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I laugh. “That’s the plan. When do classes start for you?”
“Not until after Labor Day. But I’m ready now. Being in this house all the time drives me nuts. Too many needy people who make too many messes,” Cat says, referring to her large family. “I’ve been escaping to Colby’s.”
“How’s that going?”
“Good. It’s just casual. No labels, just delicious hot sex.” Cat grins and wiggles her eyebrows.
“As long as you’re cool with your arrangement, then I’m happy for you. Just be careful. Those icky sticky feelings we don’t like sneak up on you.”
Cat averts her eyes, but I caught the flash of hurt in them. She already caught those feelings. But I’ll let her be the one to tell me that. “Yeah, they do. But none here!” She smiles wide as she returns her gaze to me, but I can tell. I see through the cover. But I don’t push the subject.
When she’s ready, she’ll tell me what’s really going on. I just hope it ends up being what she wants. I don’t want to see her end up hurting more.
Reaching over, I place my hand on top of hers and gently squeeze. “I’m always here if you need anything.”
Cat nods, and I see her eyes fill with tears. “Maybe one day I can join you in big ol’ Cali.”
My face lights up. “That would be awesome! We would have so much fun together.” I clap my hands together. “I think you would really like it there.”
Cat nods, a wistful look in her eyes. “I think I would too.”
And then we laugh until our bellies hurt, relishing our last moments together before we’ll see each other again.
* * *
“This is definitely an improvement over last year.” I squeeze Tyler’s hand as he takes the exit for the airport.
We helped each other load up our cars and now we’re headed to the airport to pick up Mason and Madison.
Tyler smiles at me as he steers the car easily through the twists of the off-ramp. Soon, signs appear for parking and various parts of the airport, depending on where you’re going and what you’re doing. He pulls into the lot that allows one-hour parking for drop-offs and pickups. “Even with our shitty parent situations, too.”
I sigh as I unbuckle. That part sucks.A lot.I’m just trying not to think about it.
“It’s crazy how similar our families have turned out to be after all these years,” Tyler says as he kills the engine and slides his wallet and phone into his shorts pocket. “Each of us lost a parent, struggle with our sibling, and our alive parent.”
When he puts it all together, I realize how similar we are. “Yeah, you’re right. I never thought about it before.”
Tyler leans over the middle console and cups my cheek with one hand, his thumb stroking my cheek. “We have each other, Goody. That’s what matters, right?”
I lean my head to the side and nuzzle his hand. “Yes. That’s all that matters.”
“I love you,” he whispers, and I whisper it back as he presses his lips to mine. He deepens the kiss by slipping his tongue inside. He always tastes so damn good.
With one last peck on my lips, he backs away. “Let’s go them before I take you into the back seat and have my way with you.” Tyler’s eyes darken as he looks at me like he wants to devour every inch of me.
A storm stirs inside me, starting in my belly and spreading throughout. I know that look. I wink, blow him a kiss, and get out of the car.
I slide my arm through his, and we walk into the airport. The info board says their flight has arrived and what gate.
Once we make it there, we wait by the side as people slowly trickle out.
Tyler cracks a joke, and I throw my head back in laughter, almost missing the unmistakable scream of Madison Blackwell.
There she is, running past people, her arms waving as she yells, “Lo! Oh my God! Lo!”
I expected nothing less, and the memories of her loud screams have me grinning from ear to ear.
Letting go of Tyler’s arm, I rush over to her. She drops her carry-on bag and throws her arms around me. “I missed you so much!”
