Page 111 of Under Ground

“I’ll miss them. They’ve been good friends to me.” I let out a sigh. “Their friendship has been unexpected, but very welcome.”

“Well, now you’re family. I guess there’s no getting rid of you.”

I raise an eyebrow at him.

“I’m kidding, Lana. Leave it with me. I have some things I need to sort out, but I promise this’ll be at the top of my list of things to take care of.”

“It’d better be.”

* * *

By the time moving day comes, we’re more than ready. Not everything I wanted has arrived, but we have beds and a lounge suite and a TV. The kitchen’s all good to go, and the furniture that’s yet to come isn’t far away.

Alex even bought a new car for the occasion. We still have to get one for me, but I want to pick my own out, and my priority is getting us moved into the house. Everything is finally coming together.

“I’ll miss you,” Delaney says. She hugs me before I get into the car.

“I’ll miss you, too, but I won’t be far away.”

“Things won’t be the same,” she says. “Call me anytime you need a babysitter. If I can’t, then Pania probably can.”

“Thank you.”

With a final wave, we leave to start our new life in our own home. It’s bittersweet, but it’s the next stage of our journey. And the only way is up.

31

Lana

Reece didn’t tell me that night that he’d finished his scenes for the movie.

Without seeing him at work every day, Alex is still left with that emptiness that has sucked out a part of his soul.

I hate seeing him like this.

He is much happier now we’re in our own space. It’s like a weight has been lifted off him now he’s stopped feeling obligated to Josh and Delaney, even though they made it clear that we weren’t intruding on their personal space.

Even the job offers aren’t cheering Alex up.

It’s been a week since I confronted Reece.

“What are you doing for dinner tonight?” Delaney asks.

I look over toward the kitchen table where Alex and Casey are playing Snap. At least, Alex is trying to. Casey’s making up her own rules and matching cards that don’t match. I’m not sure how he has the patience, but he just laughs and keeps trying to play to the rules. It warms my heart to watch them. He’s right. He’s her father now.

“I was thinking of making mac and cheese. Alex likes your recipe just as much as Casey does.”

“Come over for dinner.”

Alex raises an eyebrow at me, and I turn my back on him to focus on Delaney. Any minute, he’ll give me that intense look that makes my stomach do flips. It did from the start, and I think it always will.

“I’ll talk to Alex and let you know. Don’t you and Pania have Grey’s Anatomy tonight?”

She laughs. “We do, but Pania’s skyping in from across the road, and I want someone to share my big bag of popcorn.”

“Sounds great. Get back to you in a few.”

I hang up the call and turn toward the table. “Delaney invited us over for dinner tonight.”

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