Page 26 of Head Over Heels

It was the subject of so many fights between me and my parents. Weekends I wanted nothing more than to be in the woods with my uncle, but they insisted I stay home and study. They hired tutors for me. They forced me to take piano lessons. They were constantly trying to make me the sontheywanted instead of the one I was.

The trapped feeling settles onto me, thinking about it.

Liv is watching me sympathetically. “That’s why the sporting goods store is so perfect for you, right?”

I hesitate. “I guess.”

Her brows draw together. “What is it?”

“Mike wants me to buy the store.”

“Chase! That’s terrific!” She beams.

“But—I don’t know. In theory I should be dying to take Mike up on his offer, right? I mean, here’s a chance to redeem myself. Run my own business, pick up where I got off track. But I get this feeling of—you said it right—claustrophobia every time he talks to me about it. Like I can’t catch my breath.”

She nods. That’s all. Just nods. But it helps.

We sit for a while, not talking. It reminds me of watching the movies side by side, like we’re both thinking about what’s in our heads, together, but separately.

Her phone buzzes on the nightstand and she reaches for it.

“Chase. Could you interview a potential nanny on Monday, August twenty-eighth?”

“Sure.”

“It’s only three days before I leave—but I’m pretty darn sure you’re going to want to hire her. She’s really good. I know I said that about Celia—”

“That was a fluke. I trust your judgment.”

The phone buzzes again and she looks down. “Eight p.m.?”

“Whatever works.”

She texts something. “Okay. Eight on August twenty-eighth.”

“Remind me to put it in my calendar, because there’s no way I’ll remember if I don’t.”

She nods. “Hey, so your parents are coming tomorrow night.”

“Yeah. You, um, want to eat with us? If you haven’t already made plans?”

“Do youwantme to be there?”

I love my parents; I really do. But sometimes it’s easier with them if it’s a little more…casual. And having Liv and Katie both there would definitely take some of the focus off the old, um,issuesbetween us.

I nod. And that’s all it takes. She says, “I’ll be there. It’ll be cool to meet your parents.”

“I don’t thinkcoolis the word you’re looking for.”

“It would be educational.”

That makes me smile.

“I could make spaghetti bolognese and garlic bread and salad. Katie would like that, too.”

“Put me in charge of the garlic bread and the salad.”

She raises her eyebrows.

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