The Beautiful Truth

// 94

"You tired?" I asked, turning on to our street. It didn't matter his answer, the outcome was going to be the same. I really asked out of courtesy.

Talyn looked at me and wrinkled his nose. "It's three in the afternoon."

I laughed, nearing our houses. "Well, OK, I just mean...my dad's cooking out in the backyard right now. Just making sure you're up to hang out."

"Food, summer, and home. It's perfect."

I smiled, pulling into my driveway.

"You and uh, Jason Mandrino been hangin' out a lot since you've been back?" Talyn asked, nodding toward Jason's truck, which was currently parked on the curb in front of my house.

I cut the ignition and turned to stare expressionlessly at Talyn.

Talyn couldn't help himself. He laughed. "What? Just a question, SF."

He winked at me. I rolled my eyes. Things between us hadn't felt this normal in a while. A long while.

"He's only been back half the time I've been here," I told him. "I saw him at the pool last week. I told him you were coming home today. I imagine he came by to see you, but if it'll make you feel better, I'll tell him to leave," I added sarcastically as I slid out of the Tahoe.

Talyn grinned, and didn't move from his seat. I walked around to the passenger side and rested my arms on the windowsill, barely holding back my smile. "You comin'?"

"I'm sorry, what year is this? Because I think I got on a plane back to high school this morning."

I laughed. "Well then, your banquet awaits, your majesty," I announced opening his door and bowing dramatically as I motioned him out.

Talyn snorted a sarcastic laugh, just before picking me by my waist and hoisting me over his shoulder. "Backyard?"

I sighed. "Yes, your highness."

I could hear Jason laughing before I could see anyone.

"Typical," Jason told him as he carried me onto the patio where my dad sat with Taryn and Terry watching the mini-Parrishes run wild in the yard. "What's up man, welcome home."

Still with me on his shoulder, he reached out to grasp Jason's hand in hello. "Well, you know," he explained. "She's taken to calling me 'your majesty' again in the last few minutes, but funny, she's the one being carried."

"I don't think it works this way with royalty," I complained. "I'd be in one of those baskets or some—"

"Talynnnn!!!" his youngest brother Shawn exclaimed somewhere in the yard.

Talyn spun around reflexively. My trailing right ankle knocked into Jason's jaw.

"Ah!" I yelped.

All of Talyn's brothers laughed hysterically. Talyn almost made me kick Jason again when he checked himself and turned quickly back around. "Oh my—my bad, man, you OK?"

"Oh my God, Talyn, put me down," I deadpanned.

Finally upright again, I wavered on my feet as the blood rushed from my head. "Hi everybody."

The parents just shook their heads. My dad grinned, and got up to flip the steaks. Talyn's parents got up to hug their son, and the minis swarmed their brother, all begging to be picked up 'like Sawyer,' even Cody, who was now eleven years old.

Jason and I stood back to watch. I smiled at the scene. I was home. And finally, all the pieces were here.

"You up for some golf tomorrow, TJP?" Jason asked a little later as we all ate our grilled dinner.

"Ah, yeah sure!" Talyn happily agreed. "My word, Kerry, what did you put on these things? They're spectacular! What time did you wanna go tomorrow, Jase?"

I cut my eyes at my dad and shook my head. Typical Talyn, cramming two thoughts into a breath meant for one.

Beside me, Jason chuckled, seeming to read my mind as he wiped his mouth before speaking.

"Wait," Talyn interrupted before he could even start. "Isn't it supposed to be, like, 146 degrees over here every day for the next week and a half? Jesus, we better go early."

"Technically, I think it's only supposed to get up to 128 tomorrow," Taryn teased from down the patio. "But yeah, 146 every day after that."

Jason laughed. "So like...eight, you wanna go? I figure by the time we're done, SF'll be down at the pool."

Talyn looked up from his food—a miracle in its own right—and looked at me. "Well, I guess that explains the tan.

I rolled my eyes. "I'll save you a chair."