She gave a harrumph. “For that smart comment, I’ll get two scoops instead of one. And I’m definitely getting chocolate sprinkles.”

Xavier laughed. “Whatever you want, Mom. I am but your humble servant.”

“You remember that.” She patted his arm. “Now tell me about Justine.”

He sighed and gave in. “You’re going to like her. I’m sure of it.” He found himself running at the mouth about all of Justine’s finer qualities. When he’d finally wound down, they stood outside the ice cream parlor, and his mother was smiling at him in a weird way.

He added in a mumble, “Oh, and from what I know, she’s not allergic to anything. But I’ll doublecheck.”

“That’s my boy.”

Saturday morning, while Xavier napped…

“You’re sure he was coming from the third floor?” Auggie asked him again.

Benji didn’t pause in his repetition, finishing the set. He dropped the weights and wiped sweat from his brow. To Auggie’s surprise, he’d met her this morning at the gym without protest.

Of course, she had promised him breakfast afterward, but still. The shy guy actually showed. It helped that the gym wasn’t too crowded on a Saturday morning. She loved it, having already run three miles to warm up.

He nodded to the bench. “Want me to spot you?”

“Nah. I’m doing legs today. You keep going. We adding twenty-fives?”

He nodded.

She watched him settle back down and added the weight to his bar. Lost in the rhythm of his workout and what Xavier’s new connection with Justine meant, it took a minute to realize he’d finished and was sitting up, staring at her. “What’s wrong?”

He swallowed, his expression hidden behind a lot of a hair over his eyes. “You’re pretty defined. Nice arms.”

She looked down at herself. “Oh, yeah. Got a summer competition coming up.” Not nearly as important as this news about Xavier. “So my brother. You’re sure he was coming down from Justine’s?”

“Since Kai’s in Italy with Rosie, yeah. Unless he’s getting it on with Top or Adam, I’d say he was coming from Justine’s place.”

“Oh my gosh. Was that sarcasm I heard, Wolf Man?”

“Wolf Man?” He frowned. “Oh, a crack about my beard, right?”

“Beard, hair, all of it. You’re almost furry. Get a haircut, why don’t you.”

He shrugged. “I hadn’t thought about it.”

“But don’t you get all sweaty under that mop?”

He wiped his face again with a towel. “You get sweaty, but I’m not complaining.” He gave her tank top an appreciative look.

Shocked, Auggie stared. “Are you on drugs?”

“What? No.” He flushed and stood.

Auggie had to look up to make eye contact. “I’m teasing. It’s nice to see that you have a sense of humor up there.”

“Ha ha. First I’m hairy, then sweaty. Now I’m too tall?”

She was teasing, but he didn’t seem to understand that. “I’m just messing with you, Benji. Geez.” She turned to walk away, but his large hand on her shoulder stopped her.