I catch it easily, hesitating as I consider his question, as I think about all of my aunts and uncles, my cousins, Melody and me. “You know… I really don’t know.”
* * *
Knox
The meeting went well. Aunt Liv is a total badass. She put that other lawyer in his place. How’d it go with you guys?
I haven’t talkedto Melody since early this morning, before she got on a plane for Little Rock. I half expected she’d text me as soon as they were done, but then I realized when she was finishing up on her end, I was just going into the meeting with Aunt Liv down here.
Then when it was all over, after everything Aunt Liv told me about how we’d handled the transfer and the bias against professional athletes, I felt like a real asshole for being so mad at Edward for so long.
Yes, I was frustrated that it felt like he was taking sides with the police and the social worker lady, but he was absolutely correct. The way we handled that exchange mattered. Big time. I don’t know how he knew it, but I should’ve known from growing up with him, he was right.
Edward’s the type of guy who sits around and reads old encyclopedias for fun. Like he drags them out of Grammy Gina’s massive bookcases in her giant mansion and sits around reading them. Like they’re so fascinating.
Okay,fascinatingis a word he would never use, but that’s how he seems when he’s reading those old books, turning the slick pages, his eyes sliding down the teeny-tiny type.
We all went out last night to celebrate a successful meeting, and I tried to call Melody. It went straight to voicemail,so I shot her a text. She hasn’t replied, but it’s not like when I’m getting ready to play.
Those days she doesn’t want to muddy the waters or however she tries to frame it. What’s happening right now is way different.
I’m starting to climb the walls, wondering where she is and why she’s not responding. Then my phone lights up with a text, and I scoop it up so fast, I almost throw it across the room.
Melody
Sorry! We’ve been incredibly busy over here. So glad your meeting went well. I’m headed your way, and I’ll tell you all about it in person. It’s a lot. Okay?
Knox
Wait, what are you saying?
Melody
Just sit tight. I’ve got a surprise for you.
Knox
You’re coming here? Where are you now? Share your location.
My phone goes quiet, and I wait. Seconds tick past, and nothing. When I realize she’s not going to reply, I exhale a growl.Melody…
Then I groan a laugh. This girl knows exactly how to torment me, and it works. My stomach is surging with energy that she’s on her way, and I walk around the room before deciding I’d better get out of this house.
Cooters & Shooters is right down the road from Dad’s place, and I practically jog the whole way. I think about all the things I plan to do to her when she gets here. How I plan to drag her into the restroom and kiss her long and hard,then I’ll spank her bottom for not sharing her location with me. For leaving me hanging for so long. For not telling me when she’s going to be here. For driving me fucking nuts.
Because I miss the fuck out of her, and I need to tell her how much everything she’s done means. How she’s got my heart wrapped around her fucking little finger, and if she doesn’t tell me she loves me back, I might go out of my mind.
It’s Thursday night, after all. This place is going to be a total rave in a few hours, and nobody will be watching us.
I wander into the kitchen where Aunt Dylan is wearing protective goggles, plastic gloves, and even a bandana over her nose and mouth as she stirs a giant silver pot of salsa.
It only takes a few minutes of standing in the kitchen before my eyes start to burn. “Dang, Aunt Deedee, what are you making tonight?”
“Pepper X salsa with sour cream guacamole and lime slices.” She rises onto her tiptoes as I carefully creep over to her, tilting her head back to give me a quick kiss on the cheek. “Don’t stand there. If this splashes, it might get in your eye.”
Lifting my hand, I back away to the other wall. “I don’t know how you find people willing to eat this stuff.”
“It’s tradition!” Mom walks in, depositing her backpack under the stainless metal work table and walking over to pull me down for a hug. “Liv said y’all had a successful hearing!”