Page 39 of Spring Break with a Bass Player
“Well, I guess you’re just full of surprises today, aren’t you?”
“Surprisesarefun,” she muses, “but I can think of something I’d rather be full of…”
“Yup,” I exclaim, jumping up from the bench and taking her hand, “you’re taking the rest of the day off.”
“I have work to do still,” she says with a laugh.
“Yeah, well, I’ll write you a note. Saige Reiser has to report to Band Camp immediately.”
“Clever.”
“Mm-hmm. Now let’s go home so I can love the hell out of you.”
“Lead the way.”
25
BRIDGER
“Ithink I found you a house,” Saige tells my parents as we all gather in my living room— myformerliving room. My sister leans against the back of the couch as Corbin sits on one of the barstools, his foot bouncing on the rung.
“Really? Where?” Mom says, her face brightening.
Saige nods, her eyes darting to mine for reassurance, and I can’t help but smile because I can’t believe it either. Two days ago, we’d been sitting on a bench in the middle of the afternoon and now we’re about to jump headfirst into this new phase of our lives.
“Here,” I tell them simply.
“What? Where will you go?”
“Are you moving in together?”
“When did you decide this?”
Holding up my hands, I laugh, completely unable to separate the onslaught of questions that are fired at us.
“I’m moving in with Saige.” Looking at my best friend, I add, “If she gets sick of me though, I call dibs on your couch.”
Corbin laughs and reaches out his hand. “You know it, but I don’t think you’ll need it.” Pulling me in for a one-armed hug, he adds, “I’m happy for you, man.”
“Are you sure?” my mother asks Saige. “We don’t want you guys to rush?—”
“It’s what we want. And we’re excited to have our family close. My parents live up north and they travel a lot, but my cousin lives here with his daughter and girlfriend and I’d love to settle down and enjoy having y’all here.”
My mom is now full-on crying as she hugs Saige, and I have to blink back the tears too because seeing my girl like this is like the sun coming out after a rainstorm. It’s beautiful and welcome and unexpected, and I’m so thankful to be a part of it.
“Since we’re sharing good news,” my sister says, a bright smile plastered on her face that doesn’t reach her eyes, “I accepted a temp job up in Vermont for the next few months.”
“I thought you were doing that remote thing?” our father says, his brow furrowed.
“I am, but this is a little different—more of a challenge and they need me on site while they get up and running.”
“But you’ll be back?” I ask cautiously, careful not to look at Corbin as I do.
“Yes, I’ll be back after the summer,” she confirms as Saige pulls her into a hug.
“Well, congratulations. You’re going to kick ass.”
Lettie’s shoulders sag in relief, and it’s like we all jump into celebratory mode.
