As Luci talks about her Christmas with her family (“Abuelita is lucky she hosts, or we’d never all be together”), I grab my luggage from the conveyor belt and turn toward the exit. Tristan presses in closer to me; his face is set in a deep scowl when I glance up at him, and I follow his gaze to see a young woman taking pictures. I pretend not to notice.
I was warned by everyone—Holden, Phil, Evelyn, even Cheryl had warned me this would happen. They’d all said their friendship with Holden is under the microscope at all times. And one picture of Holden and me in a grocery store, and now everyone knows of my connection with the country singer. I’m just thankful that the photograph hadn’t shown Ashton.
But now… Now I don’t know if the woman got a picture of my nephew.
Luci tugs Ashton’s hood farther over his head, keeps his face turned toward her, and I could melt with the gratitude.
Thankfully, we manage to get out of the airport and to my apartment with no further incidents.
“Want any help unpacking?” Tristan asks as we approach the door to her apartment.
I shake my head and slide the key into the lock. “Nah, but I will probably need help packing.”
I twist the key, push open the door, and step inside only to realize I’m the only one who does. Turning back to my friends, I flash an innocent smile at their confused expressions. Luci and Tristan exchange a look, then the dam breaks. Their voices overlap, question after question being hurled in my direction. I giggle as Tristan promises to be right back; he leaves the luggage in the corridor before speed-walking away.
Luci sets Ashton on the floor and automatically barrels into the bedroom. The dresser drawers scrape on their tracks, and I roll my eyes with a smile as I remove Ashton’s coat. Shooing him toward the toys, I enter my room in time for Luci to upend a drawer. A few shirts spill out onto the bed to join the socks and underwear already there. I check over my shoulder that Ashton is adequately distracted by his playthings then move farther into the room. Luci disappears into the closet.
“So, I’m assuming he has a bed, considering he’s a grown-ass adult, so furniture can all stay here. Tris and I will worry about putting it in storage or something.” Luci pokes her head out from the closet, frowning. “Do you not have more suitcases?”
“Nope, I only have the two.”
“Okay, we’ll empty those, wash what you took, and re-pack what we can in them. What about your books?”
I let my best friend order me around—gathering and stacking the books I want to take with me, carrying my clothes to and starting the washing machine, brewing a pot of coffee. By the time Luci is finished telling me what to do, it’s almost noon, and Tristan has finally come back with moving boxes in hand. We fill as many of the boxes as possible before Ashton needs a nap.
I drop onto the couch and sigh. “I forgot how much packing sucks. At least I’ve got y’all.”
“Always and forever,” Tristan says as he carries my ringing phone to me. “It’s your mom.”
I pause, hand outstretched. I have to tell my parents. I can’t keep it a secret that I will no longer live in the apartment my father pays for. My new home will be in Tennessee, not Austin. Blowing out a breath, I take the phone and slide a finger to answer the call.
“Hey, Mom.”
“Hey, sweetie, just wanted to make sure you made it home alright.”
“Yeah, I did. Sorry for not texting like I promised to. I’ve just been busy.”
“Already?” My mom’s voice holds her frown. “You just got back.”
“Speaking of that… Mind if I add Dad and Mama to the call? There’s something I need to talk to y’all about.”
“Go right ahead, baby.”
Thankfully, both my father and my former stepmother answer within seconds of the outgoing call. I hope they can be civil in the wake of their divorce. The greetings are stilted but polite, so I count it as a win. Clearing my throat, I force myself not to chew on the edge of my nail.
“Thanks for joining in, guys. I appreciate it.”
“What’s going on?” my father asks, and I curse inwardly at the fact he can read me like a book, even from states away.
“I, uh… Y’all know how Ash and I went to stay with my boyfriend over the holidays? Well, it was amazing. It truly was. But, uh, my Christmas present was Holden asking us to move in with him. And I, I kinda said yes.”
The silence from all three of my parents reigns deafening over the line, and I give in: I place the edge of my thumbnail between my teeth and bite down. When no one speaks, I ramble, promising that Ashton loves Holden, Holden is amazing with the toddler, we’ll have a wonderful life with Holden. He’d sworn it. He’d proved it. Twice he’s opened his home to me, the second time accepting Ashton into the fold as easily as he breathes.
“When?”
I exhale slowly and say, “Next weekend.”
“That soon?” my mom splutters, and I wince. “Honey, are you sure about this? That’s awfully fast.”
