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Our conversations continue until night starts to seep in and the outdoor lights switch on.
At times, Reid attempts to touch my hand, only to jerk away as if remembering we’re before my parents. It comes naturally to him. Since caving to our feelings, we haven’t been able to be in such closeness without touching.
“Now that you’re both here,” Aunt Helena says after drinking some of her juice, “I wanted to ask something.”
My pulse spikes, and I notice Reid straighten up in the chair out of the corner of my eye.
“What is it?” Mom urges with a smile.
Aunt Helena turns to me, eyes glistening from the wire lights above. “Well, I would like to give Cassie the Infiniti. It’s just sitting in the garage.”
“Seriously?” I sputter excitedly. “Oh my gosh. Thank you.” I snap to my parents. “Please say yes.”
Mom and Dad exchange a look.
“It’s worth nearly fifty thousand dollars,” Dad points out. “I’m not sure how I feel about my eighteen-year-old daughter driving such an expensive car.”
“It was Reid’s,” Aunt Helena adds. “Now valued at a little over thirty thousand. She’ll have it in college.”
“Still expensive,” Dad retorts with a splay of his hand.
I frown. “Dad, come on. I never had a car.”
He clicks his tongue. “You said you didn’t want one.”
“That’s because I was skateboarding everywhere, and none of my friends had cars. But it’ll be great in college.”
He shakes his head. “Your first won’t be that expensive. I’ll buy you something more appropriate.”
“Jeffy,” Aunt Helena pleads in a soft tone.
Dad huffs. “Do not call me that.”
His rumble stirs a flood of tension, silencing the table.
Mom touches his shoulder, voice quiet as she speaks. “It’s a gift to Cassie from her aunt. Is it so bad?”
“It’ll save you from spending the money,” I argue my case.
“Um, why don’t you take the weekend to think it over?” Aunt Helena advises. “If you accept, I’ll have it transported to Philadelphia this week. You won’t have to stress about getting it home. Up to you.”
Dad draws a deep breath, looks at Mom, and then at me. “Fine. I’ll think about it.”
Thankfully, the tension simmers, and we smooth back into pleasant chit-chat with Mom and Aunt Helena leading the topics.
Following dinner and more lengthy conversations, everyone disperses to bed.
I toss and turn, riddled with the uncertainty of how to reveal the truth to my parents.
Vibrations come from my nightstand, filling the dark with blue light. I reach over for my phone and see the text from Reid.
Meet me at the fort
in 5.
Butterflies instantly swarm my tummy. I climb out of bed, grab my slippers, and sneak out of the room, remaining quiet as I descend the stairs.
I walk through the shadows and out the patio doors, putting on my slippers before hurrying across the yard.
