Last Friday Night (ManxMan) ✔️

Chapter 33

Melodie's clothes were so much smaller and pinker than River's. Folding the laundry, River could really see the size difference. Her jeans often had flowers or stars embroidered on them and half of her shirts had cute bubble sleeves. Delicately, he added a blue shirt to the lopsided pile.

His evenings were a lot quieter these days.

Melodie spent most afternoons out with her mother and Hunter had been spending more time at the office. River had noticed how rare Hunter's invitations were becoming, but could he force his boyfriend to be around?

Most days, he tried not to think about it. Avoiding thoughts of Hunter's absence made it feel like it didn't exist. Things were easier this way. But in the back of his mind, River dreamed of a third pile.

The shirts would be more expensive than River's, grays and creams and all shades of blue. The pile would also be half the size since the man it belonged to needed a lot of dry cleaning. Truthfully, River would've loved to get the burden of another person's clothes to fold. Another plate of food to make. Another person to say "good morning" to at the start of the day.

Selfishly, River missed Hunter's presence. Two months ago, it was like they were living together. Most mornings River woke up with Hunter in his bed and most nights he fell asleep with Hunter in his arms. It happened so naturally River only realized what he had once it was gone.

His eyes found the cell phone resting on his coffee table. One call. One call and Hunter would be here. River could apologize for not being more honest. He could ask him to come home.

That's when the doorbell rang. River scrambled to his feet and combed back his shaggy hair with his fingers. He wanted to see Hunter but he didn't think he would see him so soon.

In seconds, a script began to form in his mind. Hunter would say "hi" first but River would speak next, apologizing. He needed to say it as soon as possible. He needed to communicate better. He needed to tell Hunter the truth.

River pulled the door open.

"Mrs. Benjamin?"

Daureen Benjamin, Nia's mother, stood outside his door. Melodie waited in front of her with an absent-minded smile. The austere black woman, donning a short, cropped wig and black trenchcoat, was older than River remembered. Probably since it had been years since he saw her.

What hadn't changed was the judgemental glare she scanned him with. A more extreme version of the look her daughter and granddaughter had. Nia walked up behind the pair. Her gait was heavier than normal but River didn't give it a second thought. Nia was always tense around her mother.

"Are you going to let us in?"

River shuffled out of the way, letting Daureen pull his child inside.

"I didn't know you were in town, Mrs. Benjamin," River commented, hiding his wince when both Nia and her mother brought their shoes in. Melodie took off her shoes in a rush, watching Daureen in anticipation. This is the first time her grandmother visited.

Clutching her purse toward her, Daureen frowned.

"Nia didn't tell you?" she questioned, puzzled as she glanced from him to her daughter. "I'm the one who brought her back."

"Mom."

Nia glared at her mother, an anxious expression on her beautiful face. Daureen rolled her eyes and turned to the easier one to deal with–her grandchild.

"Melodie, why don't you show me your room?"

That approach was incredibly effective. Melodie was tattering off excitedly while her grandmother dragged her away. Daureen's comment stuck in River's mind. Nia's mom brought her back? He wanted to ask what that meant and see what that had to do with Nia rejoining Melodie's life.