>A hand tugged at Alan’s pants leg. He looked way down into brown eyes looking way up at him.
“Hey, Mikey.” Alan squatted to Mikey’s level. “What’s up?”
Silently, Mikey held out a construction paper contraption. Alan unfolded pink into a lopsided heart with shaky red-crayoned words.
“I’m sorry again. Forgive me again?”
Alan raised a hand to the back of Mikey’s head and kissed the crown. He didn’t turn toward the figure leaning against the doorframe.
“Using your brother as a go-between now?”
Ryan laughed softly. “Just helping Mikey learn his letters.”
He moved closer. Alan met him halfway.
shaeconnorwrites 