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“Yup.”
“Well, thanks.”
“For what?”
“For getting him off of me.”
He nodded and got into his car. He backed out of the driveway, and stopped when he reached me in front of Shelly’s car by the curb. “Hey, Merritt.”
“Yeah?”
“Don’t break my brother’s heart.”
I was stunned that Tanner even cared about his brother’s feelings. “I wouldn’t do that.”
He rolled up his window and sped down the block.
I got into the passenger seat beside Shelly.
“You see? Even he knows you’re in love with Chase.”
I shot her a look, and turned on the radio so we could drive the entire way to New Jersey without talking.
When we were in kindergarten, Shelly’s mother was pregnant with another daughter. She ended up having a miscarriage. Shelly always said that I was like the sister she never got to have, and her parents treated me as such. Growing up, Shelly’s parents – Betty and Don – always seemed perfect: they acted like Shelly’s friends, and had a great, honest relationship with her. The revelation of Don’s secret five-year gambling problem almost tore the family apart. They lost almost everything, and had to move where it was cheaper in south New Jersey. Since Shelly was already in her freshman year of college, she got her own apartment and opted to stay in Staten Island. Don went to rehab, and they were still able to live happily ever after.
It was strange pulling up to their mobile home, though I had been there many times before. I had not seen them since the day I left the hospital after waking up from the coma. I secretly was not looking forward to this dinner – anyone who hadn’t seen me since the accident always poked and prodded with the same questions. It was like a broken record that I could not stop. I put on my game face as I stepped through the door of their mobile home.
“My girls are home!” Betty shouted. She threw her arms around the both of us and crushed us in her embrace.
“Ma! Watch Merr’s shoulder!”
“Oh! Oh! I’m so sorry. Are you okay?”
I laughed. “I’m fine. How are you? You look great!”
“I’m down ten pounds since the last time you saw me.” She faced sideways, showing off her slimmer waistline.
“Wow, mom. Look at you! What are you trying to find a boyfriend?”
“Yeah,” Don called from the kitchen. “One with more hair!”
“Maybe we should hire a pool boy,” Betty called back to him.
Shelly shook her head. “Oh, you have a pool now?”
“You don’t need a pool to get a pool boy.” Betty winked at me.
“Ew,” Shelly grimaced. “Enough of this. I actually want to have an appetite for dinner.”
I followed the smell of Shelly’s favorite dinner – chicken parmigiana with spaghetti – into the tiny kitchen. “Smells great in here, Don.”
Don turned around, in his Kiss the Cook apron, and opened his arms. “Get over here, kid.”
Our hug lingered as I closed my eyes and took in the familiarity all around me. The smell of a home cooked meal; the sound of football on the television in the next room; the feeling of being home with family.
“Alright, alright,” Shelly interrupted. “Your second favorite daughter is here now.” She always joked that Don favored me. Truthfully, I think he just felt guilty about blowing all of his money and not being able to help me through my financial hardship with my father. So, he overcompensated with love.
Don chuckled. “Shut up and hug me.”
