Total pages in book: 130
Estimated words: 125852 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 629(@200wpm)___ 503(@250wpm)___ 420(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 125852 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 629(@200wpm)___ 503(@250wpm)___ 420(@300wpm)
My mom’s features soften, and she reaches out to take my hand. “So you’ve decided? You’re moving out right after graduation?”
“I mean…” I look for an out. Moving out wasn’t exactly what I was thinking, but I don’t want to get into that yet. “Look, it’s not like it’s happening tomorrow. It’s only September, and I’ve still got another year after this and—”
“Pumpkin, it’s all right.” My dad tries to smile reassuringly, but it just looks a little sad. “We’ve known since you were two feet tall that the pigs and chickens wouldn’t be enough for a girl with a heart the size of a blue whale.”
My scowl is instant. “I love the farm.”
“I know, but we moved to the house in town for a reason. You’re a people person, Cameron, and we’ve known that for a long time.” He pauses, looking over at my mom. “Actually, your mama and I have been talking about selling the house, moving back to the one on the property.”
My face falls, my eyes instantly finding my best friends across the yard. “You’re selling the house?” They’re moving onto the farm property?
“Don’t look so sad. We both know if you’re not coming home, Ari isn’t coming home. Hell, I’d be surprised if any of you do since you’re all sharing the beach house in Oceanside.”
Sadness fills me at the thought of not going back to my childhood home, my best friend’s place just a skip away, but I get it and it makes sense. I look back to my mom and dad. “You know”—I cock my head—“I should have seen this coming.”
My dad smiles, wrapping his arm around me and steering us over to where Ari has finished unpacking the bag we brought of paper products, spreading them out along the picnic tables piled with items others contributed.
“Hi, guys!” Ari beams, hugging my parents and pointing them in the direction of where hers are already settled alongside Brady’s, Deaton the center of attention as he runs between them, forcing them all to take chip after chip that he offers.
“Man, to be a baby who can make anyone do anything that they want.” I sigh dramatically and Ari chuckles, hip checking me. “You bummed your boo thang isn’t here?”
Her smile grows a little sad, and she looks out across the quad, gaze settling on her brother manning one of the many grills, as per usual, Payton at his side. “Last year was tough, but with everything going on with Mason, me, and Payton, I had a distraction. This year though…” She pinches her lips to one side. “I mean we’re only a few weeks into the semester now and I just feel like I’m—”
“Swear to god, if you say missing half your soul or something else super Hallmark like that, I might actually vomit, and the wedges I’m wearing are way too cute for that.”
The longing melts off Ari’s expression and she grins, both of us smiling softly, no words needing to be said. She knows I know what she means, even if I can’t possibly understand how it must feel to be apart from someone you’d literally cut your heart out for and hand it to them if the situation demanded it.
She sighs, but it’s not a gloomy sound, and wraps her arms around me. “Thanks, Cam.”
“Welcome, sister. What am I good for if not the art of distraction? Now let’s go rescue the ’rents before Deaton fills them up on Funyuns.”
She laughs, and we make our way over, dropping down into the grass between our parent’s chairs, and chat about school, their work, and every other random topic that comes up.
About half an hour later, Chase returns from picking up his parents at the airport.
“Chase, honey, it’s so good to see you!” Ari’s mom jumps up, always the first to take her “second children,” as she calls us all, into her arms. She holds on to him a moment longer than she did us, and I know it’s because she senses he needs it.
We like to joke Brady is more like her than his own mom, what with his perceptive-ass self.
I sneak a peek at Ari, and she meets my gaze, her shrug only noticeably to me.
I wonder if it’s because she still feels for Chase after everything that went down between him, Ari, and Noah our freshman year.
Ari’s mom whispers something, and he nods, pulling back with a soft smile.
Chase makes his rounds, saying hello to everyone else.
I glance around for his parents, but it’s Brady who hops up from his spot on the grass opposite me. “You lose your parents from the parking lot to here?” He lifts baby Deaton and puts him on his massive shoulders.
Chase’s chuckle is tense, and he nods toward the buildings. “Nah, they paused at the restrooms. They’ll be over here in a minute. I’m going to see if Mase is ready for a break.”