“Yeah, I drove up halfway through with a truck full of groceries and two munchkins in tow,” Adam explains as he tosses his gaze over to his porch. “Those two would have added nothing but chaos to that equation."

Lily and Gage are sitting cross-legged with a pile of Legos between them. Their heads are lowered in deep concentration, almost touching. Adam’s niece and nephew are the most adorable little people I’ve ever come across, but he’s right, they have a knack for amping up the bedlam in any situation.

He eyes them for a moment longer, his face going soft with affection, before putting his attention back on me. Yeah, those two kids have both our numbers.

“Besides, I didn’t want to mess up your game. You know, in case she’s digging the whole “gentle giant” thing you’ve got going on,” he says with a chuckle and a wave in my direction. He fakes right and gets past me in a weak moment. His easy lay up just spurs me on.

“What? You think she’d dig on your emo, faux-hawk-wearing ass instead? Please, dude, no woman in her right mind would choose you over me.” I laugh as I tag him with a fake jab to the gut.

“It’s the tats, man. Chicks dig the tats.”

“That flowery shit going up your arm? What-the-fuck-ever.”

“You can have this one, man. I don’t shit that close to home. It’s bad karma. You can’t hit and quit someone who lives next door, and you know that’s all I’m up for these days.”

Adam’s a great guy and a fantastic father, but he’s not what I would call relationship material. I’ve pushed him on the subject before, and he says the only relationship that he’s focused on is with his children. Being a single dad is his top priority—as it should be.

Lily and Gage have already experienced more than enough heartbreak in their young lives. Adam’s sister died in a horrific domestic violence incident, and the family nearly lost the twins, too. At twenty years old, Adam gained custody. I’m sure there have been trying times, but I know without a doubt he doesn’t regret a single day spent being a father to his sister’s children. The day he became a dad, dating dropped way down on the priority list.

I get that. I respect it. I don’t know if the women he flash-fucks feel the same way, but that’s not my problem. I’d bet money Adam is upfront about his level of commitment, or lack thereof, so it’s an “Enter At Your Own Risk” type of situation.

I toss the ball to him and slap his back as I walk away.

“Neither of us are getting the green light from her, I can promise you that. Sweet as pie, but I’m pretty sure she’s taken.”

“Probably for the best,” I hear him say as I sneak up on Lily and Gage for an impromptu tickle session. Their belly laughs are priceless.

I look next door and see the girl in question leaning against the porch banister, eyes closed, head tilted toward the sun, and a pretty pink smile playing on her lips.

Probably for the best … I’m not sure I agree with Adam this time.

“One Sweet Love” by Sara Bareilles

The Past

I RUN THE cold silver chain through my fingers and smile to myself as I close the refrigerator door. I smooth my thumb over the grooves of the St. Jude medallion while making my way to the living room.

“Grams, I found your necklace … in the fridge. How in the world did it end up there? And why do you insist on wearing this silly thing?”

She eyes me over the top of her reading glasses and places her yarn and crochet hook in her lap. She pretends to be bothered by my question, but the gentle tug on the corner of her mouth gives her away.

“I would think the fact that you found it in the refrigerator would be all the explanation you needed, sweet pea. If anyone needs prayers from the patron saint of lost causes, it’s this old geezer here.”

I place the necklace in her outstretched hand, rolling my eyes in amusement. She puts it around her neck and taps the medal into her ample bosom, silently assuring herself it’s back where it belongs. I’ve lived with my grandmother nearly all my life, and that necklace is as permanent a fixture in her life as she is in mine. If she hadn’t adopted me when my mother, her daughter, passed away, I have no idea where I’d be today.

“Lucas is gonna come check on you at about eight o’clock, Grams. I promise I won’t be too late.” I reach down and kiss her powder-dusted cheek, inhaling the sweet scent of her perfume. Anais Anais—it’s all she wears, and I’d know the scent anywhere. I wince at the shrill buzzing of her hearing aid, but train my face back into a smile before I rise.

“I’m perfectly capable of giving my own insulin shots, Celia Marie Lemaire. You can tell Lucas to keep his bee-hind at home. Besides, he should be going with you to this party. What type of boyfriend is he, letting my only granddaughter go out unescorted?” she rants, jabbing her crochet hook in my direction and setting her jaw.

“Calm down, Grams. I’m going with Audrey and a few other friends. It’s a girls’ night … no boys allowed. Besides, Lucas doesn’t want to go to high school parties now that he’s a college boy. He’s got better things to do, I’m sure.”

“Exactly, he’s got much better things to do than poke me,” she says, pursing her lips. She closes her eyes for a moment, slowly opens them, and smiles as she takes in my appearance. I smooth my linen skirt, straighten my spine, and pull my shoulders back. “You look beautiful. To have the privilege of watching you become the stunning young woman standing before me? Well, there’s no greater gift in this world. Which is exactly why Lucas shouldn’t let you out of his sight. This old lady can take care of herself.” Her voice turns up at the end, as if she knows she’s wasting her time but refuses to give up the good fight.

I shake my head as I gather my purse and keys. “He’s got nothing to worry about. You know that, Grams.”

Lucas Landry gave me my first kiss in fourth grade behind the concession stand at the community ballpark. There have been thousands of kisses between us since that day, and I have every intention of kissing that boy every day for the rest of my life. This world is clouded with uncertainty, but Lucas is the one thing in my life I never question.

“I certainly do, Celia. That boy eases my mind when I think of leaving you all alone in this life. Lucas will take care of my sweet girl when I’m gone, just as you’ll take care of him.” Even from across the room, I see the glisten of unshed tears in her eyes, just as she grabs her hook and yarn, refocusing on her crochet. She clears her throat and pushes her glasses up the bridge of her nose, never meeting my eyes. “Be careful tonight, sweet pea. You and Audrey look after each other, ya hear me?”

“Yes, ma’am. Love you, Grams,” I call out as I head out the front door, trying to push the unwelcome thoughts of one day being without her out of my mind. I breathe in a gulp of the muggy evening air, already feeling the beads of sweat collecting at the bend of my elbows. Louisiana weather is nothing if not humid.

My eyes focus on the two-story house across the street, and my lips curve into a smile when I see the navy blue drapes pull back from the second-story bedroom.

Lucas.

I hurry down the driveway and across the street, praying Audrey isn’t quite ready to leave yet. She primps with the best of them, so the odds are in my favor. I want to steal a few precious moments with her brother … my boyfriend. But if Audrey thinks for one second Lucas is encroaching on our girls’ night, she’ll rip me out of his arms without a second’s thought. Fights between her and Lucas can get … sticky for me. I try my best to be Switzerland in all Landry household disputes.