“That was the best night of our whole trip,” I tell Chase as we pull into the driveway very early in the morning when we see my dad. “Oh shit,” I say.
“Just be cool,” Chase says. “Damon was right. One of the benefits of our family thinking we are just friends is that we can stay out all night together and they won’t assume that we were doing what we were doing.”
I blush, thinking about all the things we did last night. Things my dad had definitely done himself when he was my age but things he thinks I shouldn’t be allowed to do until I’m at least thirty. And although I wish I could tell him my favorite part of last night was when Chase held me in his arms and we slow-danced to softly playing country music, I’m thinking it’s probably not a good idea.
“Hey,” Dad says when we get out of the truck. “Where have you guys been?”
“Up on the hill,” Chase says, pointing toward where we were. “Watching the sunrise.”
“You’re wearing the clothes you had on last night,” Dad counters, one eyebrow raised.
Clothes I’m hoping that I put back on correctly and that I’m not standing here with my shirt inside out. I look over Chase’s long body, praying there are no condom packages sticking out of his pockets or anything.
But then I see his neck and notice a little hickey on the right side, just under his jawline. I lay on his shoulder for hours, just kissing the same spot over and over.
“That’s correct, sir,” Chase says. “Hope it’s okay. We decided on the spur of the moment to stay up all night and see the sunrise. Figured we could sleep on the ride home.”
My dad’s eyes linger on me, causing me to self-consciously run my hand across my hair.
“That’s why I got up early, too,” Dad says. “It was spectacular, don’t you think?”
I look at Chase but say to my dad, “It really was.”
Then, I get emotional, and tears fill my eyes.
I run to my dad and hug him.
“What’s wrong, honey?” he asks as he hugs me back.
“Nothing is wrong, Dad. Everything is perfect. This trip was perfect. I know I was a little bitch about coming at first, but I’m so glad I got to spend this time with our family.”
“I’m glad you feel that way. And you should know, the sunrise made me feel pretty emotional myself. I’m not ready to go back to reality yet either. In fact, I’ve decided not to go back to work.”
“You turned down the network?”
“Not yet, but I will. With Jennifer pregnant, Weston growing like a weed, and you and Damon practically off to college, I just don’t want to miss any moments. I love you guys too much for that.”
He untangles himself from me, gives me a kiss, and then goes into the house.
“Before this trip, I wanted him to go back to work.”
“And after?” Chase asks, pulling me into his arms.
“I’m glad he’s not.”
“And I’m glad he didn’t kick my ass.”
To that comment, we both start laughing.
The morning is a blur of eating and packing.
And after the puke-fest that was our trip here, it’s no surprise that no one is very excited about the ride home.
Everyone is out in the driveway, haphazardly shoving things into the vehicles.
Madden runs to Jadyn and wails, “I don’t wanna go yet!”
“We have to go, honey,” she says. “School starts soon, and you’ve got soccer practice tomorrow.”
But what Madden says resonates with us all.
None of us are ready to leave.
“Maybe we need one last look,” I suggest. “At the lake. Together.”
No one really says anything, but they all nod and follow me to the backyard.
I look around at everyone.
Mimi and Papa, and Grandpa and Grandma Mac are misty-eyed. They’ve loved spending time with their children and their grandbabies, as they call all of us kids.
Jadyn and Phillip are holding hands, and Emersyn is standing like a big girl beside them, petting her pup-paws. Though the dogs are super rambunctious, it always amazes me how gentle Winger and Angel are around the babies.
Dad has Weston on one hip, and Jennifer wraps her arm around his waist, holding them both tight.
Ryder and Madden have their arms around each other’s shoulders, the two of them against the world.
And Haley and Damon come stand next to me and Chase, the four of us holding hands in a line.
Which makes me start to cry.
Chase squeezes my hand and speaks loudly so everyone can hear, “We started this trip with a toast to our good life and all that goes with it. I think we should end it with one as well. So, here’s to all the precious moments we will take home with us as souvenirs because time spent with family is time well spent.”
