Page 55 of Just A Trip

The back of my eyes sting. What is wrong with me? He’s a baby like any other.

I glance back to the basketball game now happening in the pool between Trent, Michael, and Grant. But Trent has stopped playing, his focus solely on me. There’s a warmth in his eyes I’d like to dive into.

Michael pummels him from the left and he goes down.

Emmett cries. As much as I want to hold him forever, my expertise is limited in this department.

Lennox takes him back and gently sways in her chair until his cries stop. It’s so natural on her. I wonder if my mother ever did that, or if she let me cry until I realized no one was coming and stopped.

What kind of mom will I be?

“I’m exhausted.” Lennox yawns. “Emmett decided to wake us up every hour last night. I bet Trent didn’t let you get much sleep either.”

“What?” I choke out. I make eye contact with Juliet over Lennox’s head but she only pumps her eyebrows. So unhelpful.

“Oh.” Lennox shakes her head. “Not like that. Ew. You guys just got here early so you must have been busy last night.” She shakes her head again. “Sorry, I have mom brain. Yesterday I offered to make Grant his protein shake but I put Emmett’s formula in it instead.”

Both Juliet and I laugh.

“Did he try it?” Juliet asks.

“Yep. He didn’t even bat an eye. He just kissed me on the cheek and told me to go take a nap,” Lennox says, getting choked up. “He’s such a good man. And I’m still a blubbering mess ten months after having a baby.”

“You’re perfectly normal.” Juliet comforts her.

Lennox rubs her nose and looks back at me. “I’m glad Trent found you in Vegas. You make him happy.”

My pulse slows. I do? He seemed happy before. Without me. “We’re not dating or anything,” I say.

“Well, he’s clearly in love with you,” Lennox says.

She has no solid proof of that. But my heart tries to leap out of my chest, anyway. “People don’t fall in love in two days,” I say.

“It only took me a second to fall in love with him,” she whispers, kissing her son’s head.

Isn’t that how it works though? One moment you don’t know if you’re in love, the next you are. The love was growing all along, the only difference was that you admitted it to yourself.

“Oh, I put some clothes for you in my old room,” Lennox says. “You can shower and warm up as well.”

“That would be wonderful, thank you.” I peel my partially frozen body off the pool chair and walk back to the house.

Folded neatly on her bed is a maroon sweater and white jeans. It’s the perfect Thanksgiving outfit.

I brush out my hair, studying myself in the mirror. I’ve never seen that smile on my face before. But I know it can’t stay.

Chapter 26

Trent

IfIdidn’tknowbetter, I’d think Karli was only here for my family and not me.

Maybe that’s the problem. I don’t know better. I shouldn’t be questioning her motives after witnessing her mother’s, well,motherlessness. Karli clearly wants people in her life. But does she wantme? She’s so happy here, and I pray I’m part of the reason for it.

I just need to find a moment alone with her to ask.

But it’s been next to impossible. She’s spoken to every member of my family at length, asking questions much like she did with me on the way home.

Is it stupid I’m jealous about that?

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