Page 12 of Her Greatest Adventure

Dad frowns. “Yeah, I do.” He swallows hard. “Are you sure you don’t want to cancel?”

“No can do. Cooper already paid to join me. It’s too late to get a refund.” I step down the first porch step. “I’m not sure I want to test that Uber driver’s patience either.”

He has the nerve to shrug as if it doesn’t matter. “Your mother and I could drive you to the airport.”

“We wouldn’t want you to make a scene there, Daddio. Now, come hug me before I leave without—”

He doesn’t let me finish my sentence before he’s scooping me up and holding me tight. It’s anI’ll miss youhug, and tears sting my eyes before leaking out, coating my lashes. I lean into the embrace, trying to wrap my head around the fact that this is the last hug I’ll get from my family for the next two months.

Maybe it’s childish to be so emotional over this. It’s not as if I’m moving across the world and will never see them again. But family is everything to me. It feels wrong to be leaving them for so long.

I wonder how Maddox does it as often as he has to for work. Is it as hard for him to leave Braxton and Liam? Is it harder? If so, does it ever get easier for him?

“Pass her over, Oakley. It’s my turn.”

Dad slowly withdraws his arms and steps back. I only get a brief glance at his face before I’m tugged toward Mom, but I think his cheeks are wet. My heart scrunches painfully.

Mom holds me close, one hand stroking up my spine while the other smooths the hair at the back of my head. Her vanilla-and-orange scent is like a soothing balm over my worries, and I sigh into her T-shirt.

“You’re going to do amazing, Adalyn. You were never meant to stay in one place your whole life. I can’t wait to hear all about your trip when you get back. We’ll call often too, okay?” Mom whispers for only me to hear.

“Okay, Ma. Thank you.”

“And don’t be too hard on Cooper. Let him have fun instead of just watching over you. I have no doubt he can keep up if you give him the chance.”

A giggle escapes me. “I’ll believe it when I see it.”

“You do remember who taught you how to skateboard, right? And risked his life skydiving for you?” Cooper asks from behind me.

Stepping back from Mom, I spin and grin at Cooper. “Yeah, after I begged you to take me.”

“Begged or not, you wouldn’t have gone without me. You know, if I wasn’t such a nice guy, I would say that you actually owe me.”

I snort. “Owe you? More like you oweme.”

“Are you feeling okay? You’re not making any sense. I swear I just heard you say that I oweyou.” He brushes the back of his hand across my forehead before snatching it back when I rear back and nip at it.

“Don’t patronize me, Cooper. You won’t like what happens when you poke too hard,” I warn.

He gasps. “I’m terrified.”

I jump when a car horn blares through the air, drawing our attention. The Uber driver has the passenger window rolled down, his glare prickly as he watches us impatiently.

“Sorry! We’re coming right now!” I shout with a subtle wince. Dad is giving the driver a stare down when I look at him again. “I’ll see you in two months. Try not to miss me too much. And don’t forget to spend some time outside of the house. Go for a walk or something, you homebody.”

Dad tries to scowl at me, but it doesn’t last. His lips tug into a soft smile as he grabs me and kisses the top of my head before ushering me off.

“For the record, I’m not a homebody. I’ve just given the public enough of my life. I’m making up for lost time with your mom. Now, get out of here before I lock you up inside and refuse to let you out again.”

“Good luck with that, Dad.” I step onto the circular driveway with Cooper at my side and blow a kiss to my parents. They both blow one back as Cooper walks past with my bags in his hands and softly nudges my shoulder on the way to the car.

I straighten my spine, spin on my heels, and follow after him, away from my family.

* * *

“Didyou know that I didn’t have a passport until two years ago?” Cooper blurts out a few minutes later.

The Uber ride has been silent for the most part, if you don’t count the annoyed grumble our driver let out once we climbed inside and the random bits of small talk Cooper and I have shared thus far. I won’t say it’s been an awkward drive, but it hasn’t been the most relaxing one either.

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