“Maybe both?”
“That’s just fine too. Come on and have a seat.” She patted the bar stool at the island as she made her way to the counter.
I took a seat, watching her back as she filled the sangria glasses she’d already set out in preparation, and probably freshly hand washed, too. Because, you know, dust. She was just sort of together that way.
Dad sat down next to me.
“You want one too, Luke?” she asked and moved her curly black hair out of her face.
“Well, I don’t want to get left out,” he said with a smirk.
She smiled over her shoulder and finished pouring drinks, put them all on a tray with the cookies, and set them between all of us. She took one and leaned on the counter.
“So, tell us the story, Mags.” She took a bite of her cookie, big blue eyes watching me.
I took a drink first, then set down my glass again with my eyes on an orange slice suspended in the sweet wine. “I sorta ruined everything.”
“How do you figure?” Dad took a drink.
“Well …” I had no idea how to broach it. I shook my head. “I ran away from here to hide in New York. But I only just realized that I can’t run away from something that’s inside of me.”
“Ah,” Mom said knowingly. “Jimmy?”
“Partly. That’s the biggest part of it, I suppose. But then … I was seeing someone.”
Mom made a disapproving face.
“I know. That’s not even the worst of it.” I picked up my drink. “I was seeing Cooper Moore.” That ice-cold wine felt good going down. I felt like I needed the whole pitcher to normalize.
Dad’s brow dropped. “Pretty little rich boy, Cooper Moore? The one who won’t settle down?”
I sighed. “The very one.”
He shook his head. “No wonder you didn’t want me to talk to West.”
I slumped a little in my seat. “We tried to keep it from him, but he found out last night. I’d already ended things with Cooper. I mean, the timing was all wrong. Everything was all wrong. And then it blew up in my face. West is mad at us, even Lily because she knew. Cooper’s hurt. I’m confused. I ruined everything. It just got so complicated, and I couldn’t stay.”
Mom watched me, adding gently. “But that’s life, Maggie. It’s sticky and ugly and complicated. If you keep running away, you’ll never find your place.”
“I know.”
“What does any of that have to do with Jimmy?” she asked.
“He sent me a box of things, keepsakes, old pictures. My engagement ring. A letter. And there was no hiding from myself anymore. I just … I broke down, and I’ve been swinging like a pendulum ever since. I thought time would help, but after last night … I couldn’t stay. If it weren’t for me, none of them would be hurt.”
Dad’s lips were flat. “That son of a bitch. He’s done enough to hurt you, but he still keeps coming around like the goddamn tomcat he is, howlin’ at the back door.”
Mom gave him a look before turning to me. She handed me a cookie, which I accepted gratefully. I took a bite as she spoke. “Have you talked to Jimmy since you got the package?”
I shook my head and swallowed. “He texted me, but I hadn’t decided how to handle him.”
Dad gestured with his glass. “I’ll handle him.” He took a long sip.
“Oh, for goodness sake, Luke.” Mom rolled her eyes. “Well, now you’re here, so you have a whole new set of options when it comes to him. Think you might want to see him?”
“I don’t want to see him, no. But I might need to. I just don’t know if I’m ready yet.”
“Honey, you might not ever be ready. Doesn’t seem like you can afford to wait all that much longer.”
I took another bite of my cookie, knowing she was right.
“Do you think you might stay for good?” she asked and ate the last bite of her cookie.
“I honestly don’t know. I just knew I needed to get out of everyone’s hair because I was all tangled up in it. Scissors were the only way out.”
She dusted off her hands over the tray. “Well, your brother won’t be mad at you forever. In fact, he’s probably less mad at you than he is Cooper.”
“Oh, he’s plenty mad at Cooper — West nailed him in the face last night.”
Mom snickered. “Of course he did. It’s genetic. You should have seen your father when we were younger. Did you know he bloodied my prom date’s nose?”
Dad frowned and pointed at her. “First off, you should have been at prom with me, and not Brad Wellington.”
She waved him off. “I went home with you, didn’t I?”
But Dad kept going. “Secondly, he was trying to Hoover your face on the dance floor, and I couldn’t stand for that. You deserve better than to get mauled by that trout in the middle of a high school gym.”
She gestured to him, giving me a look. “See what I mean?”
I chuckled and shook my head. “West is just so mad at all of us. Lily kept it from him because I asked her to. I shouldn’t have put her in that position. I shouldn’t have ever started seeing Cooper at all.”
Mom shook her head. “Lily made her own choice, and I promise, West won’t be mad at her for long either. You know he sees reason once he’s finished seeing red. As for Cooper … well, I don’t know what to tell you there.”
I felt like a deflated balloon. “There’s nothing to decide, not right now. I need to talk to West. I need to regroup. Lily said I need closure with Jimmy. So I’ve got to figure out how to chase that down.”
“If he finds out you’re here, you know he’ll be over here in a heartbeat. Do you still want Dad to keep him away, or should we let him come?”
Dad looked thrilled. “Oh, please tell me you don’t want him around.”
I squirmed in my seat. “Can we decide if the time comes?”
“Of course,” Mom answered.
I let out a breath. “All right.”
“Well,” she straightened up and smiled. “Daddy put ribs in the smoker, and I made peach cobbler, so we’ll get you fed. If nothing else, your stomach will be happy.”
“I will gladly eat my feelings for a few days.”
“Good.” She chuckled, her eyes soft. “Maggie, all of this is temporary. You’ll feel better being alone, but your problems won’t go away. They’ve got a knack for sneaking in when you’re not looking to knock you on your ass. So take all the time you need, but don’t hide anymore.”
“All right.”
She searched my face. “We just want you to be whole again, baby.”
My nose burned. “Thanks, Mom.”
“You’re welcome. Want some help with your suitcase? I think I heard your dad volunteer.”
Dad snorted and made to get up.
I waved them off and slid off my stool. “Nah, I can get it. Thanks though. I’ll go get unpacked.”
They watched me leave, and I felt their worry and sadness, veiled by their warmth and humor. I climbed the stairs with my suitcase, walked into the room where I’d spent my childhood, the twin bed and posters, my vintage Barbie collection along the high shelf that ran around my room. I sat down in the bay window seat and looked out into the yard.
Up in my room, I felt safe again, as if being within those walls erased my problems, exempted me from grown-up responsibility.
I only wished it were true.
Cooper
The room was almost completely dark, and I sat in the leather chair where I’d been for … I didn’t know how long. I was unshaven, still in the clothes I’d slept in, scotch in my hand and an empty bottle on the ground next to me, my chair turned to face the print of Gambit and Rogue’s first kiss.
Their story was bittersweet. Rogue could never be with Gambit — not without killing him. Touching him would drain his life, his memories, his power. Kissing him would kill him. But he loved her all the same, even though he’d never really understood love before. He needed her. And when he thought the world was ending, he did the one thing — the only thing — he’d ever wanted to do.