Page 3 of See You in Your Dreams

Not so much because of classes, though I don’t dread them the way Cat does. The end of summer also means an end to my soul-sucking schedule at the Red Rocket. I don’t know how Mom can stay sane after eight hours or more of bending over backward to appease unreasonable diners.

As if you’ve left her much of a choice.

My steps falter, my gut churning. So much for my good mood.

A familiar voice calls out to me, and I shove down my guilt, plastering on a smile as I turn to face my three best friends. “Hey guys! What’s up?”

“The sky,” Alexis replies cheerfully. She’s wearing her usual knee-length navy skirt along with a long-sleeved white blouse. The conservative outfit probably would’ve looked uptight if not for her serene smile and colorful beret. “Also, heaven,” she addswith a wince and a significant glance upward. She makes the sign of the cross. “Sorry, God. Didn’t mean to forget about You.”

“I’m sure He’ll forgive you, Lex,” Cat says, rolling her eyes. “Isn’t that what He’s all about—forgiveness and shit?”

Cat’s almost the complete opposite of Alexis. She wears a black shirt with the name of some metal band I’ve never heard of emblazoned across the front. No doubt she’d try to force me to listen to them if I gave her the chance, but I’ve spent enough lunchtimes cringing through roaring guitars and screaming singers to know better.

“Of course,” Alexis replies. “But it’s the thought that counts.”

Cat snorts and flicks her gaze skyward as Robbie steps up silently beside her. “Well, in that case, Ireallyhope the big guy doesn’t judge me too harshly for some of my more sinful thoughts.”

The corners of Alexis’ lips quirk. “If I were you, I’d be less worried about what those thoughts will mean to ‘the big guy’ and more about what they say aboutyou.”

Cat gives Alexis a fond grin. “Touché.” Her grin morphs to a scowl as she turns to me. “Where the hell have you been all summer? I feel like we’ve barely seen you. Living the high life without us?”

“I wish,” I sigh, falling into step beside them. “I’ve been elbow-deep in frying grease and soap suds at the Red Rocket.”

She winces. “Sorry, dude. You should have mentioned it. We’d have stopped by to keep you company.”

Which is exactlywhyI hadn’t mentioned it. No reason for them to have to suffer alongside me. This is my mess—I’d rather clean it up myself.

“It wasn’t a big deal. Plus, my mom was right there with me. I got through it.” I squirm beneath Cat and Alexis’ sympathetic looks, eager to change the subject. “What about you guys? Whatdid you get up to?” I’d read their string of texts in our group chat, of course, but I felt like I’d still missed so much.

“Life, the universe, and pie,” Robbie says.

I blink, unsure what to make of his comment. That’s usually how it goes with Robbie. He’ll keep quiet most of the time, content to watch and listen, and then when he finally speaks, it’s hard to tell if it’s a joke, random nonsense, or a profound statement on the human condition.

“Was the pie tasty?” I ask, deciding to take his comment literally.

“It was circular,” Robbie replies.

I…have no idea what to do with that.

Cat wraps an arm around Robbie’s waist and tugs him against her side, her dark skin a sharp contrast to his freckled paleness. She gives him a fond look. “What he means is, we spent a shitload of time doing a whole lot of nothing. It was boring as hell. Almost makes megladto return to this purgatory of learning.”

She glares at the school building looming nearby. A few other students straggle past, ignoring us.

Boring as hell.The thought of lounging around with my friends all day doing nothing sounds like heaven.

Instead, I’d spent every waking moment either picking up shifts at the diner or watching my little brother Patrick and keeping the house in order. My summer had been many things, butboringwasn’t one of them.

Alexis clears her throat. “Therewasat least one new development.” She looks pointedly at the arm Cat still has looped around Robbie’s waist, and my eyes widen.

“Holy shit!” I say, earning a disapproving look from Alexis. Cat might get a free pass, but I guess she holds me to a higher standard. “Sorry. But…” My gaze flits between Cat and Robbie. “When didthishappen?”

“While you were ditching us to get your grease on,” Cat replies. “We were supposed to all hang out at Robbie’s, but you and Alexis abandoned us.”

“I didnotabandonyou!” Alexis protests. “There was a church fundraiser, and I volunteered to—”

“Whatever,” Cat says with a wave of her hand. “The point is, you both bailed, so Robbie and I made the best of the night on our own.”

I smirk. “So, you’re saying this isourfault for leaving you unsupervised?”