They were all so alike. It was only their energy that was different. Clara was relaxed, excited – curious about me. She kept glancing my way. Keaton was nervous but better now he’d seen his sister. It was their Mom who gave off the most tension. She was afraid.
Afraid her son wasn’t going to accept her back into his life.
I cleared my throat. “This diner is a good spot,” I said. “Very convenient for us. Maybe it could be our regular meeting place.”
All three sets of eyes around the table turned toward me.
“That would be a wonderful idea,” their Mom said, turning to look at Keaton. “Perhaps once a month, we could come out and get together for a family meal. With Olly, too, of course.”
“Yeah,” Keaton nodded, and I saw some of the tension drain out of her. “Yeah, Mom. I’d like that. Just so long as it doesn’t get in the way of Clara’s studies.”
Clara groaned and rolled her eyes. “You’re such a nerd,” she said, shooting the paper wrapper from her straw across the table at him.
The siblings began to squabble, and I smiled. I had done what I needed to do. They could figure the rest out for themselves. I resolved to stay quiet unless I was spoken to for the rest of the meal. They didn’t need me to push them any further. They were already there.
It wasn’t until the end of the meal that the atmosphere fully relaxed. The dishes were cleared away by the wait staff. All that was left to focus on was each other. There was no longer the excuse of looking down at the food.
Keaton took a deep breath. “I love you, Mom,” he said.
His Mom’s eyes instantly welled up with tears. “Oh, my baby boy,” she said, reaching across the table for his hand. “I love you so much. I’m so sorry I didn’t stand up for you.”
I looked away from what should have been a private moment. I didn’t want to intrude.
Unfortunately, that left me staring right at Clara – who was giving me a very knowing smirk.
“So,” she said quietly, while Keaton and his Mom poured out words of affection and forgiveness to one another. “Apparently, you’re a film star now.”
I grinned. “Have you seen Keat’s film?”
She raised both of her eyebrows. “Keat?”
“Yep.” I finished off the last sip of my drink just to mess with her, pretending it wasn’t a big deal. “Did he send it to you?”
“Yes,” she said. Her eyes were narrowed. I laughed. She looked like she was annoyed someone other than her had the gall to use her secret brotherly nickname. Then her eyes opened again, and she gave me a genuine smile. “I loved it.”
I chuckled. “Good.”
She nodded at Keaton. “And I think he loves it, too.”
He loves his own documentary?
Before I could ask her what she meant, Keaton and his Mom started stirring. I realized they were getting ready to leave. Clara and I got caught up in getting out of the booth and then we were all saying our goodbyes. Before I knew it, we were heading out.
Keaton sighed heavily as we stood outside the dorm, waving his Mom and sister off in their car. They had dropped us off before leaving. I slipped an arm around his shoulders.
“What’s up?” I asked.
“Nothing,” Keaton said, turning to me with a smile. “Nothing at all.”
And the way his smile warmed my chest made it almost too painful to breathe.
“Let’s go home,” I suggested. It was only a moment later I realized I’d called the dorm home. Well, maybe it did feel like that.
“Okay… boyfriend,” Keaton said, giving me a devilish look that instantly put my pulse racing.
Keaton
The second that we were back in the dorm room with the door closed, I pounced.
