The group filed out except for Dean, Harper, and me.
“How is he?” Dean asked, checking his phone before tucking it into his back pocket.
“He’s hanging in there,” I said. “Still working on his theory, and he’s still able to play the piano. He’s had a run of good days lately too. I have to think that means something.”
“Absolutely,” Harper said. “And no pressure, okay? If it doesn’t work to have the party at your place, we’ll find an alternative.”
“Thanks, but maybe I should host it. This might be Dad’s last chance to…”
Remember his accomplishments.
Meet people who appreciate him.
Have one last good Christmas…
The last thought hit me harder than Tucker ever could. I shouldered my backpack. “I’ll ask him about it this afternoon.”
Our club meetings ran for a couple hours every Wednesday after the last bell had rung; the three of us stepped into an empty hallway. Outside, under a gray sky, snowdrifts piled along the Academy walkways. Harper put a knit beanie on over her brown curls, and Dean and I bundled into our coats. My friends were quiet, letting me recover from my heavy moment.
“So, how are things with Emery?” Harper asked, eventually. “Shegave me a stellar report about you. You’re really nailing the whole boyfriend thing.”
“Good to know,” I said, unable to hide my smile.
Both friends shot me expectant looks as we headed for the student parking lot.
“And?” Dean said, wagging his eyebrows. “How goes it on your end? I haven’t had a chance to have some manly man-talk with my best bro in a while.”
Harper rolled her eyes.
I laughed. “Things are fine. Perfect, actually, except—”
“Except you can’t tell anyone or go anywhere where people will see you,” Harper finished.
“Yes, that.”
“Her dad is a piece of work,” Dean said. “But hey, in a few short months, she’ll be eighteen and can tell him to fuck off forever.”
I shot Harper a quick glance, and she gave me a short nod of understanding. I hadn’t told Dean about my vow to marry Emery as an emergency measure to escape her family. The promise felt oddly delicate. Handled the wrong way, I feared it would break something between us, so I left it alone, even in my mind.
“What about Christmas gifts?” Dean asked. “Last year, we did a white elephant for the club. That was a hit, even if I ended up with a wall hanging of a singing fish.”
I chuckled as we arrived at my Buick. “Sounds good. And speaking of gifts, I need to pick out something for Emery. I have an hour to kill before she comes over.”
In order to keep her father off her back, I was still secretly trying to help Emery pass her math class, though now instead of her wanting to abandon the equations for chitchat, we struggled to keep our hands off each other. We hadn’t slept together—that was waiting for us in the future, until after she turned eighteen, at least, and if/when she desired. I was content with just being with her, absorbing her light.
“Want some help picking out a gift?” Harper asked. “I have anhour to kill before I become Emery’s alibi for coming over to your house.”
Dean laughed. “Such a tangled web of deceit. I’d be happy to help but alas, I have plans.” He chucked me on the shoulder. “We’ll have to save our man-talk over brewskies for another time.”
“Can’t wait,” I deadpanned. We laughed and I hugged my friend goodbye, then turned to Harper. “Shall we?”
I drove us to the little village of Castle Hill, which always looked more like a set out of a movie than an actual place. It had a quaint main street with shops, restaurants, boutiques, and a general store that was more like a Whole Foods in disguise. Now, with the recent snowfall and Christmas decor, it resembled a picture postcard for small-town holiday cheer.
“Dean’s acting weird,” Harper said suddenly as I pulled into a parking space behind a Christmas tree lot.
“How so?”
“He’s been jumpy lately. Manic, even. You haven’t noticed?”
