At the young adult adoption center. Charlie and Nick are both in their late twenties now.

They sit down on the couch near the wall. It squeaks a little.

Charlie glances around. “Okay… so. This is actually happening.”

Nick huffs out a nervous laugh. “Yeah. Kinda wild.”

“What if they hate us?” Charlie blurts out, then winces. “Sorry. That was—”

“No, I was thinking the same thing,” Nick admits. “I just didn’t wanna say it first.”

Charlie smiles, relieved. “Cool. Love that for us.”

Nick bumps his knee lightly against Charlie’s. “We don’t have to be perfect. We just have to be… us.”

Charlie thinks about that. “We are kinda ready though. Right?”

Nick nods, more serious now. “Yeah. I think we are.”

There’s a pause.

“…Do we stand up when they come in?” Charlie asks.

Nick snorts. “I have no idea.”

Charlie laughs under his breath, shoulders relaxing a little. “Okay. We’ll figure it out.”

And for the first time since they walked in, it actually feels true.