Page 31 of Homecoming

“Just a little bit longer,” Cash says.

“Yeah, Mom, hang on one second, and I will put you on speaker,” Trick says.

I chuckle as Cash throws his hands up in victory, and Trick shakes his head; he has been aware of what we have been doing this whole time.

Hopefully the conversation with the moms won’t last too long, we have got a gym class to get to.

“Am I on speaker now?” Jenny asks.

“Yes, Mom,” Trick replies, rolling his eyes.

“Don’t you roll your eyes at me,” Jenny says immediately.

We all share a shocked look and then look around us to see if she is actually standing at the window or something watching us.

“How did you know I rolled my eyes?” Trick asks incredulously.

Jenny’s voice comes through the phone, sounding smug, “I am your mom. I always know.”

“It’s true,” Kat’s voice adds, and I know that Jenny has us on speaker as well. “Have you seen her yet?”

“Yes, we have,” Cash replies to his mom. “She didn’t recognize us, and then it was lunch.”

“Oh,” Kat says, sounding slightly crestfallen; she perks up again and replies, “I’m sure she will. You look a lot different now. Most of you are at least twice the height that you used to be. Even you, Luc.”

We burst out laughing; even the parents knew that I was worried that I wouldn’t grow.

Chapter Nineteen

Luc

“Thanks Kat,” I reply drily, “it’s not like that is an embarrassing memory for me.”

“Oh hush, you big baby, you grew,” Kat replies.

I can’t help but laugh again at her no-nonsense reply.

“Mom, you wanted to be put on speaker, and I’m assuming that it wasn’t because you wanted to wind up Luc,” Trick says, with a smirk, trying not to laugh but also trying to get the moms back on track or this conversation is going to last through the rest of the school day and most likely through dinner too.

The moms can really talk when they want to.

“Oh, yes.” Jenny says, “We were thinking of having everyone up to the house after school as a little welcome home get together, and then we will throw a proper one in a couple of weeks maybe.”

Jenny starts to explain, all of us share a worried look. Ever is jumpy, that is clear from how easily she went into flight mode in the hallway, I don’t think that she is going to appreciate the parents throwing her a small get together tonight, and certainly not a full-blown party in a few weeks time. I know that they mean well, and that they are both just excited that she is coming home but Trick needs to come up with a way to put a stop to it.

“We were wondering if you boys could pick up some stuff from the store for us?” Kat asks before plowing on without waiting for an answer, “We need party food, balloons, and banners. We are going to start cooking what we have in a moment, but we need a few more bits, and we aren’t going to have enough time to go to the store ourselves.”

“Momma,” Cash starts the Italian use of her name, instantly getting her attention. “I know that you both mean well, and it’s an awesome idea, but I’m not sure that Ever is going to appreciate it as you think she will.”

“What do you mean?” Kat asks.

This is what I love about them both, they are genuinely asking, they aren’t mad or defensive, they have listened to Cash and want to know more.

Trick takes over, “Well, think of everything that she has gone through in the last few days, even today, she has started at a new school and that’s got to be really overwhelming.”

“Maybe just hold off on doing it today and wait until she’s settled in a bit more if it seems like something that she would like,” Cash adds, trying to be diplomatic.

“Yeah, I mean, she seemed like she was a bit shyer than she used to be; I don’t think she would like everyone’s attention on her,” I add, although I have a slight smile on my face, as I think about the way that she has been dealing with Serena.

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