Page 188 of Lovers Like Us

“Weak,” my dadretorts.

Farrow almost laughs, and I smile. God, I love myfamily

“They’re all going to leave,” Uncle Connor pipes in. “It’s generally what children do when they getolder.”

“And now she’s really crying. Good job, Richard,” Aunt Rosesays.

“No, no,” my mom protests. “These are happy tears. Luna is grown up. That’s a goodthing.”

My dad glances at me, then Farrow, and I stand more uncomfortably. I can’t tell what my dad is thinking. Atall.

When it reaches the point of maximum awkwardness, my dad rotates to the door again. “If you all keep lingering, we’re never going to finish moving herin!”

One-by-one, my mom, two aunts, and two uncles file into the townhouse. Rain jackets on, and some shut theirumbrellas.

This is the first time we’ve all really been together since Camp Calloway. In the same room, at least. But we’ve talked. All of us. I’m not going to pretend those conversations never happened just because they didn’t take placealtogether.

Anyway, kissing Farrow at the Camp-Away event feels like eonsago.

I feel different since then. Stronger in a different way. Maybe that’s what happens when you meet quicksand and discover how to pull yourselfout.

I break the silence before they do. “Can we not make this awkward?” I ask. “You all know Farrow. He’s my boyfriend. That’s notchanging.”

“I don’t actually know him as your boyfriend,” Connor says as he hooks his expensive umbrella on the coat rack. His all-knowing eyes meet Farrow’s. “But I’d love to changethat.”

“Agreed.” Ryke nods and then turns to my dad. “I’m sensing a fucking invitationhere?”

And my dad—he’s smiling. Genuine, andhappy. It lifts the last bit of weight off my chest. “I think so, big brother.” He looks to my boyfriend. “How about you start coming to our lunches withMoffy?”

My eyes widen. Seriously.That’s what they want? To grill Farrow over tacos and salsa? “You can say no,” I tell Farrow. “They’re a lot to fuckinghandle.”

“I can handle anything, wolf scout,” Farrow says easily, and with a smile, he tells my dad, “Sounds like aplan.”

My dad nods and adjusts his grip on thebox.

“And,” Connor adds to Farrow, “if we decide we don’t like your company, your invitation isrevoked.”

“That’s not happening,” I sayfirmly.

Farrow hangs his head, his smile out of this fucking world right now, and he tries to downplay it abit.

A calico cat rubs up on my dad’s ankles. He tells me, “If Farrow is shitty company, it’ll go to avote.”

I shake my head. “After my week, voting ispermanentlybanned.”

My dad winces. “You know Icould—”

“No,” I cut him off. “We talked about this.” None of them are vouching on my behalf like I’m a kid. “It’s my job. I’ll take care ofit.”

My dad squints at me. “It’s like you’re an eighty-year-old man in a twenty-two-year-old body.” He looks to my mom who bites her thumbnail, nervous about Luna leaving. “Love, you sure you birthedhim?”

“I remember every second of it, Lo.” She pauses. “Okay, noteverysecond. But most ofit.”

My mouth curves upward.Thisright here.Us. It feels like we’re back on some sort of track. Sure, there’ll be blips and drama and some fights, but my family isn’t going anywhere. Any world where they’re missing is too lonely toconceive.

“Mom…” Jane’s voice tugs our attention towards the staircase. She descends in a lilac tulle skirt, leopard-print sweater, and her brunette hair frizzes around herface.

Jane never ended up speaking to her mom. Not that day in Kansas. Not the night she returned home. This is the first realgesture.