Instead I say, "It's two streets from Mom and Dad."
"And that's important?" she asks, looking past me to the house.
"It's a corner lot," I say "But I don't like it. What's the next one?"
Jade takes the list I wrote from the cupholder and looks it over.
"Um, Lark Lane? Who knew there were so many houses for sale in little old Wilmont," she says.
She's not wrong, it's strange. Wilmont's seen a lot of development over the last few years. There's even a dollar store. Abuela would shit bricks if she was alive to see that.
"How do you not need the GPS?" Jade asks.
I shrug and stop at the light. "I grew up here."
The house on Lark is even bigger and grander than the first one. Jade scoffs at it, and I don't even come to a complete stop in front of it. The next one is a condo, well maintained, but I'm over condo living. I want something that's entirely mine, but I don't know what that feels like.
Maybe I'm not ready.
Chapter thirty
Jade
Sunday at the Hayes' home is my new favorite scent. Coop and I make eye contact in the foyer, and pause, breathing it in. I can't cook for shit, so we both take full advantage of every meal we eat here.
We follow the scent trail to the kitchen where soft music plays from a speaker on the counter.
Charlie looks up from the pot of marinara she's stirring and smiles. Her smile is always warm and welcoming. It's like a hug you didn't know you needed. Cooper goes in for the real thing though, wrapping his little arms around her waist. She pauses her stirring to give him a squeeze.
"I'm so glad you guys are here," she says. "I haven't seen you since Thanksgiving."
"Shit, I forgot your containers, sorry," I apologize. "Coop and I ate Thanksgiving leftovers for most of the week, thank you again."
"I imagine you're all turkey'ed out." She laughs. "Good thing it's spaghetti night."
"What can I help with?" I ask.
She shakes her head. "Nothing for now. When Liam and Mateo get back from the gym, we can start the water for the pasta."
"Where's Addie?" Coop asks, looking around as if she's hiding behind a stool.
"She had to work today, but she should be home soon," Charlie tells him.
He nods and puts his ear buds in, then heads to the living room where he plops on the couch.
"I've never seen a kid do that like he does," Charlie says.
I raise a brow and take a seat on a stool at the island.
"The way he zones out to music, how he doesn't need to do anything else," she explains. "He doesn't play on his phone or fidget. He simply listens."
"Music has always been my safe space," I say, honestly. "I guess I passed that on to him."
She takes a deep breath as if there's something more she wants to say but instead picks a few basil leaves off the plant in the window above the sink. When she turns back around, her eyes are wet with tears.
I open my mouth to say something, but she holds up a finger to stop me.
"Jade, I want you to listen to me. It's important, okay?"