Haley and Damon lean their heads together as he wraps his arm around her shoulders.
And I know that when we’re all grown up, we’ll still always refer to this time as that summer. That summer we went to the lake. That summer we all grew up. And grew closer.
That summer that changed everything in so many ways.
“And here’s to hoping we get to come back again next year!” Damon says.
To which everyone rings out with, “Hear, hear!”
After hugging everyone like we won’t ever see them again, we slowly make our way back to the cars and get loaded up inside.
Then, we’re following the road as it curves and swerves around the hills.
But after about fifteen minutes, it flattens out, and we turn unexpectedly onto a smaller paved road.
“Where are we going?” I ask, but then we all see it.
An airstrip.
Where the Mackenzies’ beautiful private plane is waiting on the tarmac.
“Tell me that’s for us,” Mimi says happily.
“It is for us,” my dad confirms, grinning ear to ear.
“Oh, thank goodness,” Papa says.
“But, wait,” Damon says. “Does that mean no loose-meat burgers on the way back? Those things were the bomb.”
“Just go get on the plane, son,” Dad replies.
Our flight back home isn’t going to be long—just under an hour—but as soon as we’ve taken off, the flight attendant hands out sodas, bags of onion rings, French fries, and loose-meat sandwiches for everyone.
I have no idea how our parents managed it, but it is a fun—and funny—way to end our time together.
I reach over and grab Chase’s hand under the table.
Regardless of our plan, I don’t want to go back home. Back to school.
Let alone back to reality.
I want to stay in this Chase-wrapped bubble of happiness forever.
At the airport in Kansas City, there are three SUVS lined up, waiting to greet us.
“I’d like my kids, plus Damon and Devaney, in this one, please,” Auntie Jadyn says, ushering us into the car.
I wonder why she really cares, but when we pull up to their house, I see why.
Sitting in the Mackenzies’ driveway is a new pickup with a green bow wrapped around it.
“Whoa,” Damon says, turning to Chase. “Is that for you? It’s got to be for you. Your birthday is next month!”
They jump out of the SUV and walk around the truck, both of them chattering excitedly about all the options and special stuff it has. I remember the day we drove that Jeep to the pharmacy to get the pregnancy test for Jennifer. How he mentioned that he wanted a certain monster truck when he was little. And I think his parents remembered.
Damon is still going on about how it’s been modified by some company, how the exterior graphics package makes it look completely badass. He wonders if they added the performance pack to the engine and other things I don’t really care to understand. All I care about is the smile on Chase’s face.
He looks so happy.
“What do you think?” I ask Chase as the rest of the group gets dropped off.
“I love it,” Chase says.
“Happy early birthday,” his mom says, throwing her arms around him and giving him a tight hug. “We wanted you to be able to practice driving it before you go get your license.”
“It’s incredible,” Damon says, opening the door and hopping into the driver’s seat. “The chicks we are going to get in this thing.”
“I might have helped a little,” Jennifer says, coming to stand next to Chase. “You know how I love my cars. Anywho, this bad boy started out as a regular, new black Ford Raptor. Then, we took it to the guys who modify my cars. They added a higher-flow three-point-oh-inch exhaust and a cold air intake. Add to that a performance pack engine upgrade that makes it faster than the already-powerful motor, and this baby purrs. Then, the pretty stuff. The massive windshield logo, new grill, industrial-looking off-road lights atop a custom-designed bar, body moldings, and some sweet wheels under a three-inch lift kit. Didn’t think you’d want it up there too high. Not really your style.”
“And check out the interior,” his dad says. “I helped choose most of it. The gauge cluster in the dash has been modified. You’ve got embroidered headrests and handmade seats.”
“And don’t forget the thumping sound system,” his mom says with a smile.
“Damon, get out of the driver’s seat and let Chase start it up,” my dad says.
Chase gives me a grin and opens the passenger door for me, so I hop up in the cab. He goes around to the other side and does as he was told, starting the truck and revving the engine, grinning from ear to ear.
