“Yeah.” I squeeze the steering wheel for a brief moment before relaxing my grip. “Why?”
“You’re awfully quiet.”
“I think I’m just sick of hearing my own voice after all the talking I was forced to do today.”
“You’re not fond of these family functions.” It’s not a question.
“You know I’m not.”
“I rather enjoy them.”
I can hear the smile in his voice, but I still glance briefly in his direction to see it lifting the corner of his mouth.
“You would.” I snort. “Drinking and lounging in the pool all day. Meanwhile, I’m being accosted by every Tom, Dick, and Harry in my family.”
“You’re lucky you have a family.” He says it so casually I almost miss the twinge of sadness in his voice. And maybe if I didn’t know him so well, I would have overlooked it entirely.
“You’re right. I’m sorry.” I’m quick to apologize.
Sometimes I forget that my family is the only family he really has, outside of his grandma. He lost his mom in a fire. The same fire that scarred the entirety of his left arm, shoulder, and the side of his neck, and nearly took his life right alongside his mother’s.
“Don’t apologize, Mais. I didn’t mean it like that. I just... You should try to appreciate them more. You really are so lucky to have such a big family filled with people who love and care about you.”
“You’re right. I guess I should.” I blow out a breath. “So, how are things with you and Lyric?” I redirect the conversation to something a little less heavy.
“You already know how things are with Lyric.” He gives me a knowing grin.
“Just because she tells me everything doesn’t mean I don’t want to hear it from you every now and again. So things are good?”
“Things are very good.” He nods slowly. “Lyric is... Well, she’s like the sun. She warms my entire world.”
“That might be the sweetest thing I’ve ever heard you say. And I’m totally going to tell her you said it.”
“Of course you are.” He lets out a soft rumble of laughter.
“I’m happy for you, you know.”
“I know.” I sense his head loll in my direction, but I keep my eyes on the road.
“I might also be insanely jealous.”
“I knew you wanted me.” It’s clear he’s joking, but it doesn’t stop me from backhanding him right across the chest.
“Um, no.” I shake my head with a laugh. “I mean, I love you, but no. I’m jealous of what you have,” I correct.
“You’ll find someone, Mais. A girl as amazing as you... No chance someone doesn’t snatch you up the first chance they get.”
“Who says I want to find someone?”
“Correct me if I’m wrong, but didn’t you just say you were insanely jealous?”
“I am. Doesn’t mean I’m ready to tie myself down. I’m only twenty. It’s going to take a lot more than a cute smile and tattoos to get any kind of commitment out of me. No offense to Lyric,” I quickly add.
“When the right person comes along, I don’t think any of that really matters. Not the timing. Not the circumstances. Not your own reservations. When you know withyour entire being that this person was meant to be yours, you’d be surprised how easily you can give in.”
“I seem to recall it wasn’t all that easy for you.” I throw him a sideways glance. “In fact, I seem to remember having to come to your apartment and tell you to get your head out of your ass.”
“Some people fight it more than others. I’m ashamed to admit that I was one of those people. That I let the fear of how I felt for her hold me back. But I got my shit together eventually.”
