Page 93 of Don’t Be A Stranger

I’ll take it.

Thirty-One

Summer

Lily’s grandparents and my dads are making a way bigger deal out of this than it needs to be. Oh, who am I kidding? I love that we’re all standing in the Hollis’s driveway. River’s car is packed and a small trailer of Lily’s things is hooked to the back—all thanks to Freddie.

Papi had clipped a pin to Lily’s overalls, which has the word “congrats.” He’s also given me a small cooler of tamales. I haven’t decided if I’m sharing those yet.

Dad squeezes me in his arms and Papi joins in. I hug them back just as tight.

“You be safe out there, Lovie,” Dad mumbles into my hair.

I’ve only spent a total of a week with them—and half that time was spent with Dad in the hospital—but now with school starting back up in the next few days, I already have to say goodbye.

Lily stands on her front porch with her grandparents. They seem to be giving her the same goodbye love my parents are giving me. But River stands nearby, leaning on his car and looking down at his phone. I’ve asked him a few times if he wants me to go over to his parents’ house with him, but he quickly declines each time.

I wish I didn’t have to leave the safety of my parents’ arms but a five-hour road trip back to Ellingbrook awaits us. I give my parents one last tight squeeze and pull away before I ask to be carried back to our house, so that I can pretend to be their little girl again.

“I love you guys.” I kiss both of their cheeks. “So much.”

Lily and I finish with our goodbyes and walk toward River’s car at the same time. He looks up at both of us, a smile on his face that someone who doesn’t know him would think is fine.

I want to ask him again if he’s sure he doesn’t want to stop by his house before we head out, but I refrain. I’m trying to hold back on the whole fixing things habit I’ve got going on. I’m sure life might get a little easier that way.

“Are you ladies ready?” River asks.

Lily and I turn to give one last wave to our families then turn back toward River.

“Yeah.” I smile at Lily. “Let’s get this show on the road.”

River takes turns to hold the back door open for Lily and the front for me. Once we’re all in, we stare at each other, smiling. This is what last year should’ve been like. Lily, River, and I all piled into River’s car, our first year in Ellingbrook waiting for us.

It might be a little late but at least now we’re all together.

Finally.

Once we’re all settled in and ready to head out, I notice River is staring at nothing but the steering wheel. From my peripheral vision, I can see Lily also quietly watching River until he finally looks up.

His smile is gentle, but not in the usual way.

“We have time,” I suggest. “We can always stop by for a few minutes.”

River quickly shakes his head and chuckles. “If they wanted to see me, they would’ve called.”

Lily scoots forward in her seat, her elbows resting on the center console. She sets her chin in her palm, staring directly at River.

“They asked my grandparents if you were coming for the summer,” Lily admits.

This only makes River’s shoulders deflate, and that smile falls like he can’t keep holding it anymore.

He doesn’t have to. Not with us.

River sighs, defeated. “They never call or text. They never try to fix this. They’re the parents. Them, not me. If they don’t care enough then neither can I. Not anymore.”

I reach for his hand that’s resting on his thigh. He doesn’t hesitate to lace his fingers with mine. Lily—despite physical touch not necessarily being her love language—rests her head on River’s shoulder.

River continues. “I just don’t want to keep trying to fix something that they don’t care about. I have Bora and Dae. Moose and Beth. You guys. If I walk into that house, all that’s going to happen is me walking out feeling like a piece of shit.”