Without a doubt.
“I always have ideas,” he says, stealing a glance at Larissa. “Feeling really inspired lately.”
A melody that began to surface in the middle of breakfast starts to trickle through my mind again.
“Yeah. Same.” Finally.
We exchange a smile that says everything that needs to be said.
Larissa barrels into the room like the shot of sunshine that she is. She does a little dance at seeing Bellamy and me together.
“I love this!” she squeals. “I don’t have to pretend the other one of you doesn’t exist. Hooray!”
“Tone down the excitement, Riss,” Holt says, shaking his head. “It’s not like you didn’t see this coming.”
She makes a face. “I didn’t. I mean, I totally did. I’d just started to give up on it happening.”
“You do know we’re sitting right here, right?” Bellamy laughs.
“Yeah. Together.” Larissa makes a face. “Holtie, if you’re done, can I have your chair so I can eat?”
Holt grumbles but gets up. Oliver stands, offering his chair to Hollis.
“Do you guys want to double date tomorrow? We could do brunch,” Larissa offers, looking at us expectantly.
Bellamy shifts in her seat. “I have to take Dad for a scan tomorrow,” she says quietly. “I won’t be home until the afternoon.” She looks at me and tries to deflect from the topic of her father. “No Bree for you tomorrow.”
I grin as if that’s a relief, but internally, my stomach twists.
I don’t know what a scan means or what the implications of that are, but I can tell it’s eating at Bellamy. And I’m irritated she didn’t bring it up before now. With me.
Doesn’t she know that I want to know this? I want to know everything.
Mom rounds the corner as she wipes her hands on a white towel. “Where are the two of you going?” she asks my brothers.
“Blaire and I are flying to Chicago for a couple of days in the morning,” Holt says. “I need to tie up a few things here before we go.”
“I’m going to see Gramps,” Oliver says. “Did you make him a plate?”
Mom nods. “Yes. Don’t leave without it. And tell him that he’s coming next week or we’re sending your dad over to get him.”
Holt looks down at me. “Will I see you before you leave?”
Bellamy slips her hand out of mine. I whip my head to her to see her attempting to hide the nervousness in her face.
“Yeah. For sure,” I tell him, even though I’m not sure at all. “I’ll find ya before I go.”
“Cool.” He takes his keys out of his pocket. “I’ll see everybody later.”
“Bye, guys,” Oliver says, following him to the side door where Blaire is standing.
“See ya, kids,” Dad says. He walks past the table and knocks the wood with his knuckle. “We’re going to watch a movie upstairs. If you guys wanna come …”
I look at my girl. “I think we’re going to head back to Bells’s house and watch a movie together.”
Relief washes across her pretty features.
Dad nods. “It was nice seeing you today, Bellamy. Let me know if you or your old man need anything, all right?”
“Thank you, Rodney. I will,” she says.
Dad pauses as if he’s going to say something else before disappearing around the corner with Wade.
The air in the room changes—especially between Bellamy and me. I know that a chord was just struck with her about me leaving, and she’s probably dying for an answer.
Well, me too.
I watch Boone try to toss pieces of Chex Mix up in the air and catch them in his mouth.
“We’re going to get going,” I say, getting to my feet. I take Bells’s empty plate and carry them to the dishwasher. “Mom, we’re leaving.”
She walks to me and kisses my cheek. Then she turns to Bellamy and engulfs her in a mom hug.
I watch my girl’s eyes close, and as she sighs, I wonder how many hugs she and my mom have shared over the years when Mom knew Bells needed one.
God, I love my mom.
“Sweetheart, you come by any time. And now that you and Coy are friends again,” she says with a grin, “I expect to see you around more often.”
Bellamy smiles shyly. “Thanks, Siggy.”
“Of course.” Mom winks at me. “You be good to her.”
I wink back at her, earning me a smack on the arm.
“Love you, Mom.”
“Love you, Coy.”
I take Bellamy’s hand and lead her to the door.
“See you guys later,” I call out to whoever is still hanging around.
“Bye,” Bellamy says as a chorus of goodbyes fills the room.
We step outside into the chilly air. I tug off my sweatshirt and hand it to my girl.
She holds it in her hand. “What are you doing? Disrobing right here? Can’t you wait to get back to my place?”
“Put it on,” I instruct her. “It’s cold.”
“I have on a long-sleeved shirt. You’re now in a T-shirt.” She holds it out to me. “You need this more than I do.”