“I didn’t,” he adds, giving Olivia the stink-eye.
“But Raine was the one that picked Mr. Gnome Chomsky for the job! He was the scariest of all forty-seven gnomes.”
Luke shudders at the memory and points a finger at Olivia. “I’m about to stick you back there with her if you don’t stop laughing. It was traumatizing. I expect some comfort food to help me cope with this traumatic news.”
“You already get comfort food for free all the time!”
“That’s the only reason why I’m not shoving you back there with Stinkalicious.”
“You both are unbelievable! You didn’t have to drag me outof there like I’m a crazy person!” I hiss and twist my arms together in a pout.
“Have you looked in a mirror lately?” Olivia makes a judgy face and points toward what I suspect is the bird’s nest of hair I have on top of my head. “Don’t make that face at me!”
“I am not responsible for what my face does when you're yelling at me.”
“You’re the one yelling!”
“Alright, calm down, ladies, or I’ll handcuff you together.” Luke growls as he puts his car into drive and pulls out onto the highway.
“Wait! My car! Can’t I just drive to your house?”
“No. That takes away from our fun,” Luke announces as he turns on the red and blue lights and begins speeding in the direction of Olivia’s house.
“Now, this has to be breaking some sort of law,” I snap and wish I could reach through the bars and smack him in the back of the head. Olivia giggles and lets out a joyful squeal as she blasts the “Bad Boys” song fromCopsthrough the car speakers. I hate them right now. But I also love them so much for making me laugh as we speed down the road.
It doesn’t last long, unfortunately. Luke turns off the lights and returns to normal speed once we’re on the main road. A quiet spreads throughout the car, and I’m reminded that they’re hurting too, and guilt fills my heart as I realize I abandoned them the last three days.
I look out the window and watch as we drive through downtown. Lining the street are colorful dogwood and redbud trees starting to bloom. The brick buildings look the same and yet different all the same time. I notice new businesses lining the streets as we pass by.
Before I know it, we’re at Olivia’s house. Luke jumps out first, making his way to open my door. I step outside and admire the cute yellow bungalow that I’m ashamed to admit Ihaven’t seen in person yet, even though Olivia moved in several years ago.
I place my hands onto the porch railing, taking the steps, and admire the twin white rocking chairs I’ve seen her sit in during our FaceTime conversations. Underneath each window sits matching flower boxes that hold several different herbal plants. On each of the four corners of the porch is a large plant that I don't know the name of.
I place my feet onto the welcome mat, bold and colorful to match my best friend, and the tears hit me again as life’s heaviness seems to sit on my shoulders. I turn around and see Olivia standing a few steps behind me, blinking in confusion, and studying me. “What is it?”
“I, uh…” I take a breath, hoping that it’ll help steady me. “I feel awful for never seeing your house in person before. It’s so cute.”
As the words leave my mouth, a sob follows, and Olivia is quick to swoop in and wrap me into a tight embrace. There’s no snarky comment this time, only the sound of her shushing in my ear.
“It’s okay. Don’t start beating yourself up over it. You’re here now. Let’s focus on that, okay?”
We pull away from one another, and I wipe my eyes as I nod my head. I want to agree with her, but the guilt seems to keep building the longer I’m in Covewood. Maybe things would be better if I go back to Rockdale soon. But not before I make sure that my Papaw is going to be okay.
Olivia opens the bright-blue door, the smell of sweet baked goods fills my nose, and my stomach growls, reminding me that I haven’t eaten real food in days. Behind us, Luke carries my bags. He places them next to the couch and sticks his hands into his pockets.
“Is there anything else you need from me?” he asks and shifts on his feet. “I, uh… I need to get back to the station.”
“Nope,” Olivia says, making the P pop as she says it. “We are all good here.”
She gives him a salute, and he rolls his eyes in return. He walks over to me and wraps me into a big bear hug, one that I didn’t know I missed so much until I feel the warmth of his arms around me. I have always felt safe with Luke around, even before he became a cop. He smells like fresh air, pine trees, and aftershave. I breathe him in and squeeze him back and then let go.
Olivia has been my best friend since elementary school. Once Luke moved to town when we were in seventh grade, Olivia and I kind of claimed him as our own after the whole Olivia-throat-punching-a-bully-for-him thing. It was always the three of us, until Ryland joined our crew freshman year of high school. Luke was once a chubby kid with a messy black mop of hair on his head and round black glasses.
I watched him grow up a lot during high school. Literally, the guy bulked up like the Hulk after the summer of eighth grade. He didn’t have any issues with bullies after that, but we always made sure to stay close. The man that stands before me is still the same Luke and yet so different. It pains my heart, knowing I missed a big portion of him growing up into the Luke I see now.
“Are you going to be okay?” He tips his head down toward me to get a better look at my eyes.
I do my best to give him a reassuring smile. He pats my shoulder and seems to accept it as my answer. “Sorry if we had a little too much fun today. We were just trying to take your mind off…you know. And if you’re worried about running into Davis, he’s not coming back to Covewood. I made sure of that. I promise that you’re safe here,” he says before kissing the top of my head, which I’m sure is a giant mess. It doesn’t seem to bother him. His words are comforting and I finally allow myself to relax.
