Ryan

Back inside, the house is silent except for Ian’s light breathing over the monitor in Lewis’s hand. Taking the juice glasses from him, I hurry to the kitchen, refilling them then placing the empty grape juice bottle in the recycling bin. I linger a moment, glasses in hand, looking out the sliding doors but not seeing the backyard. The day’s winding down, and I need to answer Lewis’s declaration. I need him to know where I stand-where we stand.

I startle as his warm ...