“Ivy sends her love,” he said as we headed for the door, choosing not to acknowledge the fact he’d been ignoring his texts and avoiding a car ride with his parents.
“She called this morning.” Adrienne went on, heading inside. “Nova’s getting so big. I was just telling your father we needed to plan another trip out there to see her.”
“I’m sure she’d like that.”
The inside of the house basically looked like it could be in a magazine. It was contemporary but comfortable, with a touch of country. The room we walked into was one huge great room. The floors were hardwood with various scrapes and dings that gave them character. The walls were painted a light but warm shade of tan, and there was a giant stone fireplace on the far wall that stretched all the way to the ceiling.
Wooden beams crossed the ceiling and were stained the same color as the floor. Area rugs in muted tones and patterns defined different areas of the room and provided a guide for where to look.
A huge leather sectional sat near the fireplace, above which hung a huge flat-screen TV. There were candles everywhere, most of them lit, and the entire room smelled of melted vanilla and sugar.
Artfully arranged on one wall near the front door was a huge collage of family photos. In the center were black letters that spelled out the word family. My eyes went instantly to all the images of Drew at various stages of his life, and a knot formed in my throat.
The kitchen was open to the great room as well, separated by a huge granite island with high-backed stools lining the front. The cabinets beneath the counter were painted a rustic red, adding a pop of color in the otherwise fairly neutral space. Behind the island, the rest of the cabinets were made of distressed wood in a creamy finish. The hardware on them wasn’t black, but more of a bronze brown. The appliances were all stainless, and the stovetop was sunk right into the countertop, making it look like it had been there all along.
“Burke! Drew’s here!” Adrienne called toward a hallway that led out of the great room and then went ahead toward the kitchen.
“Office is that way,” Drew explained as we passed. “Dad’s probably working.”
“Can I make you boys a sandwich?” his mom offered.
“No, thank you,” I said, and Drew shook his head.
I wanted to reach out and stroke my hand down his back and remind him to breathe. I’d caught myself twice already reaching out to touch him before remembering I couldn’t.
Drew’s father appeared out of the hallway and stepped into the kitchen. “Son!” he said, rubbing his hands together like Drew was a delicious meal. “Good to see you!”
“Hey, Dad,” Drew said and stepped forward for a quick hug.
Drew’s father held out his hand to me, and we shook. “Trent.”
“Sir,” I said. Even though I’d met these people before, I couldn’t help but feel awkward, like this was a movie and I was in high school picking up this guy’s daughter for her very first date.
But this wasn’t high school. This wasn’t my first date… and Drew wasn’t a girl.
“Wasn’t it nice of Trent to come along with Drew so he wouldn’t be alone to travel?” his mother said.
That’s when I really knew this wasn’t going to go well. I liked Drew’s parents, but, man, they were old school and lived in their own little world. I was also beginning to see how Drew was so good at ignoring things (like his phone, like the way we felt for each other for so long), because I was beginning to think his mother was the same way.
Honestly, there was nothing wrong with that. I respected it. I lived in my own little world, too, I supposed. Everyone did.
I just wished the worlds we occupied weren’t so incredibly different.
Burke crossed the kitchen toward a large coffeepot taking up a spot on the counter. The red light on top was lit and dark liquid filled up the pot about halfway.
“Coffee anyone?” his mom asked us.
We both shook out heads.
“Well, don’t keep us in suspense anymore, son. Give us the good news!” his father said, turning from the pot with a mug in his hand.
“Good news?” Drew asked.
“You must have some. After all, you did come all the way home for an awfully short visit.” His mother agreed.
“I did come because I wanted to talk to you about something.” Drew hedged.
“Let’s go sit down,” his mother directed and headed toward the sofa.
I sat on the end near the armrest and propped my elbow on the cushion. I was surprised when Drew sat right beside me. He didn’t touch me or even glance my way, but I knew.
I knew he needed my closeness, because in his position, I would need the same. Again, I fought the urge to touch him but consoled myself with the knowledge he knew I was here.
Drew’s parents sat nearby, on the other side, so we were almost facing each other.
Burke took a drink of his coffee, then set the cup on a polished wooden table in front of the couch. “How’s the job going?” he asked.