“Maybe he was having all the sex!” Cyrus yells in the background, making Lacey laugh and Dad growl.
“Cyrus. We don’t talk like that.”
Mama stifles a laugh, then of course has to ask, “Were you?”
I huff. “No, Mama. I’ve just got a really bad headache. I think finals week and the intensity of packing up and going is all catching up with me. I’m sorry, okay? But I’ll see you guys next week. I’ll start driving down on Wednesday or something.”
After a reluctant pause, Mama softly agrees. “Okay. I’ll make sure your room’s all set up for you and Dani.”
My face bunches, this ache turning to a sharp pain. I should tell her not to bother, but I can’t form the words right now.
“You look after yourself today, and we’ll see you soon. Keep me posted on your arrival, okay?”
“Yes, ma’am.”
“I love you, boy.”
“Love you too, Mama.”
“I love you!” Cyrus yells.
I let out a soft snicker and murmur, “Love you too, Cy.”
“You take care,” Mama says as a final farewell before hanging up.
Dropping the phone on my bed, I hang my head with a weary sigh, resting my hands on my hips and dreading the coming week. Shit, I’m dreading summer and the months beyond that. I’m just… feeling kind of hopeless about my future, and that sucks.
I want to make my dreams come true. Travel the world… with Dani.
But that’s not gonna happen.
Dammit, I shouldn’t have let myself toy with those ideas. This is why she never wants to live more than a day or two ahead. She knows how life can kick you in the balls, snatch away your joy without warning.
With a soft growl, I spin and head downstairs, figuring I’ll grab a quick bite, then… I don’t know… finish packing my room or go for a fucking long run!
“Hey, Ty!” Zoey’s sweet voice greets me as soon as I walk into the kitchen.
“Hey, lil’ bug.” I bend down to scoop her into my arms when she runs toward me.
She giggles when I throw her up, then catch her again. Nestling her sticky cheek against my shoulder, I figure I should probably do a load of laundry today as well.
Her little fingers reach up to brush my face, and then she sits back to look at me. She holds either side of my cheeks, her blue eyes studying me, her lips turning into a pout. “You sad?”
“I’m okay.” I force a smile, and she grins back, her worry erased in the blink of an eye.
She’s so sweet, so trusting, so innocent.
I press a kiss to the tip of her nose, that ache blooming all over again. But this one is different. When her little arms wrap around my neck to hug me, I palm her back, my hand covering her tiny body as I whisper, “I love you, Zoey Girl.”
She giggles and whispers loudly, “I love you!”
Sienna laughs, her face gooey with affection as I pop Zoey back down on the kitchen floor. She pads across the tiles barefoot, her pink-polished toenails so tiny and cute. Jumping up, she climbs into Zander’s lap and leans against his chest, trying to steal his toast when he takes a bite.
“Hey,” he reprimands her with a mock scowl, and she giggles, Sienna watching on with this loved-up look that’s making my insides crumple.
Shit. Am I ever gonna get that look?
For a fleeting moment, Dani looked at me that way. But not anymore.
