“Sounds good. And speaking of gifts, I need to pick out something for Emery. I have an hour to kill before she comes over.”
“Want some help picking out a gift?” I asked. “Ihave an hour to kill before I become Emery’s alibi for coming over to your house.”
Dean laughed. “Such a tangled web of deceit. I’d be happy to help, but alas, I have plans.” He chucked Xander on the shoulder. “We’ll have to save our man talk over brewskies for another time.”
“Can’t wait.” Xander hugged Dean goodbye, then turned to me. “Shall we? Do you have shopping to do?”
“Nope,” I said, smiling to myself. “I’m done.”
Xander drove us to the little village of Castle Hill that looked like a scene out of a Hallmark Christmas movie. Six months ago, I would’ve rolled my eyes, but now…I recalled the look on Orion’s face when he opened my gifts to him. I’d worried they hadn’t been enough; my constant worry was thatIwasn’t enough for someone who could haveanything—and anyone—he wanted. But his smile had been unlike any I’d seen him wear. So genuine and…
Happy. He looked happy.
That brought to mind Dean’s face at the Halloween festival when he’d spied Sierra, and my worry came swooping back.
“Dean’s acting weird,” I said as Xander pulled into a parking space behind a Christmas tree lot.
“How so?”
“He’s been jumpy lately. Manic, even. You haven’t noticed?”
Xander frowned and shut off the engine. “No. But like he said, I haven’t seen much of him lately.”
“There’s that too,” I said. “He always has ‘other plans’ and spends a lot of time on his phone. He used to hardly touch it, now it’s in his hand constantly.”
“I’ve been so wrapped up with Emery, I haven’t been paying attention. Maybe he’s stressed about finals?”
“Maybe,” I said. “I have a bad feeling.”
“Now I do too. He’s so private,” Xander said. “He’s one of my best friends, and yet I’ve never been to his house. He’s never mentioned his parents or anything about his home life at all.”
“Me neither. But I have the feeling he’s under a lot of pressure.”
“Really? But he’s…”
“A Bender?” I retorted. “So are you. So am I. You don’t feel the pressure this school—this entire fucking town—puts on you to be something worthy of walking its hallowed halls?”
“I see your point,” he said. “You and he aren’t…?”
“No, just friends,” I said, and nearly told him the truth. But that would derail the convo that needed to be about Dean, not me. “And he’s the same mix of open and completely closed off with me as he is with you.” I turned to face Xander in my seat. “I know you have enough on your plate with your dad, but can you talk to him? Have that ‘manly chat’ but for real?”
“Of course,” he said. “I’d turn the car around and do it now if Icould.” He gave me a reassuring smile. “I’ll make it happen, I promise.”
***
After helping Xander pick out a beautiful locket for Emery, he drove me back to the Academy so I could grab my car and head to Castle Hill Elementary to pick up Dash. Mrs. Andolina was waiting with him, just as she’d agreed, so I could tell her everything that was happening at home. Not just to ask her help so I could take this trip, but to ask forhelp. Because I knew she’d understand and wouldn’t make me feel embarrassed or ashamed.
“Oh, honey,” she said, after I’d spilled my guts. She took my hands in hers as Dash bashed a tetherball around a pole. “You’re not the first family to deal with this around here. Wealth doesn’t inoculate anyone from addiction. Rich or poor, it can strike any household. I’m sorry it’s come to yours. Has it been this way a long time?”
“Ever since I can remember.”
“I’m so sorry, Harper.”
“I wanted to ask a favor, and this is going to sound like emotional blackmail after my sob story.”
“It’s not a sob story, dear. It’s real life, and I already told you, I’m happy to help any way I can.”
I told her about Orion’s offer to visit his family after Christmas. “It would only be for a few days. Mom’s okay right now. No steady job, but cleaning Airbnbs regularly and not drinking. But I’m scared to leave.”
