Running Back to You

The tree house took most of a month to finish. Reese’s father came home from work with sleeves rolled up, measuring boards while Ryan’s dad muttered about “deathtraps” and “insurance premiums” but secretly installed the rope ladder anyway. They also included steps for Matthew, so Matthew’s dad contributed leftover paint from the garage. Reese picked green because it would blend in, but Matthew shook his head. “Yellow,” Matthew said firmly. “Like sunshine.” Some love stories begin with lightning strikes and grand gestures. Others begin with shared cookies in a tree house.