My books are spread out on the island, and I'm eating a cold quesadilla when Charlie and Liam get home.
"Oh hi, Jade," Charlie says when she sees me. "Glad to see your car in the driveway again. That was fixed quick. Where's Addie?"
"Work I think," I say. "I was just um, working with Mateo and figured I'd do some homework here before picking up Coop from school. I hope that's okay."
She offers me a warm smile. "You're always welcome, you know that."
"Where's Mateo?" Liam asks, joining us in the kitchen.
I choke on the bite of quesadilla in my mouth and take a sip of my water.
"He's um…I think he said he was taking a shower?"
Liam nods, and points to my open textbook. "What are you working on?"
"Medical terminology, and it's kicking my ass," I tell him.
I add a stem to the flower I've been doodling in the margins of my notebook. Laptops are great, and a requirement for college now with all work being submitted electronically, but I still prefer note taking on paper. It sticks in my brain if I write it down.
"What's kicking your ass?" Mateo asks, entering the kitchen and taking up residence on the stool beside me.
"Medical terminology," Liam answers for me.
"I can help," Mateo says, sliding my book in front of him.
"How?" I ask.
Charlie laughs. "Mateo was pre-pharmacy before he got drafted."
"You really are the prodigal fucking son, aren't you?" I scowl at him, seeing what Addie is all worked up about.
The alarm rings on my phone.
"Gotta grab Coop," I say.
"Stay," Liam says. "I'll grab him, and you can study. I'm overdue for an after-school milkshake." He holds a finger to his lips and points at Charlie.
She shakes her head and rolls her eyes.
"Like I don't already know," she says, following Liam to the door before I can protest. "I could go for a vanilla shake myself actually."
"Fucking vanilla," Liam and Mateo say in unison.
"Lemme grab my phone. When we're done with school shit, we can finally go over my socials," Mateo says, leaving me alone at the island.
The front door opens.
" —letting this happen?" Charlie's whisper carries down through the entryway.
" —adults," Liam replies, and the door closes.
Are they? No. They just got home. They've barely been in town the last few weeks. How would they—no, I'm hearing things.
At least I fucking hope so.
Chapter nineteen
Mateo
