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“That’s a lot to unpack,” she said with a laugh.
“I need a good long tea therapy session with you,” I said, suddenly so homesick for my family it made it hard to breathe.
“You can fly home any time you want,” she said. “I’ll make up your old bed and cook you all your favorite meals. Laundry, though… That’s all on you.”
“I know how this works. I come home and then you refuse to let me leave.”
“You know I hate having you so far away.”
My throat tightened. “Thanks. For always being there when I need you.”
“Ah, LoLo,” she crooned. “Thanks for still confiding in me. I know you have Tavy to turn to.”
“Tavy’s Tavy, and she’s my best friend and she gets me. But you’re my mom. No one loves me like you do.”
“Stop that, or I’m going to cry.”
I laughed softly. “Tea and FaceTime? Sometime this week? Just you and me?”
“I’d love that. I really would.”
“I love you, Mom.
“I love you, too. Oh, and Logan?”
“Yeah?”
“Your new guy? Let it breathe. It might turn into something you don’t expect.”
My mom hung up before I could have the last word.
“How does everyone know?” I muttered.
My tail bone was numb from sitting on the porch steps, so I got up and went back inside.
Darcy was in the kitchen, in the middle of pouring a hefty amount of vodka into a red Solo cup.
When she saw me, she froze. And then a strained smile appeared across her lips. Her face was tense and her spine snapped straight.
“Logan. Hey.”
“Hi.” I gestured to the front porch. “I was just talking to my mom on the phone. She was checking in. Doing what moms do.”
“You must miss her.”
“I do,” I said. “Are you feeling better?”
“Hmm?”
“Your headache?”
“Oh. Right. Yeah. I’m fine now. Can I make you a drink?” she asked.
“No. I’m good. Thanks. I better get back out there before Tavy eats all the potato salad.” With a smile and wave, I headed toward the hallway.
Something about Darcy was nagging at me, but I wasn’t sure what. I didn’t know her well enough to even have an idea of what was going on, but my antennae were up.
As I ventured out into the backyard, my eyes landed on Smoke.
