Page 28 of Salvation

Chapter 28

Blake

Viv:

O.M.G.

YOU SENT ME THE TURTLE!?

This is why you’re my best friend

So glad you love it. Keep it as a reminder that I am the first and last friend you’ve ever gotten high with.

It’s going at the very center of the shrine I’ve created for you.

Shrine?Why do I have a feeling you seriously have a shrine of me?

Call me later?

You know I will

Closing out my texts, I look up at the big Victorian-style home before me. I haven’t seen Ana yet, and I’ve been dying too, so it was easy to accept the invite. Clearly, I’m late to the party, though. A familiar blue truck is parked next to a newer truck I don’t recognize. One I can assume is Wyatt’s. I guess I should have known it’d be a full-blown family dinner. I have a feeling she omitted that detail on purpose.

My foot barely hits the first step when Ana’s swinging open the door and barreling towards me. I glimpse her black hair and blue eyes right before she envelopes me. “Oh! My girl! Look at you! You’re as gorgeous as you were the day you were born.” She squeezes my face and plants kisses on either side before bringing me in for a hug.

“Hi, Ana.” Relief fills my body from her embrace, like it always has. I relax in her arms. “I missed you.” She squeezes me tighter at my words, andI swearI hear a rib crack. I didn’t realize having her and my mom in one setting would make me want to crawl into bed between them like I used to and cry until no tears remained. Thankfully, my savior sneaks up behind her.

“I don’t think she can breathe, Ma.” Wyatt says from behind her in the doorway. He joins us on the front porch and slings an arm over my shoulder once his mom lets me go. “What’s up, little lake? Heard you’re my new neighbor.”

“You heard right.”

We make our way inside, where my mom and Wesley are chatting in the dining room. “Thereyou are.” My mom says, moving in to give me a hug and a kiss. “I’m starting to feel like you’re avoiding your mother.”

I try my best not to roll my eyes, but I’m not sure I succeed. “You know I’ve been busy.”

“I’m just teasing,” She pats my cheek and motions with her head. “Come on, have a seat. Food's almost ready.” Then she pats the chair that’sright next to Wesley.

Reluctantly, I sit. Asking to sit somewhere else is far too petty and would just look weird. “Hi,” I greet quietly.

“Hey,” His response is just as quiet. Andso close. Our arms are nearly brushing, and I cansmellhim.Heat flares in my face, and I do my best to avoid the mountain of the man sitting next to me. He smells like pine and woods, likehome, and he looks like a Greek god in a button-down shirt rolled halfway up his arms. Wyatt and my mom sit across from Wesley and I, and Ana sits at the head of the table. The other end of the table is empty, but it’s still set for one. The same spot their dad would sit if he was here. They’ve always saved a seat for him. It’s been that way since his passing.

“How’s the new house coming along?” Ana rips me away from memories of Ben with her question.

“Good!” I clear my throat. “Still a long way to go, but it’s coming along.”

“I was so happy to hear that you decided to stay.”

I just give her a little smile in return. I don’t say anything. Because yes, while I bought a house, I’m not quite sure what the hell I’m even doing. It gets quiet, and the atmosphere turns awkward at my lack of chatter. Wyatt nods in my direction, cutting through the growing tension. “That reminds me. I’m free tomorrow if you want to come see the place,” the older Conway boy says, tossing me a lifeline.

“I have to work in the morning, but how about noon? I have an hour break.”

“Works for me.” He smiles, showing that same dimple he and Wesley share. He goes back to stabbing his green beans as my mom then turns to Wesley.

Ana shimmies in her chair. “So, tell meallabout the city. You had a roommate, right? Vivienne? I’d love to meet her sometime. How did college go? I’m so sad I missed your graduation.”

The rapid-fire questions spewing from Ana’s lips are enough to make me dizzy. I settle on answering the simplest question out of the bunch. “I’m sure she’ll want to plan a trip down here soon.”

She hums. “Oh, and that job! Your mom told me you were working for this big newspaper. Do they have you working remotely while here or something?”

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