Sam and Colby: The House

45

"Can I get you anything, Nessa?" Kevin asked.

"No, and I'm perfectly capable of getting things for myself. I'm okay, Kev. Really," I said. The girls and I were sitting on the couch watching Rick and Morty with Kevin. Reggie and Jake had gone out to get us some pizza, and Sam was asleep.

"Hey, where are Corey and Colby?" I asked, realizing I wasn't sure where either of them were.

"Hopefully not together," Kevin said. "I'm surprised Colby didn't deck Corey in the face in that hospital room."

"I'd be even more mad at him if he had," I said.

"That's probably why he didn't," said Kevin.

"I'm going to go look for them," I said. I got up and wandered around the house, not finding them anywhere. I went into the master bedroom last, hoping to find Colby asleep or in the shower, but he wasn't in either of those places.

I looked out of the window into the night, spotting two silhouettes illuminated by the lights on the back porch. Corey and Colby were sitting next to each other on the edge of the pool, their feet in the water. I made my way downstairs and outside, silently opening and closing the door.

"Yeah, you're right," Colby said.

"I'm still sorry, though," Corey said.

"I know. Me too," said Colby. "I just really love her, you know? I'd do anything for that girl."

"I'm the same way with Dev. She completely changed my life," said Corey.

"Yeah, I feel that," Colby said.

"We got so lucky, brother. With them, I mean. With all of this. Our friends are incredible," said Corey.

"Do you ever feel like you don't deserve all of this? The popularity and the friends and your girlfriend and the money and everything? Like it's not even real and you just got lucky with it all?" Colby asked.

"All the time. I can't believe this is my life, you know? I don't know how so many perfect things have happened to me of all people," said Corey.

"I'm not going to lie, though. I'd give it all up for her in a heartbeat," said Colby.

"It's so weird to see you like this. You've never been this way about anyone," said Corey.

"I know. She drives me fucking crazy. But in a good way," said Colby. "It's like I don't even remember who I was before I had her. She's just become such a big part of me. If she leaves, I'm done for."

"Hey, man. You're still you. Remember that. But you know her. She's got the best heart. She won't just leave. Not unless you seriously fuck something up," said Corey.

"I'm literally terrified every day that I'm going to do something wrong and mess things up with her. I know that's a stupid thing to say, but I can't help it," said Colby. "She's just everything to me."

"And I'm sure you're everything to her, too," said Corey.

"I hate that she's sitting inside being mad at me. Shit physically hurts," said Colby.

"Hey, she's perfectly reasonable and understanding. Just tell her what you told me earlier, just apologize. It'll work itself out," said Corey.

"Yeah, I hope so," said Colby.

I decided that was probably enough eavesdropping and snuck back inside, them never hearing me. I walked back into the living room and saw the girls and Kevin laughing really hard, their smiles so big and genuine. I felt the same way Colby and Corey did, that this life was crazy and none of it felt real. I was so thankful for the path I'd ended up on, thankful to be here with all of these people and call them my family.

"Did you fi—Nessa, what's wrong? Why are you crying?" Kat asked, spotting me standing by the couch. Crying? I lifted my hands up to my face and felt a few tears on my cheeks.

"Oh. Nothing's wrong, I just...," I trailed off. "I really love you guys," I said. I'd meant to say it normally, but my voice broke halfway through and it came out as a mangled whisper. I didn't know I'd been crying before, but I certainly knew it now. My shoulders shook with my crying and I buried my face in my hands.

"Aw, Mom," Kevin said. They all got up off of the couch and walked over to me, wrapping me into a giant group hug.

"Woah, you guys okay?" Corey asked, walking inside with Colby.

"Nessa's just in her feels," Tara said with a short laugh.

"That'll happen when you almost die," said Corey.

"She didn't almost die," Devyn said.

"Drama queen," said Kat.

"Oh no, is this because of me? I'm so sorry, baby. I shouldn't have said that stuff, I should have apologized sooner," said Colby.

"She's not sad, you dork. She's happy," said Tara.

"Happy? Oh, good," Colby said.

"She looooves us," said Kat.

"Shut up," I giggled.

"And we looooove you," she continued.