Page 44 of You Met Me There

And poor Dad. I know what he felt, what he had to go through to wait. I’ve always loved my dad, but I have a newfound respect for him after Mom’s story.

“I didn’t know any of that,” I say, resting my elbows on the table and putting my chin in my hands. “Thanks for telling me, Mom.”

Mom studies me, and for a second I fear she’s going to ask me why I’m so interested in what she’s told me. Does she suspect Luke and I are having problems? Can she see through my colorful outer shell to the murky struggles beneath the surface? Does she hear the stress in my voice—the kind she and Dad felt when they chose to not have kids sooner?

But she doesn’t ask me that. Instead, she looks back at Cam and Levi in the backyard.

“Not everyone’s story is the same,” she says. “Your sister got pregnant right after their wedding, and Tyler isn’t even married yet at all, even though he’s the oldest. He has a long-standing girlfriend, Sandra, but we’re still waiting for him to pop the question.” She rolls her eyes. “Not sure what the hold up is.”

Mom stands, and at that moment Jules enters from the back door, wearing navy blue scrubs and sneakers.

Jules sees me and gives a weak smile. She beams at Mom. “Hi.”

“Hi, honey.” Mom gives her a hug. “How was work?”

“It was great. Thanks for watching the boys. Are you ready for lunch?”

“I’ll help you get it ready,” Mom says. They walk into the kitchen together.

I close my laptop and step up to the counter. “Can I help with anything?” I look around expectantly, waiting for Jules to give me a job as they prepare lunch.

Over the past few days, I’ve spent a lot of time at Juliet’s house—mostly with Mom and Dad—but Jules hasn’t let me help out with anything. The other day I offered to sweep up a mess of cracker crumbs that the boys left behind. She told me not to bother with it and then swept it up herself while simultaneously preparing dinner. When I suggested that I do the dishes after lunch yesterday, she said she didn’t want me to do any work in her house because it was her job.

I understand a hostess not wanting her guests to clean, but I’m her sister. And doing a few dishes and sweeping some crumbs isn’t a big deal.

She runs water over her hands in the sink. “No, Mom and I’ve got it. Thanks, though.”

I sit back at the table with a huff, doomed to be forever on my sister’s bad side and wondering what I can do to change that.

Chapter 24

Natalie

The next few days roll by like typical summer days do. The humidity makes my hair limp and damp, and it sticks to my neck, making me itch. But the scents of trees and flowers fill my senses as my pink sneakers crunch along the dirt path.

I swipe my fingers across my neck for the fifteenth time, wiping away a drop of sweat before it can trickle down between my boobs. Is there anything less attractive than boob sweat? I think not. Luke runs on ahead of me, seemingly unfazed by the heat of the day or the roots climbing across the trail. The sneaky little things keep tripping me. I’m not sure how I haven’t hit the ground yet.

Luke notices my rapidly waning pace and slows to a jog, allowing me to catch up. I use a sudden jolt of energy to jog up beside him. He’s smiling, sweat-slicked hair and all.

“You doin’ okay?” he asks, his voice so steady you’d think he wasn’t even moving. His smile annoys me this morning.

“I’m fine,” I wheeze. “I’m just not a runner. You know that.”

“Let’s stop for a minute.”

I shake my head, still trying to jog next to him. “No. I can make it. We’re almost there.”

“No, we’re not.”

My head whips around. “We’re not?”

His laugh would usually stir up little butterflies in my tummy. But not this time.

“What do you mean we’re not almost there?” I stop jogging, folding over at the waist with my hands on my knees. I pant like a dog. Why did I agree to run with him today?

Luke stops two steps ahead of me. “Sorry, I got distracted looking at the scenery and missed the turn back there.”

I stare at him with big bugged-out eyes. He has the decency to look slightly ashamed.