Page 49 of Catch You

With one final look at me, she pulls me inside, telling me that Milo is already here. We find him in the kitchen, prepping a salad to accompany the lasagne. This house is covered in his accolades, from winning a championship in high school to the day he got drafted to his dream team.

It’s clear how proud of Milo they are, and it makes my heart ache every time I see it.

No matter what path Milo chose in life, they’d have supported him without question.

“Hey man. How’s it going?”

“It’s good. Quiet. Looking forward to the season starting and getting back at it.”

“You’re gonna kill it. Gonna watch you lift that trophy, man.”

“Here’s hoping.”

Spending time in this house is a reminder of the kind of family life I’d have loved as a kid but never got to have. We never had one home. We were dragged from military base to military base, mostly across Europe, wherever Dad was posted, and we just had to make the best of it—until we started secondary school. Then, we were abandoned in London at a private school and mostly left to do our own thing. There were certainly no family dinners or enjoying each other’s company after that.

We sit and chat as the food is laid on the table, and I eat as if I haven’t done so all week, much to their amusement.

We chat about our lives, and they ask about the studio as if they really care. It makes me regret not wanting to come. I always tell myself it’ll be just like being with my family, but it’s never anything like it, and I always enjoy their company.

“Did you have fun at Milo’s birthday Friday night?” my aunt asks.

“Yeah, I’ve been meaning to talk to you about that,” Milo muses, his eyes locked on me.

A knowing smirk appears on his lips, ensuring his parents give me the same attention.

I was waiting for this. Not for a second did I think that Brooke would have been able to keep her mouth shut about Harlow and me spending time together.

“Oh?” both my aunt and uncle say at the same time.

“How is the lovely Harlow?”

“I … uh …” My aunt’s eyes widen at the possibility of me finding a girlfriend. “I haven’t seen her since Sunday.”

“So I heard. I also heard that you’ve got a date tomorrow night and that she has no idea what you have planned.”

“She’s not the only one,” I mutter as they all stare at me. “I was actually going to ask you for a favour,” I say, looking at my uncle.

“Go on.”

“You said your camper hasn’t been out. I wondered if I could possibly borrow it?”

He opens his mouth, I’m assuming to deny me his beloved baby, but my aunt beats him to it.

“Of course, sweetheart. It’s just sitting on the driveway doing nothing.”

My uncle narrows his eyes at his wife, but all she does is laugh.

“Come on, I’ll show you around.” She winks at me. “These two can do the washing up.”

A few hours later, I leave my aunt and uncle’s house, driving his beloved camper with a smile on my face.

This is going to be perfect.

13

HARLOW

This week at work with my upcoming masquerade ball is crazy. It almost means I forget about the fact that I hear nothing from Corey until almost midnight on Thursday, by which time I’d pretty much decided he’d bailed and that anything between us was done. It was probably the way it should have been. I have enough on my plate with my aunt’s health and work, but I couldn’t help but be disappointed.

---