“I do.” He puts a hand on my knee. “Because they’ll know how much I like you.”
Whew. It’s getting hot in here. I flip on the AC, only to give myself something to do.
“What’s your favorite pie?”
He pulls his hand away. “Uh, apple. Yours?”
“I’ve never had a pie I liked.”
“Well, then you’ve never tried my mom’s,” he says.
I already want a piece of every pie available.
It’s quiet again. I don’t want it to be. I don’t want this trip to end, but it has to. Reality is calling.
He breaks the silence to tell me which exit to take and as we slow down and slide into Phoenix traffic, the silence grows louder.
“Oh, take that left,” Trent says.
I barely get my blinker on in time to make the turn. From there, Trent keeps up a steady stream of directions until we reach the suburbs. I only came here a few times with Juliet and it’s been a while. I don’t remember all the houses being so big. Or maybe the houses seem bigger because for the first time in my life, I’m actually nervous. I never feared fitting in before because I always pretended I did. But it’s getting harder to be satisfied with only a fantasy.
“That one up on the left,” he says.
We pass the gazebo where Michael tried to surprise Juliet but ended up getting attacked instead, and I smile at the memory. Good thing they worked that out and are now living a very happy married life.
“Karli?” Trent says.
“Yeah?” I almost drive right past the house but slam on my brakes at the last moment and pull to the curb.
“Is everything okay?”
“It’s perfect.” I face him with a broad smile. I finally get a Thanksgiving.
Chapter 24
Trent
Homesweethome.Isit just me, or has my parents’ house gotten smaller? Has the white stucco always had that pink tint to it?
Karli and I get out of the car, then I lead her around the side of the house.
She’s biting her lip and tugging at the hem of her shirt. Is she nervous? I’ve never seen her like this. She’s Karli, brave and wild, and doesn’t care what people think of her.
I reach for her hand, and she lets me take it, but it doesn’t feel very willing. “Are you sure you’re okay?” I ask again.
“Yeah, of course, just excited.”
“To be here with me, or just for Thanksgiving?” I ask. I can’t help but hedge a little.
“Both of course.” She grins. “I think I’m going to win at this whole family thing.”
“There’s no winning in family.” I laugh.
She bumps me with her hip. “You know what I mean, it’s going to be fun to play pretend.”
“But it’s not pretend.” I squeeze her hand hard enough that she looks over at me. “You know that right?”
I mean the feelings. I mean the hope of having her for more than just Thanksgiving. I mean everything. Nothing here is pretend.
