Page 86 of Here and Now
I’m not sure what I should wear. I want to look cute, but not like I’m trying to look cute. So I have on a crop sweatshirt from college with the neck off, a pair of leggings, and my hair up in a topknot.
Cute, but casual.
“Mom! Someone is at the door!” Kai yells.
I take a deep breath, blow it out, and head toward the door. When I open it, it’s not Miles there, it’s my brother.
“Quinn?”
He smiles broadly. “Hello, sister.”
I blink and my pulse races. “Is everything okay?”
“Yes, completely fine. I’m just here to see you and Kai. I wanted to call but thought it would be more fun to surprise you.”
“Fun. Right.”
As much as I absolutely love my brother and always want to see him,funisn’t the word I would use for any time he just shows up. The minute I saw him, all I could think was—this is it. We have to leave again.
“Are you angry?” he asks.
“No, not at all, just ... you know, when you show up without a call, it’s not usually because you missed us.”
“I’m sorry, Pen. Can I come in?” he asks sheepishly.
“Of course.” I step back and allow my brother to enter.
Kai pokes his head out and yells as soon as he sees his uncle. “Uncle Quinn!”
“What’s up, bud?”
He scoops him in his arms and then ruffles his hair. “I had an awesome day at hockey today! I got a goal two times.”
My brother smiles, pride showing on his face. “I knew you’d be great at sports, just like I was.”
I fight back a laugh. “You weren’t great.”
“I was better than you,” Quinn tosses back.
He’s not wrong. I swam, but more because my mother said I had to play one sport or join band. Since I have zero musical ability, I went with swimming since I was fairly decent at it. Quinn was a three-season player and was marginally good at each one.
“Anyway, neither of us were great.”
He chuckles. “You’re ruining my street cred.”
I place my hand over my chest. “I’m so sorry.” My eyes meet Kai’s. “Your uncle was the best there ever was.”
“Better than Coach Miles?”
“Probably not, but for your uncle’s sake, let’s pretend.”
Quinn huffs. “I heard that.”
I smile. “I wasn’t whispering.”
Quinn places his hand on Kai’s shoulder. “Did you finish the Lego set?” Kai shakes his head. “Why don’t we work on that in a little bit. I’m just going to hang with your mom for a little, okay?”
Kai looks at him like he hung the moon. “Okay! Can I go play my game, Mom?”
