Lake Larson

I missed the rest of my week at school after I emailed Professor Lewis about not showing up. Every part of me wanted to ignore him for the rest of my life, but I still needed to finish my trimester after Thanksgiving. Luckily for me, that meant only two weeks. After thinking it through, I decided not to report him since my only witness was a man who sometimes showed up. Mr. Lewis was the professor, and I was a lovesick student.

"Nice," Ian's voice broke my thoughts as we pulled into my childhood home.

The driveway had a crack in the center since I was in middle school. An oak tree ready to fall over with the next windstorm. The older man next door had been trying to convince my mom to paint the house. Ian's expression dropped as his eyes bounced around every detail.

"What's wrong with it?" I huffed. "Sorry, my family home isn't a billion-dollar house." I giggled, shaking my head.

Ian's eyes widened as he shifted his body to face me. "No. I love it. I've always wanted to be ordinary. To be part of a happy, loving family."

I raised a brow. "Well, let's go meet my not-so-ordinary family."

I shifted to my backseat, grabbed my duffle bag, and exited the car. Ian followed behind me on the stone path with grass overgrowing it.

"Do you think they will see me?" Ian asked.

"I'm not sure."

I reached my hand to open the door, but the front door swung open quickly, banging against the wall inside. Red, fiery hair rushed into my arms as Alex jumped onto my torso, hanging onto me like a child.

"Yay!" Alex yelled. "You are here!"

She dropped from my arms, smirking at Ian. "Hey there, cutie," she flirted with a wink.

"Hey, Alex," he replied with a shy wave.

The door opened wider with my mom's palms out, looking for a hug. She had her dark hair pulled into a ponytail and an apron hanging from her hips.

"Mom," I said, hugging my arms around her.

"Happy Thanksgiving, hun," she replied, pulling back and looking at me. She glanced over my shoulder, fixing her gaze to my car and back to me. "No, Ian?"

Alex and I looked at each other. "Nope," I replied. "He had other plans."

Her expression dropped while she exhaled. "That's too bad. You seem to text about Ian a lot. I was looking forward to the man who stole my baby's heart."

My cheeks burned as I guided my mom inside. "Stop, Mom."

Alex laughed at my embarrassment. "Yes, Mrs. Larson, you—" She paused and glanced at Ian. "You really need to stop."

"Okay, changing the subject," I said, tossing my duffle bag on the steps that led upstairs. "Alex, are you staying for the feast?"

She shook her head. "Oh, no." Alex waved her hand. "Only here to say hello and drop off a new thermometer," she said as I followed her into the kitchen.

My sister Lily had her rear facing us as she pulled a large plate from the oven. Her dyed blonde hair fell forward as she set the dish on the counter and spun to shut the oven.

"Hey, do you need any help?" I asked.

Lily looked over with a bright smile and tossed off the oven mitts. "Yes," she said, fanning her face. "That would be amazing."

"Okay, let me bring my stuff up to my room, and I'll be back down to help," I said, crossing through the kitchen to the living room.

The television flashed in the darkroom while Paul and the two boys played a video game. A small stream of light shined through the closed curtains. They didn't notice me enter the room.

"Hey guys," I said over the loud music.

All three glanced up and waved like robots programmed to respond simultaneously and back to the game. With a short giggle, I glanced over my shoulder at Alex and Ian standing at the doorway into the kitchen. I walked around the dining table and used the side hallway, trailing back to the front foyer with the stairs.

Alex hung on the railing as I picked up my duffle bag from the steps. "I got to get going," she said, flipping her hair. "But see you tonight for ice skating, right?"

"Of course. An earthquake can't stop that tradition."

Alex skipped to the door, brushing her hand down Ian's front with her arm through his chest. "See ya tonight."

"Bye," I said with an attitude, prompting Alex to laugh and salute me before exiting the house.

Ian looked up from his bare feet at me. I smiled straight before rushing up the stairs. He jogged after me down the hallway to my bedroom. The walls were white with shelves of books. I shut my closet door when I saw it open with my summer clothes hanging inside.

"Nice," Ian said, grabbing a framed picture of Alex, Brandon, and me from the desk under the window.

I snagged it from him. "We were five," I said, looking at the boy's haircut my sister cut for me.

Quickly setting the picture face down on the desk, I tossed my duffle bag on the twin bed.

"So, your mom," Ian said, causing me to shake my head. "She's nice."

I laughed, sitting on my bed. "No, my mom's embarrassing."

He crossed the room before me, brushing his fingers over the dusty bookshelf. "I like your mom."

I brought my hands together, praying. "Please don't read into my mother's comment."

"Oh, no." Ian spun to smirk at me. "I mean, I stole your heart," he said, placing his palm on his chest.

I kept my gaze on him with a blank expression. What had my mother gotten me into? I smiled, tilted my head, and left the room. Ian's laughter followed me into the hallway as I ran down the stairs back to the kitchen.

"What do you need me to do?" I asked, stumbling in the doorway.

Lily glanced at me with confusion. "I guess the green bean casserole. Do you know how to make that?"

I pointed at her. "Of course."

Lily licked her fingers before walking to the sink and washing her hands. I leaned against the counter beside her, waiting for the water. My mother strolled into the kitchen with a few wine glasses.

"I set the table, but these need a little rinse," my mom said, squeezing between Lily and me, stealing the water.

