Say You'll Remember Me(28)

Grandma sipped her coffee. “Well, then whatever you put into it, you get to enjoy then. But it won’t be cheap.”

“It never is,” Dad said.

“We need to figure out a good time,” Jeneva said. “It’s going to be disruptive.”

“We’ll discuss,” Dad said, looking at his watch. “I have to get to work.” He stood and kissed Mom on the cheek.

My phone vibrated on the kitchen counter. I picked it up and looked at it. I did not expect what I saw.

It was Xavier.

“Oh my God…” I breathed.

Dad paused next to Mom.

Jeneva eyed me. “What?”

“It’s him.”

Tristan made a dramatic gasp.

“Who’s him?” Grandma asked.

“The hot vet guy from the UFO,” Tristan said.

“The one who gave her the hoodie she wears twenty-four seven,” Jeneva said.

“I don’t wear it twenty-four seven!” I said, literally wearing it.

“Answer it!” Tristan snapped.

I cleared my throat and hit the button. “Xavier…” I said, as calmly as possible.

“Hello.”

His warm voice felt like I was being wrapped in fleece.

“To what do I owe this phone call?” I asked, scurrying out of the kitchen to the living room. “Pooter’s poops are fine. Her butthole too. Unless you’re calling for something else.”

“I’d like to come see you,” he said without preamble.

I stopped dead in the living room. “You want to come see me?”

“Yes.”

I blinked. “Why?”

A pause. “I can come this weekend. Or the one after that,” he said. “Whatever works for you.”

My heart was pounding. “Why?” I asked again.

He was quiet on the other end. “Because I need to be in the same room as you,” he said. “Preferably one with a door that unlocks.”

I had to move the phone away from my mouth like he could see my goofy grin.

“Okay,” I said. “This weekend could work.”

“Okay.”

There was a smile in there.

“And bring me my lava lamp,” I said.

“Of course. I’ll text you with my flight time.”

We hung up.

I was smiling so big my face hurt.

“Giiiirl…” Tristan said from behind me.

I turned around. Everyone was standing in the dining room. Even Mom.

I put my hand on my hip. “How long were you there?”

“Long enough to hear you’ve got a penis flying in from Minnesota—” Tristan said.

“The boys!” Jeneva punched his shoulder, but they were both laughing.

I crossed my arms. “He is not a—You know what? Stay out of my business.”

“No,” my brother said.

“No,” Jeneva parroted him. Then Grandma, the boys, and Dad and Mom all said, “No.” Mom was probably just repeating what we were saying, but it was so funny the whole room started laughing.

I couldn’t help it. I laughed too.

And then I freaked out. He was coming the day after tomorrow.

And also, why was he coming? Like, I got the whole want to be in a room with you thing. I wanted to be in a room with him too. But what was the point? We were too far away to make anything of it.

I decided just for this weekend I wasn’t going to care.





13





XAVIER


I WAS GOING to see Samantha.

I’d head straight to the airport from work on Saturday and arrive in California by 4:00. Monday I was taking a 6:00 a.m. flight home and going straight from the airport to the clinic. I’d had to cancel all my volunteer shifts and block off most of the day on Monday. My dog was going with Maggie.

I’d booked a cheap hotel near where Samantha said she lived. I didn’t want to assume she’d let me stay with her and I didn’t ask if I could in case she felt obligated to say yes. I was going to book a car too, but she offered to pick me up. This I did agree to because it seemed the most practical. I could always get an Uber if I needed one and I didn’t like to lose time with her. I wanted to see her as soon as I got off the plane.

If paying for this trip had taught me anything, it was that this situation would not be sustainable. The best I could hope for was to feel nothing and be let down.

Unfortunately, I was not let down. In fact, I knew I’d messed up the second I saw her.

She was a vision, waiting for me outside the baggage claim, leaning on the door of a classic blue convertible. I accidentally came out a different exit than the one I told her I would, so I saw her before she saw me. When she looked over and our eyes locked, I was done for.

I was going to go broke coming here. I knew it immediately.

“Hey!” She closed the distance between us, and I dropped my duffel bag with a thud and folded around the hug she gave me.

I felt instantly content. Like I’d been living with some invisible driving force to get here, running at a low hum, and suddenly the engine cut off.

“How was your flight?” she whispered, not letting me go.

Worth it, I thought.

“Good,” I said, dipping my nose into her hair.