Starlee's Home (The Wayward Sons 3)

“Did Dexter give you this?”

She shrugs. “Just go before I eat that pie myself.”

I know my way to the art room but I’m still a little wary about whatever they have planned. The boys have B Lunch, which is why we’re no longer able to see one another. The last thing we need is to get in trouble before the break.

The door is closed but as I approach it swings open and George appears. “What are you doing?” I ask skeptically. This hall is closed during A Lunch.

“Ms. Peterman gave me permission to host a gathering in here today.”

I raise an eyebrow. “Host?”

He steps back and I see all four guys at our normal art table. The surface is covered with containers of food, half of them baked goods. “What is all this?” I ask, feeling overwhelmed. It’s not just the food. It’s the fact we’re all together in the middle of the school day, something that’s been off limits for weeks.

“We just wanted to do something nice for you.”

“By stuffing me with sugar?” I walk over and pick up a ginger cookie. I pop it in my mouth. “Oh my god. So good.”

Each boy takes a seat and I sit at the end, plates are passed around and Dexter turns on his iPod, streaming holiday music. It’s cheesy and perfect and it brings me back to a few months ago when eating lunch together wasn’t breaking the rules.

“You know, I didn’t know we were exchanging gifts today.” To be honest, I didn’t have anything for them. My plan was to shop over the weekend with Claire, but after all this? I have no idea what to get them.

“You don’t owe us anything,” Jake says, tapping my foot with his. His plate is piled high with food.

I eat another cookie but don’t respond, because I know in my heart that I do owe them for what they’ve given me, I just have to figure out how to go about it.

When I get home, I find Leelee and Katie in the office. Reservations are low over the holidays, just a few people on extended stay to hunt and ski that don’t want to pay for the bigger resorts. I drop my backpack on the floor. We have only two days until Christmas, and tomorrow I’m spending it shopping with Claire. I haven’t given up on finding a way to have a party where we can all spend some time together, and already asked Leelee what she thought about us hosting something at her house a few days before.

“Starlee, I’ve been thinking about your Christmas party idea—and I like it—the idea of getting everyone in Lee Vines together to celebrate is wonderful but I just don’t think the house is big enough to do it.”

I sigh. “Right. I know. It would be a tight fit.”

“But,” she says, walking around the counter, “I talked to Tom about it and he’d love to host something at the café on Christmas Eve. They close early that day and he thinks it would be fun to invite everyone over.”

“Really? That’s great.” If Tom is hosting a party, there’s no way Sierra won’t let the boys come, and we can do everything we can to invite George and Charlie, too. “Tell me what we need to do.”

“Can you send an email out to the neighborhood group? That should cover almost everyone.”

“I’m on it,” I say, passing her and walking over to the computer behind the counter.

“I’m going to go find out if there’s anything else he needs. Be back in a bit.” She goes out the front door and the door closes with a chime of the bell.

I sit on the stool and open up the email account. The squeak of the desk chair tells me Katie’s no longer sitting and I feel her lean against the counter next to me. “What are you up to?”

I shrug. “Just wanting to spend some time with our neighbors on Christmas.”

“Our neighbors or your neighbors…specifically?”

I give her look. “It will be nice to see everyone, but yeah, Sierra is still holding firm on her no-contact policy, and although we’ve found a few work arounds, I don’t want to have to sneak around on Christmas Eve. It’s my first holiday here with Leelee and away from my mom. I want it to be special.”

“That’s fair,” she says. “What do you need me to do?”

“Maybe make sure Sierra is going to come? Or invite George and Charlie so it’s not coming from me?” I sigh and scratch my arm. “It’s ridiculously complicated. Even if we get Sierra to the party, we need a distraction.”

Katie rests her chin on her hand. “Hmmm…you’re right. Otherwise she’ll just keep an eye on you the whole time.”

“Total bummer.”

Her eyes light up and she snaps her fingers. “I have an idea.”