Page 24

“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.