Chapter 7
CHAPTER 7
LAUREL
M om, Gemma, Mariam, and I were at our local grocery store completing an entirely different list today. My mom had a serious, strict expression on her face, but laughter shimmered in her eyes as she looked at each of us in turn.
“Right, ladies, your mission, should you choose to accept it, is to help me make sure that when we leave here today, we don’t have to come back until after Thanksgiving. We’ve got a list. We’ve got two carts. We can do this. I have faith in you.”
Mariam saluted her. “Yes, ma’am. You can count on us.”
Gemma nodded her agreement, her gaze scanning the list before her hand suddenly shot out and she grabbed two bottles of mustard from the shelf beside her. “No condiment will be left behind.”
I laughed. “You guys are such goofballs, but okay, Mother. If Marigold can slay golden dragons, we can take care of a list.”
“Don’t you know it.” Gemma waggled her eyebrows at me. “And since you’ve mentioned lists, have you spoken to Leif yet? Do we know when you’re going to be earning your first stripe?”
“Not yet.” I had to admit, I was a little disappointed that I hadn’t heard from him yet, but as far as I knew, he and his brother were only getting in sometime that day. I was hoping to hear from him soon. “Did either of you draw the TP a house task yet? I remember adding it to the list and I really want to do it with you if one of you have it.”
“I did!” Gemma exclaimed excitedly. “How lucky is that? It’s the next thing I need to cross off anyway, and I’d be happy for the help. Are you in, Mimi?”
“Sure,” Mariam said immediately, surprising me with her willingness to participate in this. “I haven’t had any luck with my own first task, but I really want to get started with the list, so I’m in.”
“Yay.” I grinned, heart galloping a little as I looked back at them. “Let’s do it on Thanksgiving night, and can I ask Leif if he and Jack want to go with us?”
“The more, the merrier,” Gemma said, swiping her tongue across her lips like she was nervous about something before she finally blurted it out. “So I’ve, uh, sort of been talking to this new guy. He’s younger than us, but he might want to join us.” She glanced at my mom. “Is it okay if he also comes to dinner? I’ve kind of already told him he’d be welcome.”
“Of course.” Mom smiled, her head tilting as she surveyed Gemma’s face for a moment. “Why do you look so guilty? Just how young is this guy?”
“Uh, he’s twenty.”
“Cougar!” I laughed, lifting my hand for a high-five. “That’s so cool. I can’t believe you. Actually, since you’re you and you’re awesome, I can, but how on earth did you even meet a twenty-year-old?”
“Kindergarten,” Mariam joked immediately. “Wait, no. A playground.”
“Maybe she babysat him,” Mom teased, joining in on the fun. “Did you remember to remind him to brush his teeth before bedtime?”
Gemma winked at her. “Of course, I did. Then I tucked him in nice and tight and gave him a little something to help him sleep.”
I cracked up laughing, Mariam groaned, and Mom giggled as she shook her head at her. “Let’s just pretend I don’t understand what you’re talking about. I need to be able to look your mom in the eyes at dinner tomorrow.”
“Oh, I’ve told her all about him. You guys can have a blast mocking me about being a cougar, but wait until you see this guy. He is so insanely hot and he’s surprisingly nice too. He may be young, but he’s an old soul.”
“Why are you surprised that he’s nice?” I asked. “You also still haven’t told us where you met him, assuming that you weren’t really his babysitter, that is.”
She drew in a deep breath, lowering her voice as she leaned closer. “Have you guys heard of a band called the Elemental Boys?“
I frowned, but a vague bell rang somewhere in the back of my mind. “I think so.”
“Wait,” Mom said suddenly. “I have. They played somewhere when I was on my book tour. It might’ve been Houston? They’re a boy band, right?”
“Oh!” A lightbulb went on in my head. “That’s right. They’re supposedly the next big thing that’s sweeping the nation. I heard an interview with them on the radio on my way to the airport.”
“That’s them,” Gemma said, still speaking softer than she had been before. “They’ve been doing quite a lot of events all around Austin and guess who’s been organizing most of them?”
“Showstopper?” My eyes widened. “Wow, girl. That’s huge, but what does it have to do with your twenty-year-old?”
Mariam gasped, her eyes as round as saucers as she stared at our friend. “It’s Noah Parks, isn’t it? The guy you’ve been hanging out with…”
Gemma’s nose crinkled in delight. “Yes, it is! It’s Noah.”
“You’re hanging out with a member of a big-time boy band?” I did a slow double-take. “Wow. That’s amazing, but I hope you’re ready to be the most hated girl in the world when his fans find out.”
She waved me off. “It’s nothing they need to know about. We just get along well and I enjoy his company. Like I said, he’s an old soul.”
Mom started a slow-clap, a huge grin on her face as she nodded at Gemma. “Well done, darling. And if the fans find out, screw ‘em. You just have fun and be yourself.”
“Thanks, Deb.” Gemma gave Mom a quick hug before she winced as she pulled away. “Actually, Noah’s not the only person who asked if they could come with me. Dave would like to join us as well.”
Mom blinked. “Dave, as in your ex-husband, Dave?”
“That’s the one.” Gemma smiled through a sigh. “I know I’m asking a lot, bringing two extra people, but it would mean the world to me if he could come too.”
Oddly enough, Dave and Gemma had remained really good friends after their divorce. Not long after they’d gotten married, Dave had told her that he was gay and they’d separated. I would have been furious that he hadn’t told me before the wedding, but Gemma had told us that he’d sat her down and explained a lot of things, and once the shock had subsided, they’d made up as friends.
“Wow,” Mom said. “This is going to be interesting, but sure. Why not? Bring Dave and the superstar. Does Dave know about him?”
