“Then yes.”
“Extra dessert for you then.”
I perked up. “There’s dessert?”
“Only for people who are nice.”
“You’re never nice!” Theo argued.
I couldn’t help but watch them with a smile. I’d been in a bad mood up until this, and usually I had to stay home until it lifted.
But being with Theo and people that cared about him showed me that I didn’t have to hide out, and I was ready to enjoy every second.
38
THEO
Strawberry Springs Neighborhood Watch
Kerry Winsor:Whose cat is stealing my sunflowers??
Comments:
Jade Clark:Is this a cry for help?
Tammy Jane:Every post of Kerry’s is a cry for help.
Kerry Winsor:No, I’m serious! There was a cat and he ate my sunflowers! ATE THEM!!!
Jade Clark:How do you know it’s a cat?
Tammy Jane:How do you know you don’t just suck at growing things?
Kerry Winsor:LOOK!!! I HAVE PHOTO EVIDENCE! HE’S A CRIMINAL.@SherriffMike FinchArrest him!
Tammy Jane:Good Lord, he can’t arrest a cat!
Marjorie would absolutely makefun of me if she knew, but bringing Piper to meet them almost felt like I was taking her to meet my parents. It was a ridiculous thought, and I was prettysure they only thought of me as a friend who happened to be younger than them, but I was nervous.
My fingers hadn’t stilled on the steering wheel once we’d gotten within a mile of their house, and I had no idea how this would go, or if they would even like her.
It didn’t help that I had a feeling something had happened between Piper and Joey, and I was tempted to call that asshole myself to figure out what it was.
All I could do was handle one issue at a time.
“Welcome to our humble abode.” Marjorie opened the door for us both. “The skeletons in the closet don’t bite.”
Piper laughed, seemingly fine despite her bad afternoon. “Good. I love it when they’re nice.”
“Hen!” Marjorie yelled. “I got him and his girlfriend too!”
There was a clanging in the kitchen. “Hiswhat?” Henrietta stumbled around the corner, eyes wide.
“Hi,” Piper said with a wave.
“They’re admitting it? Or are you joking to make them blush?”
“We’re together,” I confirmed, ignoring the tightness in my chest when her jaw dropped.
