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“That’s the deal with my father. I’ll tell you the deets later,” she says in a sharp and vague way. Luanna turns to face my parents. “Thank you so much for bringing me here, but I think that Bree can handle it now.”
God bless her.
“Are you sure?” mom interrogates.
Luanna and I nod at the same time. I have to admit that we still have that connection where we know exactly what to do to save each other’s ass. Luanna is being my savior right now.
“Absolutely,” she assures her, smiling radiantly. “Seriously, I’m tired from the flight. I want to take a nap.”
Mom squints at us in the same way that she used to do when we were little. The truth is that we’re not far from that situation. Luanna is just acting by instinct, and I’m hiding a big piece of information. An information with a heartbeat that’s hiding in my roommate’s room.
I don’t think this morning is the right way for my mom to meet Stanley. She would get the wrong impression.
“Okay, call me if you need anything,” mom concedes.
I scoff.
“Even if it doesn’t seem like it, I do know how to survive on my own,” I quip.
Mom flicks her tongue because she knows that I only cook out of need. However, she can’t say that I’ve starved to death either.
“Right, right.”
Dad helps Luanna carry the suitcases inside, leaving them in a corner of the living room, and they walk to the doorframe. Dad stops, turning around to stare at me, reading my body language.
“Bree,” he calls me, patting the door. “Next time that your friend stays over, tell him to come out and say hi.”
I feel my spirit abandoning my body. Color fades from my face as my body paralyzes.
“W-What?” I stutter.
“Your friend. What was his name? Stan?”
Fuck me.
“Dad—”
“I don’t want to know the details or your excuses. I recognized the car from his building,” he interrupts me, raising his hands.
“It’s probably a coincidence,” I mutter.
Finally, he laughs.
“But it’s not,” Dad retorts, kissing my head. “Be careful, okay?”
I arch a brow as I cross my arms above my chest.
“Talking from experience?” I inquire.
“Of course I talk from experience. Do you think that I wanted to have your brother at that age?” he rebukes, making me laugh.
Mom pops her head over his shoulder.
“Oh, and let yourfriendknow that he’s invited for Thanksgiving if he’s not spending it with his family,” she tells me warmly.
This has gotten from awkward to unexpected in less than a minute. That was a plot twist. I didn’t expect this reaction from them and I’m more than mortified, but also relieved that they’re both receptive to the idea of Stanley being a permanent thing in my life.
“Got it,” I whisper.
