Page 105 of Always Love You More

I don’t ask him where Sasha went. Instead, I just keep walking, Sam’s hand in mine.

My father stops, and I look over at him, confused.

“Well?” he asks. “Do you like it?”

I glance around. I don’t want to question him in front of everyone, but I have no idea what he’s talking about.

“Like what?”

“Your new car.”

I pull my head back. “My what?”

He sweeps his hand out, motioning to his black 1970 Dodge Challenger.

No, he’s not saying…

I look over at my mother, and she’s nodding emphatically.

“It’s yours,” my father says.

Sam squeezes my hand, and Billy lets out a whoop of excitement. But I just stand there, frozen.

Waiting for him to take it back.

To start laughing and tell me he’s just kidding.

But he doesn’t.

He pulls the keys from his pocket and dangles them in front of me.

I let go of Sam’s hand and step forward, reaching for them.

He drops the keys into my open palm and says, “One year late, but better than never. Happy seventeenth, kid.”

I close my fist around them. “I don’t …” I don’t know what to say. “Thank you.”

He smiles, and I know it’s a real one because his eyes crinkle. Then, taking a step forward, he pulls me into a one-armed hug, using his other hand to slap my back affectionately. “I don’t tell you this enough,” he says to me quietly, “but I’m proud of you.”

My chest tightens at his words, not knowing what to do with them.

He steps back, and my mother takes his place. She wraps her arms around me and says against my chest, “Love you, honey.”

I don’t know what to do with her words, either.

I must take longer than the standard time to say them back because she breaks the hug and looks up at me. “Jameson,” she prompts.

I push the words out. “Love you, too.”

“So,” Billy cuts in, like he can sense my inner turmoil, “we gonna take her for a spin?”

I glance over at Sam. “You want to go for a ride, baby?”

“I want to go anywhere you’re going,” she answers, her words hitting me right in the chest.

“Wait,” Luke says, stepping in front of me. “I’ve got something for you.” He tilts his head. “It’s in the office.”

“Now?” I ask, and he nods. I search for my father and find him talking to Marcus. “All right, yeah,” I tell Luke.