Page 114 of Waiting on You

At the top of the stairs was a little hallway. “Sweetheart, we probably shouldn’t be sneaking around the house,” Colleen began.

“Oh, come on,” Lucas said. “It’s fun. Where’s your sense of adventure,mía?”

“I guess I’m a grown-up now,” she said, cocking an eyebrow.

“So? Grown-ups can have a sense of adventure,” Savannah said, opening a door. “Look! You can see everything from up here! We can be like Harriet the Spy.”

The room’s ceilings slanted down; though it was finished, it was still the attic, and hot and musty in this weather, too. It held a few cardboard boxes; otherwise, nothing except for two small dormered windows.

But yeah, the view was great. Especially for spying. The picnic guests seemed to be having a blast, and why not? The band was playing, smoke rose up from the chicken pit and Keuka glittered in the distance, white sails sharp against the cobalt water.

Colleen felt Lucas behind her, and she had to resist the urge to back into him, feel his arms around her, pressing against his—

You really are trashy,said her brother’s voice in her head.

She focused on the crowd below. There was Faith, distinguishable by her red hair. Rufus and Faith’s dog were romping joyfully around, making toddlers scream with joy (or terror, maybe). And oh, nice. Bryce was pushing a youngster on a swing—looked like Cole Richards, one of her namesakes. Paulie was there, too, visible thanks to the yellow Thneed. The band started playing in earnest now—“Devil with a Blue Dress On.” Mr. Petrosinsky had spared no expense. Hopefully, it’d pay off for Paulie.

“It smells so good down there,” Savannah said wistfully.

“Are you hungry, honey? Want to eat with me?”

“Hi, baby!” As if summoned by those words, Gail appeared in the doorway. “There you are! What are you doing? Spying?” She walked over. High heels, even though it was a picnic.

“Hi, Gail,” Colleen said.

“Colleen.” She gave Lucas a big, bleached smile. “Hi there. I don’t think we’ve met.”

“We have,” Lucas said. He didn’t offer more.

“Mommy, I’m hungry,” Savannah said, tugging Gail’s hand. “Please let me get a hamburger. Please? And potato salad? I love potato salad.”

“Sure, baby. No bun, though, okay, and maybe a green salad instead of potato. Carbs, remember?” She flashed the teeth at Lucas again. “We have to watch our figures, especially if we’re going to be cheerleaders!”

“I don’t thinkwe’regoing to be cheerleaders, Gail,” Colleen said. “I mean, I just don’t see Lucas doing all those flips. I’m past thirty, and you’re what, forty-two now?”

“Hardly, Colleen,” Gail said sharply. “I’m thirty-five.”

“Really? They’re doing great things with Botox these days. You should check it out.”

“Mom,” Savannah said, whining now.

“Don’t pull on me, Savvi!” Gail sang, batting the two-inch eyelash extensions that sat like tarantulas on the end of her eyelids. “You know how it is, Lucas. Kids.”

She turned, smoothed her dress over her ass and sashayed to the door, swinging her hips so violently that Colleen was surprised she didn’t fall over.

“Thanks for reading to me,” Savannah said over her shoulder.

“My pleasure,” he answered, his voice all rumbly.

Gail and Savannah left, the door closing behind them.

It was hot up here. Also, she was here with the Prince of Darkness, which made it hotter still.

Maybe it was having her mom admit her feelings, seeing her still hung up on the guy who’d left her for someone else. Like mother, like daughter, after all. Falling for Lucas again...hell, she already was. And if she wasn’t careful, soon she’d be just like Mom, drawing hairy naked men in order to fill up her days.

Lucas was looking at her, doing the fallen angel thing.

She took a deep breath, the air close and dry. “Thanks for being sweet to my sister.”

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