My now thirteen-year-old stepsister throws herself into my arms, and I lift her into the air in a bear hug. Is it possible that she’s grown a few inches taller in the month since I’ve seen her?
“How is grown-up life?” Charli asks as I set her back on the ground.
“It’s tough sometimes,” I answer. “But I get to eat junk food and go to bed whenever I want, so it all works out. How does it feel to be a teenager?”
“Not different yet,” Charli says thoughtfully. “Maybe after my party tomorrow, it’ll feel real.”
“I hope so. Where’s your sister?”
Charli sneers. “How should I know?”
I snort. “Well, you’re already starting to sound like a teenager, that’s for sure.”
She rolls her eyes and leads me into the house. I take a deep breath and savor it—it smells like home.
“Mom!” Charli yells. “Oliver’s here!”
“You don’t have to yell, sweetie, I’m right here,” Ashley calls from the kitchen. She peers around to wave at me. “Hi, Oliver! Welcome home!”
“Thank you,” I say as I join her. “Where’s Bella?”
“She has soccer practice until four,” Ashley explains, glancing at her smart watch. “One of the assistant coaches is driving her home, so she should be home in the next thirty minutes or so.”
There’s a familiar tickle at my ankle. “Oh, hello, pretty baby,” I coo, crouching to pet my family’s seven-year-old Calico cat, Cookie. Cookie purrs loudly, pressing her head into my hand as I pet her. She mostly belongs to the girls, who spent years begging Ashley for a cat before Dad and I came along, but Dad caved almost immediately. I came home from school one day to find a tiny fluffball that Bella introduced as Cookie. She’s been a perfect little angel ever since.
“So, did Charli tell you the plan for tonight?” Ashley asks, typing away on her laptop.
I scoop Cookie up and continue scratching under her chin. “Nope. I know zero plans for the weekend.”
Ashley exhales a laugh. “Classic. Well, we’re headed to El Espectro for dinner tonight, then we’re coming back home for ice cream sundaes. Tomorrow, a handful of Charli’s friends are sleeping over, and they want to watchKPop Demon Hunters.”
Cookie licks my arm with her sandpapery tongue, and I bend down to set her free. “Oh, is that all?”
“That’s all Charli wanted to do. Dinner and ice cream tonight with you was very important, so thank you for being here.”
I grin. “Of course! I wouldn’t miss it. What about Dad?”
“He’s on his way home right now.”
“Cool! Should I change?”
Ashley glances up at me from her laptop and gives me a once-over. “No, you’re fine. It’s El Espectro.”
My mouth waters at the reminder. El Espectro may be just a local family restaurant unique to our little suburban community, but it is also, without a doubt, the best Mexican restaurant in the world. It’s almost always the family's pick for birthdays because everyone loves it. Even Bella, who used to be the pickiest eater, adores their menu.
Cookie nudges at my leg again, letting out a squeaky little mew, and I crouch down again to give her more pets. While shethoroughly enjoys my affection, I pull out my phone to snap a quick photo and send it to Jude.
Oliver
Cookie says hello
Jude
oh my godddd Cookie is adorable!
Oliver
she’s just as sweet as she looks too
