Page 61 of Butter My Biscuit

It’s my cue to leave.

“Gonna go, Mom. I’m pretty tired after working all day.”

I walk over to her and give her a hug.

“I love you,” she says, patting my arm.

“Love you too. See you next week?”

“Yep, I’ll see you then.”

“I’ll bring a peanut butter pie,” I offer, and then she walks me out.

On the way home, I stop at the gas station and buy the biggest packet of strawberry Bubblicious I can find. When Harrison and I were kids, we’d go through packages of it like our lives depended on it. I go back to my car and pop a piece in my mouth, forgetting just how sweet and juicy it is. After I blow the biggest bubble and snap a picture with my eyes crossed, I send it to him.

Harrison

Damn.

Then, it bursts, and it’s all over my face, and I take another pic and send it.

Harrison

Karma for showing off.

I snicker, glad that we can fall right back to how things were before.

Grace

I’ll be home soon.

Harrison

Awesome. I’m still at work. Then, I’m meeting up with my brothers and Hayden.

I laugh, knowing they’re going to give Hayden hell.

Grace

You’re riding and texting again?

Harrison

What can I say? I’m a man of many talents. Chat later.

I send him a heart emoji, then continue my drive home, smacking bubbles the whole way.

Maybe the single era won’t be so bad after all.

Maybe it will be my best one yet.

12

HARRISON

ONE WEEK LATER

“Jingle Bell Rock” blasts through my house as I place balls of cookie dough on a tray. It’s tradition for Grace and me to meet every Christmas Eve in matching pajamas to exchange gifts and eat chocolate chip pecan cookies until we’re sick. It’s something we’ve done since we got our driver’s license, and we haven’t missed a year yet.

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