Rina:Why is that even a question?
I laughed again.
Me:Alright, I’ll be there in twenty.
Rina:Yay! I made cookies for you earlier. Thought I’d give them to you when you stopped by the shop on Monday, but…
Could she get any more perfect?
Mr. Ribeiro had asked me to halt renovation until January. So, because I couldn’t meet Rina at the house, I’d decided to visit her briefly atdoAçaí.
When Mr. Ribeiro wasn’t there,obviously.
Me:What flavor are the cookies?
Rina:Lofthouse???
Me:I could kiss you a thousand times right now.
And then some, of course.
Rina:Then come here and do it???
I smiled.
Me:I’m on it.
I got to my feet. “Uh, hey, guys,” I said to my family.
They looked up from where they were all sitting around the kitchen counter, sipping their hot chocolate.
No cup for me…
Nice.
“I’m heading over to Rina’s,” I told them. “I’ll prolly go back to my place after and then come here in the morning for the gift-opening. That okay?”
Mom gave me alook. “Isn’t it a bit too late to be visiting her?”
“She said I could come over, Mom.”
My dad chuckled and placed a hand over hers. “He’s not a child, honey.”
She glanced at him, and then at me. “Well, as long as that horrid grandfather of hers doesn’t come at you for visiting her at this hour of the night…”
“Jesus Christ, Michelle,” Dad said, just as Taron grumbled, “The fuck, Mom,” and Sienna and Tori muttered, “Wow,” in unison.
I shook my head at her. “I’ll be fine,” I said to her, and then turned before hobbling over to the door.
Damn blisters.
“Wear your dad’s sneakers, hon! They have that cushion thing underneath for comfort!” Mom called out after me.
I’ve never felt more like a kid than I did in that moment.
“Will do, Mom. Love you.”
“Love you right back, sweetie!”
