Page 32 of The Last Special Thing

Relief flashed on Weston’s face, and he offered Lauren a small smile.

“Happy to be here, Mrs. Cox,” Madisson stood for a hug. Amelia was pretty sure Madisson hugged her mom more than she did.

“The pool is warmed if anyone wants to take a dip this afternoon,” Lauren suggested.

“Yeah, we’ll probably do that,” Amelia said.

“Well, okay then. Let me know if you need anything.”

“Great to see you, Mrs. Cox,” Weston said.

Lauren put her hand on her chest. “You’re welcome anytime, Weston.”

She closed the door and walked toward the main house. When she was out of sight, Amelia snapped her head toward Weston. “Are you serious?”

“It was great to see her. Your mom’s really nice.”

Amelia tried not to roll her eyes at Lauren and Weston’s mutual obsession. Apparently, Lauren had no trouble overlooking that he had broken her daughter’s heart, and Weston conveniently forgot all the times that Lauren made her feel like shit about herself.

—

They spent the rest of the afternoon letting the shows run while they envisioned what their college lives would be like, only two months away. Periodically, they would venture to the pool and dip their feet into the salted water. It was warm as Lauren promised.

When the day turned to dusk, Madisson’s phone lit up.

“Hello,” Madisson drawled, cradling it between her ear and shoulder.

Amelia strained to listen, hearing a man’s slow voice.

Max. She shouldn’t have been annoyed. She had a full day with Madisson, which hadn’t happened since graduation, but she still wasn’t ready to say goodbye.

“I’m with Amelia and Weston.”

Pause.

“Yeah, Babe, I’ll ask them and get back to you.”

She hung up after a few minutes of shameless flirting.

“Do you guys want to hang out at Max’s?” she asked.

“That’s cool.” Weston moved off the chair.

Amelia couldn’t hear beyond her own heart pounding in her chest. “No.”

“Why not?” Weston turned toward her.

Her mind raced with an excuse to avoid Art and Weston at the same place.

“I have plans with my mom,” she lied.

Madisson pulled her shoulders back, seemingly realizing the situation she had put them in. “Oh yeah, didn’t you have that play together?” Madisson pushed her lips together.

“Fiddler on the Roof finished last night,” Weston studied her.

Now was not the time for their parents to be on the season pass holders to the same theater.

“There’s more than one theater in the world,” Amelia said.