Chapter 20 #2
I shake my head, biting back a smile. “Sure didn’t. Had no idea she was doin’ any of this, actually.”
Shrugging, she says, “Educated guess.”
He sets the hoodie back down carefully, and that’s when I see it. The way his eyes glisten with unshed tears. “Th-thank you,” he murmurs. “This is so… Thank you.”
My mom’s expression softens in that quiet way she has when she’s trying not to make a moment bigger than it already is.
“You’re welcome, Lukas.” She smiles at him.
“No pressure to use it. But if you ever wake up and decide you want French toast at my house on a Saturday morning, this room will be waitin’. ”
Lukas swallows hard and nods. “Okay.”
Then she claps her hands lightly, shifting the mood on purpose. “Now,” she declares. “Who’s hungry?”
He looks at me, and I grin. “Trust me, she makes the best food.”
Lukas follows my mom down the stairs and toward the kitchen as I trail behind.
His shoulders are a little less stiff than they were when we arrived.
The rest of the afternoon goes smoothly, my mom and Lukas hitting it off better than I had hoped.
As I watch the two of them talk and laugh, it’s like a weight I didn’t even realize was sitting on my chest disappears.
After we finish eating, I offer to clean the kitchen while they sit on the porch and eat cookies together while my mom tells him story after story about me as a teenager.
I’m just about finished loading the dishwasher when I feel my phone go off.
Drying my hands, I grab it out of my pocket and scan the screen.
My heart races as I read the name on the text message waiting for me.
Daddy Moore: Fine. You win.
I can’t hide my smirk.
Me: What do I win?
Daddy Moore: As much as I shouldn’t, I want a repeat of that night too.
Me: Well, I already knew that *smirk emoji* What do you propose, daddy?
The text bubble pops up, then disappears for a moment before it’s back again. My skin tingles and my pulse races as I wait for what feels like forever. But boy, is it worth the wait.
Daddy Moore: One night. One night to finish what we started and get it out of our systems.
I chuckle to myself.
Me: Has the “just one night” ever worked for anyone?
Daddy Moore: I’m serious, Remington. One night and that’s it.
I don’t respond right away. Not because I don’t want to do this with him, but because I do. Actually, I want nothing more than to do that, but it’s the one night that’s tripping me up. If I go there with Gentry, will I really be able to walk away after? Will he?
Shoving my phone back into my pocket, I decide to respond once I’m home and have had time to really think about it.
After I start the dishwasher, I dry my hands before walking outside to find my mom and Lukas. They both look at me as I step onto the porch, and my mom’s got that twinkle in her eye that tells me she’s excited about something.
“What’s that look for?” I ask cautiously as I take the seat beside Lukas.
“Would it be okay if I spent the night here this weekend?” Lukas asks, taking me by surprise.
My mom’s expression makes more sense now.
“Of course you can,” I say, my throat suddenly thick with emotion. “Is that okay with you, Mom?”
“Absolutely!” She’s practically vibrating with excitement. “I can pick him up Saturday morning.”
I smile. “Well, I guess it’s settled then.”
It’s not long before Lukas and I head out. As we’re leaving, my mom gives him the biggest hug and he hugs her back just as hard. After seeing the relationship he has with his grandma, I think he needed this. Someone grandma-like to welcome him in like he wasn’t a burden.
We’re halfway home when Lukas turns to me, hands nervously picking at each other again. “You, uh… You mentioned therapy before.”
I meet his gaze, my brows lifting in question.
“Well, uh—” He clears his throat. “Maybe I want that too.”
“Yeah?” My heart thunders.
He nods, then shrugs like it’s no big deal. “Yeah. I mean, it couldn’t hurt, right?”
“Right. I think it’ll be good for you to have someone neutral to talk to about…everythin’.”
Lukas is quiet for a moment. “Okay,” he finally says. “I’ll do it.”
I want to ask what made him decide to go through with it, but I don’t. I don’t want to make it into a bigger deal than it is and have him change his mind. “Alright,” I say. “I’ll look into possible therapists, and we’ll go from there.”
He nods again. Just once, firmly. “Okay. Thanks, Remi.”
Nothing more is said during the drive back to our house, but a sense of pride shines through me. I don’t know what made him come around to the idea, but maybe I’m doing all right at this guardian thing after all.
It’s not until much later that I realize I never responded to Gentry. Lukas wanting to sleep over at my mom’s this weekend feels like fate handing me Gentry on a silver platter, and who am I to deny fate?
Me: Saturday. But if it’s only one night, then I’m staying alllll night long. So be ready for me, daddy.
I’m still not sure this one-night deal is smart, but there’s no way I’m turning him down. Not when I’ve been dreaming about this for years.