I could use a piece of ice right now.
“You’ll figure out your rhythm,” Haddy says, confidence infusing her tone. “We had to adjust when Mav moved in with us, and it only took a week before we were all completely used to each other.”
“Back in the old days.” Gina tilts her head to the side, poking out her bottom lip.
Mav squints an eye at her. “You love being at Owen’s place. Stop acting like you miss me.”
“I do miss your cooking.” Haddy turns to me. “One of the perks of living with Maverick Murphy, you never have to worry about what’s for dinner.”
“Only one of the perks?” When he smiles, that dimple in his cheek deepens, and I have to grab the reins on the wild ideas galloping through my head right now.
I’m here to learn, not… whatever.
Shaking that away, I revert to teasing, like I’ve always done with him. “Well, that’s good, because I only know how to make mac and cheese from the blue box.”
“Nothing wrong with that,” he says. “It’s the best kind.”
“At least we all agree on one thing,” Gina says.
“Welcome to our humble home, Dove.” He steps forward to give me a brief hug, and I’m surrounded by the delicious scent of warm woods and soap.
My head tilts all the way back, and his body is like a pillar of concrete. “Dang, Mav, you’re tall as a tree!” I hold the back of my neck, squinting up at him. “Hard as one, too. I’m going to have to get a step ladder and a pillow if I hug you again.”
He blinks a few times, and I think he might be blushing?
“It’s true,” Gina laughs. “He got the Bradford growth spurt senior year—was that the last time y’all saw each other—before now, I mean?”
“Longer,” I note, searching his eyes for any indication of memory. “I think we were sophomores the last time we saw each other. Weren’t we?”
He nods, and my eyes outline his square chin, the lock of shiny dark hair that escaped his messy bun. “We were picking peaches for ice cream.”
He remembers.I didn’t know then it would be the last time we’d see each other for so long—much like I didn’t know until now how much I missed him, or how happy I am that he remembers.
Life simply went on, leading us to now, standing here, smiling at each other.
Haddy shifts the baby on her hip. “Well, I’ve got to get back to the house or Gavin will think I’ve run off and joined the circus.”
“Wait… this isn’t the circus?” Gina looks from her to Mav to me.
“Har har,” Haddy gives us all air kisses and waves as she slips out the front door.
“If this isn’t the circus, why do we have all these dogs?” Gina calls after her laughing, then she turns back to us. “Speaking of dogs, Carla has Kelani ready for you, Mav. Still want her?”
“How soon does she need an answer?” he calls.
“We said a week. Maverick!” Gina’s shoulders drop, and her lips pull down at the corners. “You forgot?”
“No, I just… I wanted to be sure…” He holds out a hand to me. “How would you feel about us fostering a dog for Gigi’s friend Carla?”
Gigi is short for Gina Grace, and it’s what we all called her when we were kids. Hearing him say it is warm, like being back home.
“It’s a Siberian Husky, who I now know is named Kelani.”
My lips part, and I look from him to Gina. “Akela was a husky!”
“I know.” Gina loops her arm in mine. “It seems like you really liked her… Am I remembering that right?”
Nodding, I press my lips tightly. “I did.” Emotion thickens my throat. “She crossed the rainbow bridge a few years ago.”
