Rico cheered and ran to the bathroom where he barely ran his hands under the water. Dallas made him turn around and do it again.

“Look how nicely Nathaniel washes his hands,” he told the boy.

“I’m not a baby,” Rico scoffed, but he did use soap the second time. Dallas and Nathaniel exchanged grins again as they shoved one another to get under the water and Dallas felt a little shiver run over his skin every time Nathaniel leaned against him. 

“Quit hogging the sink,” Nathaniel whispered.

“Only if you quit hogging it first!” Dallas replied.

It wasn’t even that funny, but they both giggled so much that Rico demanded to know what the joke was. Dallas told him to mind his own damn business and they all headed to the dinner table.

Rosalie’s lasagna was a work of art and everyone ate seconds. She kept checking on Nathaniel to make sure he had everything he wanted and she physically restrained her husband from taking the last piece of garlic bread so that their guest could have it.

“Your sodium, Rob!” Rosalie chided him, but she winked when she handed the basket to Nathaniel.

“Yeah Daddy, you don’t want the doctor to tell you that you’re fat again!” Rico said through a mouthful of pasta.

“The easiest way to fix that is to stop going to the doctor,” Rob replied, but after a look from his wife he took another helping of salad instead of more lasagna. “So Dallas, has Mr. Brown mentioned any more about the practicum?”

Dallas talked a little about shop class and then Rob turned to Rico for an update on his kindergarten class’ snail aquarium.

“They’re still slimy!” was the reply.

“As snails ought to be,” Rob agreed, before he set his gaze on Nathaniel. Dallas wondered if his dad was going to ask Nathaniel about his classes or his family – Nathaniel seemed to wonder the same thing, because he tensed up. But instead Rob said, “Nathaniel, did you know that I went to law school in Washington D.C.?”

No, Nathaniel didn’t know this, so Rob Carpenter proceeded to tell a series of stories about his days as a law student, including the time he was almost run over by a senator’s car.

“It was the only time I’ve ever considered running for a political career!” he chortled.

Rosalie groaned. “Rob, you are the only person who thinks that joke is funny.”

“What are you talking about, Rico is laughing!” Rob looked at his youngest son. “You think Daddy’s jokes are funny, right? And look, Nathaniel’s smiling too!”

Dallas looked and yes, Nathaniel was smiling at Rob’s story. Dallas realized that every time his father talked to his friend, he chose to tell a story about the family, as if he was trying to include Nathaniel in their shared jokes and family history. In that moment, Dallas was grateful for his dad and he silently promised that he’d laugh at Rob’s next joke, no matter how bad it was.

“Nathaniel is such a long name to say,” Rico piped up. “It’s almost as long as the Ninja Turtles’ names. You need to have a nickname, like me and Dallas! That way we can shout for you quick when we need you!”

“Rico, don’t…” Dallas started to say, but Nathaniel interrupted him.

“OK Rico,” he said. “What nickname would you suggest?”

Rico thought about it. “How about ‘Nate’? That’s short and will sound good if you shout it.”

“There’s no shouting in the house, Rico,” Rosalie said warningly.

But Nathaniel smiled. “Yeah, I like it – Nate. You can call me Nate if you want. You too, Dallas.”

He glanced at Dallas, whose heart thudded with painful longing.

“Alright…Nate,” he said and he hoped his face wasn’t flushing.

“Hooray for Nate!” Rico cheered and he turned to his mother. “What’s for dessert?”

After dinner was finished and the dessert of strawberries with whipped cream was demolished (mostly by Rico and Rob), Nathaniel…or rather, Nate…volunteered to do the dishes. Dallas jumped up to help and Rico didn’t want to be left out of the fun either, but Rob snatched his youngest son and flung him under his arm.

“Nuh-uh kiddo, you’re too young to wash dishes,” he said. “Maybe next year, if you’re REALLY good, we’ll let you try. For now, you have to come and watch TV with me and your mama.”

“No, I want to wash dishes!” Rico cried as he was carried away to the living room.

Dallas and Nate chuckled as they cleared the table.

“How long do you think it’ll take Rico to realize he’s being tricked?” Nate asked.

“He’ll probably figure it out after he volunteers to do all the dishes on his sixth birthday,” Dallas replied.

As for himself, Dallas didn’t mind doing the dishes and the prospect of having an excuse to stand close to Nate was only an added bonus. While Nate rinsed and scrubbed, Dallas dried and put the dishes away. Occasionally their fingers would touch when Nate handed him a dish and Dallas had to be careful not to drop it in the resulting shiver. The sensation never got old, only more familiar which made it feel all the better.

Once they were finished with the last spoon, Nate glanced at his phone and sighed.

“It’s 7:30 now,” he said. “I should probably get my things so your dad can drive me home.”

“Are you sure?” Dallas asked. “You don’t have to be home before 8, right?”

“Yeah, but I shouldn’t be home later than 8,” Nate answered. “It’s…it’s just for the best if I’m home a little early.”

Dallas nodded. “Of course. I’ll come with you and Dad.”

Nate smiled gratefully and before Dallas realized what was happening, he was wrapped in Nate’s embrace.

“I’m so glad you’re my best friend,” the other boy whispered in his ear, squeezing his shoulders. 

Dallas tried not to seem too eager as he wrapped his arms around Nate and returned the embrace. His friend felt thin and fragile against his bulk, so he kept his grip gentle but steady.

“I’m glad too, Nate,” he croaked.

They hugged for another few seconds before Nate let go of him and Dallas reluctantly let his arms fall away. Dallas’ face felt hot, but Nate was also blushing.

“Umm…my bag is in your room,” he said shyly.

“Yeah,” Dallas said, trying to sound casual. “I’ll tell my dad that you need to leave while you grab your stuff.”

They left the kitchen on their separate missions and less than fifteen minutes later Rob’s car was pulling up in front of the Westersons’ mini-mansion across town. The windows were all dark, so the only light came from the outdoor lamps.

“It doesn’t look like your parents are home yet,” Dallas observed.

But Nathaniel had already grabbed his bag and opened the car door.

“No, they’re still at the church,” he agreed. “But we have a security system that alerts their phones when someone enters the house. They’ll be able to see with the cameras inside that it’s me.”

“Alright then,” Rob said. “Well, it was really fun having you over Nate. Maybe we can arrange for another dinner soon!”

“I’d like that, Rob,” Nate said, grinning. “See you tomorrow Dallas!”

Dallas didn’t want to leave Nate alone in that large, dark house; but he also didn’t want to make things more difficult, so he waved and replied, “See you at lunch!”

Dallas and his dad waited until Nate was inside the house and one of the upstairs lights turned on before they drove away. Dallas noticed his father’s brow was furrowed with a frown.

“Dallas,” Rob said after a minute. “Please let Nate know that he can come to us if he needs to.”

Dallas’ skin prickled. “Is he in trouble or something?”

“I don’t know,” his dad replied and his grip on the steering wheel tightened. “Not for certain. But I’m glad he has someone like you as a friend.”

He gave his son a proud smile before they drove the rest of the way home in silence.

* * * * * * * *