Page 42 of Here's to Yesterday

Tucker’s eyes shift to Joey as she pulls away, and they light up brighter thannormal.

“You ready for my gift, bug?” he asksher.

She darts over to him and holds her small hands out. Before placing his gift in them, Tucker grabs hold of them and stares her directly in hereyes.

“Now, you know Ialwaysbring you a new ladybug, right? And you put them all on your bug shelf?” Joey nods, her raven-colored hair bouncing. “Well, this time I got you something that you get to keep onyouat alltimes.”

Joey is trying to contain her excitement, but I can practically feel her vibrating over here. It’s soprecious.

Dropping a hand, Tucker leans back and retrieves a small black box from his pocket with a name on it that means so much more than her eight-year-old mind can grasp. Then he leans forward and whispers in her ear. I watch as she nods several times. Before she sees the gift, she wraps her arms around him. He returns the hug and squeezes his eyes shuttight.

“I love you, Uncle Tuck,” Joey says softly, and Tucker hugs hertighter.

“I think my heart just stopped,” I hear Rae sayquietly.

Minetoo.

“Join the club,” Hudson responds, swiping at hischeeks.

Rae must say something next to him, because his head whips around and he scoffs ather.

When Joey finally opens the box, her squeal is loud and rightfully so. Because inside that velvet black box sits the most beautiful pair of gold ladybug earrings I have everseen.

Joey jumps up and down and shouts, “Thank you, thank you, thank you! Eeeek! Ilovethem!”

“Yeah? Good thing. Don’t lose them,okay?”

“Scout’s honor!” Joeysays.

Tucker laughs lightly. “Were you even aScout?”

And Joey, not knowing exactly what that means, leans forward and whispers, “I’ve been one mywholelife, UncleTuck.”

All the adults—and I use that term loosely—laugh, and it causes the kids to giggle along, which is adorable since they have no clue what they are laughingover.

“Sure do got a cute kid, Hudson. Can’t say the same for you,” Raesays.

“Okay, lady. What is your deal today?” Hudson asksloudly.

Rae crosses her arms over her chest and huffs, “You. You’re mydeal.”

“And what exactly did Ido?”

She narrows her eyes and points an accusing finger at him. “Youknow.”

I look to Tucker, Gaige, and Perry to make sure I’m not the only one trying hard to hold in my laughter. I’mnot.

I realize then how much I miss Haley, who is missing from the group. Guess she and Rae haven’t finished patching things up yet. Last I heard they had started talking, but they still aren’t as close as they used to be. Not since she found out Haley was keeping a massive secret from her regarding their mother. Rae’s angry, and I don’t blame her one bit forthat.

I glance up in time to catch Hudson rolling his eyes at her for the second timetoday.

“You know, I was gonna ask your crazy ass to move in with me today, but now I’m not sosure.”

Rae freezes up. “You want me to live with you? A brownie stealer? Not in thislifetime!”

“That’swhat this is about?” Hudson slaps his hand over his mouth and tries hard not to laugh at Rae, who is now shaking her head at him. He snickers and says, “I’ll go make you more if it gets you to stop being mad atme.”

“Now?” sheasks.

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