Moonshot
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Ronja T. Lejonhjärta
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Coming Home
ZOEY
“Are you looking through that thing again?” my daddy, Mark, chuckles as he loads a tent into the trunk of his SUV. “It’s going to fall apart with how much you flip through it. The spine is barely holding it together.”
I know he’s right, but I can’t help myself. Flipping through the album of postcards my brother Ryder and his best friend Colt sent me during their year abroad is the only thing keeping me from losing my mind.
Sometimes I hate living in a small town near the Ozarks. Everyone knows everyone, for better or worse, and I’m starting my senior year with the same people I’ve gone to school with since kindergarten.
There’s nothing new. Nothing exciting, especially with my brother and Colt not around.
I grin as my daddy curses while struggling to jam the tent into the already packed trunk.
It’s not all bad, I guess. Growing up in nature has helped shape me into an independent and strong individual, but sometimes I wish I could experience the fast-paced life of a big city.
“I wish I could have gone with them,” I sigh dramatically. “I want to see the world with my own eyes, not just through their postcards.”
Daddy gives me an understanding smile. “You will, sweetie.”
I lie back against the boards of my front porch, letting my chestnut-brown hair fan out around me. The sun has warmed the wood, and I stretch, feeling every ache from last night’s dance lesson.
It’s all Colt’s fault. He’s the one that encouraged me to chase my dream of being a dancer.
Colt has always pushed me to shoot for the moon, claiming he could see incredible potential in me.
I don’t know why he can’t see himself in the same way. Getting labeled as a problem child growing up probably didn’t help his self-esteem, but he could be anything he wanted. He’s charming, intelligent, and has incredible people skills.
“Think Alex will be home by the time they arrive?” I ask, hugging the album to my chest.
Alex is my stepdad. Daddy met him about a year after my mom left us. Apparently, she couldn’t handle the stress of him coming out and took off even though I was just a toddler at the time.
She still sends the occasional birthday or Christmas card, but I usually toss them without even opening them. She was the one who made the decision not to be a part of our lives, and I’m not upset with how things ended up. I got two of the world’s most amazing dads in her place.
“No, he’s going to meet us at the campsite,” Daddy sighs. “He got a call about another patch of kudzu and had to go document it. Being a botanist isn’t all fun and games.”
“But getting up at the crack of dawn and citing old geezers for camping without a permit is?” I tease.
My daddy has been a park ranger since before I was born. Between him and Alex, Ryder and I knew how to survive in the woods almost as soon as we could walk.
“The occasional bear cub snuggle makes it all worth it,” Daddy says.
“Not when you busted up the party down by the lake last year,” I grumble. “People are still mad about that.”
It took months before people forgot I was the daughter of the Ozarks Party Pooper.
“They’ll survive,” he hums, dusting off his hands. “Now, put that worn thing away and help me load the car. I want to be ready to go when they get here.”
I groan as I sit up, setting the album down gently before I get to my feet.
We usually spend the weekends camping, and since school is supposed to start soon and Ryder and Colt are coming back today, Daddy thought a big family campout would be the perfect way to celebrate.
I have to admit I’m a little excited for the boys to get home. It’s been a little lonely these past ten months without them hanging around and teasing me, especially about my boyfriend, Connor.
Neither Ryder nor Colt seem to like him very much, but he’s been my best friend since the third grade. We know everything about each other, and once we hit high school, dating just seemed like the next step in our friendship.
I sigh as I come down the steps and grab a bag.
Connor swears we’re getting married once we graduate, settling down in a little place near town and having a ton of kids. And even though I love him, I’m not so sure that’s what I want anymore. What if I’m missing out on something incredible by playing it safe?
Suddenly, I hear the crunch of gravel. My heart leaps as a familiar Ford Ranger pulls up the driveway. I rush to jam the bag into the car as Colt parks in his usual spot by the big oak.
They barely have time to get out before I’m throwing myself into his arms. He laughs, giving me a big bear hug as he spins me around.
“I missed you too, Moonshot,” he chuckles as he sets me back on my feet.
I smack him in the chest, smiling. “Then don’t stay gone for so long next time, dingus! It’s not the same around here without you.”
Colt pauses, his ocean-blue eyes giving me the once-over as he flashes me that bright, white smile that makes all the girls melt. Those two adorable dimples that only show up when he’s really happy appear on his cheeks.
A giddy feeling rushes through me. I drop my hands to my sides, my face warming as I look away.
Colt spent a lot of time at our house growing up, and even though he’s almost like an older brother to me, I’ve had a crush on him forever.
“Hello? What about me?” my brother says as he comes around the hood of the car. “I’m your brother, after all.”
I run over and jump into his embrace.
He laughs. “Missed you, Zoey.”
I lean back, smiling up at him.
Ryder is taller than me, finally growing out of that awkward teenage phase. We share the same hair and eye color, but that’s where the resemblance ends. Ryder looks just like our dad, down to the same stern expression he gets when he’s focused.
I hug him tighter. “I missed you too, dufus. I’m so happy that you’re both home.”
“Did you get into any trouble while we were gone?” Ryder asks with a laugh.
I roll my eyes. “Seriously? You’ve been home for two minutes, and you’re already checking up on me?” I swat his shoulder lightly. “I’ve got enough dads, dufus.”
I step back and watch as Ryder walks over to greet our dad. I feel Colt come stand beside me, the butterflies in my stomach taking off as he winks at me.
“So, your birthday is coming up,” Colt says. “Eighteen. You excited?”
He straightens, running a hand through his hair.
“Yeah,” I say, suddenly bashful. “Hopefully, you picked me up something special while you were traveling the world.”
“Guess you’ll have to wait and see,” he chuckles. “So, still with what’s-his-name?”
“Uh—”
“Hey, you two!” Daddy calls. “Come on! I want to get to the campsite before dark.”
“We’d better help,” I say quickly. “You know how Daddy gets about setting up camp.”
Colt nudges me as he walks past, my whole body tingling from where he touched me. “Let’s go, Moonshot.”
I watch as my daddy claps him on the shoulder before he effortlessly lifts one of the heavy bins of camping gear like it weighs nothing.
He looks good. Better than I remember.
I shake my head.
What am I even thinking? This is Colt. He’s like one of the family. He’d never think about me like that, and Ryder would kill us both. Besides, I’m in love with Connor. Right?
