Page 16 of Cloudless
A PARTRIDGE IN A PEAR TREE
LILA
The warm glow of the afternoon sun illuminates the row of townhouses. Four vehicles cram the driveway, forcing me to park on the street.
My eyes take stock of the variety of vehicles that belong to the four roommates as I take a moment to catch my breath after the whirlwind meeting.
A black Tahoe that I know belongs to Kam sits closest to me. I don’t know enough about the other roommates to decipher who the silver 4runner, the dark green Classic Ford Bronco, and the dark blue Ford F-150 belong to.
Darkness envelops me as I close my eyes and loosen the tension that’s taken up permanent residence in my neck.
Strands of hair pull tight on the top of my head as I sink into the headrest of my seat.
The lingering light invading my eyelids disappears as my fingers dig into my temples.
I try my best to massage away the headache that bloomed from clenching my teeth all morning.
I’m still undecided if the meeting went well or not. Even if the path to getting to my desired result wasn’t what I had planned, I still got there in the end. That counts for something. Right?
I let out a deep breath as I exit the safety of my car in favor of the unknown that stretches before me. The sparse front porch of the townhouse represents uncharted territory in a life full of uncertainty.
I weave my way between vehicles and underneath side mirrors as I make my way up the driveway. Right as I’m lifting my hand to knock, the sound of revving engines and giggles drifts through the door.
My brows draw down in confusion as the door swings open. Kam’s eyes light up to match the afternoon sun as a splitting smile takes over his face. “Hi, Sunshine. I heard a car door close and thought it might be you.”
I open my mouth to reply when I hear Dax’s muffled groan from further in the house. “That’s not fair! I didn’t know there was a shortcut there!”
I can hardly hear Posey’s reply over deep laughter coming from multiple sources just out of my view. “It’s not my fault you suck at this game.”
Kam’s grin only grows as he steps to the side and waves me into his home. I pass by a lone table in the entryway as my heels click along the hardwood floors.
I follow the laughter past a smiling Kam farther into the house. My eyes take stock of a living room filled with one too many couches, the biggest TV I have ever seen in person, three hockey players, two seven-year-olds, and a partridge in a pear tree .
My siblings look like dolls compared to the hulking hockey players surrounding them. Laughter drowns out Dax’s groan as he tilts his head, following the path of the cars on the screen.
I feel Kam’s warm presence step up behind me as I watch the chaos unfold on the TV. Four sections divide the screen as cars zoom around a track.
Well, three of the four cars weave through their opponents as they race for the finish line. A lone car’s wheels spin in the grass of the side of the track as its driver works tirelessly to redirect itself in the proper direction.
A pink car crosses the finish line as Posey jumps up on the couch. She wiggles around in a happy dance as she balances on the seat cushions. “I won! I won!”
Her head barely reaches Dax’s chin as he sulks next to her, his controller abandoned in his lap as his car remains in the grass.
Jasper and Mace cross the finish line in quick succession as the final scores scroll across the screen, showing Posey won by over three-hundred points. A small smile plays on Wyatt’s lips as he watches my sister celebrate her victory.
Dax’s mouth hangs open as he watches my sister celebrate her win. “You hustled me.” His eyes flick to a smiling Mace next to him. “I got hustled by a seven-year-old.”
Posey continues her celebration even as a beeping starts from farther in the house. Mace jumps up from his seat and steps over his roommates’ legs, creating a maze as they stretch out on the coffee table. His voice booms through the open room. “Lunch is ready!”
His eyes swivel in my direction before he disappears down a small hallway I assume leads to the kitchen. “Hey, Sullivan!”
I manage a small wave as I struggle to take in the scene in front of me. Kam chuckles as Jasper pops his head up over the back of the couch. His crystal blue eyes lock with mine and flash with disappointment. “You’re back already?”
Posey’s celebratory dance halts mid-sway as she swings toward me. “No! You can’t be back already!”
I quickly bury the flash of pain that comes with the realization they aren’t happy to see me in favor of a smile I’m sure doesn’t reach my eyes. “You guys ready to go?”
A chorus of protest erupts as five sets of eyes focus on me. The words flow so quickly I hardly keep up.
“They can’t go! I deserve a rematch!”
“We can’t go! Kam said he would play the winners after lunch.”
“I won’t go until Ellie gets back. She said she would only be gone a few minutes.”
Even Mace pops his head out of the kitchen, a red SSU apron tied around his waist. “They can’t go! They’ve not had lunch yet!”
My mouth opens to protests when I feel Kam’s warmth flood into my back as he steps close to whisper, “Stay.” The hairs on the back of my neck stand in delight at his proximity.
I look over my shoulder to find Kam relaxed in a way I’ve not seen before. His hands stay tucked in his pockets while his eyes shine with happiness. A smile never leaves his face as he watches the chaos unfold around him without a care in the world.
Only Wyatt holds his tongue as he leans back on the couch. His all-seeing eyes peer into me until I’m convinced he can see the effects of Kam’s attention from across the room.
The front door opening silences the chorus of voices as Ellie’s voice rings through the space. “Alright, Posey-Pop! I’ve got chicken nuggets!” I turn in time to watch her face twist in confusion at the scene she just walked in on. “Uh, is everything okay in here?”
Kam strolls over to his sister and plucks the fast food bag from her hands. “It’s perfect. You’re right on time. We were just about to sit down and eat.” He walks by my frozen form and disappears into the kitchen without another word. The smell of chicken nuggets remains even after he disappears.
My eyes swivel back to Ellie as the rest of the group follows Kam into the kitchen. A muffled debate between Dax and Posey fades as they disappear around the corner.
My heart warms with Ellie’s consideration. “You didn’t have to go to the trouble of getting her anything else to eat.”
She dumps her bag on the lone table in the entryway and kicks her sandals under it with a familiarity that suggests she’s done it a hundred times.
“It’s no problem. We want her to be comfortable here.
That includes being happy with what she eats.
” She pats my shoulder and carries on by me like she didn’t just melt another layer of the ice around my heart. “Come on, Lila. Let's go eat.”