“There’s the birthday boy,” I say. “How does it feel to be twenty years and one day old?”
He smiles, his eyes a little sleepy. “Pretty fucking good, now that I’m home with my family. Which is where you should be. And where the hell are you, anyway? That does not look like your mom’s place.”
I hedge for a second, not because they’ll care that I’m with Lucy, but because she might. She freaked the fuck out the other day when I was on the phone with my mom, so it’s clear she wants to keep this road trip under wraps. I don’t agree, but I can respect her wishes.
“Felt like skiing,” I shrug.
“You in Pennsylvania?”
“Nah. Indiana.”
Booker’s face fills the screen. “You’re skiing? In Indiana? The flattest place on earth?”
“To be fair, Illinois is probably flatter,” I argue. “And I’m not at my ski destination just yet. I got stuck in a snowstorm.”
Booker’s eyes narrow. “You going skiing in Wisconsin, by chance?”
Before I can stall or explain, Rose and Willa join the call, and we all divert our attention to Knox’s little girl. It’s been just over a week since I’ve seen her, and I swear she’s grown already. They fill me in on all the drama with Knox’s mom, and it’s a mindfuck. But my boy looks truly happy and I’m glad.
I’m also envious. I want that kind of happiness, but it’s just out of reach. And I’m not sure I deserve it anyway.
Rose starts to fuss, and Knox is practically making out with his baby mama, so we end the call and I lean my head against the back of the loveseat and close my eyes.
“You really miss them, don’t you?” Lucy’s soft voice doesn’t startle me, exactly, but her question surprises me.
“Yeah. Like I told you, they’re my family.”
“They’re lucky to have you. I hope they know that.” Again, her words surprise me.“Don’t look so shocked,” she laughs lightly. “I know you love to talk about how much you drive me crazy, but we both know that’s not really true. You’re probably the best person I know, Caleb. And I hope they feel the same.”
“Nah,” I wave off her compliment, uncomfortable even though she said the words I really needed to hear. “I’m far from the best of us. That honor goes to Booker, hands down. Guy’s practically a saint. Literally one, too, I think.”
Again with the surprises, Lucy curls up next to me on the loveseat. And I’m not a fool, so I wrap my arm around her shoulders and tuck her in close.
“Booker’s a good guy, but you're still the best. And don’t argue,” she admonishes, so I keep my mouth shut. “Are they—I mean, I just caught the tail end of your conversation and it looked like they were all at a party, maybe? I’m really sorry you're stuck here with me instead of with your friends, where you belong.”
“Nah, it’s nothing formal. Knox’s birthday was yesterday, and they’re celebrating now. And some shit went down with his mom, so we were debriefing.” I’m tempted to tell her that it’s no hardship to be stuck with her, but I’m afraid if I do that, declarations of love will spill out of my mouth, and I’ll look like a fool. This can’t go anywhere, and I know it.
“Things are better now?” She asks, and it takes me a moment to answer because she feels so good here against my chest that my brain isn’t functioning at full speed.
“They are. I don’t think Knox and Heather, his mom, will speak ever again, but that’s definitely a good thing.”
I feel Lucy relax against me as we settle into an easy silence.
“Did you see the weather? Snow’s pretty much over, I guess,” I say, gauging her reaction and betting she’ll set an alarm for six tomorrow morning.
“I saw,” she tells me, her voice sounding sad. “We’ll probably leave tomorrow, huh?”
“Probably.”
“Can I ask for something?” her eyes gaze up at me.
“Always.”
“I want one more night with you, Caleb.”
“That’s all I needed to hear, Lucy.” Seconds later I’m carrying her up the stairs when I hear Vicki’s voice call, “Goodnight, kids.”
I smile because we intend to have a very good night.
