Page 19 of The Leaving Road

Momma picked this time to drop off our food, which looked and smelled divine. I couldn’t help but moan, “Praise Jesus.”

“Not Jesus, Magnolia, Papa Tuck!” Papa Tuck shouted from the back. The humor in the moment pulled me and Lexie from our deep conversation and back to the most important matter at hand.

Chocolate chip pancakes and bacon.

Chapter 13

Magnolia

The rest of the week passed by quickly as Lexie and I were busy getting the house into a more livable condition.So much cleaning and so much dust,but I must admit, it was really coming to life. I was forever thankful that Lexie was here because I had to unpack thousands of memories in each room, though most of themgood.

It was hard not feeling guilty about staying away, and I wished I would have tried harder to be here for my dad. It was hard to unpack that guilt with the memories, and it was a lot to work through. But I must admit, being home made me feel lighter than I had in a long time.

I was eating my lunch on the dock, reminiscing over old Fourth of July picnics my parents hosted here—I think everyone from town would show up. Momma and Tuck would bring all the sides, and Dad would grill while Tuck hovered. The Montgomery’s brought their special sangria for those who were drinking, and sweet tea for those of us who weren’t or weren’t allowed to drink.

Of course, Sloan and I used to sneak sips throughout the entire party and be positively toasty by the time the fireworks started. My memories shot to the picnic before my mom got sick.

We were sixteen, and it was just a few weeks before we got the news about Mom’s cancer. Sloan had spent the day brutally kicking my ass in hockey topracticefor varsity tryouts, and I had thought my lungs were ready to give out.

“Sloan, please, just let me die here. This…this is not fun,” I gasped as I dramatically plopped down on the end of the dock.

He shot me a sheepish grin. “It’s not that bad, Magnolia, just a little exercise.”

“Exercise?You callthatexercise?It’s about to be an exorcism of everything I ate today.”I faked a gag to really throw my point home. I was done with practicing today. I wanted hot dogs, burgers, and to sneak some alcohol.

I hated to admit it, but it had seemed like we were growing apart a little bit. Sloan had hit a decent growth spurt, and he wasattractive—way more attractive than a sixteen-year-old boy should be. He was tall, hovering around six foot two, his arms were becoming lean. He still had the same brown hair and steel-gray eyes, but when he wiped his face with his shirt, I could have sworn I saw a four-pack that wanted to be a six-pack. I had to stop myself from drooling.Swoon.

Best friend, best friend, best friend,I chanted in my head. I’d been in love with Sloan since I knew the meaning of the word, but that didn’t mean he’d given me any indication that he was into me. Our junior year was fast approaching, and I had this sinking feeling that everything was about to change, if it hadn’t started already.

“Okay, fine, no more hockey. Ready to eat?” He held out his hand for me.

“Do you even have to ask?”

I remember vividly taking his hand without zero hesitation—there was no doubt in my mind about him, or who he was.

“Earth to Magnolia.” A hand waved in front of my face.

Lexie’s voice cut through my memories and brought me back to the present. I couldn’t help but smile at her. “What’s up, Lex?”

“Oh, nothing. I’ve just been watching you have this dreamy look on your face for what seems like hours. Are you thinking about your date tonight?”

I wasn’t,but now I was.

“I am now.”

“Are you excited? Please let me dress you and do your hair and makeup.”

I knew arguing this with Lexie would only be futile, so I nodded to give her the go ahead, despite not being totally on board with the plan.

“It’s been a while since I’ve been on a date, so yeah, I’m excited for what tonight will bring.”

That was the truth; I hadn’t been on a date in over six months. My last “boyfriend,” if you could even call him that, told me he could no longer sleep with someone who wouldn’t let him in emotionally.

Honestly, I didn’t even realize how impersonable I was, but when he broke up with me, he laid out all the facts.I realized yesterday when my friends asked that I don’t even know where you grew up. It took me months to find out your last name, and that’s only because I saw your ID. You’re a great lay, but you’re too emotionally closed off for me. I wish you luck.I hadn’t even realized how little I shared until he brought it up. My cheeks burned in embarrassment at the thought.

“Hasn’t he been texting you all week?”

I grinned; he had been. I grabbed my phone from my back pocket, opened our text thread, and handed her the phone.

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