Total pages in book: 49
Estimated words: 45194 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 226(@200wpm)___ 181(@250wpm)___ 151(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 45194 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 226(@200wpm)___ 181(@250wpm)___ 151(@300wpm)
Honor places her hand lightly on Lyle’s chest and gives him a quick kiss. Then she moves to Kylian’s bench and snuggles up next to him. She does this a lot, rotating between the three of us. Keeping us all close.
None of us mind.
“I love it out here,” she says again. “It’s perfect.”
“It is,” I agree, gathering my thoughts. “I like it inside now that Dick-Ass is gone, but those rooms hold many memories, both good and bad. This gazebo is like a fresh start with only positive associations.”
Lyle nods. “I always liked it best out in the garden, too.” He smiles at Honor. “Maybe because you were often out here.”
There’s a companionable silence for a few minutes. The crisp night air feels good. Then I get the ball rolling. “Anyone want a drink?”
Three voices respond in the affirmative. “Do you want me to go get them?” Honor asks.
Our usual routine is to bring drinks out here with us. Lyle likes a good Scotch, Ky prefers whiskey, and Honor usually drinks white wine. My drink of choice is bourbon, but tonight we’re not having any of those.
Lyle grins and reaches into a sack at his feet. “Nope. We’re having champagne—to celebrate your big day tomorrow.” He pulls out a bottle of Cristal and opens it with a flourish.
I produce a tray of glasses I’d kept hidden from her, and Lyle pours. Meanwhile, Honor’s beaming. “You guys didn’t have to do this.”
Ky squeezes her shoulders. “It’s not every day we send our girl off to college.” He looks completely relaxed with his arm around her. It wasn’t until our father was out of our lives that I realized how tightly wound Ky used to be. Even when he was projecting an easy-going confidence, his shoulders and jaw were always tense.
He isn’t like that anymore, and we have Honor to thank for that. I give her a big kiss before handing her a glass of bubbly.
“To the best damn student, Loyola University will ever see,” I say as I raise my glass. Honor blushes in protest, but she’s smiling, too. We clink our glasses together before drinking. When I settle back on my bench, Honor sits next to me. I’m glad she’s decided it’s my turn.
“I’ll just be happy if I pass all my classes,” she says as she leans against me.
“You will,” I assure her.
But she’s still doubtful. “I wasn’t the best student in high school.”
“That wasn’t your fault,” Lyle cuts in. “You worked weekends and after school until late in the evening. You barely had any time to study.”
I hadn’t known that, but it makes sense. The salary of a single parent doesn’t go very far in the Chicago area. I vow to ask Honor more about it sometime, but I’m pleased that she’s shared that story with Lyle. Those two confide everything to each other, just like when they were kids.
“We got you something for tomorrow,” I say.
Honor gives me a mock glare and a light smack on my arm. “You guys have to stop doing that. You already got me a new car, a phone, and this gazebo.” She gestures as she says that last part, and champagne flies out of her glass. Lyle moves to refill it, but I frown, and he only gives her a little more. The last thing Honor needs is a hangover for her first day of classes.
“Close your eyes,” I tell her, and she does so with an excited smile. I retrieve the box I’d put just outside the gazebo. Despite the heat lamp and the twinkling lights lining the roof, it’s still pretty dark, making it easy to conceal surprises. I place her present on her lap. “You can open them.”
Honor squeals. “You got me a backpack!”
“Every good student needs one,” Lyle says. Though probably not every new student gets one that’s made out of leather and costs hundreds of dollars.
Honor has already opened the bag and is happily examining the contents. “There’s a pencil case. And a notebook. And a spare charger. I love it!” She smiles up at me as she places her hand on my thigh.
“That’s all standard-issue,” I tell her. “But we each picked out something special you can put in it. Here’s mine.” I hand her a rose-gold water bottle and give her a quick kiss. “So you can stay hydrated while you study.”
“Thank you. I love the color.”
Kylian stands up and gives her a white box.
“Noise-canceling headphones!” she exclaims when she opens it.
“So that you can study at the library,” he says.
Honor grins up at him. “I would’ve thought you’d get me something dirty.”
He smirks. “I may have—you’ll find out tomorrow night after you get home.”
She giggles as she tries on the headphones. “These feel good.”
“They look good on you, too,” Ky says once as she slides them off. “Though, for the record, I prefer covering your eyes.”