“I am.”
“I found a little house with a yard that’s available to rent. Maybe you can come see it, and we can decide if we want something bigger.”
“I’ve been living in this shoebox for six months—anything will seem bigger.”
“It’s got three bedrooms, a big bathtub, and the landlord told me I could repaint it if I want to.”
“Are you saying you’ll allow me to add color to your life?”
“I’m saying you already have. You’re the red in my black and white world.”
Emerie, One year later
“Did you get it?”
Roman reached into his jacket pocket and pulled out an envelope. “Right here.” He shook his head. “Still can’t believe you pulled this shit off.”
I spotted Drew coming down the hall. “Put it away. Here he comes.”
Roman slipped the envelope back into his pocket and pulled out a flask instead. Twisting off the cap, he offered it to me. “Swig?”
“No, thanks.”
Drew walked in as Roman put the beat-up, old metal flask to his lips. “You still carry that thing around with you?”
“Never know when you’ll need a shot of Hennessy, my friend.”
I was surprised Drew hadn’t started doing shots after the last few days. I’d pretty much driven him crazy getting ready for tonight. My parents would be arriving in the next few minutes, and a half dozen of Beck’s friends were coming, too. Even though we’d lived in Atlanta for nearly a year now, it was really the first time we’d be having company. Well, except for Roman—who didn’t count as a guest. He was always family to Drew, and over the last year, he’d become my family, too. He was the annoying brother I’d always wanted.
Sometimes when he’d visit, I’d find him on the couch playing video games with Drew at two in the morning. Other times, he’d make Drew miss his flight when he had business in New York because he’d dragged him out on a stakeout. But all the time, he was there for us. Most people got scars from the chicken pox. Drew got a treasured friend for life. Somehow that made sense with those two.
Beck came barreling in from the yard. His clothes were drenched, and brown water dripped from his little head. “I watered the garden!”
“Ummm…did you water the garden, or did the garden water you?” I pointed to the bathroom. “Go take a bath before everyone gets here.”
“Can I just go in the pool naked?” He jumped up and down, holding his hands in the praying position.
“No, you can’t go in the pool naked. The neighbors will see you.”
Beck pouted and slumped his shoulders before turning to drag his feet en route to the bathroom.
“Roman and I are going to pick up beer,” Drew announced. “Need anything while I’m out? Pick up the cake you ordered?”
“My parents are swinging by the bakery on their way here. It’s a tradition that they pay for the cake. Don’t ask,” I lied.
Drew kissed me on the cheek. “Whatever you want.” Then he whispered. “By the way, you didn’t seem to mind if the neighbors saw you when you were naked in the pool the other night.”
I suppose he had a point. Although in my defense, we’d just had Beck for three weeks while his mother was on her honeymoon in Bali, I’d had a glass of wine, and Drew had just come back from the gym so his muscles were particularly bulgy. Plus, it was dark out, and hell—have I mentioned that his muscles were particularly bulgy?
Ten minutes later, I’d just finished prepping the melon ball salad when the doorbell rang.
My smiling parents greeted me with arms in the air. “Happy Gotcha Day!”
After coming inside to go to the bathroom, I stood watching the party in the yard f
rom the kitchen window for a few minutes. Everything was going great. My parents were talking to Drew’s new law partner and his wife, Roman was flirting with the single mom of one of Beck’s best friends—I might have mentioned the other’s single status to each of them ahead of time—and Beck was climbing in the treehouse he and his father had spent four months building after we moved here.
And today was Gotcha Day. My parents were here, and this year was going to be even more special than ever.