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“Not once,” I admit.
Bailey looks shocked. Then she pats my arm and says, “Maybe next year. I can be your partner; I’m faster than Mom. I gotta go,” and takes off toward Mav, who’s shouting for her to come and play.
There’s a strange pain in my chest. I clear my throat and turn to my brother David, who walks up beside me and hands me a beer.
“Cute kid,” he says.
I nod. “She’s great.”
We’re silent for a moment. David’s only a year younger than me—just turned forty this year—but we were never close. Vince was obviously Wendy’s favorite; he could get away with murder. David and I mostly just stayed out of everyone’s way.
Finally, he says, “It’s good to see you happy, man,” then claps me on the shoulder and walks away.
That’s as much connection as I’ve ever had to my adoptive brother. I’ve spent decades feeling like an outsider, wondering if I’d ever find my place in the world. Maybe it’s time for me to accept that a clap on the back and a few polite words are as good as it gets—and maybe I don’t need anything more from these people.
I turn and see Mia with her girlfriends, doubled over with laughter. Simone is gesturing madly, obviously retelling a story, and Mia starts wiping her eyes.
This twisting in my chest—it’s more than lust. It’s more than attraction and desire. I’m in love with Mia. Every part of her, from her temper to her smile. I was a goner from the moment I walked into her barbershop, and I’m only realizing it now.
Before I can absorb this realization, Mia is sidling up to me and tugging me toward the far end of the patio. Her hand feels perfect in mine. She’s flushed and gorgeous, her hair twisted into a hat to keep her from freezing. Bailey comes running and slips her hand into my other one, and the three of us find seats to watch the trophy presentation.
If someone asked me to speak right now, I wouldn’t be able to. I feel elated to be so close to Mia and terrified that I’ll lose her before I even get to call her mine. It’s like my ribs have been peeled back, and my heart is beating out in the open, exposed, vulnerable.
“…Bailey and Mav!” Grandma Maude calls out, a wide smile on her face. I snap back to the present and watch Bailey jump up from her chair and run forward.
She nudges Maverick with her shoulder, grinning, a hank of hair falling out of her ponytail onto her face. While my grandfather hands the medals to Grandma Maude, I steal a glance at Mia.
She’s teary-eyed and smiling. Catching me glancing at her, she shakes her head, abashed. “It’s silly to be this emotional about a three-legged race. But whenever Bailey’s this happy, it just hits me extra hard.”
Unable to resist, I sling an arm around the back of her chair and tug her closer. “You’re allowed to be as emotional as you want, Mia.”
She sniffles, laughing at herself, and finally rests her head on my shoulder. That simple movement causes painful tightness behind my ribcage. I let my fingers coast over her shoulder, leaning my cheek against the top of her head, afraid that if I make any sudden movements, the moment will be over.
“Now, it’s time for the adult’s trophy,” my grandmother calls out. She nods at David, who brings the egg trophy closer and sets it on a small table. There’s a hushed excitement in the gathered crowd, a sort of reverence that seems almost silly now.
I can’t believe I cared about winning that thing. Who cares if Vince wins it four times in a row? Who cares if he wins a hundred times in a row?
Mia is in my arms, and that’s worth more than any trophy. I don’t need to prove to anyone that I belong in this family; I can make my own way, find my own family.
If she’ll have me.
Vince and Caitlyn’s names are called, and Mia straightens to clap for them. Reluctantly, I bring my arm back around and join the applause, feeling not even a tremor of annoyance when Vince lifts the Thomas Trophy over his head.
I truly don’t care.
Instead, my eyes are drawn to Mia, who’s whispering congratulations to Bailey as she shows off her medal. Mia kisses her daughter’s forehead and hugs her close, looking radiant and beautiful.
No, I don’t care about Vince and Caitlyn, about Wendy, about this big house and this town—but I do care about Mia and Bailey.
When Bailey wiggles out of her mom’s hug and comes to show me her medal, warmth spreads through my chest, diffusing through my veins like ink through water. I like being the person Bailey shows off to. I like that she wants to share her victory with me.
With Mia and Bailey, I finally have a place in the world where I’m accepted just as I am.
Later,when the kids are in bed, the turkey is eaten, and the pies are demolished (Jen’s apple pie being a raving hit), Mia and I head to our room. With the warm yellow light of the bedside lamp illuminating the room, Mia steals a glance at me and flushes.
“So…” she starts, then trails off.
I can’t help myself from wrapping my arms around her. When she tilts her head up, I take the opportunity to kiss her long and deep, until my heart settles and I feel like I can pull away without falling apart at the seams.
