“It’s like that but harder.”
“Why?”
Instead of explaining the process, I pull out my phone and show her a time-lapse video of someone building a model sailboat. It’s the first time I’ve been able to keep her quiet for a solid five minutes, so I count my idea as a win. Even I find myself getting swept up in the familiarity of the process and the therapeutic aspect of boatbuilding.
And that right there is why your brothers teased you endlessly about being a nerd.
Once the video ends, she looks up at me with a big smile. “Cool!”
I rear back. “Really?”
Her head bobs up and down. “I want to try.”
She might not look like Lana, but she is 100 percent her through and through.
“You do?”
“Yes! Can we make one together?”
I blink twice, focusing on how she grouped us together. “What?”
“Please can we do one, Cow-l? Pretty, pretty please.” Her bright eyes pierce through my resolve, tempting me to say yes.
“Ummm…”
She bats her lashes. “I’ll be your bestest friend ever.”
Don’t you dare fall for that.
Except it’s pretty hard not to with the way she looks up at me with a beaming smile full of hope. The idea of killing her budding interest makes the acid in my stomach bubble.
Stay strong.
“They’re pretty hard.” My excuse might be weak, but it’s an honest one. I didn’t start my first kit until I was double her age, and even then, I struggled until my grandpa stepped in to help.
“I’m no quitter.” She lifts her chin.
I can tell based on the way she pushes me to say yes. I’m tempted to, solely because of her tenacity, but one thing holds me back.
“You need to ask your mom if it’s okay.”
“So, we can build one?” She bounces on the balls of her feet.
“If your mom says yes—” Lana will for sure say no, and I wouldn’t blame her one bit. It was kind of our thing before it wasn’t anymore. There is no chance in hell I expect her to want Cami and me to build one.
Cami cuts me off with a squeal before running out of my room, leaving me to question if I made the right decision.
No turning back now.
I spend the rest of my day packing away each of my model ships carefully into individual moving boxes. The last one I have left to pack, which I debated between dumping or saving all afternoon, is the boat Lana and I never finished.
Before I reconsider my answer, I pack it away with the box of unfinished parts.
My phone goes off a few times, mostly from my family group chat which I’ve ignored ever since my fight with Declan. I know I’ll have to deal with him eventually, but I would rather face him once I’m officially done with my task.
I don’t check my phone until I tape up the last box.
Lana
Care to explain why Cami has spent the last two hours watching boatbuilding videos on YouTube?
Never mind. I finally got the answer out of her.
It takes me a whole pathetic minute to come up with a reply.
And?
Her reply comes through a second later.
Lana
Is it true that you offered to build a boat with her?
My fingers fly across the screen before I hit send.
More like I was bribed.
Lana
Then don’t worry about it…
Shit. As nervous as I got from Cami’s request earlier, I’d hate to disappoint her after how excited she looked.
In an act of desperation, I send a rapid-fire text without thinking twice about it.
She offered to be my bestest friend ever if I agreed. I would be stupid to say no, especially with how many enemies I have in this town.
The bubbles pop up before disappearing, only to appear again. It happens twice before a new message appears on my phone.
Lana
Don’t make me regret this.
What’s the worst that can happen?
Lana
The options are endless whenever you’re concerned.
I can always count on you to knock me down.
Lana
At least I’m consistent.
She also sends an upside-down smiley face and a shrugging woman emoji. With a smile, I reply with a middle finger emoji.
I spend the rest of my afternoon with a stupid smile on my face, long after our conversation ended. The pressure in my chest is replaced by a lightness I haven’t felt in a while, and my usual urge to drink while sorting through my personal items is absent.
It’s a small win for an addict like me, but a win nonetheless, so I’ll take it.
On my way to drop off the final box in the garage, I pass by the living room. Cami is sprawled out on the couch, fast asleep while wearing a sailor costume. An adult-sized captain’s hat is thrown on the floor beside her right next to an empty juice box.
The kid is stupidly cute. No wonder Lana never stood a chance at saying no to her about building a boat with me. Who would?
“Oh, no. She fell asleep before dinner.”
I turn to find Lana standing beside me.
“Are you going to wake her up?” I ask.
“Heck no.”
I chuckle low. “Do you plan on having her sleep down here?”
“Nope.”
“What are you waiting for?”
She presses her palm against the small of her back. “I’m mentally preparing my back for the pain I’m going to feel tomorrow once I carry her up the stairs.”
“I can carry her,” I offer before thinking.
Surprise. Surprise.
Her brows shoot up. “You can?”
I place the box on the floor. “She probably weighs what…forty-five pounds soaking wet?”
“A little less but yeah.”
“No worries. I got her.” I walk up to Cami and tuck my arms beneath her head and legs. Cami’s head rolls, but Lana is quick to readjust her so her cheek is pressed against my chest. Cami grumbles something under her breath before snuggling deeper into my shirt.
A strange tugging in my chest has me looking away from Cami’s face and directly toward Lana’s. Her gaze travels from Cami to me, the skin around her eyes softening.
She is quick to break eye contact first. “I’ll show you to her room.”
I’m mindful not waking Cami as I follow Lana up the stairs and toward Rowan’s old room. The dark wood furniture and navy blue paint is gone, replaced by lavender walls and a white canopy bed shaped like a princess carriage.
The Dreamland-themed comforter makes me smile. “Cute—”
“Don’t.” Her edgy tone matches her eye roll. A few of the princesses from our most famous movies are plastered across the fabric, all grinning up at the ceiling. Lana throws it back before giving me room.
I’m careful to not wake Cami as I place her on the bed. She doesn’t stir, so I take a step back and let Lana do her thing. My feet remain glued to the floor while Lana tucks Cami in and whispers something against her forehead before kissing it.
The tugging sensation comes back stronger this time and wraps around my heart like a lasso, tempting me to escape.
So I do just that.
Since I’m in the mood to run away, I throw on my workout gear and take advantage of the breezy evening. I don’t stop running until I end up heading down Main Street in search of food and something to occupy my mind.
Warm light pouring out of One More Chapter’s windows has me taking off in the direction of the bookshop.