Page 69 of In Love with Lewis Prescott
“Come on now, none of that.” He pats my hand. I focus on the way his skin crinkles with the movement, like crepe paper. “You have your own life to live. I don’t expect you to put it on hold just because I felt a little under the weather.”
I fight the urge to explain that at his age, pneumonia isn’t just some minor ailment.
“Besides, I’ve got your dad and mom to help look after me. I couldn’t ask for a better setup than this.”
“I know you miss living in your old apartment on your own.”
He shrugs. “Sometimes. But I like being so close to family.”
I give his hand a squeeze. “ApongVivian would be pissed if we let anything happen to her little brother. That’s why we take such good care of you.”
His carob-brown eyes glisten. They’re the same color asApongVivian’s, the same color as Dad’s, the same color as mine.
He blinks and smiles. “You’re doing a heck of a job,anak.”
He glances over at Lewis, who’s slicing veggies for the salad as he listens to Mom chattering away.
“So he’s doing a good job on the house then? And with you?”
I laugh and shake my head. “An amazing job. I have no idea how I stumbled upon someone so good.”
“Sometimes it just happens like that. When you least expect it, someone comes into your life and makes you feel happier than you’ve ever been,” Uncle Pedro says.
“It’s kind of fast,” I admit, careful to keep my voice low so only he can hear me. “We’ve only known each other a couple of months.”
He shrugs like it’s no big deal. “There’s no set time for stuff like this. You just have to go with your gut, go with how you feel—how he makes you feel.”
He nods at Lewis, who catches eyes with me and winks before turning his attention back to Mom. My stomach flips.
“He makes me feel so happy. Happier than I’ve ever felt.” This is the first time I’ve said it out loud.
The crinkled corners of Uncle Pedro’s mouth hook up in an amused smile. “Then I’d say he’s a keeper. Plus, he’s tall. Think of all the things in the house he could reach for you.”
I burst out laughing as Dad strolls back into the kitchen, now dressed in jeans and a 49ers hoodie.
He pecks Mom on the lips and frowns at Lewis. “You’re not charming my wife too much, are you, Lewis?”
Lewis shakes his head, stepping away from Mom and holding up a hand. “I wouldn’t dare, sir.”
Mom lightly smacks Dad’s hand as she scolds him good-naturedly. I laugh to myself at the sight of Lewis acquiescing to my dad, who’s half his size.
Lewis carries the massive casserole tray of bacon mac and cheese to the table. He sits down next to me and winks as he serves me some of the salad he made.
“I think we should do a toast!” Mom announces, glass of white wine in hand.
Dad sips from his beer bottle before holding it up. The rest of us join in and raise our glasses.
“To Harper and Lewis, for the amazing job they’re doing on the Ellorza family house.”
Dad nods along with Mom’s toast. “Yes. Beautiful job, you two. We can’t wait to see the finished product.”
“And!” Mom’s voice hitches up. “To finding romance in the most special place.”
A flustered grin spreads across Lewis’s face that I bet looks a lot like the one I’m sporting.
“Cheers!”
After we clink our glasses and sip our drinks, Mom scoops a mountain of mac and cheese onto Lewis’s plate. He mumbles a thank-you.
