One Voice 02 - Here Without You by Mia Kerick Page B

tell.
    Zander popped outta the car and came around to where I stood by the pumps. He leaned over and gave me a quick hug before he opened the car’s gas tank. I just stood there, starin’ from Cindy to Casey, not sure what the fuck was up.
    Casey wasn’t one to keep quiet. “Nate, my mom needed gas, so she called up Zander and me, and asked us if we’d take her car to the gas station.” He burst into laughter. “So we hopped on the train, made the two hour trip up here. Now here we are, doing Mom this little favor.”
    Pretty sure I was droolin’ at that point, or at least my tongue was hangin’ out. Cuz I didn’t have a fuckin’ clue how to react to what they done.
    I felt Zander’s hand on my lower back, pressin’ just enough to remind me he was there. He spoke so soft into my ear. “We came home for the weekend, dude. All of us are staying at the Mintons’ for the weekend.”
    “Me and Cindy too?”
    Zander nodded. “Well, you are the reason we came home. Casey and me don’t wanna spend a weekend without you if we don’t have to.”
    And what came next, I couldn’t believe. Zander got up on his toes and planted a soft kiss right, full on my lips. I fought the urge to look and see if the dudes workin’ late in the garage were watchin’ us. Not that I gave a shit, cuz the chills goin’ up my arms and spreadin’ across my chest felt so good.
    Plus I lost my breath when I heard his words. It just meant so fuckin’ much. “’Kay.”
    Cindy turned and glanced out the window. “Nate, if I get along good with the twins, Mrs. Minton said I could babysit them for real in the future.” She was stoked.
    “Mommy’s making chenchy-wadas.”
    “Lola—it’s enchy-wadas.”
    In the backseat, the girls started bickerin’ over the way to say enchiladas. It didn’t bother me at all, cuz I knew I was gonna be eatin’ Mexican with my guys that night. And Cindy would be safe. And happy too.
    “The guy who’s on the pumps tonight is here, so lemme go and cash out. Then I’ll stop by my house to get my shit, and I’ll be right over.”
    “I already got your shit, bro. It’s back at the Mintons’ house, up in Casey’s bedroom.” My sister grinned like she was stoked that she pulled one over on me and then she hopped out of the Volvo. “I’ll drive over to the Mintons’ with ya, ’kay?” Cindy didn’t wait for an answer. She just trotted over to the truck, and I thought maybe she was pumped up over us havin’ a real family-like weekend.
    I took the cash for the gas from Zander, who gave me a quick wink, and then I bent down to look into the backseat at Casey. “See ya in a few.”
    He smiled in that sweet way that only Casey knows how to do, and then they pulled away. I didn’t waste no time gettin’ my ass in the truck.
     
     
    C ASEY ’ S REAL LIFE
     
    W HEN WE got to my house, my mother came and took the twins inside, and Zander and I waited in the driveway for Nate. I felt like a groom waiting for his bride. Except there were two grooms waiting for Nate, who was another groom. When Nate’s truck finally pulled in, we managed to keep our cool until Cindy went inside. The second Nate came around the truck, though, we kind of attacked each other.
    Zander and I pressed our bodies to either side of his chest, and I was only satisfied when I felt his arm come down around my shoulder.
    “You guys. What the fuck’re ya doin’ here, huh?” Nate sounded dazed.
    Zander replied quickly. “Our family comes first. The three of us being together is the most important thing.”
    I was glad that Zander had responded with such conviction. It proved to me that he understood what was truly important—that he had his priorities set correctly. I added, “We didn’t want to be away from you for a weekend, and we figured, as long as we study while we’re here, we can spend the weekend with our favorite people.”
    “I might have to take over nail-paintin’ duties with your little sisters for ya,