I peeked at Ian as he leaned against the wall, out of the way. Picking at my hands, I focused back on Lily.

"Where's my favorite niece, Sofia?" I awkwardly asked, so Ian knew who I asked about.

"She's playing with the neighbor girl," Lily said, stepping away from the sink.

I placed my hands in the water before using the lavender soap. "Fun," I replied, shaking my hands and grabbing the cans of green beans from the counter.

Lily walked near Ian, standing before him as she fanned herself from the heat in the kitchen. She walked straight through him to the front door and opened it. Ian held up his hands and stepped away into the living room.

"How is school, hun?" my mom asked, handing me more ingredients.

"Great," I instantly said, but backtracked. "Well, kinda."

Lily walked to the entry, leaning on the wall. "What does that mean?"

My cheeks burned on telling them what happened in class. "My professor for bio came onto me last week. I missed half the week after because I didn't want to face him."

Lily frowned at the ground as she pretended to puke. "What a pig." Lily giggled as I smiled, shaking my head.

"Lake," my mom's voice said sternly. "That is very unprofessional of him."

I rolled my eyes. "Yes, I understand that, but I'm trying to graduate and move on with my life," I said, not holding in a laugh as Lily kept making vomit sounds. But I knew my mother was right. "Sorry, Mom, I just picked the path of least resistant."

She shook her head in disappointment, but didn't say a word.

Lily rolled her eyes. "When I was in college, there was a professor who had an affair with a student, and he ended up leaving his wife for her. They ran off together," she said, making mom more angry.

My mother's expression drained of color as she looked appalled by our conversation. I placed my hand on her shoulder, squeezing it tight.

"No need to worry. Now, what do you want to talk about?" I asked her, changing the subject.

She smiled, changing personalities like she had planned it. "Okay, tell me more about this Ian guy."

My jaw dropped. "You bated me into this!" I yelled, hearing Lily's giggles fill the kitchen.

"I want to know more about him," she begged. "Alex told me he is gorgeous."

I raised a brow, facing my palms to the ceiling. "What can I say, Ian—" I paused and glanced at Lily. "Is none of your business."

Lily's laugh dropped. "Come on, Lake." She placed her hand on my shoulders, shaking me. "Say at least something about him."

I leaned over and peeked into the living room to see Ian watching the television. He had all his attention on the video game the boys were playing.

"I can say he has helped me out of my shell a lot," I said with a smile, lifting my sleeve. "I got a tattoo."

Lily grabbed my wrist quickly, licking her finger and rubbing it on the permanent ink. She patted it, thinking that would work. My mother raised her brows, smiling at the turtle on my skin.

"It's real," I said, pulling my arm out of Lily's grip. "Ian informed the artist what to do while I couldn't peek at it until done."

"Now that is exciting," my mom said, smiling at Lily.

Lily glared her way. "No, that is terrifying."

"Live a little, Lily," she responded, flipping a washcloth onto her shoulder.

Lily stepped away with her jaw-dropping in shock. She shook her head, pointing at the not-ready green bean casserole. "I'll take this," she said, wanting to become busy.

I smirked at my mom, walking away into the living room. Paul leaned forward on the couch, mumbling under his breath.

"What are you playing?" I asked, not getting any response from them.

Paul yelled through his teeth at the screen while the boys jumped up in celebration. Their attention tunneled to only one thing.

I brushed it off, walking to the backdoor. Sliding it open, I stepped into the cold air, feeling the light rain as it sprinkled the wooden stairs. I sat on the first step, covered by the canopy. I closed my eyes, listening to the rain.

"Smoke break?" Ian's voice vibrated beside me, and I peeked over to see him sitting on the step with me.

"Funny," I replied, rolling my eyes.

"So, ice skating?" he asked, seeing the curiosity in his eyes. "I heard earlier with you and Alex."

I pulled at the ends of my sleeves to cover my palms. "Yes, we had been going on Thanksgiving since I could remember. The indoor rink is old, but so many memories." I raised a brow, glancing at his bare feet. "Maybe you can join us?"

He chuckled. "I don't think my ghost body will allow that."

I shoved my shoulder into him, feeling his solid body. "Doesn't seem like a ghost to me lately."

Ian placed his hand on my leg, tightening his grip. "I'm a phony," he said, and his hand went through my leg.

Ian leaned back, falling into the back porch and disappearing. A chilly sensation traveled up my spine before he reappeared before me, crouched on the steps. I put my hand on his shoulder, shoving him back, giggling. He slightly stumbled and grabbed the railing to lean his face closer to mine.

"So your brother-in-law seems nice."

I laughed, glancing over my shoulder to be sure nobody was listening. "He's a robot sometimes." I leaned closer to Ian. "My sister has a tight rope on him, so he doesn't talk much," I whispered.

"Sounds like a lovely marriage," he replied with a smirk.

Ian's eyes shifted to the backdoor before the creaking of it opening sounded in my ears. I glanced over as my mother poked her head out.

"Time to eat," she said.

"Okay, I'll be right in," I replied, standing from the step. "You gonna join or stay in the rain?" I asked as Ian watched the water drops pool in his palm.

"I'm gonna stay outside for a while."

I opened the door, turning to watch Ian. He had his head back with his mouth open, trying to catch the tiny drops. I couldn't help but smile as his hazel eyes peeked over at me.

Thank you for reading. Please share, comment, and push that beautiful star.