Page 42 of Wake Me Up
“Are you kidding?” Cash all but gasps. “That would rock!”
“All right, all right. I need to at least check that it’s okay with him,” I say, giggling at their enthusiasm before looking at Aviana. “Girls’ night?”
She shoots off her seat, jumping up and down excitedly. “Yes! With popcorn, and I’m painting your nails!”
“Perfect,” I utter politely, remembering how most of my skin was covered the last time she painted my nails. “I’ll shoot him a message and let you know what he says.”
Yet, somehow, I know … he’s going to say yes.
I pull in front of Freya’s house, only about twenty minutes after she messaged me and asked if I had time for a lesson with Cane and Cash tonight. They don’t know it yet, and Cash might not be overly impressed with meat the end of the night, but I have another plan. One that Cane will enjoy much more than going to the arena.
The door opens, and the boys bust out, both grinning like fools, carrying their gear as they rush toward my truck. When the door opens again and Freya walks out, pulling her sweater tighter around her body before walking toward the truck, I’m shocked.
Just as the boys get in, she stands by the passenger door, keeping the door open. It’s pretty clear she’s feeling awkward, but because she’s the best mother that I know … here she is, walking her kids out.
“Thanks for agreeing to take them,” she says, keeping her eyes toward me but looking past me. “Have them home by nine?”
“You got it,” I drawl.
She attempts to plaster on a smile so that they don’t pick up on the fact that she’s ready to crawl out of her own skin. “Have fun, boys. Be good for Tripp.”
“Always!” they both say quickly.
Before she closes the door, her eyes meet with mine. It’s only for a second, but it’s long enough that my heart kick-starts. And then … she closes the door, and she’s gone.
“Buckle up, fellas,” I say, glancing over at Cane in the front. “Did y’all wear sneakers?”
Looking down at his bag of gear, he frowns. “Yeah, but I thought we needed skating stuff?”
“Change of plans.” I look in the rearview at Cash. “Don’t worry, Moneybags; you’ll have fun still.”
I know he’s unsure of what we’re doing and a little uneasy, but he simply shrugs. “All right.”
Then Cash asks his brother, a hint of worry in his voice, “Hey, did Mom seem weird to you at dinner?”
“She was quiet, but I’m sure she’s just worried about Avy’s surgery,” Cane answers, as if he’s trying to calm his brother’s nerves.
Cash worries about his family—I know he does because I can hear it in his voice and see it. He’s lucky he has a big brother like Cane to calm him down.
“Yeah, you’re probably right,” Cash mumbles before looking out the window. “Avy is going to be fine though.”
“Of course she is,” Cane tosses back. “She’s Avy. Toughest, most annoying kid ever.”
“Truth.” Cash chuckles, but concern still flows from his tone.
I hope I didn’t make anything worse with Freya. She has enough to worry about right now without me trying to complicate her shit even further.
But I can’t help but wonder if she’s thought about the other day the way that I have.
I don’t know whether to curse, smile, or cry when I look down at the pictures Cane sent me. But when I zoom in, looking at the smile on his face in a picture that Cash must have taken of him in the batting cage, a smile overtakes my face, and a few tears stream down my cheeks.
“Look at Bubba,” I say to Aviana, staring at my oldest baby having the time of his life. “He’s having so much fun.”
I scroll to another video, and it’s Cash in the batting cage. It’s pretty clear that he doesn’t take after his big brother when it comes to hitting. But he’s smiling and having a good time, so I’m happy. Although I know my son enough to know it kills him to not be good at something.
I message back and say that it looks like fun with a heart emoji and set my phone on the coffee table before pulling Aviana against me. “The house is quiet, and no boys are here to hog our popcorn.”
“I guess.” She sighs, not looking at me.
