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“Surprise,” she said, leaning in to hug me.
“Nice to see you too, Lil,” Avery said, shaking his head with disbelief.
“I have hugs for you too.” I looped my arms around his broad shoulders. “Do your parents and Ashleigh know you’re here?”
“No, we thought we’d drive back and surprise you all.”
“Best surprise ever.” I welcomed them into the house. Everyone was going to flip when they saw them. Avery and Miley were attending college. He was at Notre Dame and Miley went to Northwestern. But they had their own apartment now halfway between the two.
Avery took off down the hall, but Miley lingered behind. “So, senior year. Tell me everything.”
“It’s been… interesting so far. You heard about Rixon East burning down?”
“Yeah, your uncle called Avery the other week. I can’t imagine that having Rixon East kids at Rixon High is going down too well.”
“It’s mostly the football team. You know what they’re like.”
“Oh, I know.” Her lips thinned. Miley and Avery hadn’t had an easy start to their relationship. He’d been the star quarterback and she’d been the eager school newspaper reporter who betrayed the town’s precious Raiders. But despite their differences, their history, they had made it work.
“I’m so happy to see you,” I said, lacing my arm through hers.
Miley was like the big sister I never had, and although we still talked now and again, it wasn’t the same as having her here in Rixon.
By the time we got outside, everyone had swarmed Avery, all wanting their hug or handshake.
“Miley, sweetheart, get over here,” Aunt Hailee hurried over to us, pulling her into a hug. I let go of her and gave them space.
“God, it’s so good to see you.”
“Hey, where’s Uncle Xan?” Avery asked, glancing round.
“He… uh… he’s not doing so good.” Uncle Cam ran a hand down his face and the two of them started a hushed conversation.
Xander was Ashleigh and Avery’s uncle, Cameron’s younger brother. Sometimes he came to family gatherings and was the life and soul of the party, but other times, like today, he didn’t.
“Okay, everyone, let’s eat.” Dad ushered everyone to the huge table. Whenever my aunt and uncle came and the Bennet’s came over, we had to get out the extra chairs. It was loud and chaotic and messy, but it was family.
The kind of chaos that calmed your soul.
Avery waited until everyone was seated and then cleared his throat. “So we didn’t come back just to visit,” he said, pulling Miley into his side.
They had survived senior year, two years of living away from each other at different colleges, our families. Avery and Miley were couple goals, and like the rest of my family, I braced myself for whatever he was about to say.
“Well, go on, Son,” Uncle Cam said. “Spit it out before Aaron eats all the steak.”
Everyone laughed, but Avery looked a pale shade of green.
“I… we…”
“We’re engaged.” Miley blurted out around a huge smile.
“Engaged?” At least two of the adults spluttered.
“Cameron,” Aunt Hailee chided. “This is great news. It’s great news, congratulations.”
“Your mom’s right, Son, it is great news. I was just a little shocked there for a second. You never said anything…”
“It just kinda happened, Dad. I love Miley and moving in together over the summer only cemented what I already know: that I want to spend the rest of my life with her.”
