It's Complicated

Chapter 16

The show was a joke. We were in stitches as we walked to Mario's car. He'd been cracking jokes about the music during the performance. Some guy had come out of the woodwork, set up a show with a band that ended up not showing, and he had two hours to kill, so he serenaded us for a little bit, then did some comedy. Mario ended up being funnier. It was the best night yet.

Our drive back was just as wonderful as the rest of the night. He told me funny stories about his family. I told him stories I'd dreamed up about woodland creatures when I was little. It was all something to keep me entertained as a child. Larry had started it when he told me about our mom, the stories she told us.

That was when Mario grew quiet. "I'm sorry to hear she left," he said quietly when we were a minute or two outside of Boulder.

I shrugged. "It happened a long time ago. I have two younger brothers, but I haven't seen them since I was about six. They're two and four years younger than me."

"Wow." We were silent for a minute. Boulder grew around us, blossoming as we hit downtown. "I didn't know . . . What are their names?"

I smiled a little. "Russel and Mike." They had a small Boston Terrier. Mom put up a basketball goal in their driveway for them. Mike loves basketball. Of course, I didn't tell Mario all of this. I wanted those things to be for me. Sharing them felt like it might be too much too soon.

He reached over and tentatively touched my hand. I let him wrap his fingers around mine and felt him give them a squeeze. "I wish you could see them again."

"Makes two of us. But Mom hasn't let anyone come see her except Dad. She's never come here."

"So you haven't seen her since you were six?"

"No, I have. We've video chatted with her, sent pictures back and forth. I have a recent picture of my brothers in my room. Larry didn't want it. He knows more about things because he's older, but I don't want to ask him about it."

"Why not?"

I shrugged. "It makes him sad. I love Larry and hate it when he's not happy." I smiled a little. "I know it sounds weird to some people, but I do love my brother. Very much. He was my world growing up."

Mario squeezed the hand he was still holding. Huh. I hadn't even noticed. "It's not weird to me. I love my family, too. It's big, but I wouldn't have it any other way." We drove on in silence. My house seemed to appear in front of us. I'd lost track of where we were and how long we'd been driving. He put the car in Park. "Well, let me go meet your dad. Maybe then he'll be convinced I'm not an ax murderer." I had to return the grin he gave me. He hesitated, then dropped my hand before scrambling out.

Funny. I'd forgotten again that he'd been holding it.

We were met on the porch by Larry. He didn't look pleased, but he wasn't the one that counted. Mario nodded at him. Larry stared him down before turning and shouting into the house, "They're here!" He turned to me and whispered, "You're in so much trouble."

I swallowed as I saw Dad round the corner. Larry backed away and Dad took his spot in the doorway. "Good – you made it back in one piece. Go up to your room." I squeezed by him. "I assume you're the young man who took my girl to Denver."

"Yes, I am." I could hear the uncertainty in Mario's voice.

I couldn't decide if it was a good thing or not that I wouldn't see what Dad was going to do to Mario. Surely, he wouldn't be too hard on him. About the time I reached the top of the stairs, Dad was speaking in hushed tones. There was no way for me to know what was being said. I turned to look, and Mario's face was pretty much blank, but he was nodding a lot. I took that as a good sign.