When we got to Delvecchios’ we sat at a corner booth, spreading out our notebooks while Julie served us pizza.
Our homework sheets quickly became fingerprinted with pizza grease, and at the end of the night, Julie brought us a few cannoli to snack on. I couldn’t take more than a bite, and Jackson ended up finishing them off for me.
We stayed after the restaurant closed, finishing up our homework while Julie blasted music through the speakers as she cleaned.
I didn’t even have to ask if they would be taking me home and putting my bike in the back of the truck. I already knew they wouldn’t let me ride it home by myself in the dark.
On the way home we listened to one of Julie’s Taylor Swift CDs, and as they belted out the lyrics to “You Belong With Me”, I mouthed the words, feeling a little bit more comfortable with showing my full self to them. Jackson knew all my family issues now, and he still wanted to hang out with me. I smiled the whole drive home as we sang, realizing that Jackson Delvecchio wasn’t just my coworker anymore—he was my friend now. Maybe he would even become my best friend.
Chapter 5
NOW
June
The next morning, I woke up to three loud knocks on my driver’s side window. When I got to Peter’s house last night, I couldn’t find the courage to go in. Instead, I went to Wendy’s to get a meal, use their bathroom, and take advantage of their free Wi-Fi all day. When I pulled into the driveway, I still couldn’t make myself go in, so I slept in my car, which I was no stranger to doing.
I rubbed my hands down my face before sitting the seat up straight. My neck ached, and every joint in my body was stiff. I blinked at the person standing outside my car. Jackson fucking Delvecchio. I turned on the car and rolled down the window.
“Why the hell are you sleeping in your car?”
I ran my fingers through my hair. I didn’t want to risk looking in the mirror to see how awful I looked.
“I wasn’t ready to go inside yet.”
He looked me up and down. “Come on, I’ll go with you.” I went to argue, but he cut me off. “I brought snacks.” He held up a white plastic bag, then scrunched his nose. “And seriously, you need a shower.”
I scoffed. “Always the charmer.” I rolled up my window and tried to ignore him, but he didn’t step away. Instead, he pulled on my door handle, and I cursed myself for leaving it unlocked.
I stayed in the seat and stared up at him, his arm resting on the top of the door frame, waiting for me to get up. I silently cursed Peter before lifting myself out of the car. Why did he have to leave me the house?
I grabbed my suitcases out the trunk, and Jackson carried one up to the house for me. I unlocked the door and inhaled a deep breath. “He didn’t even change the locks,” I mumbled.
“Maybe he thought you’d come back,” Jackson said softly. Had Jackson thought I’d come back, too? No, most likely not.
“Honestly, fuck Peter. I don’t want to deal with this,” I groaned as I stomped a foot on the porch.
Jackson slipped past me to open the door, walking in while I stood on the porch, peering in over his shoulder.
“Your brother was a real piece of work,” Jackson scoffed as he kicked an empty bottle out of the walkway. I took a step inside, finding exactly what I expected.
The place truly was a dump. The leather couch in the family room was peeling, the paint on the walls was chipped and stained, and the kitchen counter was lined with empty bottles.
“I can’t believe I’ve never been in here,” Jackson said from the family room. He set the snacks he’d brought down on the coffee table, crossing his arms and looking around.
In all the years I had known Jackson, I’d never let him or anyone else in his family set foot inside this house.
“Well, you weren’t missing much,” I said with a sigh. I couldn’t even bring myself to walk down the short hallway to my old room. “Peter’s room was in the basement. I’m sure it’s even worse down there.”
He pulled out a box of Cheez-Itz from the bag on the table and threw it to me. “Eat something, and then let’s decide what to tackle first.”
My stomach growled as I opened the box and popped a Cheez-It into my mouth. “And you’re helping me because . . . ?”
He scratched at his jaw before meeting my eyes. “Because I want to.”
I couldn’t stand how sincere he looked. “Don’t you have like, a restaurant to run?”
He laughed at me as he shook his head. “Believe it or not, I’m hardly there. Remember Rami?”
