Kai scoffs weakly. “You know Jamie picked it out. Sandy just told me that, if I was going to be a superstar’s love nugget, I needed to travel in style.”
There’s a world of things wrong with that statement, but you don’t argue. Instead, you tug weakly at Kai’s arms, which finally inspires him to get himself up and follow you into the shower. It’s fully dark outside by the time you guys are cleaned up, and you’re both hungry. You order room service and tear into it the moment it arrives, both of you swaddled in hotel robes. As you eat, you watch an old French movie that neither of you understand.
You have to stay up even later, because nobody remembered to ask housekeeping for a change of sheets.
part ii: stormy weather
Chapter Seven
Right when you return from Seychelles, you go to visit your folks in Connecticut. It’s been a while since you’ve seen your family, and you are enjoying the bubble of privacya lot.Nobody was papping you in Africa, and the public, nameless and legion, have no idea that you are flying home. Still, when your driver pulls up in your parents’ driveway, you have an insane case of jet lag and a headache being amplified by the summer sunlight. Kai is down in Atlanta having a belated birthday celebration with his own family, and checking on his house down there before preseason gets in full swing. It feels like there is an immense, football-player shaped void where he should be on the car seat beside you. Just like there was after you left London.Why is it getting harder and harder to be without him?That’s a loaded thought, so you push it down.
“You good, Mister Grayson?” Cal asks tactfully from the driver’s seat.
“Yes. Thank you,” you say. “You have any Tylenol, Cal?”
“Got some Motrin.”
You frown. Having skipped breakfast, ibuprofen is only going to mess up your stomach. “Thank you anyway.”
“Want me to pick you anything up at the store after I drop you off?”
He’s not looking at you in the rearview, which you realize belatedly when you shake your head. “Nah. I’m sure Mom’s got something.”
Entering your childhood home is always a little trippy. Each time you take that first step into the mud room with its warm oak wainscoting and the shoes lined up against the baseboards, you are transported back to simpler times. Report cards, Saturday morning baseball games, the miniature Christmas tree that your Mom lights up in the corner during the holiday season. Right now, there’s nothing there but the coat tree and the whir of the window AC unit.
At the sound of the door, there’s a racket of barking and doggie nails scratching on hardwood. Apollo comes bounding around the corner, his floppy ears flapping. Genuinely delighted, you drop the bag you’re holding and kneel. Your pup is all over you, paws on your shoulders despite his meticulous training, licking your face with joy as his tail wags a million miles per hour. At the step up to the main house, Artemis hangs back with characteristic hesitance, her big head cocked.Dad? What are you doing here?
The commotion brings your mom to check on the dogs.
“Sterling!” she exclaims happily. “I didn’t hear you come in!”
Apollo isn’t pleased when you stand up again, and he headbutts your legs in pursuit of more attention. Artemis picks that moment to greet you, entangling her big body with that of her brother’s, the two dogs tripping over each other and almost tripping you as you try to hug your mother.
“Oof,” you complain. “Have these two behaved themselves while I was gone?”
“Zero complaints,” she murmurs into your shoulder as she leans over into your embrace. “You know I take any chance I can get to spoil my grand-puppies.”
“Which is code for you giving them too many treats and unlimited people food,” you grumble lovingly.
Your mother snorts. “I’ve never heard of any other dogs having raw, organic diets and on-call nutritionists. You are never going to convince me that some rotisserie chicken is hurting them.” She looks from you to the door. “Where’s Kaius?”
“Visitinghisfolks. I thought I told you that?”
She shakes her head. “Maybe you did? That’s too bad. I wanted to give him his birthday present.”
“You didn’t need to buy him a birthday present, Mom.”
That one makes her laugh. “Always trying to tell me what to do.”
Finally, the dogs relent and push past you two into the main house, allowing you and your mom to follow. No sooner have you cleared the living room than you hear light footsteps on the stairs, and your older sister peeks around the corner.
“Oh, it’s you,” she says, feigning disappointment. “Did Kai come with you?”
“It’s nice to see you too, big sister,” you say, laying it on thick. “I know it’s been so long, Noemi. Gee, I’ve missed you too! I’m sorry that I’m such a shitty substitute for Kai…”
“Sterling John! Language!” your mother interjects.
Ignoring her, you wrap Noemi up in a big hug, lifting her slightly off the floor. She squeals when you do it, and squeezes your neck.
