“Hi, Grace,” I breathe into the phone, letting a whoosh of air expel out of me like a sigh of relief. I saunter toward the living room for some privacy and catch Everett settling himself into the driver’s seat of the BMW I now know is his, and something in my heart squeezes, causing it to twinge and ache.
“Hey, Teeny. What are you up to today?”
“I promised my mom I would help her plant some begonias in the backyard so I will be up to my tits in dirt and back pain until about one. What about you?” I peer in the direction of the hallway to check if my mom or Sadie have made their way downstairs, wary of my verbiage in the same living room I used to open Christmas presents in.
“A little bored, and I think Buster wants to get out of the house. He keeps eyeing his leash and giving me those puppy eyes.” I hear a low whimper from the other end of the line.
“Well, I’m taking Sadie and her friend to the beach after this, wanna join us?”
A loud bark interrupts our conversation. “Oops, you said the magic word.”
“Beach?”
“Sadie.” Another loud bark.
A calming grin has fully replaced the irate scowl on my face, and I realize this is the perfect remedy for that continuous spasm making my chest feel somehow hollow and heavy at the same time. “I’ll call you when I leave here.”
CHAPTERFOUR
Everett
THEN
“You want some oatmeal?”My mom lifts a small pot by the long handle, showcasing lumpy slop inside with the faint rise of steam above it.
I shake my head. “I’m good with cereal.” I’ve always hated oatmeal. The texture and bland taste make me feel like I’m eating mashed up animal feed. I’d much rather stick with my sugar-filled breakfast cereal.
My dad walks in, clicking his thumb against the pad of his flip phone. He reaches my mom’s side, swooping down to give her a quick peck at the corner of her mouth before snapping his phone shut and reaching for a freshly brewed cup of coffee. “Some oatmeal can’t hurt, Ev.”
I ignore him, helping myself to another heaping spoonful of Frosted Flakes.
“You about ready?” my dad asks before taking a loud slurp of his coffee.
I nod. “Are you dropping me off?”
My dad peers at my mom and the two share some secretive glance before looking back at me. “We thought maybe you could drive yourself.”
“Oh, am I taking mom’s car then?”
He reaches into his pocket before tossing me a set of keys. I catch it against my chest and peer at the key fob. I run my thumb over the plastic buttons and look at my dad, throwing him a puzzled look. “What are these?”
“The keys to your new car.”
My brows shoot up. “A BMW?” I lift the keys, pointing the round blue and white logo in his direction.
“I thought you should fit in with those spoiled rich kids.”
“Dad!” I bolt for the door and run outside. Sure enough, sitting in the driveway is a brand-new black BMW. The shiny paint glistens in the sun, and I can see the tan leather interior through the faintly tinted windows. I jerk the door open to the driver’s side and sink into the seat, inhaling that new car smell. I hear the footsteps of my parents follow as I’m running my hands over the soft leather lining the steering wheel.
“It’s a manual transmission,” my dad explains, leaning his arm against the door frame. “Which I’m sure you’ll manage just fine. Power windows and locks. Stereo’s the best kind. All the bells and whistles.”
I look up at him, my hand still gripped on the steering wheel. “Are you sure, Dad?”
My dad laughs. “Of course.”
“I mean, it’s a really expensive car.”
“So drive it carefully.”
