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Chapter twenty-six

Wanderlust

Karma

Do you know what it’s like being on the edge of your seat when you’re lying down on the floor? That’s me with Patterson’s novel. If I turned the pages of his story any faster, I’d generate enough wind energy to power my entire apartment.

What was Professor P worried about? So far, The Ceranic Continuum is a total nail-biter—even more than the first two books in the series combined. After this, Rodrick Domingo will be known as one of the greatest sci-fi writers of our time. My only contribution will be as the GOAT’s errand boy. Not that I’m complaining. I’d have given my left nut to be in the position I am right now.

Stretching out on our fuzzy area rug, I plump the throw pillow under my head before turning another page. Will Ziva Lu be captured by Jhorvandian forces? I can hardly wait to find out.

When my phone vibrates in my pocket, I pull it out and check the name on the screen. Swiping up, I say, “I’ll call you back later, Sara. I’m in the middle of—

“I got my ticket to India!” She lets out a high- pitched squeal.

Holy shit. “You can’t be serious, Swati. You’re not actually gonna travel halfway around the world just because Josh’s Nani had a dream.”

“Of course I am!” Sara says from our home in California. “Do you think I would miss the opportunity to learn from a real-life wise woman? Are you crazy?”

“Me?” I splutter. “You’re the crazy one! You just met the Maliks. Now you’re gonna drop everything to go live with them?”

“Of course not.” She brushes her curly hair out of her face. “I’m gonna live in Rusirani village with Mata Darshanaji. How else am I supposed to learn from her?”

Hank plops down on the couch next to our sister. “How are you gonna learn anything? You don’t even speak Hindi.”

Em crowds in on the other side. “She’ll need an interpreter, obvs . I wish I spoke Hindi, Sara—I’d translate for you.”

My siblings aren’t helping. Someone needs to talk sense into our sister. I guess I’m it. “So, let me get this straight. You’re gonna fly over seven thousand miles, live with strangers in a twenty-five hundred year old village, and be taught the ancient ways of Hindu culture by a wise woman who saw you in a prophetic dream?”

“Yep!” Sara grins at me.

Whoa . That is so hardcore.

Freedom leans over the back of our family’s old couch. “Sara’s always been adventurous. Remember the time she climbed Mount Shasta with a broken wrist?”

Dubya steps into view beside our father. “Dude, she had to hike back with her arm in a homemade sling.”

Ananda strolls in front of the camera, smiling at her oldest daughter. “Remember the time you backpacked for three weeks on the Pacific Crest Trail? We’re so proud of how brave you are, Saraswati.”

“Didn’t she break her toe on that trip?” Dubya asks the room at large.

Harmony pushes her brother out of the way. “Sara, you’re not gonna break anything in India, are you?”

“At least she’ll know some doctors there, if she does.” Hank snorts.

Bo climbs onto Sara’s lap. “But Swati, we don’t want you to go.”

Mo climbs onto the other knee, her bottom lip trembling. “Who’s going to make up bedtime stories for us?”

Sara rubs the youngsters’ backs, giving them a bright smile. “We’ll video chat! It’ll be just like with Karma. You’ll hardly know that I’m gone.”

“They have Wi-Fi in Rusirani village?” Em asks her.

Good point. Months without an internet connection might be too hardcore, even for my crazy big sister.

“Imagine all that you’ll learn by becoming part of their society,” Freedom says. “Experiencing the world in a whole new way… Exploring human thought and behavior from a completely different viewpoint.”

“It’s a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity,” Ananda agrees. “Who wouldn’t want to travel the world, seeing it through the eyes of its indigenous people?”

“Yeah, I guess you’re right.” A spark of jealousy flares in my chest. Maybe my big sister isn’t so crazy after all.

“Molly and I are taking a trip!” SR announces as we gather around a table at Roscoe’s. He wraps his arm around the petite Irishwoman and kisses her on the cheek.

“Can ye believe this wee eejit has never been outta the States?” She gazes up at the former football star. “It’s about time he sees a bit o’ the world.”

No way. Someone else is traveling outside of the US? Even though I’m excited about spending the summer in Hannah Harbor with my boyfriend, I can’t help feeling a twinge of wanderlust.

I guess I’m not the only one.

“Ooh! Where are you going?” Josh’s voice drips with envy.

“First, we’re gonna spend a couple of weeks at Molly’s home in Ireland,” SR tells us, “and then we’re going on a cruise of the Baltic Sea.”

“Sure look, the craic will be ninety,” Molly says. “We’ll be gone for three whole weeks!”

