“I see you’re still lying,” she grinned but I could tell she was happy to see me as well. I wanted to grab her hand and kiss it. I wanted to just touch her and be touched by her. Every time I felt her close to me, I felt even more alive.
“It’s good to see you.” I tried to let my words convey how much she meant to me.
“You too.” She nodded as we walked back to the living room, where Luke and Lexi were packing their suitcases.
“When do you start classes for your Vet program?” I didn’t want to end our conversation. I wanted to ask her what was new in her life. I wanted to find out if she is seeing anyone.
“Next semester. What about you? Have you decided what classes you’re going to take?”
“I’m going to take some classes online.” I smiled. “I’ll be working for Luke here in Jonesville, selling software and stuff. So I’m going to take some computer classes.”
“Oh, a regular family business, huh?” She laughs and I join her.
“Who knew, right?” I felt warm inside. It was warmth I don’t remember feeling since I was a young child. I looked at Luke as he packed and I felt an overwhelming sense of pride and joy. He was my little brother but he was soo much more than that. I felt like a better man just for knowing him.
“Hey Anna.” Lexi rushed over and gave her a big hug. “I’m so glad you made it.”
“Are you joking? I can’t miss my best friend’s big departure to Los Angeles.” She grinned but I could see sadness in her eyes. The same sadness I had felt inside but tried to hide. I knew that they were talking again but I knew they weren’t as close as they used to be. And that made me sad. I felt like I was responsible for ruining their friendship, even though Lexi told me that a fracture was inevitable. I was just the catalyst to the explosion that was already coming, she had said.
“You guys will have to come visit us.” Luke tried to prevent a tear fest from happening. “We got awesome housing at UCLA. Close to campus for me and close to the production company Lexi will be working at.”
“What will you be doing there, Lexi?” Anna asked her curiously. “I thought you were hoping to act.”
“I am,” Lexi grinned. “But I figure I should get some other skills as well, just in case I suck.” We all laughed at her words. I was sure she would make a great actress but I’m sure every other wannabe actress’s family felt the same thing.
“I can’t believe you guys are moving.” Anna bit her lip. “I can’t believe you’re not going to MIT either, Luke.”
“I tried to convince him,” Lexi groaned. “But he had already applied to UCLA.”
“They had a great program.” He grinned. “And I knew you wanted to go to Los Angeles.”
“But we weren’t even a couple when you applied.” Lexi shook her head.
“Maybe I’m psychic.” He grinned. “It was inevitable that we would be together.”
“I guess.” Lexi walked over to him and he pulled her in for a kiss.
“Maybe you can drive Shelby and me to visit them, now you have a car?” I laughed and changed the subject and Anna grinned at me.
“If you’re a good boy, I might just do that.” She smiled and, as our eyes meet, my heart jumped. All of a sudden I wished it were just us in the room. I wanted to ask her if she would give me another chance. I wanted to know if she thought that she could see herself as a mother to Shelby and as a wife to me. I wanted to ask her if she would make an honest man out of me. I felt that deep, guttural feeling in my stomach and I knew, without a doubt, what Luke has most probably known all his life about Lexi. I knew that Anna was the one for me. I knew that there was no second best. There was no other. She was my soul mate. She was my other half. I tried to hide a sigh, as I kept quiet. I had to go slow, I knew that. But I also knew that I would do everything in my power to win her heart.
“Aunty Anna, Aunty Anna.” Shelby ran into the room and threw herself into Anna’s arms. Bongo came running behind her and crashed into Anna and Shelby, and I watched as they fell to the side. I rushed over to grab both of them and I could feel Anna’s heart beating as I held her in my arms briefly.
“Thanks Bryce. You’re a regular knight in shining armor.”
“Anything for a damsel in distress.”
“You are silly, Papa.” Shelby laughed and patted Bongo’s head. “Naughty Bongo.”
“Do you remember how to get him to sit and roll-over, Shelby?” Anna bent down and smiled. “Do you remember what I taught you?”
Shelby nodded shyly and put her hand out. “Sit Bongo,” she whispered. Bongo looked up at his name and jumped up with his tongue hanging out.
Anna whispered to Shelby, “One more time.”
“Sit Bongo.” Shelby’s voice was firm and Bongo hesitated for a few seconds but then sat down. “Good boy, Bongo.” She grinned and patted his head.
“I did it, Aunty Anna.”
“Yes you did, wonderfully.”
“Maybe you’d like to come over to dinner next week, Anna, and help Shelby and me a bit more. Now we’re going to be his fulltime parents?” I asked her with my heart in my mouth.
“Sure. I’ll even bring some special treats.”
“Awesome.” I grinned and I couldn’t keep the excitement out of my voice. I didn’t want to work myself up too much, but I really thought that there could be something really special there between Anna and I.
“Bryce, I wanted to tell you something.” Anna walked over and looked at me with a serious expression on her face. “I don’t know if you remember a few months ago, when you asked me if I thought you would make a good dad or brother?”
“I remember.” I nodded.
“I wanted to tell you then that I wasn’t sure, but I hoped in my heart that you would.”
“You hoped I would?” I stared at her, confused.
“I hoped you would because I wanted you to prove my initial impression of you wrong.”
“And now?”
“And now you’ve far surpassed anything I could have ever dreamed of.” She smiled at me. “You’re a great father and a great brother.”
“And one day, maybe even a great husband.” I whispered softly and she gasped and her eyes lit up.
“Have you heard from your dad recently, Bryce?” Luke looked at me with a concerned expression and I shook my head in frustration, slightly upset that he had ruined my moment with Anna.