as Eddie jumped down from it seemed comfortable, but more than anything, it screamed something that eluded Steve. Freedom. He wasn't so much tied down by his family, work, bills, or ties as other people. On paper, Steve could get his own and do just that, tour the country, but he also couldn't. Even thinking about it set his stomach into an uncomfortable churn. Home. That's where he belongs.

Eddie pushes his aviators into his hair and splays his arms at the motorhome. "My moving castle!" he says enthusiastically with a huge beaming grin, which Steve mirrors like a reflex, "Glad you've got a big driveway, Harrington. She's a whole lotta woman," he says, patting the vehicle. Morgan emerges in a complete basketball kit similar to Corey's, and Eddie falls in next to him, walking towards Steve. It's clear from his outfit Eddie has no intention of playing any kind of sport today unless that sport, of course, would be trying to wedge anything into one of his pockets. Those jeans were an unholy level of tightness from the hips to the knee, and then just casually flared out a little at the bottom like the rest of them wasn't causing an all-out riot in Steve's mind. He was ever grateful for Eddie's slashed arm t-shirt, the lower hem of which swayed at his hip as he moved, revealing that these jeans were so low-slung they were never meant to grace a waist. Any more snug of a fit top might have rendered Steve useless. He tries not to think about the scars underneath it.

"Hey, guys!" Steve smiles and waves, "Just stay right there, please. Sorry about this. We have a process" he nods towards the very serious-looking mass of fur next to him. Now Morgan looks incredibly nervous, but Eddie rolls his eyes with a smile. "Everything ok, Morgan? Are you scared of dogs? You can say, don't worry about that. She's a good girl. If asked, she'll keep her distance".