Page 92 of Crash

“But you have. You gave me purpose. I was happy planning ways to torture you. Believe it or not, I was always excited when I knew you were coming around. And you forever earned my respect with the stink bomb in the hotel room.”

“If you’re trying to get me to admit to doing that, forget it. I don’t know what you’re talking about.”

“You can never be like him. Do you think there was ever a day he made your mom happy? Do you have any good memories of him?” I shake my head no. “Then you’re nothing like him. You’re fierce and strong, but sweet and loving. Everyone loves Vivi, especially Luke.”

My eyes fill with tears again, but this time, it’s with joy and relief. “Vivi loves Luke even more,” I say.

He holds me until my mother walks into the room. She pulls me out of Luke’s arms and into a tight hug.

“I will spend the rest of my life making things up to you for subjecting you to him.”

“I know, mom. I’m not upset with you anymore, I promise.”

She hugs me tighter before pulling back and kissing my cheeks repeatedly. “Let’s celebrate him being out of our lives. Let’s go out to dinner tonight, the three of us, or anyone else who wants to join,” she says when she realizes Sandy, Jake, and Aunt Gabrielle have come into the room.

“Good idea. Let’s make it a family thing,” Jake says. “I’ll get us a table at Tiki’s, and I can tell everyone the story about running into Sandy there while she was on a date with another man.”

“What? Be quiet, Jacob! You didn’t run into me. You knew I was going to be there, and you were there waiting for me. And you ruined my date!”

“Damn right, I did!”

“What date? Who is this man, Deedee?” my aunt asks.

“See what you’ve started, Jacob? How about I tell Mama the story about that one time you let me fall off the bike.”

“You let my baby fall?” my aunt asks as she lovingly rubs Sandy’s protruding belly.

“You raised an amazing son,” my mother says to Lilian Clark as we’re sitting in the private room of the restaurant.

Lilian hugs my mom before hooking their arms together.

“We love him so much. You know he’s ten years younger than Jake, so he came as a total surprise, but since he came into this world, he’s been my baby. His big brothers were so protective of him, but my Lucas would never leave my side. He was always so sweet and helpful. When he was eight, he beat up a ten-year-old boy who was bullying girls in the neighborhood.” And on and on Lilian Clark goes about how wonderful her baby is.

“Tell her about how he wasn’t potty trained until he was four, mom,” Troy says walking in. “Or how he slept with you and dad until he was twelve because he would wet the bed whenever you made him sleep in his own bed.”

Luke pretends to punch Troy, who pulls him into a hug.

“Why are you two all dressed up?” Jake asks suspiciously as he swings Tristan into his arms. Sure enough, Troy is wearing a button-down shirt with dark blue jeans. Tracy is wearing a fitted dress that reaches her knees with a pair of black wedge boots.

“Because we’re sending all four of our kids home with their favorite aunt and uncle for the night so my wife and I can have a night out for the first time in months.”

“When were you going to tell us this?” Jake asks.

“I just did. We’ll pick them up around one tomorrow. Make sure you two feed them lunch.” Troy’s large hand lands on Jake’s shoulder.

“Is Rosie sleeping through the night yet?” Jake asks.

“On a good night.” Troy pats Jake on the back and quickly walks away.

Like all Clark gatherings, dinner is loud as the Clark boys go back and forth with each other while my mother, Lil, and Aunt Gabrielle talk about how great Luke is.

“This is our family,” Luke whispers to me.

CHAPTER 51

VIVI

“Your hair,” he says as I wrap my arms around his waist. We’re sitting in the middle of Central Park on a beautiful, sunny Saturday the second weekend of July.

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