Then looks at me. Then looks back at it. “Why are you holding a cactus?”
“Because this is the perfect plant for you,” I respond, smiling down at the baby green cactus. It sits in a tiny terracotta pot with a red velvet bow wrapped around the edge. “Cactuses can survive any-fucking-thing, Ace. You barely need to water them.”
“But Teddy 12 has been doing so well,” She retorts and puts a hand to her hip. “He’s been living for, like, three years straight.”
Because of me.
I am literally the only one keeping that green bastard alive.
Yeah, and since you’re going to be leaving for Houston soon, it won’t be long before Teddy 12 kicks the bucket.
The mere thought makes my chest tighten with discomfort.
Who is going to keep Ava’s plant alive when I’m gone?
Who is going to be there for her when she’s freaking out about something or when she’s upset about something or when she just needs someone to watch fucking Golden Girls with at midnight because she can’t fall asleep?
It’s nearly too much to bear, but somehow, I manage to swallow it down, all the questions, all the worries, all the discomfort about leaving Ava behind in New York, and force myself to focus on the here and now. The present. And not worry about the fact that I still haven’t told her about NASA.
Trust me, I know. I’m a fucking asshole coward.
“I think it’s time for Teddy 12 to have a friend, though,” I suggest, and she mulls it over for a moment, even reaching out to take the cactus into her own hands.
She inspects it carefully, turning it from one side to the other. “You know, he probably does get lonely sometimes…” She pauses and smiles up at me. “You think we can get him on the plane without too much trouble?”
I nod.
“Okay,” she says, and her responding smile is magnificent. “You’ve convinced me. Let’s bring Tom home.”
Tom.
Figures it took her all of two minutes before naming the prickly bastard.
Yeah, and it’s shit like this that you love about her the most.
Ava
“For two people who don’t really like to drink, we sure end up at bars a lot, huh?” Luke whispers into my ear as he opens the door to The Pub, a staple in my hometown.
I grin up at him as he places a hand to the small of my back and guides us inside. A rush of warm air hits me in the face, unthawing my cheeks and nose and ears from the blistery air.
Any day now, it’s going to snow. I just know it. Vermont will have a Christmas that’s so white, even Bing Crosby would be jealous.
“There they are.” I spot my sisters, Em and Kate, standing in the back corner, drinks in hand and music urging their bodies to move to the beat. Landon and Zach, their respective men, stand beside them, drinks also in their hands and chatting animatedly with each other.
Luke leads the way, and even through the thickness of my winter coat, I can feel the warmth of his hand pressing gently against my lower back.
But I try not to think too much about it. Or how acutely aware I am of it.
Uh-huh. Keep telling yourself that.
“Ava! Luke!” Em is the first one to see us. A lazy smile spreads across her face, and she awkwardly wraps us both into a hug, one arm on my shoulder and one arm pulling Luke into the mix.
“Yay! You guys finally made it!” Kate is next, joining in on the group hug, the force of her giddy presence pushing my face to smash into Luke’s.
I burst into laughter, and he just grins at me out of the corner of his eye, his cheek literally smushed against mine.
“I think we’re behind in the drink department, Ace,” he whispers toward me once we’re released from the jaws-of-life hug
“You guys definitely are,” Zach comments and reaches out to shake Luke’s hand and offer me a friendly hug.
“Hey, guys.” Landon does the same.
“So, how was shopping?” Em asks, taking a sip from her red wine with already red-stained lips. My guess is that my sis is on glass number three for the night.
“Horrible,” Luke teases, and I nudge him in the stomach with my elbow.
“It was not that bad.”
“Nah, it wasn’t that bad.” He smirks. “We just hit every store in the mall. Twice.”
“You’re such a drama queen.” I snort. “You had fun.”
“You’re right. I did.” He wraps his arm around my shoulder and presses a kiss