The Speed of Light: A Novel(54)
The thought is so pleasant it puts me at ease, until I remember it’s not my family gathered in the backyard overlooking the lake. It’s Connor’s family.
It’s a large group of people I have never met, who may not like me at all.
My stomach flip-flops, and I find myself subconsciously (okay, very consciously) slowing as we round the side of the brown wood-stained cabin. We step out into the open, and I blink into the sun, God’s flashlight, my eyes flitting from person to person—this sea of red faces and red cups, brightly colored swimsuits and festive summer decor. Party conversation stops, heads turn toward us, and in this moment of silence, I consider bolting. But Connor squeezes my hand, and an older woman flips her graying brown hair, eyes lighting up. “You made it!”
“Hi, Mom.” He releases my hand to walk forward and hug her. Other people turn and wave, shout a greeting, or walk over to hug him or clap him on the back.
Connor extracts himself from a fierce-looking bear hug from a barrel-chested, middle-aged man with a face reddened either by the sun or some good old-fashioned day drinking—probably a little of both. “Guys, this is Simone.” He grins and motions me over. “Come on over so I can introduce you to everyone.”
Before I can take a step, an excited little shriek belts out across the lawn. “Simone!” A tiny body shoots forward and plows straight into me.
“Ella!” I crouch down so I can return her hug fully, so happy to not only know someone, but that she’s excited to see me. “You remember me?”
She rolls her big blue eyes and brushes her dark hair back off her bronzed shoulder. “Of course I totally remember you.”
I laugh, and so does everyone around us. They’re now watching with approving smiles, and I straighten my shoulders a little more. I stand, and Connor squeezes my hand, leans in. “She’s usually super shy, but she really likes you.” The adoration in his eyes melts away my anxieties.
“Miss Ella’s new favorite word is ‘totally.’” I turn, and a young woman is walking toward us with a dimpled smirk. “She’s, like, totally six going on sixteen.”
“Mo-om,” Ella laments, adding another eye roll.
I chuckle. “Well, I feel pretty special that she remembers me.”
“From the way I understand it, Connor thinks you’re pretty special, too.” I blush and she laughs. “I’m Arielle, by the way—Ella’s mom.”
She pushes her large sunglasses back, brown eyes twinkling as she sticks out her hand. I shake it, feeling even more at ease. “Very nice to meet you.”
Connor’s mom steps forward, extending her hand as well—then, seemingly thinking better of it, she pulls it back. “Oh, let’s get right to it, shall we?” And she leans forward and wraps her arms around me. I freeze, but only for a moment, then hug her back. She pulls away and beams at me with the same disarming smile as Connor has. “I’m Irene. We are so glad you could make it, Simone.”
The barrel-chested man steps up and puts his arm around her, his thick white hair mussed up, eyes swimmy but full of emotion. I’m pretty sure the buttons on his hawaiian shirt are off. “Now, it’s a party. Somebody get these two a drink.”
Connor clears his throat, leans in. “Not for me, Dad. I’ll just grab a water.”
They stare at each other a split second too long—their expressions reveal nothing, yet something makes me uneasy. I slip my hand into Connor’s as his mom claps her hands. “Well, you heard him, Bert. One water, and . . .” She turns to me. “How about you, dear? Arielle made some sort of . . . oh, an adult lemonade, I guess you could call it. Would you like to try it?”
Arielle raises her eyebrows, smiling expectantly. God, one of those effortlessly pretty and confident women, and suddenly I’m back in middle school and just want her to like me. I smile as the sun beats down on us. “I’d love to.”
Morning rolls into afternoon, the breeze from the lake fluttering my hair as I rest on the cool lawn chair. After surviving the initial get-to-know-you questions—Where are you from? What do you do? How long have you two lovebirds been dating? How did you meet?—somehow I’ve managed to people watch without having to say too much else.
Surely the drink has helped—the sweet, cold liquid sliding easily down my throat on this hot summer day. I look up and Connor is by my side, leaning down to kiss me. “I’m going to walk to the lake and try out Dad’s new Jet Ski. Wanna come?”
I wrinkle my nose before I can help it, and a tinkling laugh rings out. “I know, right?” Arielle plops down next to me and shoos Connor away. “Go do your sporty shit—we’re going to keep drinking and sunning ourselves.”
I nod triumphantly, though while she’s wearing a bikini and cutoffs, chair positioned in the blazing sun, I’ve got my three-quarter-length red shirt and dark denim bermuda shorts on, chair strategically in the shade of one of the large trees that frame the cabin. Connor shrugs. “Suit yourselves.” He flashes a grin. “I’ll be back soon.”
I watch him walk away, then close my eyes again as the breeze picks up. I lay my head against the back of the chair. A bird calls in the distance, adding to my personal realm of tranquility. Why was I worried about this?
Another giggle erupts next to me, and I open my eyes to Ella’s face, flushed and excited, inches from mine. “Simone, do you want to come catch butterflies with me?”