Once all the excitement dies down, the bags are taken into our respective houses, and Chase drives around the neighborhood, taking everyone for rides. He still only has a permit, so there has to be someone in the car with him who is over twenty-five—which is not me even though I have my license.
We get our phones back, but I ignore it. We eat dinner together as a family, and it seems a little odd for it to be just the five of us again.
“What are you going to do about Chase?” Damon asks me as I’m unpacking and getting ready for bed.
Cheer practice starts early, and after staying up all last night, I need to get some sleep.
“What do you mean?” I ask, shoving my clothes into a laundry basket.
“You were supposed to tell the families when we got home.”
“It’s been a little crazy. Chase got his car, and we’ve been unpacking and trying to get ready for tomorrow.”
“What about your friends?”
“I haven’t told them yet. I haven’t even looked at my phone. Besides, Chase and I talked about it. We decided to tell our parents but to ease into it with our friends.”
“You mean, you decided that.”
“No, I mean, we agreed.”
“Oh, well, maybe he will still get to hang out with Kelsey then.”
“No! He won’t. He asked me to be his girlfriend.”
“And what did you say?”
“It doesn’t matter what I said. We want to be together, and we will. Who we tell and when is none of your business.”
“I was afraid of that,” he says with a sigh. “You’re still worried about what people will think.”
“Not at all. We’ll be official by homecoming. He hasn’t asked me yet, wants to do something special, but we agreed that was the goal. To be out with our friends by then.”
“Hmm. That’s going to make things difficult for Chase.”
“We don’t want things to be difficult,” I argue. “That’s why we decided to do it this way.”
“So, what is he supposed to tell Kelsey or any of the other girls who would love for him to call them his girlfriend?” he counters.
“Tough luck. He’s mine.”
“Yeah, but my point is that no one will know that. Even though school doesn’t actually start, practically everyone will be there tomorrow morning. The football team, cheerleaders, dance team, cross country, flag squad, and the whole freaking band. And that includes Kelsey.”
“Who cares? We’ll be busy practicing,” I say with a shrug.
“And you think no one will talk? Hell, it’s my coming-out party. I’ll be starting this year. Tearing down the field. Girls won’t be able to not watch me.”
“Is there someone you have your eye on?”
“Not really looking for love, sis,” he says.
“I want us to be closer, like we were this summer,” I blurt out.
“Awesome,” he says with a smirk. “Let’s talk about your sex life. Matt or Chase? Who’s better?”
“I didn’t have sex with Matt,” I tell him. “He wanted to. Pressured me about it. When I finally thought I might, I found out he’d been cheating on me.”
Damon winces. “You should have told me. Chase and I would’ve beaten the shit out of him.”
“He wasn’t worth it, honestly. I’m hoping to make better choices regarding the boys I date in the future.”
“In the future? Wait—”
I hold up my hand to shut him up. “I don’t know what or who my future holds. No one does.”
“True,” he says tentatively.
“I can be with Chase and not have to commit to marrying him at this point. Chase could get back to school and decide he’d rather date the gorgeous senior Kelsey instead of me.”
“Do you really believe that? Are you that blind?”
“Not at all. Chase and me together like this is new, Damon. I hope it works out and that we stay together forever, but I don’t know what will happen, and neither do you.”
“Just don’t break his heart during football season, okay?”
“Like I’d ever do that,” I scoff.
“My advice, for whatever it’s worth, kiss him tomorrow out on the field in front of everyone. Stake your claim. Tell your friends that you are together. Your ease into it plan is for shit and setting you both up for trouble.”
I’ve just put on a pair of pajama shorts and a tank top when I hear the doorbell ring.
“Chase is here, Dani!” Jennifer yells out.
I rush down the stairs with a smile on my face.
“Wanna take me for a ride?” Chase says, dangling his new set of keys in front of me.
I snatch them from his hand. “I guess—since you aren’t old enough to drive it yet.”
As soon as we get in the car, he slides his hand up my leg and says, “I hope you know somewhere we can go parking.”
