The punk pokes me in the leg. "I did my part, your turn."
Right our deal. Friday night pizza in exchange for baring my soul.
"How long have you worn glasses?" I ask him.
His brows furrow. "I don't remember not wearing them."
"Exactly," I say. "I don't remember not having a baseball glove."
"But you don't wear one everyday all day, how is it the same?"
"My mitt was part of me, part of my identity. Without it, I feel naked."
"You could put it on."
"I feel naked on the inside, too. This tattoo reminds me that baseball will always be a part of me, but I'm still me without it, even if I'm still figuring out who that is."
For a second, I think I've gone too deep with him, that it's gone over his too smart eight-year-old head, but then he pushes to his knees and wraps his little arms around my shoulders as far as they can go and squeezes me tight.
"Whoever you are," he says, still hugging me, "I hope he stays."
Over his head, Jade stares at us. I can't read her expression. What does she see on mine? Her shoulders fall, in relief or resignation, I'm not sure.
Coop releases me, and I think part of me goes with him. Who knew kids could be so perceptive?
"Time for dessert," Jade says from the edge of the living room as if she just came in.
"I've never had tira-mee-sue before," Coop says, jumping from the couch. He's out of the room before I can even stand.
Jade stares at me.
"I—" I start, but I don't know what to say.
"Your dad's the first man I've allowed in his life," she says. Her chest rises and falls. "But for whatever reason, he's taken to you. Probably because you're a giant child yourself." She shakes her head. "I don't like it."
"Jade," I say, finally reaching her.
She tilts her head and purses her lips.
"I don't like it," she repeats. "But I think you're good for him. And I can't believe I'm doing this." She squeezes her eyes shut, and opens them again, her deep brown eyes like quicksand, pulling me under. "I'm begging you not to let any of this—" she gestures between us— "destroy that."
She's gone before I can tell her I have no intention of leaving. Her or him.
Chapter twenty-two
Jade
Shopping with Addie is an experience. Like me and her brother, I'm darkness and she's light, so our styles rarely cross paths at a single store. And worse, she always has money, and I never do. Until recently anyway. Even after getting my car fixed, I have money burning a hole in my pocket, thanks to my first few paychecks.
The responsible adult part of me knows I should save it, and I promise myself after today, I will. But Coop and I need some new clothes, and fuck I really want these boots. The heel is higher than I typically wear, and I've never dated anyone tall enough for me to wear anything this high. No that's not right, because we aren't fucking dating, we're…is he paying me for sex? No, he hired me before we decided to do this. We're simply two friends providing orgasms for each other on demand. Streaming orgasms without the commercial break. A flush creeps up my body, and I pray it hasn't reached my cheeks because Addie is pushing the box with my size into my hands.
As soon as I put them on, I know I'm leaving the store with them. The dark purple and blue subtle flower details are outside my norm, but against the black, they're sexy as fuck. Before I pay, I grab a matching pair of red chucks for me and Coop too.
Having money feels unreal.
"What do you think?" Addie asks, holding up a long sleeve chiffon top in the next store. "Does this say, it's my first day of school but I absolutely did not go school shopping because I'm an adult and it was already in my closet?"
"Get the green," I tell her.
