V. An abandoned or empty place.
They’d been having Jeff over for dinner every week since he’d signed with Vegas. It seemed natural, something that just unfolded without discussion. Jeff hadn’t wanted to live with them, which was fine by Christopher – they loved each other, but Jeff drove him nuts sometimes with his music and his inability to be alone for very long. Jeff loved company, even if it was just sitting around company. It was great for childcare. And Christopher was, honestly, used to being around a bunch of people all the time. It was just...
Christopher liked being alone – especially now that he and Bethany had such a big family. Having time to himself was a precious thing, some kind of luxury, and Jeff didn’t seem to understand the difference between sitting quietly with someone and being alone.
Not that Christopher didn’t love his kid brother. He just wanted to, like, chill out alone sometimes.
Still, lately it seemed like they’d seen Jeff less and less. Kent had moved out, getting his own place, and Jeff’s constant presence in their house dwindled along with Kent’s. It was… fine, but weird. Glancing at the empty chair during dinner, Christopher tried to remember the last time Jeff had come by without Kent.
It was difficult to pinpoint.