Chapter 37 #3
“Yes. I was at Richardson Community College up until then, so I could live at home.”
“What an exciting change. How many years do you have left?”
“Just one. I’m a senior,” Lennon tells her.
Mrs. St. James’s eyebrows raise. “I didn’t realize Clarkson admitted new students as seniors.”
“They do if they have a four-point-oh,” I interject.
Lennon smiles modestly. “I’ve always liked school.”
Sophie’s mother glances between me and Lennon, smiling. Thankfully, she’s never been as aggressive about shoving me and Sophie together as my mother has been. “You and Caleb are such a cute couple. Was it love at first sight between you two?”
The table falls silent. Sophie’s looking down at her plate. But both of my parents’ gazes are fixed directly on Lennon as they await the answer to the question neither of them has ever bothered to ask.
Lennon laughs. So do I. “Uh, no. Definitely not. I was actually really proud of being the only girl at Landry High who wasn’t sucked in by the Caleb Winters charm.
” She glances at me, and I smile. “Turns out I’m not immune to it.
We got assigned on a school project together senior year.
Then, I had to write an article on him. Eventually, even I had to admit he’s a pretty amazing guy. ”
“I read that article. It was good,” my father comments. I glance at him, shocked.
Lennon appears equally surprised. “Thank you.”
“It must be nice to be back at the same school again,” Sophie’s mother states, turning the attention back on Lennon and me.
The words are innocuous enough, but her eyes bounce back and forth between us. She’s probing our past to try and foresee our future. Maybe I was wrong, and my mother isn’t the only matchmaker sitting at this table.
“Yes, it is,” Lennon responds.
“There were some Matthews horses winning the Cup for several years,” Mr. St. James states. “Those yours?”
“My grandfather’s, at the time. Now, yes, they’re mine.”
“That’s quite a responsibility.”
“At the moment, we’re the ones horse-sitting.” My father chuckles.
Any goodwill toward my father following his compliment quickly vanishes. “When was the last time you were out in the stable, Dad?”
“I was merely joking, Caleb. Of course we’re happy to host the Matthews horses while Lennon enjoys herself at Clarkson.”
I clench my left hand and release the fist. “Especially since they’re staying in my half of the racing business.”
My father’s eyes flash with anger. That was another unpleasant surprise for him at my grandfather’s will reading.
I didn’t just get the farm itself, I also got half of the lucrative business known as Winters Stables that’s headquartered there. It’s a sore spot I rarely press, and something I’m certain he didn’t want the St. Jameses to know. Knowledge is potential weakness, if you ask my father.
The doorbell breaks the charged silence.
“I’ll get it.” My mother starts to stand.
“No, I’ll get it. It’s Colt and Jake.” I stand and toss my napkin on my chair before I stalk toward the entryway.
The door swings open to reveal two of my best friends. “Fuck, am I glad to see you two,” I tell them.
“Really? How come?” Jake asks, grinning.
“Yeah. You normally love spending time with your parents,” Colt adds.
I scoff. “Come on in. Everyone is in the dining room.”
Colt and Jake follow me deeper into the house. Lennon stands from the table as we walk in.
“Matthews!” Jake ignores everyone else and heads straight for Lennon.
He gives her a big hug and then passes her off to Colt, who does the same before focusing on my parents.
“Hi, Mr. Winters. Mrs. Winters,” Colt greets.
Jake repeats the greeting, then adds, “My parents say hi too.”
“They should have come over with you boys,” my father says.
“Nah. They hate sledding,” Jake replies, grinning, then looks to me. “You guys ready?”
“Yep,” I reply immediately. I’ve been ready to leave this house since we arrived, basically.
I catch Lennon’s eye. She tilts her head toward Sophie.
“Do you want to come with us, Sophie?” I ask, silently praying she’ll say no.
To my relief, she does. “I’m good, thanks. You guys have fun.”
I grab Lennon’s hand and tug her toward the entryway. Jake and Colt are right behind us.
“How much are you regretting coming?” Jake asks Lennon as we pull on our winter coats.
She laughs. “It hasn’t been that bad.”
“ Massive regrets then,” Jake surmises. “Mom and Pop Winters are arctic cold.”
“They’re just a little chilly,” Lennon replies, magnanimously.
“You’re too good for Winters, Lennon,” Colt states.
I flip him off as I pull on my snow boots. “I’m trying to keep her from figuring that out, Adams.”
“Better lock it down,” Jake advises. “Just a matter of time. Surprised it hasn’t happened already. They’ll be married with two point five kids before you get your first girlfriend.” He grins at Colt.
“How the hell do you end up with half a kid?” Colt asks, looking confused.
“I have no idea, actually. I’ve just heard people say that. It’s a saying, right?” Jake says. “I didn’t just make that up?”
I’m laughing too hard to answer him as we leave the warm house. The loss of heat makes it feel especially freezing out. Darkness surrounds us. The only hint of light is the moonlight glittering on the frozen surface of the snow.
Jake parked his SUV right outside the front door, so it’s not a long trip to the car. Colt climbs into the passenger side while Lennon and I pile into the back.
It’s a short drive to the slope. The overlook has a drop that’s steep enough to spark adrenaline but not suicidal.
Jake brought five different sled options in his trunk. I grab the largest and Lennon’s hand.
Colt and Jake take off immediately, their shouts the only indication there’s anyone else out here in the wilderness with us. For the first time since the uncomfortable stretch of time known as dinner, Lennon and I are alone.
Instead of comment on how unpleasant it was, I decide to adopt Lennon’s attitude from earlier and just enjoy the moment. “Want to sled?” I ask her.
Her lips quirk, the movement barely noticeable in the dim light. “Yeah. Sure.”
I settle into the back of the plastic sled.
Lennon climbs in between my legs, the warmth of her body counteracting the chilly air.
The sky is spread out like an inky blanket above us, peppered with pricks of light and the beam of the moon that illuminates the barest outline of craggy mountains around us.
This is one of those rare perfect moments.
It’s tangible, the knowledge I’ll look back and remember exactly how I felt during this precise point in time.
“I’m glad we came,” Lennon tells me.
“Yeah, me too,” I reply.
Then I shove off, sending us into motion to slide down the side of the snowy mountain.