His phone buzzed against the corner of his textbook.
DAD – Incoming Call
Ryan stared at the name for a second, debating. Then sighed, flipped his phone over, and answered.
“Hey.”
“Ryan!” Owen’s voice was all sunshine and caffeine. “You busy?”
Ryan blinked. “…I’m in class, actually.”
“Perfect! I won’t keep you long—I just had a quick question.”
Ryan leaned back in his seat, already suspicious. Owen never “just had a quick question.” It was either silence for a week or a monologue about some obscure documentary he’d half-watched.
“What’s up?”
⸻
“I think I’m ready,” Owen said, tone suspiciously chipper. “To meet someone new.”
Ryan’s pen stopped moving.
“Seriously?”
“Well, I’ve been thinking about it a lot lately. I’m alone a lot. It’s quiet. The house feels…” Owen’s voice faltere
