“What kind of car does he want?” Luke asked Jamie.
“Hold up. You ain’t gettin’ me a car,” I said.
“Ford Bronco Heritage Edition in Ruby Red.”
Luke cocked his head my way and grinned. “He didn’t even have to think twice. You must’ve talked about it before.”
“Only since he was fourteen and his cousin Billy got one, but the Heritage is what he really wants,” Jamie said.
I dropped my burger and wiped my hands. “Do I need to be here for this? Y’all can just come get me when you’re done visitin’.”
Luke clamped a hand onto my leg before I could stand. Not that I’d really leave, but it was fun to joke. And worth it when his fingers rubbed the inside of my thigh.
Jamie warmed to Luke a tiny bit when Luke directed questions about me to him. I let them have their fun because too soon, we had to head home, and I’d miss this.
The wind picked up as the sun lowered in the sky. I hugged Jamie and squeezed him until he asked Michael to save him. Which he did with his heavy-handed way. Jamie waved from upside down as Michael toted him off like a caveman.
Luke stared after them with a thoughtful gaze in his eyes. “Are they—together?”
“You don’t think it’d be weird? They’ve been brothers since they were kids.”
“Who says there’s a finite limit on falling in love? Look at us?” He waved a hand between us. He only meant something about our differences, but I heardlove, and I heardus. Luke seemed to catch on when I stared blankly at him. He grinned, dipped his chin, and blushed.
I nudged his shoulder and didn’t say more about it as we returned home.
Momma teared up as we loaded the car with our bags. One of the college football bowl games was going, so we got half hugs from Ben and Nathan. Everyone else followed us outside.
“Call me when you get back to the dorm.” Momma waved her hand. “Or wherever, just call me.”
“I will, Momma.”
“Miss you, college boy.”
“Miss you, Momma.” I kissed her cheek, and then Luke gave her a hug before we loaded into the car.
This time, I didn’t give him directions or commentary, just watched my hometown fly by out the window.
“You okay?” he asked when we got to the interstate.
“Yeah.” I rolled to face him in the darkness and smiled. “Yeah. How about you? My family can be a lot.”
“They were great, Asher.” He reached for my hand. “The whole trip was a lot of fun.”
The soft sounds of classical music filled the air, and the three-hour trip took less than an hour, it seemed, and before long, he’d parked behind my Civic at Aunt Penny’s once again. There would be no change of plans and returning to his place since I was headed to my dorm tonight before classes tomorrow.
“It’s gonna be weird sleeping alone.”
Luke nodded. “I’m having dinner at my parents’ tomorrow.”
I sat up. “What? Why didn’t you tell me?”
“I didn’t want you to think about it while you were with your family.”
“Why are you going? I don’t want you to.”
He brought my hand to his mouth and kissed my fingers as he did so often. “I’ll be fine. They’re pissed about the New Year’s Eve party. I’m sure they’ll reprimand me, we’ll eat, and that will be the end of it.”
I wasn’t sure how to respond. I didn’t want him to go by himself or at all ever again. Those people were vile and toxic. I’d hoped spending time with my family would show him how it could be, how it should be. Families were supposed to be supportive, not destructive.
