“If you weren’t you, I might have an issue.” She sighs and looks at the palms of her hands. Lifting her gaze to mine, she smiles. “Maybe I should be more worried, but I also know you. I trust you and know that even if you make the wrong decision, you’ll find a way to make it right.”
My heart pounds in my ears. Do I?
“You have this huge heart you’ve squirreled away for years. And hell, you only live once, so if you get to date five guys your senior year, why not? That doesn’t mean you’ll marry them. That’s years away and not something anyone should decide at eighteen.”
She laughs and takes my hand.
“They seem to make you happy. That’s good enough for me. Now if in five years you tell me you’re marrying five guys, well, maybe then we’ll need to talk. But you’re young and you should live a little before life comes crashing down around you.”
My mom doesn’t regret loving my dad. That’s clear as day. But she had her world crash and she kept going for me.
“I love you, Mom.”
Her eyes grow shiny again as she tucks my hair behind my ear. “I love you, too.”
She clears her throat and stands. “Should we get started on dinner?”
I nod. I want to ask her if she knows what Luke’s dad wants from us. Would she know? Does she know what Dad took of his? Is it possible that she’s hiding it? Or is she as much in the dark as I am?
Would she worry more if she knew everything that was happening? Probably.
She turns on some music while she pulls ingredients out of the refrigerator and sets them on the island. Luke thinks she’d hate him if she knew the truth about our relationship. How it started. What he did.
I don’t think she’d hate him, but she might have more reservations about leaving us alone. My butt hurts when I sit on the stool, like it’s bruised, reminding me of last night.
He didn’t hit me that hard with the belt. As I wash the vegetables, I can’t help but think about his father hitting Lukewith a belt, hard enough to scar. A small shudder races through me.
I don’t like Luke being there. But I can’t control him. At least not when it comes to his family. And his father is still his family. Tension ran through Luke when he got the text that his father was in town. He didn’t want to go, but he did.
I just hope he knows he can come back here. That I still want him here.
A knock on the door draws my attention. When I open it, Caden smiles down at me and pulls me in for a hug.
“Missed you,” he murmurs in my hair.
The turmoil I was feeling settles a little. Caden makes me feel safe.
He backs me into the house and pulls away. His hand remains on my back as he gestures behind him. “This is my sister, Ava.”
Ava steps in and she’s gorgeous. Not hard to believe given Caden, but her green eyes sparkle and her dark hair flows around her shoulders. She’s thin and a little taller than me. Her smile seems genuine.
“Harper, I’ve heard so much about you.” She steps forward and takes my hand. “Thank you for having us over. I’m all for a home-cooked meal.”
Mom comes over and Caden introduces her to Ava. When Ava thanks her as well, my mom waves it away.
“It’s so hard to cook anything for just the two of us. I always make extra.” Mom tucks her hair behind her ear. “When will your parents be home?”
“We expect them soon. It depends on when they could get their flight plan approved.” Caden squeezes my shoulder. His smile is easy, but there’s an underlying tension running through him.
Is it his parents coming? Or is it because of Ava?
“Dinner is almost ready.” Mom smiles and heads over to the stove. “Harper, do you want to set the table?”
I draw away from Caden and open the cabinet to grab the plates. Caden presses against me and takes a stack of four. Awareness flows through me.
“I’ve got it,” he murmurs.
Ava leans on the island with an amused expression. I just shake my head and grab the silverware. Ava watches me with curious eyes. It’s odd to know she’s important to him.
