Happily Ever After(2)

“What?” I was at Stanford all last summer. “She went to cheer camp? Cheer camp with football-playing boys?” I almost can’t take it. “I thought she was riding all summer?”

“See,” Kate says. “You don’t even know her anymore. I’m sure you were best friends back at Saint Joseph’s, Five, but she’s grown up a lot since seventh grade.”

“She’s only in ninth grade now, Kate. It’s not like I missed much.”

“Marshall is in eleventh grade,” Oliver says through a sleepy yawn.

“What? What the hell is wrong with Spencer? How can he allow his daughter to associate with an older man?”

Kate shakes the bag of flannel pants at me. “Put them on. She does like that guy, Five. He asked her to Winter Formal, but we were going out of town that weekend to talk to those horse catalog people, so she had to say no.”

I just stare at the bag. “Flannel?”

“And a t-shirt,” Oliver says. “Shrike Bikes, if you’ve got one.”

“I’m telling you,” Kate says. “She likes you, Five. She’s always liked you. But you’re moving on without her. It’s not her who’s leaving you behind next semester. Oxford is a long way away. You won’t even recognize her when you come back in the summer. If you come back.”

“If?”

“Please, Five. You’re smart. You know that you’ll love it there. You know you’ll get involved in all sorts of nerdy academic things and coming home might not be a priority after you get settled. You’re going to be living the life of an adult. Rory is a freshman in high school. She’s not interested in growing up so fast. Not like that, anyway.”

I don’t ask what that means. I know what it means. She’s going to do all her teen things without me. I’m going to be thousands of miles away all engrossed in computer engineering, and she’s going to be thinking about football games and Marshall. It’s research labs and college life for me and dances and note passing for her.

I take the bag of pajama pants from Kate and close the bathroom door to change.

When I get downstairs Princess is laughing and joking with Sparrow and Kate as they eat their pancakes sitting at the kitchen island. Rook is flitting around filling plates and the little kids are sitting at the kitchenette table near the window where there is a clear view of the ski slopes.

I feel self-conscious in this new outfit. I want to hide behind my suit and tie. I want to hide behind the facade of normal so the only girl I’ve ever wanted won’t see too deep inside me.

But when she turns and takes me in I know that Kate was right. My new look delights her. I can see it in her bright blue eyes.

“Five.” She laughs. But it’s not a laugh that says ‘you look ridiculous.’ It’s a laugh that says, “You look…” I wait for it. “Cool. I dig the penguins.” She looks me over, taking a full two or three seconds to do it. “And the bedhead.” She giggles. “It suits you.”

I glance over at Kate, sitting just to Princess’ right, and she gives me an I-told-you-so smile.

“Thanks,” I say, letting out a breath of relief. If Kate is right and Rory is thinking of liking a guy who is not me, then I need to step up my game. I need to get her full attention every time I walk into a room. My eyes get stuck on her perfect lips and I wonder briefly if she’s ever kissed that boy she likes.

No. I’m pretty sure Spencer would walk over to that kid’s house and threaten him with a shotgun if she has. She hasn’t kissed him. Yet.

And with that my mission becomes clear.

I need to kiss Princess Rory and I need to do that today.





Chapter Two





“Hey,” Rook whispers in my ear. “Wake up.”

“Hmmmmm,” I growl. “What time is it?” I crack one eye open. “It’s still dark. We just went to bed.”

“No.” Rook laughs. “It’s seven.”

“Practically night time.”

“I made you breakfast, so sit up,” Rook says, sitting down on the bed next to me.

“Since when?” I laugh. Rook is perfect in all ways, but she and I have never been on the same time clock. She is not a morning person.

“It’s Christmas Eve. You know I love Christmas Eve. So I just wanted to cook for the kids. And I made pancakes. Your favorite.”

“Yeah, you love to sleep on Christmas Eve. Ronnie always makes breakfast when we’re in Vail. She’s a kitchen control freak here at the mountain house.”

Rook tsks her tongue. “She was up with Cindy. She’s teething. So Ash helped her last night so she could get some sleep and I said I’d make breakfast.”