Page 126 of Elusion

Callie slides the folded-up papers, neatly tied with a blue ribbon, from my back pocket.

Connor unties and unfolds and scans them. His eyes bounce between her and the papers, confused. “So, he…”

“Graham’s parental rights are officially terminated,” she tells him. “He’ll never be our problem again.”

The papers fall to the ground when he grabs her, smashing her face into his chest. “So much better than a fucking car, Cal.”

She grunts and mumbles a response, but he only squeezes her tighter. Watching them, I put my arm around Felicia, the happy crier blubbering away next to me. I don’t blame her, though. All of us have worked so hard to leave that night behind us. To let it fade into distant memories. The chance to move on from Graham and close this chapter of their lives permanently makes the task a little less daunting. Callie said that, one day, Graham would just be someone she survived. The papers scattered at her feet represent how right she was.

They both wipe tears from their eyes after Connor releases her. He stares at her a second longer before he snatches up Cate and sprints across the street to check out his new car. The rest of our ragtag collection of chosen family members follow them, shouting over one another in their usual obnoxious fashion.

Alone with my girl, I slide my arms around her. “When are you going to tell Connor about petitioning for guardianship?” A topic we’ve been discussing a lot lately.

Her hands clasp behind my neck. “Not until I meet with Lauren next week.”

I resist the urge to roll my eyes at the mention of her mother. Lauren continues her party-girl lifestyle and shows little interest in her kids. Now that she has them full-time, she wants someone else to take care of them. Someone being Callie. Nothing like returning to school from summer break with two kids. But the potential alternatives aren’t an option. For either of us.

“She still wants to go through with it?” I ask. “Send them with you and write a check every month?”

She nods, a worried look in her eyes. “She wants to pay child support and see them every other weekend rather than be their mother. How do I tell them that?”

I rest my forehead on hers. “We’ll role-play later.”

Her eyebrows shoot up as she seriously misinterprets my comment.

“For how to tell them,” I say, grinning. “Jesus, Cal.”

She laughs, turning her attention toward the commotion across the street. Cate squeals while riding around on Johnny’s shoulders and using his hair as reins. Not wanting anyone to show them up, Tony squats down for Trey to crawl up on his shoulders. After a touch-and-go moment when he stands up, Tony takes off running. They don’t go far before Trey dives off and tackles Gavin to the ground. The entire group piles on top of them. It creates a mess of arms and legs and laughter in the middle of the road with Cate on the edge, ordering them to stop.

“I would like to make a formal request we get new friends. Less weird ones preferably.” I bury my face in her neck, her skin warm from the sun.

“What were you and Connor whispering about earlier?” She pulls away to study my face, looking for clues.

“You’ll find out soon enough.”

“In sixteen days?”

I shrug, not giving anything up. Surprising Callie requires a hell of a lot of stealth. And I will surprise her.

“I told you,” she says, a hint of irritation in her tone, “I don’t want you to do anything special for my birthday.”

“And I told you, we’re already past that. Mission Callie Turns Nineteen has commenced.”

“I thought we were done with missions.”

“Oh no, beautiful. We have plenty of them left.” I press my lips to hers. “Mission Second Grade Cate, Mission Connor Gets Bacne, Mission Let’s Have Babies, Mission—”

“Whoa, hold on.” The adorable, bewildered expression of a spooked Callie appears. “Mission Let’s Have Babies comes after Mission Jordan Marries Callie, and I’m certain that one’s not happening anytime soon.”

I tilt my head to the side. “You’recertain?”

She realizes her mistake and shakes her head. “Jordan. No.”

I smile.Far too late, beautiful.

“Don’t even think about say—”

“I accept your challenge.”