“Hello?”
“Hi, sweetie,” Mom chirps in my ear. “Update me.”
“We’ll be in Albuquerque tonight, so we’ll be there Friday afternoon.”
Mom hums, and just by the way it sounds, I know what question is coming next. “Okay. And who is this friend that’s driving you?”
“Tatum Brooks.”
I have to bite back a snort as I look over at him, observing the way he gazes at me nervously for a second before averting his eyes to the road.
“Tatum,” she repeats. “Is Tatum a boy?”
“Yes, Mom.”
“And he’s your friend?”
“Yes.”
“And you’re not with Landon anymore?”
Yeesh.
“No.”
She’s quiet for a moment. “You know your brothers are going to eat him alive, don’t you?”
“Eat who alive?”
Mateo’s voice echoes in the background, sending a wave of something through my chest that I can’t quite pinpoint. It’s been a year since I last saw my family, and as annoying as my brothers can be, I do miss them. Maybe I miss being annoyed a little.
I roll my eyes. “Yeah, and if they do, I’m spiking their drinks with laxatives.”
Mom laughs, and so do I as Tatum raises a brow over at me. Our conversation probably sounds crazy from only my side.
“Okay, okay. Well, call me later, Mae. I want to make sure you get here safe.”
“I will,” I reassure her. “Love you, Mom.”
Hanging up and throwing my phone back in my bag, I settle down in the seat and grab my coffee again for a long sip. Italmost comes out of my nose when I see how stiff Tate is sitting, his fingers tapping anxiously against the steering wheel.
“Sorry.” I snicker at Tate’s nervous expression. “My brothers. My mom thinks they’re going to give you a hard time.”
“Oh.” He gulps.
“Only because you’re a guy and I’m the baby sister.”
“Understandable.”
“But you can take them, muscle man,” I joke, reaching over and squeezing his bicep. “Right?”
He laughs, but it sounds weak, so I snake my hand up his arm until it’s resting on his shoulder to give him a reassuring rub.
“I’m joking,” I tease softly.
Tate clears his throat. “I knew that.”
A laugh bubbles out of me for the hundredth time, and I realize for a split second that my stomach aches the tiniest bit from it. It’s been a while since I’ve laughed this much.
