31. Gigi
CHAPTER 31
Gigi
It’s past dinner time when we arrive. Mom made it a point to take the day off today, something she never does. From the window, I can see her and Becca peering outside. They must have waited for us. The moment Luke stops the engine, the front door swings open and I see my mother running out, followed by my stepsister.
“ Piccola mia !” She rushes to me with her arms open. “You’re here.”
Her generously sized boobs are crushing mine, suffocating me. I don’t care. I miss her. “Hi, Mom,” I say with a giggle. When I open my eyes, I see Luke give Becca an elaborate, secret handshake, his expression proud and his smile genuine.
My mom lets go of me and goes over to Luke while Becca does the opposite. The last time I saw this little princess was at Andrew’s funeral last September.
“Hey, little one,” I hum my pet name for her. “Look at you getting taller.” I rough up her hair as guilt creeps up on me. If Luke has really been visiting her regularly, which I know he does since he has invited me from time to time, but I always decline out of fear of Andrew’s parents reacting to us being an item, that means I am the only one who hasn’t been meeting her. I hope she understands my reasoning behind it.
“Miss you, Gigi,” she says, smiling as she gives me a half hug. “Bianca! I owe you a donut!”
“Why do you owe Mom a donut?” I ask curiously.
“Oh, it’s nothing.” My mom waves her hand around, her smile suspicious.
“I was so sure that you two would come here fighting, that we made a bet.” Becca gives me a smirk that’s all mischief. “He doesn’t like you very much, you know.”
Luke throws his head back and bursts out laughing. “I told you already. I changed my opinion; she’s cool.” He’s talking to her, but he’s winking at me, causing my stomach to do somersaults.
It’s crazy to think that all of my Luke memories attached to this house only consist of him either arriving home, or leaving home. With him only coming back in the summer when I was all the way in another state, we never really did anything together. This summer will be different, and I’m all here for it. I can feel it. New memories and all that.
My eyes widen when I see what these two did. In the living room, a big banner saying Welcome Home hangs on the wall. Typical of her. Although she works a lot, when it comes down to it, she’s a soccer mom, through and through. I bet she knew that this homecoming is different for me and Luke because of what happened.
“My heart is so full,” my mother says, clutching her chest. “All the children together under one roof. Once Vince is back, our family will be complete.” I swallow the bile rising up my throat at her remark. Yeah, telling Andrew’s parents is daunting, but it’s a necessary evil. Luke was right, the longer we keep this a secret, the more ridiculous the situation becomes.
From the corner of my eye, I see Luke tensing at the mention of his father. I wonder what happened between them. Although I managed to coax a shitload of information from Luke about him, which is a miracle in itself, he rarely talks about Vince. Never Vince. In fact, he always redirects the conversation every time his father comes up in a conversation.
Five minutes after excusing myself to go on a much-needed pee break, I frown when I see what’s happening in the living room. My mom is putting a fitted sheet on the air mattress and Luke has his bag set up in the living room.
“Why isn’t this set up in Becca’s room?” I ask. “And Luke, I thought we agreed that I would sleep with her?”
He shrugs. “It’s fine,” is all he says.
My mom looks at me with an uncertain smile. “Becca is a little too old for sharing, Gigi. She even has a sign taped to her door upstairs that no other people are allowed in her room.”
“She won’t mind,” I try to argue. I’m not letting Luke sleep with zero privacy in his own house. “Let me talk to her about it.” She might be at the age where she thinks boys have cooties, even her brother, but she adores me.
“It’s fine,” Luke repeats himself.
“Then let me have the air mattress,” I say.
“Well, Luke and I talked about it. We think it would be best if you sleep in your own room.”
I cock my eyebrow, about to argue with my mom, but then Luke repeats himself again for the third time. “Gi, seriously. No big deal. Go up, shower, and get some rest.”
My mom looks at Luke and then to me. Her mother’s intuition must be off the charts because her eyes start narrowing and I can tell she senses something between us. She doesn’t say anything though, and I’m not about to open that can of worms within an hour of being back in Kinsdale Springs.