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The second I open it, the air is crushed out of me, thanks to my mom’s hug. I sink into her, absorbing her love. We’ve always been close. We love a lot of the same things—minus math—and being the only girl, the youngest, and having some massive social anxiety has made me a bit of a mama’s girl. Which I’m totally okay with.
“I am so, so sorry, sweetie,” she whispers into my ear.
I pat her back. “We’re okay.”
She gives me another squeeze and mutters, “No, I meant that Gigi and Pops are planning to stop by this afternoon, and she’s bringing you a present. I tried to tell her now is not the time, but she insisted, and honestly, you kinda want it because it’s awesome, but I’m still sorry. Just don’t open it in front of everyone.” She holds me at arm’s length, her expression somewhere between empathy, amusement, and worry.
“Thanks for the warning.” My gigi is awesome. She’s also very, very liberal. I’ve amassed an entire drawer full of personal pleasure devices because she wants to make sure I know my own body before anyone else does. The message is a good one, but it can be embarrassing when she hands these things to me in front of my family.
“I didn’t want you to walk into that scenario unprepared.” Mom cups my face between her hands. “You look tired. Are you sleeping okay? How about eating? Have you been moopy? I brought a new bottle of lactose pills for you.”
“I’m fine, Mom, really.”
She nods and scans the space beyond me, which leads to the kitchen. “What about the boys? Are they being slobs? They’re not having too many parties, are they? Are they being careful about who they invite over? Do you have mace? Maybe we should go out and get some, or you could take a self-defense class refresher. That might be a good idea.”
“Mom.” I squeeze her shoulders. “Take a breath.”
Her eyes fall shut for a few seconds, and she and I breathe a count of four and out again. When she opens them, she looks like she might get weepy on me. God, I miss her. She has always been in my corner, doing everything she can to help me be comfortable in my own skin.
“I’m so glad no one was in that house.” She exhales another long, slow breath.
“Me too.”
“Lainey must be beside herself. She and Rook should be here soon.”
I nod. “Aunt Lily and Uncle Randy left about the same time you did, so they shouldn’t be far behind you.”
“And Lance and Poppy just had to pick up the girls from a friend’s house and then they were heading out, too.”
“I’m surprised Aunt Charlene and Uncle Darren didn’t come along for shits and giggles.” I’m only half joking. Charlene and Darren aren’t technically my aunt and uncle, but our families are so close we might as well all be related.
“Darren had to run a hockey practice for your dad and Charlene had to take Rose to rehearsal, otherwise they’d be here, too.” She fiddles with my hair. Her nails are a glittery purple, the color of my name. “How are things with Kody?”
I shrug noncommittally. “I don’t really see much of him. The guys are always at practice, or games, or class, and so am I. I’ve been hanging out with Lacey and Lovey a lot, though.” I shift the conversation, because talking about Kodiak with my mom is never easy, and I don’t want to lie to her.
She doesn’t have a chance to ask any more questions because the front door swings open again. “How’s my baby girl?” My dad swoops in and picks me up like I’m a toddler, folding me into a ridiculously tight bear hug.
“Oh my God! You’re going to break my ribs, Dad!” He gives me a stubbled kiss on the cheek and sets me back on the floor.
“I missed you, kiddo.” He holds me by the shoulders, and his lips thin. “Have you lost weight? You look tired, honey. Are the boys being a problem?”
“Everything’s fine.” I wrap my arms around his waist. “And I miss you too.”
I let him hug me for a while. Me going away for college has been tough for him. He tried to bribe me with a really awesome car to get me to stay in Lake Geneva. Then River’s head nearly exploded when I suggested I’d live in the dorm, so here I am. I still got a cool car out of the deal, though, because my dad didn’t want me to be without my own transportation. Obviously I haven’t mentioned to anyone that I signed up for the student housing waiting list. No need to invite unnecessary drama.
There are more people waiting on the steps behind him, so we move out of the foyer. Lainey greets me with a huge hug. Kodiak is such a mix of his parents. He has his mother’s dark hair, almond-shaped eyes, and full lips, but he has his dad’s dimple, rugged jawline, and size.
“You’ve really grown up, haven’t you?” She squeezes my hands.
I shrug. I’m severely lacking in height, but I’m not the gawky little girl she probably remembers. “Happens to all of us, I guess.”
She laughs and her eyes soften. “I hope my son has been treating you well.”
I fight to keep my smile in place. “I don’t see too much of him.”
A shadow of sadness passes behind her eyes. “Really? I thought with him living down the street, you’d see more of each other.”
I swallow past the lump in my throat. “Well, they’re all so busy with sports and classes.”
