Soon after nine that evening Derek parked his car in front of Charlie’s house. He and Brad had actually managed to get dinner, after they took care of other more pressing needs. Now, decently fed and well sated, Derek was practically bouncing at the idea of seeing his friends again.
“Slow down,” Brad said with a grin when Derek jumped out of the car and hurried around it. “You’re twenty-four now, not seventeen. You’re acting like a teenager.”
Derek laughed. “I feel like one. Mel’s here already—” he pointed to the car in front of his “—so let’s get moving.”
Just as Derek was about to press the doorbell, the door swung open. Seconds later, he was wrapped in a bear hug by Mel. Then Mel backed away to look at him. “You’ve grown up.”
“Happens to everyone,” Charlie said, stepping forward to
