Wes just winks at me, looking a little too pleased with himself. “I told you I’m good with parents. You’ll see. We’ll be joking like old friends within the hour.”
“Uh huh,” I tell him, rolling my eyes. “I’ll believe it when I see it.”
Wes only smiles.
But sure enough, by the time all my belongings are loaded into the car, my dad and Wes are talking about who knows what, and there’s a smile on my dad’s face. Asmile.He laughs at something Wes says, shaking his head, and I fight the urge to pinch myself. Surely this must be a dream.
“So, this is the boy?” my mom asks, drawing my attention away from the two. I can’t fully decipher the look on her face, but it’s notquitedisapproval.
I nod slowly. “Yeah, this is the boy.”
“And you’re,” she seems to debate her words, “seriousabout him?”
I blink at her. “Um, yes?”
She studies me for a moment, saying nothing. Then, “Well, why don’t you invite him to lunch then?”
The world tilts on its axis, and I nearly fall over. “Seriously?”
A part of her still looks like she’s doubting her decision, but she nods. “Yes. We should get to know him better.” She glances toward the car, where Dad and Wes are still chatting like they’re suddenly best buddies, and frowns. “Although it looks like your father’s already one step ahead of me.”
And so, still reeling from shock and disbelief, I invite Wes to lunch.
He somehow makes it through the entire meal before saying, “I told you so.”
FORTY
THREE MONTHS LATER
I paceback and forth across my room, my footsteps quick with anticipation. It’s been two weeks since I’ve seen Wes, but despite our nightly phone conversations—hushed whispers and quiet laughter shared into the early hours of the morning—it feels like longer.
We managed to see each other nearly every weekend for the first two months of summer. Wes passed the TEAS exam with flying colors, of course, and soared through his class with ease. He “graduated” a week ago and is now working on securing an EMT position.
As for me, I took another of my required history classes over the break to make up for the credit I lost when I dropped Public Speaking. Now, I can go into sophomore year with a fresh start, caught up with my curriculum and fully focused on making good grades.
Noah’s graduation was a week after Wes’s, but the celebration turned sour the moment my brother broke the news that he was taking a (potentially indefinite) gap year and moving to the beach. Voices were raised, dinner was canceled, and my parents told him they weren’t going to pay for him to go off frolicking around with his college friends.
What they didn’t expect was that Noah didn’t need their money. He had transportation lined up. He had a job lined up. He had housing lined up. He didn’t need Mom and Dad for anything, and they weren’t sure what to do with that information. They’re still trying to wrap their minds around it, even though it’s been months with Noah gone.
It’s strange. For the first time in my life, I feel like I’m on an even playing field with my siblings, and that’s a pretty big change to our usual family dynamic. I hope that one day we can all talk through our issues, but Noah has to do some soul searching first, and my parents have to learn to accept his choices the way they’re learning to accept mine.
Thoughts of my family disappear the moment my phone buzzes in my pocket. I practically yank it free, smiling at the message on the screen.
Wes:Less than 5 away!
Me:See you soon!
Scrambling now, I pack up the rest of my suitcase, double checking that I haven’t forgotten anything important. When the doorbell rings, I dash into the bathroom to run a brush through my hair, and by the time I come down the stairs, Dad’s already at the door, chatting with Wes about his EMT training.
I’ve never seen my dad take to anyone as quickly as he did Wes, which is a testament to how likeable Wes is as a person, I guess. Mom’s still warming up, but I do see the effort she’s putting forth. It’s not perfect, and sometimes she slips up, but at least it’s there, whereas before it was nonexistent.
As I reach the bottom of the stairs, I can’t hold back my smile. Wes can’t either, and his eyes immediately light up as they lock with mine. He still manages to maintain a conversation with mydad, who’s oblivious as always, but if he wasn’t here, I’d launch myself at my boyfriend.
“Hi,” I cut in, saving Wes from further discussion. As always, I’m struck by him. By his imposing height and his broad strength. By his deep-set dimples and his dark, twinkly eyes. His radiant energy is contagious, and don’t get me started on his sparkling smile, which beams down at me, making my world ten times brighter.
“Hi, Ives,” he says.
Dad looks between us, clearing his throat. “I’ll leave you both to it, then,” he says. “Have a nice time, Ivy. Good to see you, Wes.”
