Free rock by Anyta Sunday

guy for months. Weird to know that someone else is creeping into her life—and by extension, our lives.
    But I’m happy for her and I like her excitement. I especially like that she hasn’t gotten a new job and we’re not moving. I breathe out and smile broadly.
    I squeeze Annie’s hand. “Paul, eh?”
    Mum nods. “Yeah, and he’d love to meet my beautiful children.”
    Annie sweeps up her broken cookie. I can tell it’s taking her an effort to keep it together. She quietly excuses herself and throws the crumbs into the bin. When she comes back, she has a wobbly smile on her face.
    “Do you love him?” she asks.
    Mum hesitates. “I like him very much, and I definitely think I could love him. But to be sure, I need to know how he treats you guys. And what you guys think of him.” She gestures toward the cookies. “Hence the bribe. He’s coming tonight.”
    My words bypass my brain and spill from my heart. “If he makes you happy and doesn’t care that you have a gay son, you have my blessing.”
    I surprise myself by scooping up a cookie rather than a stone. I bite into a warm pocket of semi-melted chocolate.
    Annie shuffles her chair an inch closer to mine, while Mum puts down her cookie and walks around the table to my side. “Stand up, Cooper.”
    I swallow hard and pass my cookie to Annie. With shaky legs, I stand up and face Mum. I am an inch taller than her but she lifts herself onto her toes so we’re even. She cups her hands on either side of my face and studies me. Her thumbs outline my brow and nose. “It’s not a joke,” I croak.
    Her eyes well up and she kisses my cheek. “You’re beautiful. I love you. I support you. I’ll always be your biggest fan, and I’ll always cheer for you on the sidelines no matter what play you make.”
    She hugs me stiffly because Mum isn’t really a hugger, but it makes me warm. “Thanks, Mum.”
    She rubs my arms and steps back. “Promise me you’ll wear protective armor.”
    Annie snorts and I chuckle too—though mostly in embarrassment. But yeah, I’m well-versed in safety, thanks to Dad.
    “When is Paul coming?” I ask, eager to change the subject.
    Annie smiles and nods. “Yeah,” she says. “When do we get to grill him?”
     

siltstone
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
    Dad and I are cleaning up the dinner pots and pans. He washes, I dry.
    “How would you feel if I brought home a girlfriend?”
    He scrubs harder at the pot. “You’re too young.”
    I’m almost sixteen. But I let that slide.
    “What if I brought home a boyfriend?”
    He pauses. “Still too young.”
    When we’re done, Dad peels off the bright yellow gloves and says, “But when you’re older, I’d sure like to meet whoever you bring home.”
    And that’s it. We don’t mention it again.
     

apatite
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
    Jace is practicing the piano when I race upstairs. It’s a complex bouncy-sounding song that perfectly matches my mood: complicated and exhilarated. I burst into the room and the door swings wildly, banging against the wall. Jace stops mid-song, fingers poised over the keys, head swinging toward me. His expression morphs from shocked to amused to cocky. “What’s got you all excited?” His brow arches.
    I feel good. So damn good. Like one-thousand pounds has been lifted off my shoulders. Part of me still feels anchored down but I’m ignoring that part for as long as I can.
    “Keep playing,” I tell him. Jace squares his head toward the music and begins again. I jump up and down, bouncing and dancing behind him like I’ve gone bonkers.
    I don’t care.
    When I can’t dance any more, I collapse on the couch and laugh. Even when Jace stops playing, I’m still laughing. And when he charges across the room and looms over me, I still don’t stop.
    He grins at me. “What the heck is going on with you?”
    I press my foot against his chest to stop him from coming closer.
    “You can’t act this crazy and not tell