Page 90 of If You Stayed

“I’ll take you up on that soon.” He turned toward me and raised an eyebrow. “Did I used to call you Penguin?”

I smiled. “Yes. Since we were kids. We got into a fight and you said I waddled like a penguin. It sort of stuck.”

“That’s why it keeps popping up in my head.”

“Yeah. Definitely.”

“Well…” He took a deep inhale. “Thanks, Penguin.”

My heart wanted to cry at hearing the nickname. I wanted to fall apart in his arms and hold him for all the days I hadn’t gotten to hold him before.

Instead I simply said, “You’re welcome.”

“Friends again?” he asked.

I sighed.

I nodded.

“Friends again,” I agreed.

Even though, truthfully, all I wanted wasmore.

24

Gabriel

“Hey, Boss Man?” Ava asked, tossing some M&M’s into her mouth as we took a work break to play video games.

“Yeah, kid?”

“Do you think you can help me with something?”

“What’s up?”

She placed the game on pause and turned to face me. “I know there have been a lot of parties happening, but I think there’s one more big party that should happen before school comes back around, and I need your help planning it.”

“And what’s this party for?”

“My mom’s fortieth birthday. I feel like that’s an important birthday for old people, and well, Dad isn’t the best at throwing surprises for her. If anything, she’s always planned her birthday stuff, but I don’t know. Dad always gets his dinner parties and stuff to show off. Mom gets nothing. I just want to make sure it’s a great birthday for her.”

“Did you ask your dad to help? I don’t want to step on any toes.”

“Whatever. I don’t want his help,” she said snappily. That was odd. Normally, it seemed like Ava and Henry had a great relationship. They weren’t as close as Ava and Kierra,of course, but it seemed as if Ava had a strong love for her father.

“Is everything good with your dad?”

“Dad’s just Dad. It doesn’t matter. Do you want to help or not?”

“Sure, of course. We can start planning as soon as possible.”

Ava’s smile spread across her face. Any irritation she had about Henry disappeared as I agreed to help her set up a party. “Really?”

“Of course. I’d do anything for Kierra.” The words rolled off my tongue without thought, and then I realized how damn insane they sounded. I shook my head. “I mean, I’d do anything for you if that means helping your mom. My client.”

Ava nodded. “I think you meant the first comment, too. Which is fine, Boss Man. I’d do anything for her, too. There is one small issue, though.”

“And what’s that?”

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