Page 47 of Resurrection
"Has it really been that long?" My mom raises her eyebrows, a flicker of surprise dancing in her eyes. But then her features relax, soft like sunset clouds. "Who’s keeping track anyway? Right, Tyler?"
He gives a casual nod, surrendering completely. Then he rolls up his sleeves to wash his hands.
I wipe the table again for good measure—anything to keep my eyes off him. The memories are coming back too fast. Not just of the two of us planning a life together while sneaking out. Everything. The dinners at this table when Tyler would casually drop by or when Adri would drag him here to try some new dish my father had created.
Mom clatters some plates in front of Tyler. "Ty, you set these. Naomi’s not doing it right," she jokes, her voice teasing.
"Sure," he says, still appearing uncertain but doing it anyway.
I’m too flustered to pay attention to the sound of an engine in the driveway. I come back to my senses only when the front door slams.
"Mom, you made extra, right?" Adri shouts. "I’m starving. Didn’t have time to grab lunch."
Then he walks into the dining area, all six-foot-something of him, loosening his hair from the bun, his shirt a little wrinkled, like he’s had an extra-long day of sheriffing.
His eyes land on Tyler, and I swear the room temperature drops ten degrees.
Tyler’s shoulders go stiff. Adri is silent for a beat too long, his stare intense, heavy. "I didn’t realize we were feeding the whole damn valley."
"Adri, sweetheart," Mom warns, her voice low and a little sharp.
I hold my breath, waiting for Ty to bolt.
All these years later, I still don’t know what happened between them. One day, they were inseparable, and the next, they were enemies.
"Adri," Ty says politely. "How are you?"
My brother scoffs with a frown. He shrugs out of his jacket, washes his hands, and plops down at the table. His gaze is still hard on Ty. "Guess it’s good you made extra," he mutters, glaring at Mom.
She just shakes her head and continues to put out the side dishes. "I don’t know what’s gotten into you kids."
"Adulthood," I supply coldly, helping her to load up the plates with steaming tamales.
Once we’re done, we both sit down.
Tyler sits too, as far from Adri as possible. I’m in the chair across from Ty, wishing I could vanish into thin air. My brother’s eyes are shooting daggers at the man who was supposed to be my future. The man who had the nerve—and maybe a bit of foolishness too—to kiss me after seventeen years of nothing.
"Now it’s a real family dinner," Mom says, smiling softly. "It’s been too long since we’ve seen you, Ty. Thank you for the flowers."
I can almost hear Adri’s teeth grinding. I push my food around my plate and refuse to meet anyone’s eyes.
Mom obviously can’t read the room. "You’ve been busy with your music," she says to Tyler like it’s no big deal he’s here. Like he’s just been out of town for a week, not gone from our lives completely.
"Yeah," he says, clearing his throat. "Keeping busy. Studio work mostly after the band went on hiatus."
Adri snorts for no reason at all, loud and rude.
Mom glares at him, then turns to Tyler. "That sounds nice. No need to live out of your suitcase anymore."
"It pays the bills." He shrugs like it’s nothing. But I know what it means to him. He’s still that kid with a guitar and big dreams. The dreams he put before everything else, before me.
"You and your friends ever think of touring again?" Mom continues her interrogation.
"Not sure. They’re all busy with solo projects…and kids."
"Time for you to settle down too," Mom comments quietly, picking up a slice of radish from her plate.
Adri clears his throat loudly and takes a sip of water, then puts it down with a slam.