She nodded. “You don’t have to worry about any drama from us. We’ll all be on our best behavior.”
“Says the girl who just agreed to go TP someone’s house after dinner.” Mom smiled. “Do you girls have anybody in mind yet? Whose house will be the lucky winner?”
“Suzie Sanders,” Gemma said immediately. “She might’ve been our class president, but she’s always been a jerk and she’s still a total ass. It’s got to be her house.”
“We’re too old for this, Gem,” Mariam said. “Are you sure you even want to do this? I know we said we wouldn’t be allowed to skip items, but this seems pretty juvenile.”
“Oh, for sure,” Gemma replied breezily. “That’s the best part, but we did write the Naughty List in high school. We knew there would be some juvenile stuff on it. I think it’ll be fun.”
“So fun,” I agreed, grinning when I realized how close we were to fulfilling one of my most random dreams. “I’m really excited about this one. I think it’s going to be so great. I know it’s completely immature, but it just feels like one of those things everyone should do at least once in their lives, and we never have.”
“Which is why we put it on the list,” Gemma said cheerfully. “To give us an excuse to do it later on if we never got around to it as kids.”
Mom chortled but then waved her own list at us. “I understand the excitement, ladies, and I’m really glad that you’re all branching out and taking risks, but we still need to get the shopping done.”
“Should we divvy it up?” I asked. “I’ll go over to the fresh produce and take one of the carts there with me. Meet you at the meat counter when I’m done?”
Mom nodded, sending Mariam to help me while she took Gemma with her to find out more about Noah Parks. We wrapped up at the grocery store in no time, going back to Mom’s house after to unload everything.
While the girls and I were unpacking the groceries in the kitchen, Mariam glanced at me. “Are you going to call Leif?”
“I’m waiting to hear from him.”
She pursed her lips. “Call the boy, Laurel. You don’t have to wait for him to call you. Why would you?”
“She’s right,” Gemma agreed. “Call him. Welcome him home and find out if he wants to come to the fall festival with us tonight. It’s going to be huge. Lots of dark corners to pull him into for that kiss.”
I rolled my eyes at the last part, but the idea of seeing him as soon as tonight was much too appealing to ignore. I’d been waiting for months and he was probably only a few blocks away from me right then.
Deciding to once again be brave, I pulled my phone out of my pocket and showed it to them. “Alright. I’m doing it. Wish me luck.”
Both of my friends burst into cheers and I chuckled, shaking my head as I left the kitchen. I pressed the call button before I lost my nerve now that I was alone.
Leif answered just as I walked into my old bedroom, his voice deep, smooth, and friendly.
“Hi, Laurel,” he said. “I was just about to call. How are you? How’s home treating you?”
I shivered as his voice washed over me. “Hey, you. It’s been good. I’m good. Everyone is good.”
He chuckled while I resisted the urge to smack my palm over my face. “That’s good to know. Jack and I just got in a little while ago, but I hear the fall festival is going to be good tonight. Do you want to go?”
“That’s actually exactly why I called,” I said, my heart racing in anticipation. “We’re all going. I wanted to find out if you’d like to come with us. Bring Jack too.”
“Awesome. We’ll meet you there?”
“Sure thing.” I did my best to sound casual, but I was pretty sure he could hear my heart pounding over the line. “Say hi to your family for me and I’ll see you later.”
“I can’t wait.”
As I hung up, I turned to find my nosy friends standing in the doorway, both of them wearing looks of eager anticipation as Mariam cocked her head at me. “And? What did he say?”
“He’s meeting us there.”
Gemma squealed. After letting it sink in for a moment that I’d be seeing him in just a few short hours, I joined in. Closing my eyes, I realized the list had done it again. “I don’t know about you guys, but does it feel like the list is already changing you?”
“Absolutely,” Gemma agreed immediately, her eyes sparkling.
Mariam, on the other hand, shook her head. “All it’s done for me is to add to my stress levels. Anyone want to help me make wassail?”
“I’m in,” I said.
Gemma followed us to the kitchen, where she regaled us with tales of her exploits with the boy band. We giggled about life and the strange turns it took sometimes. Then Mariam finally opened up about her move to Sun Valley.
“It’s been amazing, but it’s so weird to know that I’m not just going there for a week on vacation. Austin is my home. I’ve never been away from it for as long as I will be now.”
“Austin will also always be here,” I said. “Take it from me. I know that moving away isn’t easy, but in the end, it was worth it for me and it will be for you too. Idaho is gorgeous at this time of year. Just waking up to those towering peaks must be incredible. Focus on the positives, and when the homesickness strikes, just remind yourself that Austin is right here, exactly where you left it.”
“Thanks. I know all that, but I guess it’s just different when you’re living it,” she said as she mixed some spices into our jug. “Did you know that Hemingway finished For Whom the Bell Tolls there? You’ll have to come visit, Laurel. Bring your laptop. We’ll get you the same suite where he finished that.”
I laughed. “That’s a very tempting idea. I might just have to make a trip while you’re there.”
“Nooo,” Gemma lamented jokingly. “Don’t do it, Laurel. If you go, you’ll be using that place as an excuse for not finishing your part of the list, too.”
Mariam groaned. “I’m not using it as an excuse. It’s just that I’ve already read all four things I’m going to have to do, and none of it is going to be easy there.”
“You read all of them?” I chucked a stick of cinnamon at her. “Wow. You’re such a good friend. Always following the rules.”
She winked at me. “I thought rules were meant to be broken? I know we’ve never lived that way, but this is the new me. The naughty me.”
I laughed. This wasn’t a side of her I’d ever seen before, but I had to admit that I liked it. It looked like I wasn’t the only one the list was already changing after all, and Mariam hadn’t even started hers yet.