CHAPTER THIRTY FOUR #2
The three of them stared. The little manta ray dove maybe half a foot, then began building up speed, rising back to the surface while moving forward.
It didn’t breach the water, at least, all of it didn’t.
The tips of what he thought of as its wings broke the surface, maybe half an inch of them, and it simply glided for about three feet before diving down to do it again.
“That...is painfully adorable,” Emily whispered.
“You should pet one,” Abby said.
“Me or him?” Emily replied.
“Both.”
“Hmm…”
They had already washed their hands for the occasion, and Gabe had already decided he wanted to at least try it.
He’d never actually touched one before. As he dropped into a crouch and put his hand over the water, two of them began wandering over.
He chuckled and ran his fingertips carefully along one, then the other, as they came within range.
“Wow, they’re crazy smooth,” he muttered.
“Yeah,” Abby agreed as she did the same.
Emily made a sound, then sighed and crouched beside him. She reached out and pet one.
“Whoa, yeah. They feel almost like...artificial? Like, something couldn’t be that smooth naturally. But clearly they are.”
“Manta rays are government drones,” Gabe replied, and they both laughed.
“Isn’t that what some people say about birds now?” Emily asked.
“Yeah. I’ve heard the bird thing was started as a joke, but now some people actually believe it. But I do agree, it does almost feel artificial.”
They pet the manta rays and watched them for a little while longer, then moved on.
“So, I’ve told you about me. What’s up with you?” Gabe asked as they began walking slowly along the length of a huge pane of glass that showed a vast variety of colorful fish.
“Just prepping for the baby, mostly,” Abby replied.
“Yeah, we’ve been reading up on all kinds of shit. Trying to get ahead of as many problems as possible. We’re already figuring out how to baby-proof our house. What to get rid of, what to replace, what to buy. Gonna have to buy a safe for the gun…” Emily explained.
“Wait, you guys have a gun?”
“Yeah. Has that never come up?” Abby replied. “I guess it wouldn’t. But yeah, after several years of law, and hearing all the shit I heard...let’s just say I don’t fuck around with home defense.”
“Fair.”
“We’ve already got a home security system, but we bought that back when we were still kinda on the edge of success. I’ve been looking for an excuse to upgrade it for the last year or so, and this is perfect,” Abby said.
“I’m beginning what I’m calling a nine-month deceleration process on my weed and booze.
The booze will be easy enough to drop. I already have at this point, and I don’t really miss it.
Honestly, I might just drop it completely.
I’m kinda getting to be the age where I have to be more serious about being healthy.
Ugh, fuck being in your mid-thirties,” she groaned.
“Sucks,” Abby agreed.
“It’s easier for you.”
“I’ll give you that. I established a workout routine and my parents were, not exactly strict about what I consumed, but involved enough that I still have pretty decent eating habits.
And I have to give up weed and booze anyway.
I’ll probably relegate them to weekends and particularly stressful nights for the next decade or so once I can start up, then go back to where I was.
Or hell, maybe not. Maybe I’ll be fine with weekends.
Or not at all...I know it’s prying, but where are you all at on that? ”
“Weed and booze?” he asked, and she nodded. Emily looked interested.
“Well, we’re all stoners. Krystal is the heaviest pothead.
Liz rarely does it. Me and the others are probably just south of medium users at this point.
I don’t drink. Holly can’t drink. Liz doesn’t drink.
Krystal mostly gave it up a few years back because weed is just so much better for her.
Chloe drinks sometimes. Ellen loves her wine still, but I wouldn’t call it a problem.
I’m probably going to start cutting back on weed soon. ”
“Oh really?” Emily asked.
“Yeah. Once this Valentine’s Week is over with, and I’ve recovered a bit, we’re gonna have a big sitdown together and start trying to get everyone generally on a healthier track.”
“What does that look like?”
“Getting a regular doctor, getting a health checkup. Getting our teeth and eyes and hearing checked out. Bloodwork to see if we’ve got too much or too little of anything.
Psychological evaluation, therapy, and, in probably most of our cases, medication.
Probably encouraging everyone to get some form of exercise in every day. ”
“I think most of you are getting a form of exercise in every day,” Abby murmured.
He laughed. “You aren’t wrong. But it’d be good to just build a habit of, shit, even just hitting the exercise bike for half an hour a day in the morning or going for a walk in the park. Just something.”
“Man, you grew up fast,” Emily replied.
Gabe thought about that for a moment. They paused and looked into the aquarium. A shoal of bright yellow fish was drifting by just then. Something startled them and they all darted away immediately, vanishing among the sub-aquatic greenery.
“I guess I did,” he replied, moving on. “Kinda feels like I had to. In their own ways, they’re all responsible, but it’s become clear to me that I’m the one they basically put in charge.
Which is fair, and it’s not like I’ve got no help.
It’s a collaborative effort. But I am in charge, so I do need to get my shit together more than it already is, and being healthy makes that easier. ”
“Man, I am so glad I’m going to fuck you tonight,” Emily said.
He laughed. “Why?”
“Because being responsible and confident is hot.”
“It is,” Abby agreed.
“Am I being confident?”
“Yeah. I get that you have hesitations and anxieties and insecurities, but honestly, Gabe? From the outside? You’ve changed a lot, and all in good ways. You’re just a lot more confident now, in all things,” Emily replied.
“Interesting. And good for me.”
“Indeed,” Abby said. “And everyone else, too.”
He fell into thought as they kept walking and looking at fish.