Olivia
Chapter twenty-eight
That evening, Gage and I take his Jeep into town to meet his family for dinner. We both wear our new bracelets, looking like a couple of lovesick saps with the kitschy rubber bands on our wrists. An impression I’m not saying would be completely inaccurate.
As we tiptoed around each other in front of our families at the party last weekend, separate but together, all I could think was how much I hated the act. My reasons for avoiding a real relationship with Gage faded into the background, still present, but not what I wanted to focus on.
All of the little moments and hints throughout the summer that have made me think Gage wants more than a fling meld together into a flashing neon sign, especially after our craft session earlier.
If Gage thinks I’m enough, maybe I am.
So tonight, at his request, I’m dipping my toes into the relationship waters and meeting his birth family.
It strikes me as strange that though Annie’s been my best friend for more than ten years, it’s not her that makes this introduction.
I’ve heard all about Maggie and Kent and Duncan and Callie, from both Gage and Annie, but to be meeting them through the lens of my connection with Gage feels significant.
I have a sudden thought, and the resulting question breaks through the silence in the Jeep. “How are you going to introduce me to them?”
Gage glances at me, a teasing smile on his face. “I was thinking I’d use your name.”
“Olivia or Delaney? And as what? Your friend? Annie’s friend? Your make-out buddy?”
Gage grimaces. “Definitely not that last one.”
“I’m serious!” I pinch my bracelet between my fingers and snap it against my skin. I repeat the nervous fidget again as I wait for Gage to respond.
“How would you like me to introduce you?” he finally asks. I don’t know how he sounds so calm when I’m drowning in a tidal wave of anxiety.
I spin through the possibilities in my head. “Well obviously Maggie talks to Annie, right? So, I don’t want to be too obvious because I don’t want Annie to hear about us secondhand.”
Gage shifts in his seat. “Listen, about Annie—”
I rush to cut him off, my stomach fluttering. “I’m not saying I’m still determined for Annie not to know about us, but I want to be the one to tell her.”
Gage pulls into the parking lot of one of the local restaurants. It’s a concrete building with a red tile roof in high peaks like those on the Alamo. A Texas lone star sign hangs on the covered walkway leading up to the front doors.
“I get that, but—”
“So, I think you should introduce me with my first and last name and as a friend you and Annie grew up with.” The words tumble from my mouth so quickly that I’m left trying to catch my breath.
Gage parks the Jeep and turns it off. As he removes the keys from the ignition, he lets his hands fall to his thighs. He rubs his palms over his jeans a few times while inhaling one deep breath, then another.
I watch him quietly and feel like a self-absorbed brat.
I’ve been making this night all about me and how I’m feeling, when Gage is the one facing his deepest trauma.
After all he’s shared with me about his conflicting emotions surrounding his adoption, I should have been more sensitive.
Of course he’s nervous. It was foolish of me to think otherwise.
I reach over the center console and lay my hand on top of his, stroking gently with my fingers.
“Take your time,” I murmur. “There’s no rush.”
He flips his hand over and interlaces our fingers. I squeeze and lean closer. Gage lets go of my hand to wrap his arms around my shoulders and pull me close.
I wriggle my arms out from between us and rub circles on his back. His heartbeat pulses against my chest as he clings to me.
As the seconds pass, I feel his heart regulate and his breathing even out. His grip on me loosens until he pulls away and shoots me an abashed smile.
I smile back at him. “Ready?”
“Almost,” he whispers before brushing a gentle kiss across my lips. “Now, I’m ready.”
We get out of the Jeep and make our way toward the restaurant entrance. On a ramp near the door, a couple that look like they’re in their late thirties stand waiting with two children. I recognize the family from the picture taped to the wall above Gage’s bunk.
Gage rushes forward and throws his arms around the woman—Maggie. Keeping an arm around her shoulders, he high-fives her husband before ruffling his little brother’s hair. Callie peeks out shyly from behind her dad’s back, but Duncan grins up at Gage with an adoring expression.
His exuberant greeting now is such a change from his uncertainty in the Jeep minutes ago. It’s almost like he’s performing, the entrance ramp is his stage, and I’m the audience, watching the reunion from a few feet back.
Examining Maggie from a distance, it’s disconcerting how much she looks like Annie. Or how much Annie looks like her, rather. Seeing Maggie, I can easily picture what my best friend will look like in twenty years.
Gage turns and beckons me closer. As I approach, he rests his hand against the small of my back.