“The Baltic Sea?” Blake mutters to Tyrell. “Where the heck is that ?”

“What the heck is a craic? “ Tyrell mutters back to Blake.

Whoa. Three weeks? My twinge of wanderlust turns into a fullblown pang of longing. “I’ve always wanted to go to Ireland,” I admit. “It’s highkey on my bucket list.”

“Me, too,” Josh says with a sigh, then slips his hand into mine. “Maybe we can go there together someday.”

Yes, that. Just me and Josh, exploring the world—weeks or even months at a time. No pressures of getting an MBA or starting a business. Time to fill up my creative tank and write to my heart’s content. Wouldn’t that be a dream come true?

“We leave on Wednesday.” SR tells us before sending Josh an apologetic look. “I’m sorry that I’ll miss your birthday this year, J-Bob, but I’ll take you to brunch when we get back.”

“Your birthday’s coming up?” I ask my boyfriend.

“In a couple of weeks,” he confesses, a glow spreading across his cheeks. “I was planning on telling you later. There’s something I’d like to do to celebrate.”

Uh oh.

Half the table turns to me with wolfish grins, the other half with warning glares. They all seem to think that I’m in charge of Josh’s celebration plans, but I know better. What King Moonbeam wants, King Moonbeam gets. The best gift that I can give him is my submission…

But am I ready to give all of myself to him?

“Actually, I was hoping we could have a party!” Josh says. “We could meet at my place for some food and then we could all go dancing. Does that sound like fun?”

Heads nod around the table, along with offers to bring snacks and drinks.

“At least that’s something to look forward to,” Tyrell grumbles. “I’m not going anywhere this summer. I gotta retake English Comp.”

“Dude, mine’s worse. I’ve gotta retake Algebra .“ Blake shudders.

Josh perks up. “Do you want me to tutor you? I’m pretty good at math.”

“Says the astrophysicist.” JR rolls his eyes.

The quarterback for the Golden Gladiators looks like he just scored a touchdown. “Dude, really? That’d be lit! Hey, Karma—d’ya think you could help our boy, Tyrell, with his writing?”

“Sure, no worries.” I give the linebacker a chin nod. “I’m working a couple of jobs this summer, but I’m not taking any classes. I’d be happy to proofread for you.”

“You’d do that?” He narrows his eyes at me. “That’d be dope, man.”

Whatever I can do to help my boyfriend’s friends, count me in. It’s never too late to score points with Josh’s crew.

“What are you doing this summer, Josiah?” Josh asks the shy running back. “Are you going back to your family’s farm in Pennsylvania?”

He shakes his head, his dark hair falling into his light-colored eyes. “No, I’ve got an internship at Mr. Crenshaw’s company. I’ll be starting next week. Isn’t that right, Mr. Crenshaw?”

The businessman lays a hand on the athlete’s arm. “Josiah, you know you can call me Simon.”

He nods his head. “Yes, sir.”

“Mmm… Sir is another fine option,” Simon purrs.

“What kind of work do you do, Sigh-Moan?” I ask him.

“Branding, design, sales, and marketing—or BDS&M , as my agency is called.“ The forty-something man hands me a business card, his amber eyes sparkling.

I read the tagline on the card: ‘We’ll whip your business into shape’ . I glance up at him with raised eyebrows. “Your agency’s name is BDS&M ? I’ll bet you spank the competition.”

“We dominate the field.” Simon gives a satisfied smirk. “Speaking of dominance, Tommy—what are you doing this summer?”

Fletcher shoots him a warning look, then responds in a lofty tone, “I plan on running several experiments in the lab. JR will assist me, of course.”

The businessman arches an eyebrow. “Oh? Will you be experimenting in your lab on campus, or your special one at home?”

JR breaks into a fit of coughs, choking on his beer.

Hmm… I wonder what kind of lab Dr. Dom has at home. Then again, maybe I don’t want to know.

“Just be sure to take care of that grandbaby of mine while we’re gone on our trip,” SR tells his son.

Wait, what? “You have a baby?” I gape at the couple.

As JR and Fletcher rush to show me photos of their oversized puppy, Rosalind St. Bernard, everyone at the table leans in to look—oohing and aahing over the adorable bundle of fur. Surrounded by Josh and his closest friends, I’m suddenly filled with a sense of belonging. This mismatched band of misfits is just like the Wilsons. We come in all ages, shapes, and sizes—dark-skinned and light-skinned, queer and straight, athletic and academic. We’re about as different from each other as it’s possible to be. Even so, with all our differences, we’ve still got one thing in common.

We’re family—and you gotta love that .