“Wonderful. Where are you right now?”
My brows pinch. “At work.”
“Oh…” She clears her throat, and away from the phone she asks, “What day is it?”
“Friday,” Grant, my stepdad, says in the background.
“Did you change your shift around?” she asks me.
“No, I actually picked up a few more days. It’s peak season for us right now.”
“Oh. Guess I shouldn’t be too surprised. My workaholic son.”
A soft chuckle vibrates from my throat. “You know me… Why? What’s up, Mom?”
“Grant and I are parked right outside your place.”
My heart skips. “Wait, seriously? Why?”
Her soft giggle makes me chuckle. She may be in her fifties, but she still acts so young. “We decided to take the long route to come spend the day with you, and were hoping we could bunk up for the night.”
Every part of me wants that. I haven’t seen my mom and stepdad since last Christmas. But I agreed to these extra days, and I know how much they need the help. I’ll see them in just over a week—even if they don’t know it yet.
“Dang, Mom, I’m so sorry. This time of year is so bad for us, I wish I could.”
The sad mumble of something in her native tongue has my stomach tying into knots.
“I understand, honey. Do you mind if we bunk up tonight at your place?”
Motherfucker, my entire place is packed up. If they go in and see that, they’re going to have so many questions. I’ll be forced to ruin the surprise.
Shit, shit, shit.
“My place is an absolute mess. Let me put you up in a hotel.”
A moment of silence passes, before she says, “No, that’s alright.We’d planned to just keep driving anyway, this would’ve just been a pleasant detour. Don’t worry about it, Keo.”
A wave of heat rolls down my right side, chased by a sudden chill. Goosebumps prickle across my skin, and I have to physically shake off the sensation.
“You sure, Mom?”
“I’m sure. We will see you in a few months for Christmas. Right?”
“You know I’d never miss it…”
“Hopefully we can get Ayden there this year,” Grant grumbles.
The mention of him has my stomach opening up and swallowing my heart. “Yeah… I’m not going to get my hopes up.”
“I’ll fly to California to grab him, throw him in a suitcase, and drag his ass to the cabin,” he says. “Tired of that boy not spending time with us.”
My mom, once again, giggles.
“Aloha wau ia ?oe, Keo.” She almost sings the endearment at me.
“Aloha wau ia ?oe, Mom.” I try… I just have a hard time getting it down, but I at least know how to say I love you to her. “Love you too, Grant.”
“Love you, son. See you in a few months.”
