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I run a hand over my stubble, considering the best way to explain the process. “Have you played with Legos?”
“Yes!” She nods her head with a smile.
“It’s like that but harder.”
“Why?”
Instead of explaining the process, I pull out my phone and show her a time-lapse video of someone building a model sailboat. It’s the first time I’ve been able to keep her quiet for a solid five minutes, so I count my idea as a win. Even I find myself getting swept up in the familiarity of the process and the therapeutic aspect of boatbuilding.
And that right there is why your brothers teased you endlessly about being a nerd.
Once the video ends, she looks up at me with a big smile. “Cool!”
I rear back. “Really?”
Her head bobs up and down. “I want to try.”
She might not look like Lana, but she is 100 percent her through and through.
“You do?”
“Yes! Can we make one together?”
I blink twice, focusing on how she grouped us together. “What?”
“Please can we do one, Cow-l? Pretty, pretty please.” Her bright eyes pierce through my resolve, tempting me to say yes.
“Ummm…”
She bats her lashes. “I’ll be your bestest friend ever.”
Don’t you dare fall for that.
Except it’s pretty hard not to with the way she looks up at me with a beaming smile full of hope. The idea of killing her budding interest makes the acid in my stomach bubble.
Stay strong.
“They’re pretty hard.” My excuse might be weak, but it’s an honest one. I didn’t start my first kit until I was double her age, and even then, I struggled until my grandpa stepped in to help.
“I’m no quitter.” She lifts her chin.
I can tell based on the way she pushes me to say yes. I’m tempted to, solely because of her tenacity, but one thing holds me back.
“You need to ask your mom if it’s okay.”
“So, we can build one?” She bounces on the balls of her feet.
“Ifyour mom says yes—” Lana will for sure say no, and I wouldn’t blame her one bit. It was kind of our thing before it wasn’t anymore. There is no chance in hell I expect her to want Cami and me to build one.
Cami cuts me off with a squeal before running out of my room, leaving me to question if I made the right decision.
No turning back now.
I spend the rest of my day packing away each of my model ships carefully into individual moving boxes. The last one I have left to pack, which I debated between dumping or saving all afternoon, is the boat Lana and I never finished.
Before I reconsider my answer, I pack it away with the box of unfinished parts.
My phone goes off a few times, mostly from my family group chat which I’ve ignored ever since my fight with Declan. I know I’ll have to deal with him eventually, but I would rather face him once I’m officially done with my task.
