Asher does landscaping after school and on weekends plus he gets an allowance from his parents just for existing. I think it’s ridiculous, but I don’t know what it’s like to come from a wealthy family so I keep my mouth shut about it. So, I guess we could afford an apartment. My mom will probably have a shit fit that her oldest baby is moving out, but she’ll still have my brothers and sister living there so she won’t be dealing with empty nest syndrome yet.

“Do I get my own room?” I ask. “Because I’m not sleeping on the couch every night. I don’t want my face where your ass has been sitting.”

“Of course you get a room. I’ll take you over there tomorrow so you can see it. There’s actually a loft upstairs, so you’ll be on your own floor with lots of privacy. You know, in case you ever actually date someone.” He hints, punching my arm.

“Worry about your own dick. Mine is fine.”

That’s a bunch of crap, though. My best friend is getting married and has a baby who is almost two years old and I haven’t even gotten laid yet. Even though meeting Ember totally accelerated Asher’s life plan, from where I’m sitting, he’s got everything.

Kenzi

Being back home is bittersweet, and I feel this way every time I come home from visiting Maine. When I’m there, I miss everyone here, but then when I come back home, I miss Aunt Katherine and the peacefulness of the Inn. Before I left, she had a long talk with me and asked me to come live with her and work at the Inn. The thought is very tempting. I just don’t know if I’m ready to leave my father, or be that far away from Tor.

My bedroom feels empty without Snuggles in her spot by the window that she spent twelve years inhabiting. I’m grateful my father cleaned her cage and put it in the basement so I wouldn’t have to see it, so barren without her, as soon as I got home.

There was a tiny black organza bag on my nightstand when I got home, and inside it was a small tuft of her fur.

Underneath it I found a handwritten note:

I thought you might want to have this to remember her.

Love forever & longer,

Tor

Today I read the note again, my heart bursting with even more love for him over the incredibly thoughtful and sweet things he always does for me. I don’t even think that Tor tries to be this way; it just comes naturally for him.

I can’t help but wonder if he did things like this for Sydni. Or Lisa. Or are these gestures and sentiments only for me due to our long history? As selfish as it seems, I want this side of him to be only for me. Reserved for me alone and no one else.

I didn’t text Tor last night when I got home because I spent hours sitting with my father on the patio talking about everything we missed in each other’s lives over the past two months. At one point, he went inside to get a cold drink and came back with three gift-wrapped boxes for me, all in pink paper with silver bows.

“Dad, you didn’t have to get me gifts.”

“Don’t be crazy,” he leans down and kisses the top of my head before taking his seat across from me. “I can’t believe you’re eighteen. That blows my mind, baby. It feels like just yesterday we brought you home and had no idea what to do with you.”

I smile at him as I open the largest box. “You did great, Dad. I made it to eighteen without ever smoking pot, getting drunk, or getting pregnant. And I’m pretty sure I’ve never told you to go screw yourself. So, job well done.”

“When you put it that way, I feel like the best father on the planet.”

“To me you are.”

Pushing the white tissue paper aside, I pull out a charcoal sketch of Snuggles on canvas. My hand flies to my mouth as I choke back tears.

“Daddy…oh my God. It’s my Snuggles. This means so much to me.” In the lower right corner is the signature of my uncle Lukas, and that just makes this even more special. Lukas is an amazing artist.

“I didn’t have any pictures of her so Lukas had to draw her from his memory. I hope it’s okay. He said he can fix anything that you’d like changed, or he can start over with a new one.”

“No.” I reply quickly, taking in all the details of the incredibly realistic drawing. Lukas captured her exactly and I wouldn’t change a thing. “It’s absolutely perfect. I’m going to have to call him and thank him.”

“Actually he’ll be here tomorrow night for your bonfire birthday get-together, so you can thank him in person.”