Total pages in book: 101
Estimated words: 97417 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 487(@200wpm)___ 390(@250wpm)___ 325(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 97417 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 487(@200wpm)___ 390(@250wpm)___ 325(@300wpm)
“Sparkle Pants, this looks positively delicious.” Ange shoved a forkful of noodles into her mouth and moaned.
“It’s an old family recipe which apparently dates back five generations, but I’m not sure how much of that story I’m willing to believe.” Ansel picked up his fork and speared a tomato.
“What story?” Lars asked.
“The one Oma Richter told. Don’t you remember?”
Lars shook his head.
“Apparently, this traveling thief was going from town to town stealing anything he could get his hands on. Until one night, while he was in the midst of his thievery, he was tempted off course by a wondrous smell. A village maiden had made these cheesy, creamy noodles and left them on the table to cool. One taste and he was in love. He quit his unlawful ways, married the maiden and became mayor of the town.”
“Oh my God! That is the craziest family tale I have ever heard.” Z laughed.
Lars laughed too. “So, you’re saying we have a thief and a mayor in our family tree?”
“According to Oma, the same man held both positions. And our spätzle recipe is worth more than gold.”
“I can believe it,” Ange said.
“No way am I going to quit a paying gig for a meal,” Z said with a shake of his head. Then he met Ansel’s eyes and winked. “No matter how good it tastes.”
“So I guess the old saying about a man’s heart being through his stomach doesn’t apply to gay men?” Lars asked.
“No, honey. The way to a gay man’s heart is through Grindr,” Z said.
“Don’t be a cliché, Z,” Lirim said.
“Okay, what the hell is Grindr?”
“Don’t get them started, seriously,” Tam said.
It only took Z thirty minutes to convince Lars to set up his own account on Tinder, the Grindr for straight people, after explaining the benefits the app could provide a soon-to-be college student in New York City.
After dinner Lars stayed to help clean up, but with so many hands it didn’t take long. Plus, Lars needed to be back at campus before the doors locked. He said his goodbyes to Ange and the guys, and then Ansel walked him out.
“You know where you’re going from here?”
“Yeah, no problem.”
“This isn’t such a bad neighborhood, but stay alert.”
Lars smiled. “I’ll be fine, Ansel.”
“Thank you for coming. It was really great to see you again.”
“Give me your cell number. As soon as I get back I’ll buy a burner and we can stay in touch.”
“Yeah, okay.” As he rattled off his number, Ansel worried that keeping contact would get Lars in trouble. If he thought it necessary to get a burner phone before calling him, the parents must have a tight hold on his leash.
Though their mother had never laid a hand on Lars while Ansel was living with them, he couldn’t be sure the abuse hadn’t transferred when he ran away. The last thing he wanted was for his brother to be on the receiving end of such hatred, especially because of him.
“Lars, if you ever need anything...”
“Same here.” Lars pulled him into another hug, and this time Ansel hugged him back. “I’m really glad you found a family that appreciates you, Ansel.”
Ansel watched his brother walk away and forced himself not to douse the bright ball of hope kindled in his chest. Once Lars was out of sight, he turned to find his friend standing near the doorway.
“You okay?” Tam sat on the stoop and pulled him down too. The night air was warm and even though there was a faint smell of garbage in the wind, it wasn’t too unpleasant.
“Yeah, I just didn’t expect him to show up.”
“He was looking for you?”
“I guess so, can you believe it?” He leaned against his friend’s shoulder.
“Yeah, sweetie. I can totally believe it. He seemed genuine. I liked him.”
He bit the inside of his cheek and looked to the sky. After a breath he said, “He turned out pretty good despite the sucking pit of despair we grew up in.”
“You turned out okay too.”
“I suppose I should give them some credit for that as well.” He sighed.
“Only a little.” Tam laughed.
* * *
The boys took off around ten, leaving Ange and Ansel curled up on the couch sipping chamomile tea from giant mismatched mugs while they watched TV.
“Thanks for buying my cookies.” Ange nudged him with her foot.
“You deserve a treat. You’ve been working hard.”
“I know, right? And there is no end in sight.” She rested her head on the back of the couch.
“Shut up, you love it.”
She didn’t reply but her eyes twinkled. They both focused on the show until the commercial break. Then she started in with the interrogation he’d been expecting.
“So, your brother...”
“Yep.”
“That was a shocker.”
“Yep.”
“You’re okay?”
“Yep.”
“Good talk.” She rolled her eyes. Ansel stuck out his tongue and they both burst out laughing. When they finally caught their breath the show had returned, but Ange wasn’t done prying. “And what about that other thing?”