The Ex Files (Ocean View #1)(42)

Nineteen





-Luke-





“Are you coming to dinner tonight?” They’re the first words from my sister when I answer my phone. I’m sitting in my car we left in the Wawa parking lot yesterday. Thankfully, I have a buddy who works here, so it was a safe choice. I planned to just take a cab back, let Cass stay warm in her bed, but she insisted on bundling up and driving me over, which was fine by me. More time with this woman? Yes, absolutely.

If I could, I’d spend long days with her, talking and laughing and watching shitty movies. Movies I’m shocked she knows every word too, considering she exudes class and intelligence. Knowing every word of the monologue in The Breakfast Club was an interesting surprise. My sisters are going to love her for that alone.

That being said, what happened last night and again this morning was so amazing. I’m already dying for a repeat, trying to plan in my head when the next time I can see her is.

“Is it Sunday?”

“Tell me you didn’t forget.”

“Of course not. Gotta see my favorite Bella girl.”

“Good, maybe you can talk some sense into her.”

“What’s going on now?”

“She’s going on a hunger strike.” My niece is four going on seventeen, so the source could be anything. Either way, I laugh. “It’s not funny.”

“It’s a little funny. What’s the cause?”

“She wants a pony.”

“A pony?”

“A pony.”

“And she won’t eat until she… what? Gets a pony?” I’m laughing, but also, I can totally see it, my stubborn niece swearing she won’t eat another thing until she gets a damn pony. Unfortunately, I can also picture her father giving in and finding some way to make sure she does, in fact, get a pony.

“Honestly, I don’t think she thought it out very well, but Chris isn’t helping at all.” But, of course, Bella has her dad wrapped around her finger so this does not surprise me.

“I’ll bring those cookies she likes from the place down the road from me,” I say, adding in the time it will take to stop at the packed bakery on a Sunday. I have about two hours to get home, take a shower, clean up, and head to my parent’s for Sunday dinner.

“You’re a saint.”

“Don’t I know it?” I laugh as I start my truck, navigating out of the lot and beeping the horn twice in goodbye when I see my friend.

“You sound… happier.”

“I’m always happy.”

“I said happier.” She pauses, trying to decode me the way she always can. “You had the date last night. Is it the girl?” I sigh.

“Yeah. I, uh, I spent the night with her.” I spin the dial of my radio to avoid shattering my eardrums when her shriek comes over the Bluetooth. “Jesus, Q, calm down!”

“You spent the night with a girl?”

“Yeah. And I like her. A lot. But…”

“But what!? Bring her to dinner! I want to meet her.” I roll my eyes. Just the thought of bringing Cassie to family dinner makes me laugh. She’s hesitant enough; she doesn’t need my sisters and mom and nieces all getting in her business and scaring her off.

“Eventually. She’s… spooked easily. I gotta work slow with her. She’s… I don’t know. Her dad’s a piece of shit, and she’s seen every shithole guy by dating literally hundreds of them.” The thought makes my hands tighten on the wheel, and I try to ignore the clench it brings to my gut.

“Got it. So… what’s your plan?” I turn out of the gas station towards my apartment, already short on time.

“I gotta run, but I’ll talk to you and Tara about it at dinner. I need your expertise.” Once again, my sister squeals on the other end, but before I can even tell her to stop and spare my eardrums, she’s hung up, probably calling our sister to celebrate already.

But that’s fine. I think I’m going to need all the help I can get.





Hours later, as our mom cleans up with the help of my nieces and my dad relaxes on his La-Z-Boy like he has for thirty years, my sisters and I are down in the basement that was once our playroom and hangout space. It’s now part grandkid play space, part storage, but it holds memories and little signs of the childhood we lived.

As proof, Tara touches an old Transformers sheet blanketing two shelves. “Why does Mom keep this fort we made up?” Quinn laughs, and we all remember the nights we’d build a fort and bring down sheets and pillows and have a sleepover down here. While my oldest sister and I are nearly ten years apart, it never stopped the three of us from spending time together and enjoying it.

“Honestly, I think she actually cleans it and puts it back,” Quinn says, inspecting the sheet, which should, in theory, be dust-covered.

“It wouldn’t shock me,” I agree, looking around.

“Enough about this. What’s going on with you?” Tara asks. “Quinn said you got a girl? Finally? Please tell me we’ll be aunties soon.” I groan.

“Jesus, T, I said play it cool, not freak him the fuck out.”

“Please, Luke wants babies more than either of us ever did.” Once again, I roll my eyes and groan at their antics.