Charlotte glanced at her draft, with its unfinished nose and missing eyes. She’d been drawing her classmate from memory, so it wasn’t like he’d seen a reference photo. “Yeah,” Charlotte said, giving the bro beside her a second look. “I illustrate the op-eds.”
Reece nodded, satisfied. “Thought so. Her bangs are spot-on.”
He sipped his coffee as she resumed her sketch, her shoulders unfolding as she relaxed. It was impossible to feel uncomfortable around him for long. They shared a cozy silence until the rest of the group arrived.
When Reece took the seat beside her at the next meeting, he brought her a cup of coffee.
Charlotte wished she’d been there for Reece’s first 3Ds meeting. If it hadn’t been for Ben, she would have met him so much earlier.
“I’m seeing a great new therapist who specializes in grief and addiction,” he continued, bringing Charlotte back to the present. “Now I have a whole bunch of healthy, boring coping mechanisms.”
“How was the anniversary this year?” Amy asked.
“Eh, weird. People kind of forgot.” Reece broke off another corner of his brownie and popped it in his mouth. He chewed it contemplatively. “I drove up to see Sarah and we got dinner. She doesn’t remember him as well as I do. Sometimes I feel guilty, like I got all the good memories.”
Charlotte envied Reece’s ability to articulate his emotions. He did so without embarrassment or fear, like he was commenting on the changing seasons. Some of it resulted from practice—she knew Reece had worked hard to build those skills in therapy. But mostly it was just who he was. The man sitting across from her seemed dialed in to himself in a way few twenty-somethings were.
“I know that’s not my fault,” Reece continued. “But you know how it is.”
“And your mom?” Jackie asked.
“She went on a cruise that week. Her book club friends planned a whole trip.”
Jio laughed. “Did she bring the dogs?”
Reece dropped his gaze to the ice cream, but Charlotte didn’t think anyone else noticed. “I watched them,” he said without elaborating.
She wanted to reach across the table and take his hand. But she fought the urge, knowing that would (a) arouse suspicion, and (b) be super weird.
Amy giggled. “I can’t imagine you walking four Pomeranians.”
“It’s not easy. I’m fencing in the backyard so they can romp around.”
Charlotte enjoyed the image of Reece wearing a tool belt as he hammered a wooden beam into the ground. His forearms featured prominently in her fantasy.
“What about y’all?” Reece asked. “Has everyone already gone?”
“Just me,” Nina said.
Matt cleared his throat. “I’ll go.” He and Jio exchanged nervous smiles. Charlotte got the impression they were psyching each other up. “For both of us, really.”
She suspected what was coming. Her hunch was confirmed when Matt took his partner’s hand. “We’re getting married. Mostly for insurance. My plan is a lot better than Jio’s.”
“Saving the polar bears doesn’t offer dental,” Jio stage-whispered.
“Congratulations!” Nina cried. She lifted her soda. “To many years of happiness and clean teeth!”
Reece raised his drink too. The whole group cheersed and clinked their plastic cups. Charlotte beamed at her friends. No one deserved happiness more than Jio and Matt. Out of any couple she knew, they worked the hardest to love each other the way they deserved to be loved.
Matt nodded in gratitude for their well-wishes, but he sobered quickly. Jio squeezed his hand. “My parents are furious,” he continued. “I didn’t expect them to be supportive, and we’re not inviting them to the wedding. But they’re not letting my brother come.”
Charlotte shifted in her seat. She couldn’t help but notice how Reece’s face twisted in confusion as he listened.
“Does Steve need their permission?” he asked.
“Kinda?” Matt frowned. “Let’s just say the church wouldn’t be thrilled about him participating in our heathen ritual.”
“And then there’s the flights,” Jio added. “He’s only seventeen, he can’t afford a trip to D.C. on his own.”
“Maybe they’ll come around?” Amy asked, not quite seeming to believe her own optimism. “Steve will find a way, he’s so clever.”
Matt shrugged, unconvinced.
“That sucks, dude, I’m sorry,” Nina said. “It really hurts when your family can’t just be happy that you’re happy.”
Unbidden, a memory returned of her mother’s grimace when Charlotte came home after her first semester at Hein, makeup-free and wearing a loose flannel and combat boots. Get upstairs and change, Olivia hissed, you look like a vagrant.
Her grip tightened on her spoon.
Reece wrapped his arm around Matt’s shoulders and gave him a sideways hug. “I love you, man. You don’t deserve this.”
Matt nodded but didn’t say more.
Jio brought the back of Matt’s hand to their lips for a small kiss. Charlotte watched affection bloom in Matt’s eyes. She swallowed around the lump in her throat. “Is there anything we can do?” she asked.
“Not really. We’ll figure it out. And please, no presents. We don’t have any space.”
“What about your parents, Jio?” Jackie asked. “Are they being supportive?”