“This is Olivia Delaney,” he says, shooting me a subtle wink.
“Annie and I have been friends with her since middle school, and she’s working with me at Camp Prairie Star this summer.
Olivia, this is Maggie Gray, her husband, Kent, and their kids, Duncan and Callie. ”
“Hi.” I wave, smiling broadly. “I’ve heard so much about you. I’m so glad to finally meet you all.”
Maggie looks with amusement between Gage and me. “Olivia Delaney.” She smirks, and now her face is pure Gage, where before I saw only Annie. “We’ve heard all about you, too.”
I cram my hands in my pockets. “I’m sure. Annie and I are best friends, so.”
Maggie’s eyes sparkle. “Yes, some of what I’ve heard was from Annie.” I follow her gaze to Gage, whose ears turn suspiciously red.
Kent, who is tall and handsome with close-cropped black hair and rich brown eyes, ushers us forward. “Let’s get in the air conditioning before we melt. We can talk more inside.”
He takes Callie’s hand, and we follow them into the restaurant. Inside, the dining room is pure Texas with its concrete floors and heavy wood tables and chairs with black metal trim. The walls are distressed gray bricks in a running bond pattern beneath high ceilings with dark wood paneling.
The place is busy, but not as packed as I’d expect it to be on a Saturday night. We’re seated right away, despite the large size of our party.
Gage and I sit next to each other, across from Maggie and Kent, with Duncan on the end next to Gage, and Callie on the other end between Kent and me. Under the table, Gage lays his hand on my knee right away, like he needs the connection.
After we order and we’re waiting for the food to come, Maggie asks Gage about the summer at camp so far, and Duncan soaks in Gage’s words. Maggie holds a hand up near her mouth and whispers across the table, “He’s a little nervous for his first year at camp.”
Duncan hears her, of course. “Moooom,” he complains. Maggie winks.
I lean over Gage to speak to Duncan. “Most kids are nervous when they first get to camp, but then they meet their cabinmates and start doing all the cool activities, and they’re having fun before they know it.
Plus”—I nod toward Gage—“rumor has it that you’re going to have the very best counselor at the whole camp. ”
Duncan’s face brightens. “I’m going to be in Gage’s cabin?”
Gage grins and pats Duncan on the shoulder. “You sure are, bud. And we’ll have a pretty small group. I think there are only six or seven boys in our cabin this week.”
Maggie groans, and before I can ask what’s wrong, Duncan and Callie chorus, “Six-sevvuhnn!” in a lyrical lilt while making alternating rising-and-falling motions with their upturned hands, like a balancing scale.
Gage rubs the palm of his hand against his forehead. “I walked right into that one.”
All summer the kids at camp—and elsewhere apparently—have been obsessed with saying the numbers six and seven this way with the hand motions. It means absolutely nothing, as far as any of the adults can tell, but it’s super annoying.
I shake my head and smile at Duncan. “You’ll fit right in at camp.”
Across from me, Kent’s phone starts vibrating from its spot on the table. He glances at the screen and frowns. “It’s my brother. He’s watching our dog for us this weekend. I’d better take this, in case there’s a problem.”
Kent stands, and Gage follows his movements. He turns to Maggie. “Holden’s back in Texas?”
“Recently. He’s staying in that little apartment above our garage.”
Callie watches with wide eyes as Kent steps toward the door to go outside, holding the phone up to his ear.
“It’s okay, Cal. Daddy will be right back,” Maggie soothes. To me, she says, “It takes Callie time to warm up to new people.”
“Hey, CJ.” Gage leans forward to see his sister better. “Do you want me to come sit by you until your dad gets back?”
Callie bobs her head up and down, the most pathetic little pout on her lips. Gage pops up and rounds the table to take Kent’s seat.
I immediately miss the warmth of his hand on my knee, but as soon as Gage is settled in the chair across from me, one of his feet nudges mine under the table. He catches my eye and grins.
With Callie fully occupying Gage’s attention, Maggie turns to me. “So, what do you do when you’re not working at a summer camp?”
It’s a normal question to ask, but also one that puts me on high alert, because I don’t know.
I rub my arm as I answer, feigning confidence I don’t feel.
“Great question. Before the summer, I was a kids’ soccer coach in Austin.
I’ll probably go back to that once camp is done.
” Before I can overthink it, I rush to add, “But I’ve been looking into becoming a PE teacher.
It’s a long process to get certified through the state, so I’ll start working on that in the fall, too. ”