“Okay,” I pout.
“Don’t start.” My mom puts her hands onmy shoulders, ushering me to the car.
“Don’t forget your dad and grandpa willbe here at two,” I yell, waving at Cole.
“I won’t. I love you, baby.”
“Let’s go, Holt.” Cooper yells from thecar. “I’m growing old.”
Kurt and I sit in the back seat, playingrock paper scissors and having thumb wars all the way back to my parents’house. “Can we watch the newest Star Trek movie tonight?” Kurt twists histhumb, pinning mine beneath his for the tenth time.
“We can watch whatever you want,Captain.”
“Will you two settle down back there?” Mymom chides, turning to look at us. “I don’t think there will be time for amovie.”
“Oh.” Kurt lets go of my hand, sittingback, defeat across his face. I just look at my mom.
I hook my arm around Kurt’s neck. “Ipromise we’ll watch a movie.”
“Oh Katie, let go.” Kurt tries to freehimself.
“No. Not until you say the magic words.”
“Please.”
“Yeah right, Captain. Since when has thatever been the magic word?”
“Fine, what are the magic words?”
“Katie, you’re my most favorite sisterand I promise to watch Star Trek and eat licorice with you.” Kurt repeats thewords, and I let go of him. He shoves my shoulder, but he has a smile on hisface, so I know he’s okay.
My mom has the back full of groceries,and my dad and Kurt unload the car. I walk out of the garage towards my house.
“Where do you think you are going?”
“Home,” I say nonchalantly.
“We have things to do.”
“I know. I just want to see the bed thatwas delivered and my house. It’s been since I’ve been home. I’ve missed it.Besides, Annie isn’t here yet. Give me ten minutes and I will be back.”
“Hurry,” my mother huffs, annoyed,disappearing into the house.
I walk into my house, breathing in a hugebreath, and exhaling slowly. “Home, I have missed you.” The only thing missingis Cole. For so long, this little house has been my sanctuary from the stormsof life. It isn’t much with the mismatched furniture, the peeling wallpaper inthe hall. I try pushing a piece that’s come loose back into place. But thishome is mine. My piece of heaven, where the bad things of life couldn’t touchme. Now my home is with Cole, but that doesn’t mean this little house means anyless to me. I walk into the back bedroom where a new queen-size mattress hasreplaced the old one. A sheet set, quilt, and pillows are sitting on the bed. Ilet myself fall backwards on to it.
Less than four weeks ago, I bought a caroff the Las Vegas auction, flew down to pick it up, ran into a monumentalproblem, and then got picked up by my future. I smile to myself, rememberingthe first time I saw Cole sitting in his Ferrari, that cocky, beautiful smileon his face. Me with my tear-stained face, ready to get in the car with aperfect stranger.
“What are you thinking about?” I sit upto find Cole leaning against the door frame.
“I was thinking about the day we met, andhow it’s one of the best days of my life.”
“Just one of the best?” He pushes off thedoor, crawling on the bed so he’s bestride me.
“Well, yeah, the best day was three dayslater when we got married.”
“That’s the best day of my life, too.” Heruns his fingers down my cheek and neck.
“What are you doing here?”
