Her forehead is wrinkled, and the crow’s feet at the corners of her eyes are more defined when her frown deepens.
“Mom?”
“She’s having a rough time right now. Savannah, I mean. She could probably do with having a friend around, that’s all.”
If she thinks I’m letting her get away with that vague, click-bait-y sentence, she has another think coming. I fold my arms. “Spill.”
“Over the summer…Savannah learned that she’s adopted. Abby and Kev hadn’t told her yet—she found out on her own.” She hugs herself, chafing her arms. “Abby says she’s barely talked to them since.”
I rub the back of my neck. “Abby just told you all this while you were waiting in baggage claim? After not talking to you for what…decades?”
Her face softens. “Moms talk, kiddo. We understand each other. Abby’s really worried about Savannah. I guess she just needed an outsider to confide in. Sometimes unburdening yourself, even to a stranger, helps get things straight in your mind.”
“And why are you telling me?”
“Forewarned is forearmed, Justin. She’s fragile right now, hurting, angry and if you want to pursue something with her, I figured it might help if you knew what she’s dealing with going in.”
If Savannah hasn’t spoken to her family for months, she probably hasn’t been looking forward to seeing them for the holiday. Add in her fear of flying and it’s no wonder I almost choked on her anxiety.
Damn, she really is brave as fuck.
I finish getting dressed, and by the time I get downstairs, Mom has the cooler ready to go. Dad’s wearing a plaid shirt and khakis. I don’t remember the last time I saw him so dressed up. I guess since we’ll be peopleing for Thanksgiving, we needed to ditch our customary wardrobe of pjs and fluffy slipper socks for something a little more outside-world-appropriate. I have to admit, it’s kind of nice.
We load up the car and hit the road to the Bowens’ house. My shoulders are tight, and while I’m looking forward to seeing Savannah again, part of me can’t help feeling like we’re about to intrude on a private family moment that we have no business being anywhere near.
Dad reverses into their driveway—backing into parking spaces is a habit I picked up from him and it drives Mom irrationally mad—and I suck in a breath. Savannah will either welcome the distraction of having us around, or try to kill me with her laser eyes again.
It’s time to find out which it’s gonna be.
CHAPTER10
Savannah
I’ve fluctuated between panicking over lunch this afternoon and being angry at Mom for inviting the Ashes over at all today. While part of me—a teenie weenie part, like way down deep—is glad to have a buffer around for at least part of the day, the other is tangled up in nerves, embarrassment, and a healthy dose of resentment.
She couldn’t have invited someone else? Someone I wasn’t trying to get space from? Someone whose dick I haven’t seen waving in the wind?
Ugh. Talk about a hockey stick.
I need to stop thinking about his dick.
But really, he could cleave a woman in half with that thing.
I fan my face with both hands like I’m drying my mascara or lipstick. But neither need it. My face is just hot because my memory is making my cheeks singe.
By the time I figure out what to wear and get my ass downstairs, the Ashes are already in the house. I didn’t hear them arrive—maybe I was in the shower or drying my hair. When I see Justin in his perfect-fitting jeans and navy sweater looking like the All-American boy next door at the sink helping Mom rinse potatoes, I stop dead.
His dad sits next to mine at the dining table and they’re both wearing shirts—like Sunday shirts, not graphic tees.
While my yoga pants and Care Bears shirt are comfy as hell, I’mwildlyunderdressed for this. I pivot on my heel and make a break for the stairs only to come face-to-face with Justin’s mom. Mandy pins me with a knowing smile and the back of my neck prickles with beads of sweat.
Busted. “I…uh…” I point finger guns at the stairs behind her. “I didn’t realize you were here already. I was just going to get changed.”
She pats my shoulder as I dart past. “It’s good to see you again, Savannah. I love your hair.”
“Thanks,” I squeak and take the stairs two at a time. She’s in her Sunday best, too. I’m the only one letting the side down. I guess I hadn’t considered that we’d level up our outfits just because Mom’s old friend was coming over. My bad.
And I certainly didn’t want to put too much time into picking my outfit just because Justin would be here.
