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Laney
I want to trust you, Ayden. I really do. But you broke my heart, and I’m scared you’ll do it again.
Ayden
I know, sweetheart. I have a lot of making up to do, and I promise I won’t stop until I do.
I send him a blushing-face emoji, then send my mom a message to let her know I’ll be in baggage claim soon.
As soon as I grab my carry-on and walk off the plane, I’m eager to find them.
“Mom!” I hear Serena shout. She rushes toward me with her arms open and slams into me.
“Hey, baby!” I squeeze her tight. “You grew an inch overnight!”
“I did not!” She pulls back and looks up at me. “I missed you.”
“I missed you too.” I kiss the top of her head.
“You two are inseparable.” My mom chuckles.
It’s true. Even with Howie around, Serena and I always took on the world together.
Once I grab my suitcase, Serena takes my hand and leads me out to the car.
“Tell meeverythin’,” she says dramatically once we buckle in. “What’s it like up inTen-naw-see?” she purposely drags out the word, making me laugh.
“Pretty similar to Texas,” I admit. “I met a lot of the family there.”
“Don’t they have the best accents?” my mom asks with a grin.
I chuckle and nod.
“They don’t talk like us?” Serena asks.
“They do, but they have more of a twang in theirs, and it’s more distinctive.”
“Do I get to go up there?”
“Yeah, baby. Eventually. Ayden’s gonna come here first in a few weeks.”
“Oh my gosh. Can we go to the beach? And a rodeo? And the zoo? Will he be here for the Fourth of July?” Her whole face lights up as she bounces in her seat.
“Sweetheart, slow down. Once he finalizes the dates he can come, we’ll make plans for all that, okay?”
I love that she wants to experience so many fun, family-filled days, but I worry her heart will shatter as soon as he leaves. It’s not hard to fall in love with Ayden, and I have no doubt she’ll love him the moment she meets him.
“Is he excited to meet me?” Serena asks.
“Soexcited, baby.”
Mom catches me up on store stuff between Serena coming up with more things for us to do. A giddy smile stays plastered on her face for the rest of the ride home. I can’t stop replaying every interaction we had over the past twenty-four hours.
I only hope we get many more.
ChapterSeven
Ayden
