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“Nothing.”
“Then why’d you laugh?”
“No reason.” She purses her lips as she shrugs, and I realize Mom’s right, we may as well be kids again with how childish we’re both acting. I’m about to call her out when Mom walks back into the room. Without her famous pecan pie.
“I wonder how Lily’s doing at the bookstore,” Henley casually muses, aiming her query Mom’s way. Her eyes flash to mine as she waits for a response.
Mom frowns, but before she’s said a word, her timer goes off and she darts back into the kitchen.
The conversation is seemingly forgotten when she returns with the pie, and instead, we talk about old times as we eat our dessert.
After resisting the urge I had to scarf my food in record time, I’m out of my chair the second I put my fork down, smiling Mom’s way as I walk toward her.
“Thank you for the amazing meal.” I press a kiss to her cheek. “But I have to go.” The lie slips easily from my mouth, and I’m surprised to say, it yields no regret.
“Go?” Shock registers on her face while Henley laughs.
“Yes. Remember when you asked about my flight earlier? Well, it’s sooner than I thought. I got the reminder while you were serving up the pie.”
“What time is it?” Henley taunts me.
“It’s at four.”
“Four!” Mom’s eyes flash to the clock on the wall, and she panics while the new depth of my lie simmers between us. What the fuck, Beckett? Why didn’t I just say I had to get something from the store?
“You better run.” Mom stands, opening her arms for a hug. “Promise me you won’t speed, even if you’re cutting it close.”
“I promise.”
Henley's seat scrapes along the floor, and the next thing I know, she’s standing beside me. “Don’t worry, Mom. I’m sure he’ll make it with plenty of time to spare.”
“Really? I guess it's been a while since I drove to the airport. Anyway, it was lovely to finally be able to spend Christmas together as a family. It’s been too long.” Mom wraps her arms around the two of us, pulling us into a group hug, and the regret I thought I’d avoided hits me like a brick.
“Actually—”
“Shit,” Henley whispers under her breath before her voice rises. “I was wrong. It’s later than I thought. You better go, big brother. I’ll move my car.” She pats me on the back as she stands, and my brow furrows as I face her. She shrugs, pointing to the clock, and I almost question her until I realize what’s going on. She’s on to me.
Dammit. I’m not getting out of this without a conversation. But she can call me tomorrow. I’m not filling her in now.
“Go.” Mom laughs and the guilt of my lie twists my stomach. “I’ll call you in a few days.”
“I love you, Mom.”
“I love you too.”
I take a moment as I’m grabbing my bag from my childhood bedroom, questioning whether or not I’m doing the right thing. While also having no idea what the fuck I’m going to do. Maybe I should stay?
My mind whirs as I pass by the photos in the hallway, stopping on the one Mom had framed of my quarterback debut with the Colorado Cougars. I thought I had life all figured out back then, but I was dead wrong.
Henley catches my eye as she walks back inside, and I wave a little awkwardly. “Bye, Hen.”
“Bye, Beckett. Have a safe flight.” Her caring demeanor from earlier morphs into teasing again, and I throw her a fake grin, rolling my eyes when her smile widens as she heads off toward the kitchen.
Shaking my head, I turn to leave and pause at the photo beside me—Henley and Lily’s grand opening. The glow of Lily’s proud smile steadies my questioning mind, and I know without a doubt that I can’t go home without seeing her.
And since the wheels are already in motion, now’s as good a time as any.
My stomach swirls with nerves as I slow my rental in front of the building, taking in the nostalgia of the quaint, small-town street. Most of the stores are closed, with The Bookish Aroma’s open sign the only one lighting up the strip. After a moment's hesitation, I bounce my shoulders like I’m preparing to run onto the field and jump out of the car before I change my mind.
