“You need to go wash your hands and mouth before we leave,” I say, seeing the peanut butter across his cheek. Looking down at the syrup drops on the table, I bet he has some of that on him as well. I get out of the booth, and I’m about to go with him when Justin gets up.

“I don’t think you have the parts that belong in the men’s bathroom. I have it,” he says. I stand here with my mouth open as they walk away, and I sit back down, not sure what else to do. He’s been around me for a day, and my whole world feels like it’s shifted.

Sitting here, I wait for them to come back out, and when they do, Dylan is laughing at something Justin just said. “Ready?” I say, getting out of the booth. Justin looks over my head at the waitress, who nods at him, and he walks past me, grabbing a brown to-go bag.

“Is that your lunch?” Dylan asks him, and Justin just smiles at him. Opening the door, Justin gestures for me walk out before him. He opens the door for Dylan and makes sure he’s seated and buckled, and I get in, looking in the back.

Justin gets in and starts the vehicle, pulling off and making his way to the arena. “All the papers are in the glove compartment,” he starts saying to me, and I shake my head. “I have AAA in case something happens,” he says, pulling into the parking spot, “but I want you to call me and then call them.”

“I can’t believe I’m doing this,” I say, and I have to be honest. I have no choice. My boss at the call center is amazing, but he can only do so much, and me missing work and leaving early is something he is already covering for me. Because of hockey camp, I’m arriving late this whole summer.

I get out of the car the same time as Justin and then Dylan, and Justin hands me the keys like it’s nothing. “Let’s go get the surprise,” Justin says, and Dylan skips beside him.

I walk beside them while Dylan asks questions, and Justin opens the door and waits for me to walk in. Dylan walks up to the lady who greeted us yesterday.

“Good morning, Dylan,” she says with a smile and then looks at me. “Good morning.” Then she must see Justin behind me. “Morning, Justin.”

“Hi, Malika,” I say, smiling and putting my hands on Dylan’s shoulders.

“We have a special surprise today,” Malika says, and Dylan jumps up and claps his hands.

“I’ll take them there,” Justin says, and she just smiles.