“I don’t know. I can’t just leave my mom here.” I run my fingertip over a snag in my leggings. It’s a lame excuse, but I’ve never been much for change. Staying with Benji even though he was a terrible boyfriend is a good example of that. Moving to Chicago would be a huge change. Also, Randy’s there. My vagina is already aware and excited.
“Your mom can take care of herself. I don’t think it would be a bad idea for you to at least consider it. We’d have so much fun.”
“Why don’t you move in with Miller?” I ask.
“We haven’t been dating that long, and I want to live on my own first. I don’t want to move into his space and just try to fit in there, you know?”
“But you’ll move into his place eventually.”
“Probably, but it doesn’t need to happen right away. Alex is the one who likes to rush things.”
“He’s really pushing for this wedding to happen, isn’t he?” It’s weird. But then, that’s Alex.
Sunny sighs. “I think he might send Violet over the edge.”
Violet and Alex have been together for nine months, give or take. Ever since he put a ring on her finger this summer, Sunny’s mom has been hounding them to set a date. Violet hasn’t committed to anything yet. The only thing she’s allowed so far is this engagement party I’ve evidently agreed to go to. Not that I’m complaining. Mostly.
“Anyway, you still haven’t told me what happened with you and Randy in that bathroom last night.”
“Nothing happened. He barged in on me like the jerk he is and prevented me from being able to pee.”
“That’s not what Miller said.”
“What?” The squeak in my voice is far too telling.
“Come on, Lily. I know something happened in there. It’s nothing to feel bad about. I mean, bathrooms are kind of gross, but that one is cleaner than most. As long as you used protection and washed your hands afterward, I’m sure it’ll be fine.”
“We didn’t have sex! Did Randy say we had sex?”
“No. I guess I assumed. I mean with the way you were freaking out—”
“I wasn’t freaking out.”
Sunny gives me a look.
“Okay, I was freaking out.”
She pulls into her parents’ driveway. There are five cars in it already. Sunny isn’t the best driver. Or parker. She always seems to end up running over her mother’s flowers, which is exactly what happens.
“Let’s talk about this later.” I step over a crushed bloom and head for the front door. Sunny has no option but to follow.
The house smells fabulous; the pungent aroma of cinnamon makes my mouth water. I kick off my shoes, and Alex immediately scoops me up in a hug.
“Little Lily! I didn’t get to see much of you last night. I’m glad you’re here.”
“You’re crushing me!” I laugh and hug him back anyway. I miss him sometimes, like I would a real brother. We used to bug the crap out of him when he was a teenager. Me more than Sunny probably. He figure skated with all the boys in the level above me, and some of them were so cute. Slutty, but cute. I was constantly looking for reasons to hang out by the Waters’ pool.
Once I made out with one of them. I was only in ninth grade. It was before I started dating Benji. Alex flipped his lid when he found out, and I got a serious big-brother lecture.
My Momma Two comes out of the kitchen in her frilly apron from the eighties. I’m almost positive her blouse has shoulder pads. Her hair is pulled up in a banana clip, and her bangs have been teased so they resemble a bath pouf. I didn’t even know they still made banana clips.
I’m pulled into more warm embraces. I’m not actually big on hugging, but the Waters family is. And with Sunny it’s more a habit than anything else. She’s one of the few people I don’t mind having in my personal space.
Miller’s in the kitchen, sitting at the breakfast bar with Sunny’s dad, Robbie, and Darren Westinghouse—he’s Alex’s best friend and another Chicago teammate. Robbie has essentially filled the missing father role in my life. He’s a serious pothead, but he’s brilliant, and I adore him.
The boys are shoving fruit into their mouths and talking about training. Miller spins on the bar stool and opens his arms wide, a huge grin on his face. “Lily!”
I give him a quick back pat and do the same with Robbie. I offer to help with brunch, but everything’s already done, so we bring the food out and sit down to eat.
Brunch at the Waters’ is always an event. Sunny’s a vegan, so there’s a selection of food specially prepared for her. The rest of the Waters family loves their meat, so heaps of bacon and sausage and eggs compliment the cinnamon buns, homemade waffles, and chocolate chip pancakes.
Violet and Charlene sit across from me and Sunny, with Momma Two to the right of Violet. She’s still talking about the engagement party.
After we stuff ourselves silly, the girls change into bathing suits and head outside. It honestly isn’t warm enough, but we’re all bundled in hotel-style bathrobes, so that helps. The guys have a tee time at one, so they’re packing up the car and getting ready to go. Daisy has plans to join us in a bit, once she’s done with dinner prep. That woman could spend her entire life in the kitchen. She’s like an eighties edition of June Cleaver.