12. Luke
CHAPTER 12
Luke
If you had told me three and a half years ago when I first met Gigi that I would be spending a whole week with her, I would have told you to kiss my ass. Yet here I am, packing a bag full of booze and her suitcase in my truck, getting ready to leave for Kai’s house in the middle of nowhere.
“Zach, Pierre, and Lola all have food poisoning,” Zoey announces while grimacing, her phone still clutched in her hand. “Must have been from the takeout place they went to last night. Guess it’s just the four of us.”
“And on spring break, too. That’s rough.” Gigi pulls out her own and a second later, three notification sounds ring. It’s for our group chat—Party in the Barnhouse.
Gigi
Get well soon, you three. Text us if you need anything. You will be missed :(
Although the iceberg between Gigi and I has melted, I wouldn’t say we’ve bonded. At least not enough that this trip won’t be awkward. Sure, we don’t avoid one another anymore and say hi when we bump into each other on campus or at parties, but a week? Kai and Zoey are dating. I’m not a moron. They’ll be all over one another once we get there. What am I going to do with her? My introverted ass is already dreading spending seven whole days with her extroverted ass.
It’s too fucking late to cancel now.
I breathe out a peaceful exhale when the three of them start dozing off thirty minutes into the drive. Almost three years in college and I’m still not used to this. Having a steady group of friends. Going on trips with them. Partying. Bonding.
Most people had a trial run in high school. My experience was a whole fucking lot different. Aside from hanging out with Andrew, my life consisted of making sure I had good enough grades to make it out of Kinsdale Springs and Becca was taken care of. And that Dad wasn’t dead somewhere.
People didn’t want to hang out with me, anyway. After everything that happened to our family, when there were only two Palmer boys left standing, everyone gravitated toward Andrew. They were right to do so. He was the beacon of hope with his charm and smile, somewhat untouched by tragedy. I was the more damaged one. The angry one. The rude one. The one who caused everything to fall apart.
It’s been six months since he left and never came back, and sometimes I still can’t believe that I’m still here and he isn’t. If anyone had placed a bet on which one of us would break first, I’m sure they would have picked me.
From the rearview mirror, I see Gigi stretching her arms and Zoey on her phone. They must have woken up when my mind was focused on Andrew. I wonder if Gigi remembers that the six-month mark was two days ago.
“Are you bummed that Pierre is sick?” Zoey asks her in a soft, sleepy voice.
Gigi smiles as she shakes her head. “I feel bad for him, though. Zach hyped up the trip so bad. I’m pretty sure Pierre bought a cowboy hat.”
“Does he know that this is not that kind of farm?” Zoey asks, giggling. “Does he know Zach’s parents are renovating the place to turn it into a farm stay for tourists with a petting zoo and a knock-off Starbucks?”
The girls start laughing loudly. I tune them out when Zoey starts talking about how hot Pierre is and how perfect he is for Gigi. I’m not used to this, either. Listening to women snicker about men. One of these days, I will probably thank Kai for taking me under his wing during freshman year and forcing me out of my shell, but today is not the day. Especially not when I hear the words dick size and let’s guess from the back.
“We’re here,” I say, unbuckling my seatbelt. “Home sweet home, Kai. Wake up, man.” Kai yawns, but he doesn’t say anything, only staring at the barn that belongs to the property. We all look at him as he stays still like a statue, still silent.
“Babe, seriously, wake up,” Zoey says, nudging his shoulder. “We have to get the keys to the house from the day workers. Your mom said they only work until five. It’s already four-fifty.”
Only when Kai answers do I realize how pale he looks. “I don’t feel so good.”
It’s too fucking late to cancel now.
“Like you’re sick?” Zoey asks. “Like food poisoning, sick?”
“I don’t think they got food poisoning from the takeout place,” is all he says. He’s about to say something else, but has the good grace to stop himself and jump out of the car. The three of us gawk at him when he starts pouring the contents of his guts out on the gravel road.
“Fuck,” Gigi mutters under her breath.
Kai cleans himself up before going with Zoey to the staff lounge to meet with one of the employees. Gigi just got off the phone with her mom when I speak. “You want to go to Kinsdale Springs instead? We can pick them up before classes start.”
“It’s the other way.”
“It’s doable.” I shrug. He is important to me and I’m not excited about the idea of spending spring break at home, either, but the thought of sharing a toilet bowl with Malakai is causing me to shudder. It’s a shit situation, literally.
“It’s already late.”
“We can go tomorrow morning if you want.”
“I don’t want to go back,” she whispers. “I’d rather stay here.”
I’m about to protest, but then I notice her biting her bottom lip like she’s about to cry. I nod, understanding. She doesn’t need to say anything else. She remembers . I feel lines forming on my forehead looking at her. My heartstrings tug.
Giuliana Bankowski crying is not something you want to see on a daily basis, because when someone usually walks around as happy and bubbly as she does, the sight of her right now is heartbreaking.
Pulling her closer by wrapping my arms around her shoulders, I surprise even myself with the gentleness of my tone. “Then we’re staying.”