I Never Let You Go (I Never 3)

“You know the rumor has it that there has been an attractive man coming by your classroom.”

Not long, I see. That was almost too easy.

I blush at her comment because yes, after our lunch the other day, he had been by a few times, stopping by to say hello or bringing me coffee.

“So, things are going okay with the two of you? I mean, the rumors are that he’s visited, not that he was escorted by security off the property.” Dani laughs. I’m sure she is smart enough to figure out how things are going well enough for me to allow him to visit me at work.

“Things are going—” I start when my brother interrupts.

“Who was escorted off the property?” Kyler asks, handing Dani a glass of lemonade before wrapping his arms around her waist and pressing a kiss to her shoulder. I watch them in awe and wonder, could Finn and I have that again? After all, we’ve been through, could we be happy?

Dani looks to me for guidance, unsure what I have told my brother about Finn and my blossoming friendship. Either my brother is a great actor, or she hasn’t told him. No time like the present, I guess.

“No one. But we were talking about Finn,” I calmly say before turning back to set the last place setting.

When my eyes return to Ky’s, he’s paused midsip of his beer. “I’m sorry, I thought you just said Finn as in Finn Reynolds.”

I nod. “I did.”

“Did we travel into a twilight zone or something?”

“Kyler,” Dani warns, unsure as to what is going to come out of his mouth next.

He holds up his hand to her. “No, I just mean, Lauren mentioned Finn’s name, and there is a smile on her face. And don’t even try to hide it.”

“I didn’t plan on denying.” I stick my tongue out at him just as Kate joins us from the kitchen holding a casserole dish in her hands.

“Oh, girl, you need to stop that,” Kate says, setting the dish down on the table and playfully shoves my arm.

“Stop what?” I shove her back.

“Doing that thing with your face when you’re happy. It’s making me nauseous.” She makes a gagging noise. “Dani, do you or Haylee have any more of that anti-nausea medicine?”

Dani laughs. “Sorry, I’m fresh out.”

Kate swings her arm in front of her, snapping her fingers.

“Well, get used to it,” I proudly say, shocking not only my siblings but myself.

“What should we get used to?” Mom asks, now joining us, setting a salad on the table. I thought this was Mom’s day, and now it seems to be all conversations surrounding me.

“Seeing Lauren smile,” Kate and Kyler say at the same time.

“Jinx!” Kate shouts and pokes Ky in the chest, doing a happy dance like she did when we were younger.

“Hi, Dani, how are you feeling, dear?” Mom asks, stepping up to Dani and wrapping her arms around her in a hug, ignoring her adult children acting childish around her.

“I’m good. Starving. This all smells amazing, Liz. Happy Birthday, by the way.”

“Thank you. Well, let’s all sit and eat it while it’s still hot.”

We all take our seats with Mom at the head of the table, Dani and Ky, on one side, and Kate and me on the other.

As Mom dishes out the salad, she asks, “So what has you smiling, Lauren? It’s nice to see that smile on your face.”

“What? I smile all the time,” I counter back.

“Yes, but this one reaches your eyes.” Is my smile really that different than usual that people are noticing a difference?