Page 33 of Embrace

When I walk through the front door, Dylan’s there, looking pissed off.

“Was that yourdad?” I ask. “What’s he doing here?”

Dylan’s already walking away. “Being a dick.”

I don’t ask more questions. I’m not sure he’s in the mood to answer anyway. I’m in the entryway when Summer catches me.

“Where are you going?” she asks as I grab my keys from the table.

“Boston,” I say, slipping on my shoes.

Summer stares at me for a long minute before dropping onto the bench beside me. “Alone?”

“It’s probably for the best. I don’t know what to expect.”

She nods sympathetically. “Text me when you get there, okay?”

I promise to and head outside. All the messages I’ve sent to my sister still haven’t been read, and I almost talk myself out of going. But just as I haul myself into my Jeep, I spot someone walking up our driveway.

Scarlett.

The bright hair that I find on my hoodies and the soft smile that eases something in my stomach. She’s got her hair in a loose braid, and she’s wearing a black zip-up and jeans.

“Hey, Scar. What are you doing here?”

“You would never miss a study group. I thought something was wrong,” she says softly.

“I should have told you earlier, but I’m heading to Boston to see my mom.”

“Right now?”

“Yeah, I don’t think I can wait anymore. I’ll make up for whatever studying I miss tomorrow.”

“Okay.” Then Scarlett rounds the car, opens the passenger door, and hops into the seat. She fiddles with the radio, like she knows I’d already have a CD popped in. She’s right, because the Fleetwood Mac starts playing, and her shoulders relax.

I’m staring at her in surprise. “You’re coming with me?”

“You’re letting yourself in,” she says, tilting her head. “You can say no, but you were there for me on that date. I told you I’d like to be there for you too. But only if you want that. We should get on the highway before rush hour if we’re going. Boston’s not fun in traffic.”

I chuckle, staring at her bag in the footwell and the UGGs she’s already toed off to fold her legs sideways on the seat.

I close my door. “Yeah, Scarlett. I’d like it if you came with me.”

The last thing I thought I’d do on this trip is smile, but this girl pulled one out of me like I’m so used to doing for others.

•••

“You grew uphere?” Scarlett asks as we pass by the red maple trees and others shedding, their bare branches just visible as the clear skies dim toward sunset.

“Nah, I grew up in Connecticut. After my dad passed, my mom left Japan and moved in with my sister.”

“Your sister lived alone?”

“Yeah, but it wasn’t always like that. She and her husband, Joban, lived together before…everything.”

“Oh shit. Are they divorced now?”

“No, he didn’t want that. He still loves her. I just think Kiyomi didn’t want to force him to do something he never signed up for. Looking after Mom isn’t easy.”