Page 37 of Six Wishes

CHAPTER18

Minivan

Chloe

“Well, that was crazy,” I stare at Van who just closed the door to my apartment.

Hunter took off shortly after she had a panic attack in the doorway, just about. Once she calmed down and she realized that Van had most likely heard everything she’d said, she flew in shame.

Alison and Wyatt, unaware of the drama happening inside, enjoyed some alone time on the patio before heading back to their house. We’re going to see them on Saturday at their wedding, seeing as Van just became my plus one.

“Let’s go to my house,” Van starts putting things away with a speed I didn’t know he was capable of. “Ready to go?” he asks when he’s done with everything and I am still standing where he left me.

“Why are we going to your house?” I don’t understand.

“Because I need to sleep in my own bed. Yours is too hard and it hurts my back. Also, all my stuff is there,” he says it like it’s the most normal thing.

“But my stuff is here,” I look around me, wondering what I am missing.

“Well, we’ll have to make room for your stuff with my stuff at some point in the future,” he smirks.

I frown his way, but do put my shoes on. “Why would we do that?”

“Because if we are to be together, we’re most likely going to move in together at some point, Chlo,” he pulls on a hair strand that’s come out of the little ponytail I have at the top of my head. “Let’s go, I gotta stop by the store too.”

“Why?” We just ate, what could he possibly need from the store?

“To get us supplies so that we don’t end up with a minivan.” He’s bent over tying his shoes when he says that, and I don’t understand anything he’s saying. I feel like the man talks in riddles sometimes.

“Why would we want a minivan?”

“Not a minivan, Chlo, a mini-van,” he enunciates for me, but I still shake my head in confusion.

“I’ve never wanted a minivan in my life,” I mumble as I head to the bedroom to grab a bag with some things for my apparent sleepover.

“No,” he’s right on my heels, not letting this minivan thing go. “I am Van,” he points at himself. “A baby would be a mini me. So a mini Van. Mini Van. Get it?” He looks way too excited as he’s explaining all this to me.

“Van,” I sit down on my bead, then flop onto my back in a fit of laughter. “I swear to God, I don’t understand how you come up with these things.”

“This one was a freebie,” he nudges my shoulders with his when he falls back next to me. “I mean, how did you not think of it yourself with the name I have?”

“Maybe because I think of Van as short for Donovan. And there is no mini Donovan that would make sense like that,” I laugh some more and rub my hands over my eyes.

“Nobody’s ever called me Donovan except for my mom, and only when she was mad at me,” he is staring at the ceiling with a pensive smile on his face. “My agent calls me that too once in a while, but he doesn’t count.”

“Van,” I turn on my side to look at him better. “Are you going to be okay if you can’t play hockey anymore?”

He doesn’t say anything for the longest time, his eyes still glued to the ceiling. I jump a little when his hand reaches for mine, and he places it on his chest over his heart. “I’m not sure. I hope so,” he shrugs.

The moment seems to be a little too heavy all of a sudden. I want him to be comfortable talking to me about this, and I hope that I didn’t cross any line by asking him about it.

I decide to change the subject. “Do you think that the Zach my cousin’s crying about is your friend Zach?”

“Uh, yeah,” Van lets out a belly laugh. “He’s been asking random questions about her ever since he learned you were Hunter’s cousin. And now she shows up and cries her heart out about some dude named Zach. That’d be Zach Cavanaugh. No doubt.”

“What do you think happened?” Curiosity is getting the better of me. I know it is none of my business, but I can’t help myself. I want to know.

“No idea,” Van blows my bubble. I was hoping he’d know more. “I’ve been friends with Zach for a long time. I’ve never heard him talking about anyone with that name.”

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