Griffin
GRIFFIN
I’m humming as I whip up some eggs for breakfast. Since Zeb started giving me tips, I’ve found that I actually enjoy cooking. Part of it is the creativity, and part of it is contributing to our household.
A big part of it is the pleasure of taking care of Ember.
Before, we were three guys who shared a house for the sake of convenience and economy. Now we’re a family, and our house is a home. And she’s the reason.
There are plants everywhere. Ember always says she’s not creative, but we disagree. Her genius with growing things is a gift, one that’s made this place so much better. We have plans to build her a greenhouse in the back yard.
She’s going to be a great mom when we reach that point, nurturing our children, helping them grow up strong and true.
I swallow back the lump in my throat and concentrate on what I’m doing. Zeb will give me so much stick if I burn breakfast.
These last months, as we’ve all grown together, I’ve come to grips with my fears about relationships. That I couldn’t be enough, that I would always end up hurting the people I cared about.
Ember has shown me that doesn’t have to be true, and she’s worth putting in the work to be all the man I can be for her. And Frank and Zeb, my brother-friends, are worth it too.
The toast pops up just as I finish the eggs. My cooking skills are still pretty basic, but with practice, I’ll keep getting better. Same goes for my relationship skills.
“Breakfast is ready,” I call, and before long everyone is at the table. Once we’ve all got a glass of orange juice, I lift mine. “Happy New Year’s Eve Day. Here’s to making next year even better.”
We all clink glasses and drink. “What are we doing tonight?” Zeb wants to know.
Frank finishes chewing a bite of toast, swallows, and says, “There are some good vantage points for watching the fireworks.”
“I’d like that,” Ember says. “Maybe some champagne for toasting at midnight. But a quiet night at home sounds good.”
I smile to myself. We all know what that means; we’ll be ringing in the new year in style, in bed, showing Ember yet again how much she means to us.
It’s the best job in the world.