“Not yet, but he will be.”
“Well, he’s not now so sounds like it’s your chance.”
“My chance for what?” I humor her.
“To get her back,” she says way too excitedly.
As much as I want to be optimistic about the possibility, I remember how stubborn my ex is, and how much she seemingly hates me now. Even though I’m still not entirely sure why. When she left for college, I didn’t think we had any animosity toward each other. We would text, and then all of a sudden one day it stopped. The next time I saw her it was different. There’s also the possibility that she really is happy with someone else, and that thought is the hardest for me to accept.
“Don’t get your hopes up,” I warn my mom.
“Don’t be so sure. Everything happens for a reason. And maybe that’s why she’s back.”
“I’m going to tell Trish you said the reason her business burnt down is because of her niece’s love life.”
“As long as that love life includes you, then you can tell Trish whatever you want.” She tosses the towel into the small hamper in her studio and steps out.
“It’s been six years,” I state, even though it hurts to admit. “I think that ship has sailed.”
“Oh, my son.” She pats my shoulder. “Your ship is still firmly docked at the port.”
She may be right about that, but Lily’s seems across the ocean. Though, I have a feeling that doesn’t mean my mom is going to let up on this at any point during dinner.
Growing up,my mom and Lily’s mom were best friends. They were that way long before Lily and I were born, but they became even closer after my dad left. Lily’s parents were both there for my mom to help with everything she needed, including me. Of course, that meant that I spent a lot of time at their house, and a lot of time around Lily. She’s been my oldest friend, someone I’ve known my entire life.
It only got better when things shifted as teenagers and our relationship progressed to something more. Something better, something I struggle to fully describe because it was justus. Until it wasn’t.
Things between us were always easy, except right now. We’re at the dining table, our mom’s made sure we’re sitting next to each other while all members of the Baker family, and my mother surround us. Ethan sits on the other side of me because he got annoyed that his mom insisted Lily and I sit next to each other.
“We’re so happy you’re back,” my mom tells the blonde sitting next to me, and I give her a look that I hope shows how I can see how thick she’s laying it on right now.
“Who’swe?”Lily asks, amused.
“Parker, and me, silly girl.”
I grumble around another bite of food.
“Jackie, don’t embarrass the boy,” Lily’s dad scolds, and for once I appreciate him sticking up for me. He’s a man of few words, unlike his daughter.
My mom completely ignores Lily’s dad and continues. “So, Lily, I heard you’re a nurse?”
Lily nods. “I am, yeah. Turns out sex work is illegal so nursing was my next choice.” There are a few sputters from around the table at her comment, and I bite back my smile as she continues. “Whyissex work illegal anyway?”
“Parker,” Tina practically yells to draw attention away from her daughter’s comments. “You have to go to the hospital quite a bit when you’re on duty, don’t you?”
I nod, swallowing the oversized bite of steak I just bit off. “Yeah, enough they know me around there.”
“I don’t think that’s why they know you there,” Lily grumbles.
I turn toward her. “What does that mean?”
She looks over at me, blue eyes glaring and all it does is make my heart rate spike. “I swear, every time you speak it makes my ears start to ring.”
“Maybe you should have that looked at.”
“No, I think that just means you shouldn’t talk to me.”
I smirk at her hostility; it shouldn’t make me this happy to spar with her, but I can’t help it. It’s like old times, and it feels like the first ray of light breaking through the storm clouds. Even if we’re arguing, it feels like it used to when it was just us. When nothing else mattered other than the two of us curled up on a bed of blankets in my truck on a spring night.