“You’re so weird,” he says as we drive home.
“Hey,” I say, making him glance at me before his eyes focus back on the road. “All jokes aside, you’ve helped me with this major life transition. I’m not sure how well I would have done had you left me to the wolves. I’m glad to know you.”
Seth narrows his eyes at me, looking for jokes or lies, then he smiles. “I’m glad, too.”
After my shower, and before Braeden and I head over to Seth’s place for dinner, my stomach does a weird flip while I get dressed. It’s short-lived, but I felt it nonetheless.
Oh boy.
That’s not good.
I haven’t felt that since I started dating Grant. It shows how quickly I’m getting attached to Seth. He’s taken, and I won’t date, so I’m not sure why I’m feeling this. Stupid flutters. Or maybe it’s because I’m establishing a real friendship for a change, and one I hadn’t had in a long time. Not since my ex.
Grant and I had a lot of friends, but when he cheated on me, did our friends stick with me? Nope, they stuck with him. Or I assumed. Imayhave pushed everyone away because of my devastation. That’s more likely.
“Ready, kiddo?” I call out after I tug my navy-blue Rice T-shirt over my head.
Cicero must think I’m talking to him because he rushes into my room, jumps on my bed, and screams at me.
“You ate literally twenty minutes ago, you damn goat. Your stomach is a bottomless pit.”
He falls onto his side, stretches out, exposing a white and fluffy tummy and pink toe beans. His yellow eyes give me a look that says, ‘Look at how cute I am. I deserve treats all the time.’ Of course, he shoots me a pathetic little meow.
“Drama queen,” I say, giving him a little pat on his stomach.
Cicero is my first pet. I’m not sure why I didn’t get one sooner. He’s pretty damn cute, even if he is loud.
Braeden walks into my room, looking even better than before. He picks up the kitten and cradles him, like a baby. The kitten starts kneading biscuits in the air and purring louder than aHarley-Davidsonmotorcycle. “I’m ready,” he says.
He sets the kitten down, and we head out of my room. But before we walk out the door, I get a call from that lawyer in Texas, who brought Braeden to me.
“Hello, Mr. Williams.”
“Hello, Mr. Abernathy.”
“You have some news for me, I suppose?” Is this about my guardianship with Braeden or something else?
“I wanted to inform you that there will be a burial for the boy’s parents, per their request. Their families won’t be there for obvious reasons, but a few of their friends are putting a little something together for them. There will be a very small service and reception. I know you have your hands full with him and your job, but could you bring him? I’m sure he would like to say goodbye to his parents.”
I look at Braeden, who’s watching me intently. “Yeah, I can do that. When is it?”
“Next weekend.”
I’ll have to cancel poker night with Seth, but there will be other nights.
And perhaps I could get in and get out without seeing my mother. What she doesn’t know won’t hurt her, right?
“We’ll be there, but I need to talk to Braeden first to make sure it’s okay with him.”
“Very well.”
Mr. Williams recited the location, and I made a note in my phone and calendar.
“Was that the lawyer?” Braeden asks.
“Yes, he’s letting me know that… your parents’ funeral is next weekend. He thought you might like to be there. I’ll make hotel arrangements. We’ll drive there. It’s about a five-hour drive. I’m not sure I can fly with you being a minor and me not having full custody yet.”
Braeden stares down at his feet, and you can feel the grief hitting him all over again. “Oh.”
