“Well, it’s true,” John said. His brow knit together in a look of consternation. “I don’t know how you can stand it. It must seem like I’m shoving my family’s wealth in your face.”

Zack was around the bar again in three strides and pulled John into a crushing hug. He buried his face in John’s soft blond hair.

“Uh, Zack,” John said after a minute, “I can’t breathe.”

“Too bad,” Zack replied cheerfully. “For the record, I don’t think anything of the sort. You can’t help the family you were born into. I know that better than anyone. And I think it’s like you said: these things are normal to you, so you’re not really flaunting them. You’re just being yourself.” He stepped back and looked at John. “Now, no more serious talk over breakfast. It’s bad for digestion.”

John grinned. “Says who?”

Zack stuck a finger in the air. “Nana Gemma! My ultimate source of Completely True Facts. According to her, you’ll also get a stomachache if you talk while you’re eating.”

John frowned. “No, you won’t.”

“Yes, you will,” Zack teased. “Nana Gemma knows all.” He returned to the kitchen and opened the fridge, pulling things out while he spoke. “That’s why the kids’ table at my family’s place was always so quiet. Nana Gemma also taught us that if you get dirty while you’re playing outside, you’ll blend in with the ground, and then Santa Claus won’t be able to see you. He’ll skip right over your house come Christmas Eve.”

John was laughing now. “So, basically, what you’re saying is Nana Gemma was a liar.”

“Hey now,” Zack said, pointing a package of bacon at John’s chest. “My nana was a handsome and dignified woman. And yes, she was also a filthy liar. But I was the cleanest, quietest little boy in town. Well, for a while anyway.”

John laughed again while Zack peeled apart strips of bacon and placed them in the now-hot pan. A satisfying sizzling noise filled the air, followed by a mouth-watering aroma.

“That smells great,” John said.

“I can’t even take credit.” Zack nudged two strips away from each other with the spatula. “Bacon is awesome all on its own. Just don’t burn it, and you can’t go wrong.”

“Yeah, it’s the not-burning-things part of cooking that I can’t get the hang of.”

Zack moved closer, perching on the counter. “Your parents didn’t teach you?”