Chasing the Stars by Melanie Hooyenga

Chasing the Stars by Melanie Hooyenga

Author:Melanie Hooyenga [Hooyenga, Melanie]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Left-Handed Mitten Publications


14

Hunter

The car stops, jerking me from a dream. We were back in the water at Antelope Island, but instead of wrestling with Mel in the water, Naomi was the one in my arms.

The same Naomi who’s now looking at me with a mix of amusement and apprehension on her face. “Have a nice nap?”

You have no idea. “Yeah.” I lean forward, grateful for the towel in my lap because otherwise she’d be less amused and more horrified.

Mel and Theo are both passed out in the backseat, and the front seats are empty.

“Where are we?”

“Just outside the campground. The moms are grabbing a treat for tonight.”

“In-treating,” I say, and immediately regret it. Why why why with the dad jokes? Even Dad doesn’t tell jokes this bad.

Her brows raise. “That was bad.”

“I know. I’m sorry. I don’t know where they come from.”

“It’s endearing.” Her gaze drops to her lap, the smile going with it. “My dad was big on jokes like that. He said it was a requirement to get through the day with twins.”

The shift in emotions catches me off guard. “He’s not anymore?”

“We don’t really hear from him much. Mom got full custody and we see him on random holidays and all that, but it’s not the same, you know?”

I nod. I know exactly what she means. And ever since she brought up that their divorce might be why I’m anti-relationship, I can’t help but wonder if she’s right. That it’s more than not wanting to repeat their mistakes. If being dedicated to school and my future are just an excuse, when really I’m afraid of putting myself out there for another person since I’ve seen firsthand what it’s done to Mom and Dad.

Naomi sighs. “Now when we’re together it’s like he’s trying to cram in all the things he’s missed and we never get to that level of just hanging out and being silly.”

I toss the towel on the floor, the need for it gone. “It was kind of the same with us. He was gone for work a lot the last couple years and I was twelve when he left for good. Mel barely remembers a time when it wasn’t just the three of us.”

“Hello, formative years.” Her smile is gentle, like she’s not sure if she should tease, but I appreciate her attempt to lighten the mood.

I glance in the backseat. With her eyes closed, Mel looks like the little sister who waved goodbye when they dropped me off at Berkeley and I’m gripped by a determination to help her with whatever’s going on.

“Yeah. It wasn’t the best. But we got through it. Mom needed help with Mel, and I became the man of the house. Mom worries she forced me to grow up too fast, that I forgot how to have fun, but I don’t think that’s true.” My heart pounds at the admission. I’ve never said this to Darren or Shawna, and certainly not to my friends back home. But Naomi doesn’t judge me, she listens.



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