Chapter 13
thirteen
Fletcher
I’m so happy that Tate came home with you,” Stella says, sitting down in the corner of the couch. Pretty much everyone has gone to bed, aside from me, Chase, Stella, Mom, Mama, and Freddie.
Kassidy couldn’t wait for the sleepover to begin; she dragged Tate upstairs the second everyone started to head to bed.
I think, in many ways, Tate’s like a big sister to Kassidy.
She’s been in our lives since Kassidy was four years old, so she doesn’t really remember a time before Tate.
Just like we don’t really remember a time before Stella was in our lives.
Sure, we have two older sisters, but it’s hard to really have a connection with siblings who are much older than you, especially when they don’t really put in the effort to have that relationship.
They love us, obviously, and we love them, but it was just a different time for all of us. Thankfully, a lot has changed since then. I don’t see them as often as my siblings who live in Illinois, but more than I did when I was a kid.
“I still can’t believe her parents didn’t even tell her they weren’t going to be home.” Chase shakes his head. “I mean, it’s not like they’re usually around when she’s home; they have work, but at least she gets some time with them.”
“It’s surprising, but it’s also not surprising at all. Why do you think Tate basically lived at our house growing up? Once they moved in next door and Tate met our family, it’s like her family realized they didn’t need to be around as often.”
“It’s got to suck though.” Stella rubs her belly, but I seem to be the only one to notice it.
“It has to bother her.” Mom rubs circles on Bode’s back.
He tried to stay up and hang out with the ‘grown-ups,’ but it lasted about five minutes.
“I didn’t even want any of you guys staying at Tate’s house while you’re here.
I only get to spend so much time with you guys. I’ll take every second I get.”
“They’ve always been like this, though, Jenny.” Mama’s face twists. “I loved having Tate here when she was younger, but I couldn’t imagine having a kid and then never being around to take care of them.”
“Ange,” Mom reaches for her hand, “some people just aren’t meant to be parents. Some people like the idea more than they like the actual parenting part.”
“Doesn’t she have a sister?” Freddie asks. “She didn’t want to spend the holiday with Tate?”
“Naomi doesn’t really care.” I shrug. “I’m sure she loves Tate in her own way, but I think part of her resents Tate for being a thing in the first place.”
“Because her mom moved on with another man?” Stella leans forward.
“No. She loves Steven. Honestly, he raised her more than her own dad did. I just think she wanted to be an only child and—”
“They act like she is.” My mom crosses her arms. “They’ve always been prouder of Naomi than they have of Tate, and it’s always bugged me. That girl upstairs is so special, and they can’t see it because she doesn’t want to be a doctor or a lawyer.”
“Yeah. She says it doesn’t bother her, and maybe it doesn’t anymore, but I’ll never forget the number of times I found her crying by that big oak tree in their backyard.
Most of the time I caught her, she was crying because her parents forgot about a performance, or they didn’t wish her a happy birthday, or they just didn’t seem to care. ”
“Steven Lewis always seemed like such a great and attentive dad,” Mama sighs.
“When he came to pick her up from your birthday party, he chatted with us for an hour before he went to find her. He thanked us for letting her come and for all of the times we’d let her stay for dinner in the two years since they moved next door.
And he told us he was trying to change things to be around more often. ”
“Well, that never happened.” I scratch the back of my neck.
“She’s lucky they moved next door to you guys.” Stella smiles. “Not many people would open their doors, let alone their hearts, to a child.”
“Our moms have a knack for that.” Chase places a hand on Mom’s shoulder and glances over at Mama.
“It was easy to let Tate in,” Mom says.
“It was,” I begin. “Maybe because after we did it once, we couldn’t get rid of her.”
Freddie tosses a pillow at me, but I dodge it.
“Hey!” My jaw falls. “What was that for?”
“Don’t act like you didn’t love Tate spending every second here.” Freddie’s eyes narrow. “You were obsessed with her, Fletch.
“I was not!” I argue, but all their expressions tell me otherwise. “Okay, maybe I was. But I was a kid.”
“A kid?” Stella laughs. “You’ve looked at her the same way you always have. From the first time I saw you with her, when you introduced us for the first time, to just a few hours ago, that look hasn’t changed.”
“What’re you saying?” I raise an eyebrow.
“That you, my friend, are in love with Tate.”
“I am not.”
It’s a lie. The biggest lie I’ve ever told. It’s not like I think they’re going to go tell Tate about my late-night confessional, but I think it’s easier to lie about it than to admit it out loud.
“Sweetie.” My mom scoots forward, placing a hand on my leg. “You’ve been in love with that girl since you heard her singing under that tree. Since you dragged all of us to the talent show to hear her play guitar for the first time because you knew her parents wouldn’t be there. Since—”
“Okay.” I roll my eyes. “I get it. Thank you.”
“And don’t forget about the time they kissed,” Stella adds. “This boy talked about that kiss for months after it happened.”
“Wait, I’m sorry,” My mama’s eyes go wide, “you kissed? When did this happen?”
“Thanks, Stels.”
“Who knew about this?” Mom asks. Stella and Chase look at each other but don’t say a word. “Chase? You knew, too?”
“The guys knew about it,” I begin. “And Brinley, obviously because Tate told her. And I told Stella because the morning after it happened, I needed someone to talk to and give me advice, and she let it slip to Chase. But obviously, that kiss led to nothing, so.”
“What happened?” Mom leans forward.
“She didn’t feel the same way.”
“Oh, you’re such an idiot.” Freddie shakes his head. “I was home a couple of times a year when you were in high school, and I’m telling you that girl was head over heels in love with you.”
“Why do you think she dated that loser?” Chase stretches, throwing an arm behind Stella. “What was his name?”
“Lucas,” Stella replies. “Did you really think it was a coincidence they broke up right after you and Ester?”
“Yeah, I did.”
“Little brother.” Freddie gets up and pats my head. “You’re so na?ve.”
“What?”
“I’m going to bed. Someone, please talk some sense into this guy.”
“You think she had feelings for me?” I look around the room as Freddie leaves.
“I wouldn’t say that she didn’t have feelings for you.” Mom leans back against the base of the couch.
“If you guys knew how I felt and knew she felt the same, why didn’t you say anything?”
“I always thought you guys knew you both had feelings, but didn’t want anything to change your friendship.” Mama shrugs. “I guess we were wrong.”
“Can we please get back to the kiss?” My mom changes the subject. “When did it happen? In high school?”
“Obviously.” I run a hand through my hair. “And when I went to talk to Tate about it, she basically told me it was a mistake because we were—”
Should I mention we were drunk when it happened? Is that something you bring up with your parents?
“Fletcher, we aren’t stupid. We know you guys drank in high school. Do you think Elsie Harris didn’t tell us about all the times she picked you up and brought you to her house so you boys could sleep it off?” Mom smiles.
“We’re just happy you did it responsibly,” Mama adds.
“Then yes, we had been drinking. She chalked it up to just being in the moment.”
“Did she?” Stella asks. “Or did you go to her house and only hear what you wanted?”
“She told me it was silly and that we were drunk. I don’t know how else that could be interpreted.”
“How did she say it?”
“I don’t know, Stels. Exactly how I just did, I guess.”
“Did you ever think maybe she thought you were going over there to reject her?”
“Or, you guys were wrong, and she didn’t feel the same way. It’s fine, okay, it was a long time ago. We’ve both moved on.”
“Have you?” Chase’s forehead wrinkles.
“It’s better this way. She’s my best friend. I don’t want to lose that.”