Chapter 30
Food littered the table—cozy hearty staples, steak pies, fish and chips, toasted cheese, traditional and comforting—and Andy was laughing at some improbable story Leo was finishing about learning to ride a unicycle; Jill and Sir Laurence were discussing the delights of cult classic monster movies. Colby contributed occasional shy-but-exuberant comments when the film in question had more to do with fantasy, and also held Jason’s hand right back.
The world gleamed. Woodsy, storied, alive with friends and rich malty brown local ale and the light gentlemanly drift of Laurie’s voice and the warmth of Colby’s presence. Everything Jason’d never imagined, months ago. Everything he’d given up hoping for or never pictured for himself at all.
He was here. He’d made it here.
This group’d become his friends. Jillian and Andy and even, yeah, Leo. Sir Laurence Taylor, a name Jason’d never expected to be within a million years and shouting distance of his own.