Everything’s changing. But somehow it feels right.
“You nervous?” I ask Jax. “About the scout?”
“A little.”
“You shouldn’t be. You’re incredible.”
“We’ll see.”
“I’m serious. They’d be lucky to have you.”
He kisses the top of my head. “Thanks.”
We drink our coffee in comfortable silence. The house is quiet except for the distant sound of birds outside.
Then my phone buzzes. It’s a text from my mom.
Bringing Zinnia over for breakfast. That okay?
Me: Perfect. See you soon.
“Mom’s bringing Zinnia,” I tell Jax.
“Good. I’ll wake up Zeff.”
Twenty minutes later, we’re all sitting around the kitchen table. Zephyr’s pancakes are piled high. Jax made bacon and eggs. I pour the orange juice.
Zinnia’s chattering about her upcoming field trip. Sophie’s turtle issolast semester. God forbid I bring it up.
My mom’s listening. Smiling. Looking so healthy that my heart squeezes.
She has a job. Administrative work at a nonprofit. Good hours while Zinnia’s in school. Decent pay. Benefits.
She has her own house with Zinnia, and we lucked out to find one in the same neighborhood. So, she’s here almost every day. For breakfast. For dinner. For movie nights. To hang out. I’m so glad to have my mom back, even if the guilt sometimes hits me out of nowhere. It’s been happening less and less these days.
“Lily, can I have more pancakes?” Zinnia asks.
My mom glances at me. I lift my brows. “My house, my rules.”
My mom smiles back, knowing I stole that line from her.
I stand to get the pancakes just as Callum walks in. His hair messy from sleep, and he’s shirtless. His morning abs are insane. He stretches his hands over his head, and I swear he could touch the ceiling if he tried.
“There’s the lazy one,” Zephyr says.
“Fuck off. It’s Saturday.”
“Language,” I say automatically.
“Sorry.”
I smile to myself as I plate the pancakes on Zinnia’s plate. Callum is always the laid back one. I love him for it.
He sits down and steals bacon off Jax’s plate. He grins when Jax glares at him.
Zinnia giggles. “You guys are so weird.”
Zephyr scoffs. “Not me.”
