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Her mom cleared her throat. “Alexa, play the albumGraceland.”
Holding his fist out toward her mom now, Cole said, “Fantastic choice.” Their knuckles bumped as “The Boy in the Bubble” started playing, and Mira rose from the table.
She’d only wanted to grab some napkins, but she listed, forced to steady herself on the kitchen counter while her head went fuzzy, the room spinning. She hadn’t had more than a sip, so it couldn’t have been the wine. She finally felt relaxed, so it couldn’t have been her normal daily intake of stress. But there was something about her mom and her son and…her Cole together in her apartment, sharing this space with these people she cared about so deeply. Hefithere, she realized. He clicked into place like the most unfair puzzle piece, the kind that belonged right in the middle of the puzzle, so once it was gone, all you’d ever see was the empty space it left behind.
She knew this thing with him was temporary. She’d never leave Red Falls. And even on the off chance that he’d be willing, she’d never ask him to leave Seattle, leave his daughter and granddaughter, his friends, his sailboat and his studio and the endless opportunities his life there afforded him that she couldn’t begin to compete with. But watching him nestle himself comfortably between the people she loved most in this world, heartache, both wonderful and terrible, spread through her entire body until it was everywhere all at once.
Finding her phone on the counter, needing to talk to someone, to tell at least one person what she knew was true, she sent Jen a text.
Mira: I think I’m in trouble with him.
In a split second, Jen texted back.
Jen: Yeah, babe. I know.
CHAPTERTHIRTY
COLE
“Bullshit!”Linda shouted, and when Ian turned over his cards, proving that he did, in fact, have three aces, she cried, “Cheater, cheater, pants on fire!”
“That’s not a saying, Mimi. It doesn’t even rhyme. And I didn’t cheat.” Ian cracked his knuckles. “I’m just really, really good.”
Cole had come in last, because while he might be good at cards, he sucked at lying. But he didn’t care. After spending the past week trying to be Madigan, it was nice to be away from the mountain, away from the constant worry he might do or say the wrong thing, and just be himself.
“You’re a card shark is what you are,” Mira said, nudging Ian gently on the shoulder while he checked something on his phone. When he frowned, she asked, “Brendan?”
“Yeah.” His lips twisted. “It’s okay, though.”
“You can go, buddy.”
“Are you sure? I don’t have to.”
Cole recognized this dance all too well, the kid’s social life calling while they were supposed to be having family time. He always used to let Becks go too.
“I’m sure. Have fun.”
Rising to his feet, Ian fluffed his hair and said, “Um, that was fun. Cole, you should come over more often or something.”
Cole held his hand out, and Ian picked up on the dude-cue, slapping his palm twice, then sliding out until their fingertips hooked together and snapped. “I’d love to. Maybe we could even play together sometime. You’d absolutely crush on my YouTube channel.”
“Seriously?” Ian’s eyes popped. “But, wait… You’ve never heard me play.”
Cole cut his eyes toward Mira. He didn’t know if he’d be busting her or not, so he kept his mouth shut.
“I sent him some of your videos,” Mira admitted with a preemptive wince. “Don’t be mad.”
“You’re really fantastic,” Cole said. “Super talented.”
“Um, thanks.” Color flashed high on Ian’s pale cheeks. “I guess.” He rounded the table and gave hugs to Mira and Linda. Then he was gone the way teenagers go, quickly and with little fanfare.
While Cole picked up the cards and slid them back into their box, Mira asked Alexa to play Washed Out, and Linda took a sip of her wine.
“Tell me about your family,” Linda said while the chill music transformed the mood in the room to something more thoughtful. “You have a daughter, right?”
“And a granddaughter. Becks and Ruby. Ruby just turned six months old today.”
“You missed it?” Mira asked with a gasp.
