He chuckles. “More like a drawer full of paperwork.” His cheeks flush pink. “Are we still on for the Italian fair?”
As if I’d ever turn down Italian food. “We better be. Because today really did suck as a first date.”
His smile stretches wide, but then his lips tighten up again. “Will you do me a favor, Jade? Stay away from Dylan King. That guy’s trouble.”
I snort half a laugh. “Sure, Dad.”
Nate just passes me an unsure look before he turns and strides away with his hands balled into fists at his sides.
What the heck is his problem with Dylan King?
* * *
After the burial,I swing by the store to check on Dad. When I find him struggling to unpack a giant box of frozen goods, I end up sending him home to rest his sore back and then have to stick around until closing time.
Before I lock up, I lightly press my palm to the picture of Mom and Dad to say goodnight to her, the same way I do every day. Outside, I jump into my car and floor it toward the King residence, hoping that Hayley got my apologetic texts about being late.
The Kings’ mammoth home sits tucked away in a beautiful, forested part of town that overlooks the springs. The front door is unlocked, as always, and I cautiously step inside to find Hayley and her sisters sitting around the marbled dining table with half-filled glasses of wine. They still look shell-shocked, but I’m relieved to see Hayley almost smiling. She helps me fix a plate of pork chops with baked vegetables and mashed potatoes. It’s just a few of Hayley’s sister’s friends here, her sister’s husband Justin, and me. There’s no sign of Dylan.
While Hayley and I talk as I eat, I take in all the parts of the dining room that have changed since I was last here. The abstract artworks lining the eight-foot-high walls are new, and I assume Hayley had a hand in choosing those. I used to come over to this house all the time when I was little, but back then, I’d mostly grab Hayley’s hand and we’d bolt upstairs to her enormous bedroom, locking ourselves in with her vintage record player and hours of boy talk.
“It’s so good to see you,” she says, and I tilt my head into her shoulder, wishing it could be under any other circumstances.
“Did you come to the funeral with Nate the Nark?” she adds, poking my side.
I snicker. “No, we kind of sat together by accident. But I amsupposed to be going out with him this weekend.”
“What?” She whacks my arm and I laugh, even though I feel guilty talking about dating on the day of her parents’ funeral. But Hayley seems drawn to the distraction, and we chat more about Nate’s fuddy-duddy vibe, but agree that he’s notnot-cute, and he does have an impressive job.
A chill dances up my bare arms, and I shiver.
“Are you cold?” Hayley asks. “I’ve got sweaters upstairs in my suitcase.”
She yawns as she goes to get up, but I tell her I don’t mind getting it myself.
I give her wrist a squeeze and wander up the staircase coated in plush carpet, my chest constricting when I pass by the photo wall of family pictures. I force my gaze off her mom and dad’s beaming faces.
Like I’m sixteen years old again, I round the top of the stairwell and head toward Hayley’s old bedroom before a high-pitched giggle stops me in my tracks. Through the open door of another room, I spot Iris’s daughter, Ella, sitting on the floor beside Dylan. He’s got a half-torn pink tutu stretched tightly around his hips, and on his head sits a plastic crown glittering with fake jewels that matches the scepter in his hand.
I go to dart out of view, but it’s too late. Dylan makes an exaggerated gasp. “Look, Ella—there’s a monster coming out of the forest. Help!” He grabs her arms and pretends to hide his broad shoulders behind her tiny frame, making her squeal and laugh.
Not to brag, but I’ve always been great with kids. Dropping my weird Dylan-awkwardness for a moment, I suck in a breath, lift my hands into claws, and bound into the room with a loud roar.Oh my god, Jade, you are certifiable.Ella laughs her head off.
The embarrassment hits me instantly,but instead of looking at me like I’m a freak, Dylan gives me a smile that makes me stare at him a little too long.
“Have you been sent up to get us?” he asks, tapping his scepter against his knee.
“No, I just came up to grab a sweater.”
“Hmm.” He folds his arms at me, and heat creeps into my cheeks as his eyes make a slow roam over my body. “So, little Jade Quinn. She got…big.” His gaze flashes below my neck for a lightning-fast moment before returning to my eyes.
“Jade got big, and Dylan got…old?” I make a face like he’s past his prime, when actually, Dylan’s grown into a ridiculously attractive man. If tattoos, smirks, and provocative stares are your thing, that is.
A laugh slips out of him. He rests his palms on his outstretched legs, evidently not at all self-conscious about the tutu. “The last time I sawyouin this house, you had that gigantic bandage over your nose because that brat from little league pitched a softball at your face. I’d wanted to bust that jerk’s nose right back, but Dad stopped me.”
A tingle rises in my chest at that admission as my fingers instinctively brush my nose.
“Then Hayley tried putting our mom’s makeup on it to hide the bruising,” Dylan continues, “which escalated into you girls dressing up in Mom’s clothes and wearing her lacy bras over your dresses, even though you had nothing to put in them.”
