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Max
Time is flying by, due to the end of the school year nearing and my workload tripling. Things with Kiara have been amazing. We still manage to see each other nearly every day, and I’ve been spending lots of time with her and Tilly together—which I love. Tilly’s a great kid who can bring out the sunshine in anything.
It’s the last day of school and I’m still at the office. It’s going on seven o’clock, but I want to make sure I have no reason to come back until I have to. I intend on making the most of my holidays, and that plan doesn’t involve thinking about work for a second more than I have to.
Sighing, I throw the last folder into my filing drawer and slam it shut. I’m done. Finally. Picking up my phone, I call Kiara. The sound of her voice makes my stomach flip. How does she do that to me every single time?
“Hey you,” she says, her tone warm. “Tell me you’re not still at work?”
“Just finished,” I smirk, tapping my fingers on my desk. “I’m thinking we need to celebrate. You, me, and Tilly, dinner in half an hour at La Mex?” I suggest, naming Tilly’s favorite restaurant of the moment.
“Someone’s trying to earn some brownie points,” she teases. “We’ll see you there.”
Hanging up, I grab my keys and walk over to the door, locking the office behind me. The school is empty apart from the cleaners, who nod at me as I walk past them in the hallway.
Outside, I walk over to my car, unlocking it before sliding into the driver’s seat. I don’t really have enough time to go home first, so I just head in the direction of the restaurant. My phone rings, and I press answer on my hands-free, assuming it’s Kiara. But it’s not. I’m surprised to hear my brother’s voice.
“Hey,” I say, swinging the car onto the road. There’s an unusual amount of traffic, even for seven on a Friday night. “How’s things?”
“Good, man,” Will says, his voice cheerful. “Sorry to bother you, I was just wondering what your plans are for summer? It’s Macie’s tenth birthday, and I know she’d love it if you came to her party.”
“Sure,” I find myself saying. I was planning to go up there for a few days, anyway. “It’s next month, right?” I ask. Or is it August? My face heats up. What kind of uncle doesn’t remember his niece’s birthdate?
“July 20th,” he chuckles. “Plenty of room here for you to stay. Even if you can only come for a day or two.”
“Okay, count me in. Thanks for the invite,” I say.
As I end the call, I’m feeling good about getting things back on track with Will, and no doubt my parents will be there too. I can kill two birds with one stone and get my annual visit with them out of the way.
By the time I weave my way through the traffic to the restaurant, I’m barely running on time. As I pull into the nearest parking space, I spot Kiara. She’s walking as Tilly skips beside her, her blonde hair flying everywhere. As I get out of my car, I call out to them. Kiara turns, and waves when she sees me.
“Hey,” she grins, waiting for me to catch up.
Tilly looks up at me, her eyes narrowed as she studies my face, probably wondering why I’m joining them for dinner.
“Hey, Tilly,” I say. “I chose this place because I know you like it.”
Her face breaks into a smile as her eyes light up.
“I’m gonna have all the tacos,” she declares, loudly enough for the whole parking lot to hear. I chuckle and rest my hand on the curve of Kiara’s back as Tilly skips ahead of us to the entrance. That was easy.
“Wow, it’s busy tonight,” Kiara comments as we walk through the front doors and into the bustling restaurant.
“Yeah,” I mutter, not expecting such a crowd. “I hope I didn’t need to make a reservation.” I can just imagine how inconsolable Tilly would be if tacos for dinner was off the menu. Oh well, there’s always Sergio’s truck.
We’re lucky enough to score a table without too much of a wait. After we’re seated we order enough to feed us for a week and less than ten minutes later, the waitress carries our trays of food over. Tilly’s eyes grow wide as she reaches for a taco and puts it on her plate. She reaches for another, but Kiara stops her.
“Finish that one first,” she says. Tilly sighs, but gets to work on taco number one.
“I’m going to go up and see Will in a few weeks,” I say, throwing the last of my taco into my mouth. “For my nieces birthday.”
“That’s great,” Kiara says, her eyes sparkling. “Say hi to him from me. I’m still so grateful for all he did for me.”
“You could say hi yourself?” I suggest. “Why don’t you both come with me?”
“Maybe we will,” she says. “Would you like to go to the beach, Till?”
Tilly’s eyes light up. “Yeah!”
